1 Long live the new Tsar!

" Maria wake up! We need to go now!" said Ivan, a handsome young guard about my age. I opened my eyes, my head was spinning, I felt like I was stabbed and indeed I was. There was blood on my lower abdomen and I was on slumped on the ground of the earth with tall bushes covering me.

Ivan: I know you are hurt but we must leave now. The guards will return soon.

I did not say a word. I wanted to die anyway. I knew what happened at the basement, I remembered everything. The guards, the shot being fired, the screaming and crying of my family.. Papa, Mama, Olga, Tatiana, Anastasia..

" Alexei is still alive, if you no longer want to live for yourself, please continue on living for him, the new and rightful heir of the House of Romanov, Alexei, His Imperial Majesty, The Tsar of Russia."

Those were the words of Ivan, words that penetrated in the deepest bones of my body like a flaming rod. Right then and there, I breathe and filled my lungs with air, I gathered all my remaining strenght and held Ivan's hand while we crawled to safety, hanging on to life until the House of Special Purpose where we were imprisoned for the last 9 months of our lives before our execution.