Shattering Hearts

(S2): Nightmares

Ivander gazed at the Thusenka family home that was so quiet, warm and peaceful. He could imagine how they would react if he told the truth about Lizzie. Actually, he did not want to disturb the peace of the family.

For Ivander the Thusenka family is a good family and deserves to be a real Lizzie family. It's not wrong to have given Lizzie eight years ago to them. Ivander took a deep breath, tidying up his clothes before knocking on the door.

Antonina appeared behind the door. She looks elegant and beautiful. Her motherly face was very clear. He smiled gently welcoming the arrival of Ivander.’’Good morning, Mrs Thusenka! Sorry my arrival bothered you."

"Good morning! You who?’’

"Oh sorry. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ivander Armaturov."

"Ah so you are a person named Ivander. Lizzie often tells me about you. Come on please sign in!’’

Ivander follows Antonina to the living room.’’Please sit!’’

"Thank you."

"What would you like to drink?’’

"Anything can be."

"alright. I'll be right back."

Ivander sighed. His heart rate is getting faster. In a few moments he will have to tell them the truth, maybe later their quiet and peaceful life will not be the same again he thought. Ivander feels guilty if he has to ruin their happy life here.

Antonina appeared with a tray containing a cup of tea and pastries. He sat in front of Ivander still putting on a friendly smile at him.

"Please in drink!’’

Ivander awkwardly drank the tea.

"Is Lizzie already bothering you when it comes to your home?’’ask Antonina suddenly.

"Absolutely not Miss Thusenka. We are delighted with Lizzie coming to my house. He's a good boy."

"Thank God! Sometimes Lizzie is always naughty. Any interest in what you came here?’’

Ivander's face turned serious.’’May I know where your husband is? I want to talk to you both. It's about Lizzie."

"Is there a problem with Lizzie?’’ask her in surprise.

"Don't worry. Lizzie is fine. I want to tell you something about Lizzie."

"alright. I'll call him. My husband's in the stables. Just a minute."

Antonina disappeared behind the door, once again Ivander let out a long sigh, then drank his mint-flavored tea. It was not long before Thusenja's husband and wife had reappeared. Ivander could see the confusion on both of their faces.

"I'm Petro" he told Ivander.

"I'm Ivander Armaturov, sorry for interrupting your work."

"Absolutely not. What do you want to talk to us Mr Armaturov? ‘’thya Petro.

"I don't know where to say it from, it's a very long story."

Husband and wife Thusenka stared at each other in wonder. ‘’But you have to know the truth."

"What truth do you mean?’’petro didn't understand.

"This is about your daughter Lizzie. I know who Lizzie's parents really are."

Antonina and Petro were very surprised.’’You know who his parents are?’’he whispered a little.

"Yes I know. Lizzie's parents were Dimitri and Aleandra Romanov. They are now in a coma in the hospital. There's someone who's been trying to kill them."

Petro and Antonina were shocked. ‘’And now the person who has tried to kill his parents is probably targeting Lizzie's life, so you have to take good care of her."

"Kill Lizzie?’’pekik Antonina.’’This is impossible."

"Who are you really?’’ask Petro.

"I'm just a confidant of Mr. Dimitri who was ordered to save his son, but you don't need to worry, because the killer doesn't know about Lizzie's whereabouts here yet."

"It's crazy,’’shouting Petro.’’But why would they want Lizzie's death?’’

"Unfortunately I also don't know what the killer's motive is it seems like he wants all the deaths of Mr Dimitri's family."

Antonina just sat down and was quiet. He was shocked by what Ivander said. His heart was worried about Lizzie's safety

"What should we do to save Lizzie? I don't want anyone to hurt her."

Antonina's eyes reddened, puddles of tears began to accumulate in her eyes.

"The only way you have to get out of here, because sooner or later the killers will be able to find Lizzie here."

"What's going from here? That's not possible. We can't leave this village, isn't it Petro?’’ask her husband for approval.

"Right, we can't get out of here. Our house is here."

"I understand that you love your home so much here, but Lizzie's life is now in danger, do you want Lizzie killed?’’

"Of course not. It was so terrible,’’ Antonina said.

"But the killer doesn't know Lizzie's here yet?" ask Petro.

" It doesn't seem like it yet, but I don't know I'm sure. I can't guarantee it."

"Then Lizzie's still safe here."

"What my husband said was right."

"Maybe you're right. I was too scared, but it never hurts to stay alert" Ivander said.

"It is certain that Lizzie will be very sad if you have to leave this village and if Lizzie wants to leave here and the answer is definitely not to,’’ Antonina said.

Ivander quickly tore off his notepad and wrote something down on that piece of paper.

’’This,’’tie it and give it to Petro.

"What's this?"

"That's the address of Mr. Dimitri's villa he just bought and nobody knows about the address of the villa. You guys can go there. Please hide that address don't fall into someone else's hands."

" All right."

Petro immediately folded the paper and hid it under the carpet, because that was where he thought it would be a safe place.

‘’Good.You should go there to fill the winter holidays to avoid bad things that will happen later. My business here is done. I also plan to leave this village as soon as possible."

Husband wife Thusenka looked on with a confused look also surprised. Ivander decides to go home through the backyard of the Thusenka family home that leads to the forest.

After Ivander's death, both Petro and Antonina sat quietly in the chair thinking about Ivander's words. They are busy with their own thoughts. They did not expect that their quiet lives would be disrupted.

🍎🍎🍎

Lizzie, who was playing with Fanya in the back of her hill, had no idea about her planned departure from the village one day. Lizzie looks so happy. He could not wait to attend their teacher's wedding ceremony. He closed his eyes and imagined his teacher's mother would look very beautiful in a wedding dress.

Lizzie along with Fanya had volunteered as bridesmaids and they were so happy when Lady Diana's teacher granted her to be the bridesmaid. The end of the year will be amazing, he thought. They throw snow at each other and make snow puppets from small to large. The two of them were so enjoying their togetherness, then lying on the ground filled with snow while looking at the clear blue sky.

"You know, yesterday I met Vladimir at the supermarket."

"You mean Mr Nicola's boy?’’

"really. Maybe he's on winter break here."

"Hopefully I didn't meet him on the street."

"You're still mad at him."

"I'm not angry just that I'm still upset with him."

"But he's a very nice guy. He helped me when I fell on the street and my nose was bleeding."

"really? Are you okay?’’tanyanya worry.’’I really didn't know you had an accident on the road."

"I'm doing fine. At that time Vladimir took me straight to the hospital, then drove me home.If he noticed he was a good person."

"He's a good man it's possible."

Lizzie stood up and cleaned her coat which was full of snow.

"I think I like it."

"Oh Fanya, it's really bad if you like it."

Fanya smiled then hugged Lizzie.’’But I like you better, my best friend." They both laughed.

"It seems like it's lunch time. We better get home!"

Fanya and Lizzie quickly tidied up their toys and walked hand in hand towards the house. Lizzie parted ways with Fanya in the backyard of Lizzie.’’See you soon! ‘’shouts him at Fanya.

Lizzie quickly walked into the house and saw that her parents were busy tidying up their belongings for their departure from here, if needed. Antonina and Petro are unaware of Lizzie's arrival, while Lizzie stares confusedly at her parents who are busy tidying things up.

"Dad, mom what are you guys doing?’’

They turned to Lizzie. Antonina walked over to Lizzie and tried to be as calm as possible. He smiled gently and hugged her, then looked gently at her.

’’We just tidy up the goods.We will be out of town temporarily until the winter holidays pass."

‘’Whataaa?But why all of a sudden? I don't want to go. Lady Diana's teacher is getting married and I'm gonna be her bridesmaid."

"Lizzie, please understand! It's all for your own good."

"I don't want to go. I don't want to leave this village and stay here. I want to attend Miss Diana's wedding." Lizzie sulking.

"I'm sorry, but we have to leave tomorrow.:

"I don't want to,’’yelling Lizzie.

Lizzie ran out of the house crying.

"Lizzieee...’’.

Antonina tries to chase after him, but Petro holds his wife.’’Don't chase him! Leave him alone first. We'd better get outside so cold, Lizzie's gonna be back soon."

"All right."

Once again Antonina looked towards the road Lizzie was running, then went inside the house. Lizzie continued running while crying regardless of the gazes of the villagers who were passing by her.  He ran and ran until he was at the river.

Lizzie sat on a big rock and cried there. Her white face that was met with red had been soaked by her tears. He wiped his tears many times. Her tiny blue eyes stared at the scene that lay before her. He was eager to attend his teacher's wedding.

Maple and poplar trees along the river sway in the wind and make a sound of friction. Lizzie has cold. The sound of flowing river water sounded melodious accompanied by the chirping of birds. The fish were clearly visible in the river.

Lizzie recalls her memories with Fanya catching fish in this river when they had just made friends.  He smiled as he recalled Fanya falling in the river while trying to catch a very agile fish and in the end who managed to catch the fish was Petro.

Lizzie sighed and tears flowed back down her face. Without realizing it, someone was standing behind him.

"Hi gala girl!’’

Lizzie immediately turned her head towards the voice that called out to her. He was surprised to see the man, then Lizzue threw away his face and looked straight ahead again.

"You remember me?’’

"You are Valdimir, aren't you?’’

"Absolutely. You seem to remember me. Your name is Lizzie, isn't it? My sister Regina always talks about you like my sister likes you and wishes she had a sister like you. Hey, what are you doing here? Looks like you're crying?’’

"That's none of your business,’’his answer doesn't matter.

"You're still mad at me, aren't you? I know I was wrong, so I'm sorry."

Lizzie immediately turned her head back and stared intently at Vladimir.’’So you admit to your mistake?’’

"Yes. Have you been satisfied? So you want to forgive me?’’

"alright. I forgive you."

Vladimir smiled happily.

"We're friends."

Vladimir reached out his hand to Lizzie and hesitantly shook her hand.’’Thank you for being friends with me. Your friend named Fanya has told me a lot about you. He said you were a very nice and good friend. Looks like you two are good friends."

"They are my best friends."

Lizzie cries again and Vladimir is confused . Did he say anything that offended him Vladimir thought. He patted Lizzie on the shoulder slowly.

"Have not cried!’’

Lizzie's cries are getting louder.’’Why are you?’’

"Dad and my mom forced me to go on vacation, but I didn't want to go,’’ she said as she sobbed.

"Not crying."

" Mom just said we have to go tomorrow. I'm sad, if I have to leave tomorrow, because I won't be able to attend my teacher's wedding."

"It's a shame."

"Do not be sad anymore "

Vladimir wiped his tears gently.’’A sweet kid like you don't cry looking ugly knows. Smile!’’

Vladimir kissed Lizzie's forehead.

Lizzie is surprised by Vladimir's attitude, his attitude towards her is not the same when they meet in his room or on the edge of the birch forest during the autumn. Maybe what Fanya told him was true, if Valdimir wasn't an annoying person, but a good person he thought.

"Well, I won't cry anymore."

"That's so dong. That's a good boy,’’he said as he ruffled Lizzie's hair.

Vladimir took something out of his brown coat pocket.’’Bring your hand!’’his orders.

Lizzie extended her hand. Vladimir put something in his hand.

"What is this?’’

"That's a finger puppet. You can wear it on your fingers. Play when you are sad it will keep you entertained. I often play it when there is no work. My brother made it. That finger puppet is for you."

"This is for me?’’

"Yes, that finger puppet is for you. Oh yes every finger puppet has its name . Cows are called momo, cats are called Kitty, rabbits are called chiko, sheep are called gizmo, and bears are called Teddy."

‘’Momo, Kitty, Chiko, Gizmo, and Teddy,’’ulang Lizzie.

"It's true."

"Thank you for giving it to me."

Lizzie quickly stuffed all her finger puppets into the pockets of the coat.

"You better go home. Your parents must have been worried about you so much, it's afternoon anyway."

"All right, I'm going home."

Lizzie stood up and cleaned her coat that was hit by snow.’’I'll take you home."

"no need. I can do it myself."

"It's okay. Come!’’

Vladimir grabbed Lizzie's hand and they walked while holding hands.

"That's my home,’’Lizzie's seru when they've arrived in front of her house.

"So that's your house. A comfortable and simple home."

"Will you go in first? ‘’

"no need. Next time only. Come on quickly in! Your mom and dad are waiting for you."

Lizzie runs into the house, after Lizzie really enters the house, Vladimir goes to his house on foot, but the atmosphere of the house was very dark and quiet like never before.

’’Daddy....mother....where are you?’’.

There was no answer and the atmosphere of the house was so quiet that only the sound of a wall clock ticking. Lizzie checks every room, but her father and mother are nowhere to be found. Maybe her parents left her alone.

’’No...no...father and mother will definitely not leave me here alone,’’gumannya. The atmosphere of the kitchen also looks very quiet and cold.

"Where are they?’’

Lizzie then looked for them in the living room and saw the door slightly open. Slowly the door was opened.’’Father...mother....you are here?’’

Lizzie didn't find her father or mother here. He had intended to look for her upstairs, but as he was leaving the living room, he noticed something terrible behind a sofa. His heart rate jumped uncharacteristically. He looks scared.

Blood reminisced on the white marble floor. Lizxie tried to see clearly by approaching him. He stood up and his body trembled. His lips were shaking violently. Tears began to fall to his cheeks.’’No. This is impossible. It must be a dream."

 Without him noticing, Lizzie walked back with great fear. He saw his father and mother lying on the floor motionless covered in blood. Lizzie tried to get out of there to get help, but she could not get out of the house because it was covered with thick smoke and flames started to appear around the house.

Lizzie is trapped inside the house. Smoke began to enter his lungs and he had difficulty breathing.

’’Uhuk...uhuk...uhuk....’’.

His eyes began to blur and felt dizzy in his head.

’’Toloooonggg...tolooonggg."

He hoped that someone would help him even though there was very little chance that anyone would hear him. As his consciousness began to dissipate, he saw someone standing next to him, and Lizzie fainted. [ ]