"Where am I?" The question hung silently in the darkness. Her eyes gradually adjusted to the absence of light. Shadows. Silhouettes. Some objects around her.

Sophia strained her memory. The last thing she remembered was walking to school. The white jacket. Mom's "Have a good day." And then… a gray car? A man asking for directions? After that—emptiness.

She tried to sit up. Her head spun, nausea rose in her throat. She managed it anyway. She felt the surface beneath her—a hard bed with a metal frame. A sheet, blanket, pillow. Next to it—a small table. Something stood on it.

Sophia reached out and felt cold porcelain. A small statuette. Running her fingers over the smooth surface, she recognized the shape—an elephant. Just like the ones she collected at home. Only this one was… What color was it? Impossible to tell in the darkness.

Her heart beat faster. "Viktor? Is he the one who took me?" The thought burned through her consciousness. Or was it someone else?

Somewhere in the distance, footsteps were heard. Firm, measured—someone was approaching. Sophia froze, clutching the porcelain figurine in her hand. The footsteps stopped outside a door that she couldn't yet make out in the darkness. The sound of a key in the lock. Creaking hinges.

A silhouette appeared in the doorway. The light came on—dim, yellowish, but after complete darkness, it seemed blinding. Sophia squinted, and when she opened her eyes, she saw a man in a formal dark suit before her.

"Good morning, Sophia," the voice sounded gentle, almost friendly. "How are you feeling?"

She didn't answer, continuing to grip the elephant in her hand. The man was tall, with gray temples and a neat beard. Glasses in thin frames. His gaze was attentive, studying. In his hands—a folder with some papers.

"My name is Doctor Berkut. Alexander Viktorovich. I'm here to help you."

"Where am I?" Sophia's voice sounded hoarse, as if she hadn't spoken for several days.

"In a safe place," he smiled reservedly. "A temporary shelter until we prepare something more… suitable for you."

The man came closer and sat on a chair near the bed. His gaze fell on the statuette in the girl's hand.

"I see you've already met our little friend," he nodded at the elephant. "You know what's interesting? This elephant is green. The color of hope. The color of the future."

Sophia looked at the figurine. In the lamplight, the porcelain indeed had a soft green hue, like young spring grass.

"Why am I here?" she tried to speak firmly, but her voice trembled.

"Oh, that's the right question," Berkut opened the folder. "You're here because you're special, Sophia. You passed the selection. You deserve to be part of something greater than an ordinary life."

He took a photograph from the folder and placed it before her. In the picture, Sophia was in the schoolyard, laughing, with books in her hands. Next to it were several more photographs: Sophia with her mother, Sophia near her house, Sophia in physical education class.

"We've been watching you for a long time," Berkut continued. "And others like you. Special children who deserve a better future."

"My mom will look for me," Sophia tried to make her voice sound confident. "And the police are already searching."

"Undoubtedly," he smiled again, this time sincerely. "Your mom is a wonderful woman. Elena Andreevna, right? She's very worried. But unfortunately, she's looking in the wrong places. As is the police."

Berkut stood and approached the door.

"Rest, Sophia. Dinner will be soon. And then… we'll begin preparing you."