Year 20**, 25th of December.

“Come here, sweety” said Mr. Brown.

“Come here, Liza” repeated his wife, Mrs. Brown.

“It’s time to go to your grandparents’ house”

But little, 4 year old, Liza was playing hide-and-seek and couldn’t come.

“Liza, your granny said that she has a surprise for you, are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Said Mr, Brown while trying to find where his daughter was hiding this time.

“A surprise!?” suddenly exclaimed a squeaky voice and Mr. and Mrs. Brown saw their little daughter climbing out of a package box that was chosen as Liza’s new hiding spot.

“Yes, yes, my darling”

“Come here, let me help you wear your gloves” said her mom while trying to catch Liza’s hands that seemed like they wanted to jump off little girl and run away.

Once she was dressed in her coat and boots, which weren’t very expensive as only Mr. Brown had a job while Mrs. Brown had left her’s when got pregnant with Liza, she went outside and and got into the car.

Once they took off, Mrs. Brown turned to her daughter and said “Liza, look in the window, it’s so beautiful!”

Liza was excited because it’s Christmas but was also a bit upset that she didn’t get to finish her hide-and-seek game.

Even though Brown’s family was not wealthy, they treated her child like a princess. They were not afraid to spend all their money on their little, lovely daughter. They would play with her all the time and give her treats.

“We’ve arrived!” announced Mr. Brown while stretching out after a long ride.

Liza gasped with excitement when saw all the Christmas trees, bright, colorful lights and all kinds of Christmas presents.

“Liza, come out of the car and go say ‘hi’ to granny and grandpa” called her Mrs. Brown. Liza jumped out of the car and ran into the house at the speed of light, in fact, she was running so fast that not even a single snow flake got on her beautiful red coat.

“Hi, granny!!” said Liza and ran to her grandmother to hug her.

“Oh, hello, my beautiful princess!” nearly shouting, full of excitement and joy, said Liza’s grandmother, Mrs. Smith.

“Come here, darling, I have something for you” said Mrs. Smith reaching into a bag sitting on a table next to her.

Liza came forward to accept the present which turned out to be a little, yet absolutely gorgeous necklace.

“Let’s see if it fits our little princess” said Mrs. Smith and leaned forward to help Liza with her new piece of jewelry.

“How beautiful!” Said Mr. Smith, Liza’s grandfather, coming out of the room.

“Father!” exclaimed Mrs. Brown.

“Miranda!” Mr. Smith hugged her daughter whom he didn’t see for almost a year now.

“I’m so happy to see everyone!” Said Mrs. Smith

“Now, let’s go. We have dinner to prepare”

While everybody was busy helping with dinner, Liza got a little bored and decided to go play outside in the snow.

She wanted to see all those Christmas lights so much that she forgot about her parents’ warning not to go outside alone.

She ran out of the house as quickly as she could and tripped. She hit her leg very hard and couldn’t stand up.

“Mom! Dad!” she screamed but no one heard her.

“Heeeelp!”

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around expecting to see her parents who came to help her but instead saw a man in dirty, ripped clothes, a man who her parents call a thug or a... bandit.