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Mohyla is many things; it is a small, quaint village at the base of the Carpathian Mountains in Western Ukraine. It is also the site of a former Soviet outpost during the early years of the USSR. Finally, it has additional historical significance as the place where mass graves were uncovered following the withdrawal of German forces during World War II.

However, to Lyssa, it is where she is spending the summer. She is there with her mother, a rather gifted computer technician for a kind of working vacation. Lyssa's mother has been contracted by the Russian conglomerate Kronas Corporation as part of a team of talented specialists on some kind of renovation project involving the old Soviet bunker that lies beneath the mountains, just west of Mohyla. Apparently there is some effort to transform the ruins into some kind of tourist attraction, though as isolated and remote as the village is, it seems unlikely that such an effort would prove a success.

Lyssa's mother is not entirely convinced herself and her investigations reveal that there is some kind of lost Nazi technology concealed within the mountain; something that Kronas intends to acquire for their own. Far from dissuading Elizabeth Dumort from continuing to work on the project, it only inspires further curiosity and drives her to find out more.

Meanwhile, Lyssa is left to her own devices. There is very little to do in Mohyla, aside from going on long hikes through the brush as the steppes that surround the village are mostly devoid of trees. The majority of the populace is composed of aging farmers and ranchers who occasionally travel south to the city of Uzhhorod to sell their wares and buy those essentials they cannot find at home. Because her mother is more confident of her intelligence and maturity than her father ever was, Lyssa has been allowed to take the old train down to Uzhhorod, which is itself rather ancient but boasts a state university and thus people closer to her own age. In particular, the young men, most of whom speak surprisingly fluent English, are taken with the foreign blonde, for both her looks and her intellect. Technical expertise is something highly prized at that institution as the country attempts to catch up with other developing nations.

At one point, Lyssa's mother actually gives her the option of staying in Uzhhorod as a guest of the Kronas Corporation, who are more than willing to pay for her hotel stay while her mother provides her with some spending money. Ukraine has its own currency, though it does accept the Euro but only at a substantial discount.

While Mohyla is not without its charm, it is not so much a living, breathing city as it is a reminder of the country's past. The future lies in Uzhhorod as do any number of charming Ukrainian collegiate men, not to mention a favorable number of clubs and cafes where she can enjoy herself.

To Lyssa being in Europe, even if it is just some small town in the middle of nowhere, is a dream come true, but she is more than willing to accept her mother's offer. She has made a few friends in Uzhhorod and the opportunity to spend some more time with them sounds enticing. She has spent as much time as a young woman can roaming the steppes of this strange land and acquainting herself with the various plants and flowers that grow here, something she enjoys almost as much as tinkering with computers. Even if she only stays for a few weeks before returning to Mohyla she feels it will be well worth it, the money her mother gives her can easily be used to acquire more clothing to help her blend in a little more among her peers, though given the blonde's preference for corsets and gothic style clothing, it may more be an excuse to spend her mother's money than anything else.

Ukrainian fashion being rather casual, there are not too many stores that cater to Lyssa's particular look but, with the influx of most Western influences, it is not an impossibility. Most of the familiar chain stores from the West have not yet established a hold in Uzhhorod so she mostly frequents specialty boutiques.

Additionally, the food is still predominantly traditional, incorporating a lot of potatoes and onions, mostly stuffed into dumplings or cooked in stews along with pork or beef. It is very rich and filling but certainly not gentle on a young woman's waistline. Vegetarian options are almost nonexistent as are more familiar choices like pizza or burgers. They also enjoy their baked sweets in alarming quantities. Somehow, the younger population seems to consume this cuisine without consequence. That is, until they enter middle age at which point all the accumulation of their vices, including the ubiquitous smoking and indulgence in liquor, catch up with them. It is as if they age twenty years in a single decade.

Unlike Prague or even the capital of Kiev, Uzhhorod does not have the wild nightlife for which those cities are often famous. Instead, the nightclubs are comparitively sedate, though still quite lively. The men are fairly polite, if sometimes boorish, but they leave her alone. In the beginning, she might presume it is some kind of cultural courtesy but, after a time, Lyssa will realize she is never alone. Somewhere in the vicinity, there are always men in business suits who swiftly check their watches or fumble with their cigarettes whenever she meets their eyes. They could be Ukrainian or even Russian intelligence agents but it seems more likely that they are representatives of Kronas Corporation security.

Lyssa, like most women her age is far from thrilled with her corporate shadows, she assumes that this is something her mother arranged despite her claims to trust her daughter. After a few days she simply begins to regard them as part of the background noise of the small city, though she does attempt at times to evade them, after all a young girl must have her secrets. The rich food has obviously forced Lyssa to take some precautions, trading her wandering through the woods for a run through the streets around her hotel in an effort to stave off the effects of so many delicious meals.

In the short weeks she's been in Urhorod she's cut her shoulder length blonde hair so it rests just along her jawline and she's added a few small streaks of vibrant blue to her usually pale golden locks. She is enjoying the freedom she has here, even if she is being watched, it is more than she would have had she stayed with her father. Perhaps that is why she jumped at the opportunity to escape even for a short time. Her parents were so different, her mother always encouraged her independence, as evidenced by her current freedom, where her father worked his hardest to keep her on a short leash and she rebelled at every chance, from her clothing to her music and even her toying with the computer her mother bought her, everything she did served to bring her one step closer to the day she would finally be free.

Far from being unusual in her choice of self expression, Lyssa will notice that many of the younger generation also wear unorthodox clothes and color their hair. After so many years languishing in the Soviet educational system, they are eager for their freedom.

Nevertheless, whether exploring the university campus, enjoying one of the local fruit wines at a street cafe where they never request identification from Lyssa or walking along a quiet path in one of the city parks, she is never far from one of her escorts. They never approach her directly and remain a casual distance away. If she attempts to engage them, they either withdraw or ignore her, walking away but never beyond the range of sight. Occasionally, one of them might speak into what appears to be an old type of hand held radio. For the most part, the technology in this city is still a decade or so behind. There is local cellular service but it is not reliable and the standard telephone remains in use. To call her mother at night, Lyssa can use the hotel phone in her room but she might begin to suspect that it is tapped. Not only that but her mother's voice sounds strangely strained lately.

Lyssa, being rather young and naive chalks the strain in her mother's voice up to something going wrong with work. She's heard it many times before when things don't go according to plan with her programs. Her suspicions about the phone could be easily confirmed, her mother has taught her enough about computers and electronics that had she the tools she could dismantle the device and look for proof, but if the tap is on her mother's line that would prove fruitless.

Instead she keeps to her routines, running and exploring the city, a simple teen travelling with her family, though her escorts make that illusion rather difficult to carry off. She considers calling her father, but he would of course ask to speak to her mother and then overreact as usual when she wasn't there. Lyssa finds herself lost in the sights and sounds of her surroundings, soon putting her worries and suspicions behind her and enjoying the whirlwind of activities she's found to immerse herself in. From the clubs to the little cafes she has no issue obtaining drinks despite the fact she's clearly too young to be a university student, but she doesn't question it.

As for the security, Lyssa's mother assures her that it is strictly for insurance reasons and nothing she requested. In fact, she contacted her liaison at Kronas to request the detail be removed by she was told there were certain concerns for Lyssa's welfare. This might explain the hesitation in her mother's voice but she knows her mother would never demand that she return to the village as her daughter is clearly enjoying herself in the city.

Alexi, Maks and Val are three friends Lyssa has managed to make during her time in Uzhhorod. All three are first year university students and all three are clearly smitten with Lyssa. Alexi is a thinner, quiet and studious man who still looks like he could be in high school while Maks is strapping and has a full beard. He is a man for whom the term tall, dark and handsome had clearly been coined. His friend Val is leaner, blond and constantly smiling.

She had met the men during one of her visits to the university. Like Lyssa, Alexi enjoys tinkering with computers and shows her how to hack the local internet access grid, which is restricted mostly to corporate or military use.

Maks, on the other hand, is more of an outdoors man and is studying to be a conservationist. He is very vocal on the issue of nuclear power, constantly reminding Lyssa that Chernobyl had its famous meltdown in his country and there were still lingering effects.

Val is a drama student and enjoys philosophy. Of the three, he makes his interest in Lyssa very apparent and even openly flirts with her in front of the other men

All of them grew up in what had been Soviet Ukraine and can still remember it. They had been raised to believe that the West was populated with warmongers who wanted to destroy the Soviet way of life.

'Of course,' Maks had said while grinning, 'the Soviet way of life destroyed itself.' That statement brought a hearty agreement from the other men, who raised their small cups of vodka in salute.

It is Alexi, however, who shows the most curiosity about Lyssa's mother and her work in Mohyla. Not only does he bring up a sobering fact of which Lyssa is not aware, that Mohyla is the Ukrainian word for 'tomb' but he knows something of the history of the village and the Soviet outpost there.

'It was originally built by Nazis, you know,' he says, adjusting his glasses on his long thin nose. 'During their very short occupation. They had a concentration camp in Kiev but many of the bodies were buried all the way out there where nobody was to find them. They even killed most of the villagers, so I heard.'

His English has a thick Slavic accent underpinning it.

'After the Red Army liberated the region, they took it over and used it as a prisoner of war camp. More bodies they buried up there, they say. Most people there who are still there were the children that were spared. They're all old now and they don't like to talk about the past.'

'You're so gloomy, Alexi,' says Val, smiling easily at Lyssa. They are sitting on the patio of an outdoor cafe, enjoying the summer sun as the winters there can be very harsh. 'How will ever seduce our pretty friend out of her clothes if you keep telling those old ghost stories?

Maks snorts in derision. 'Why are we talking about it at all? They are planning on building a dam up there, you know, and I agree with them. Natural power is better for everyone.'

Val rolls his eyes theatrically and grins while Alexi, who is of the opposing viewpoint, bites his tongue. Though Maks is not a bully, his physical presence is enough to cow Alexi into silence.

Lyssa looks over at Val as he speaks, her cheeks tinged pink by his words though she smiles amicably. If what Maks says is true and they are building a dam in Mohyla it would explain why they needed her mother's programming experience. Everything about the systems for controlling water through a dam has to be programmed precisely and even one little thing out of place will upset the whole thing. Her mother has worked on similar projects all over the world and if there was some dissent to the plan of course Lyssa herself could be a target.

She leans back in her chair, sipping the vodka the men are always so willing to share with her. "Maks is right, whatever they're building in Mohyla sweetheart telling old ghost stories in a cafe in Uzhhorod gets no one anywhere". She's fallen into the habit of playfully flirting back with Val, simply to watch his reactions when he does, the others don't seem to notice or care, though she must admit their company is preferable to lingering by herself with her security detail hanging about in the shadows.

"Let's let the old ghosts lie and create new stories that will last the rest of our lives" she laughs as she raises her glass silently "unless you boys had a better idea?"

Even though they all were obviously attracted to Lyssa, none of them make any serious overtures. It is as if they know she will not be there for long or perhaps simply intimidated by her personality. Most of the Ukrainian women she's met tend to be quiet, even shy, as decades of social conditioning had made them somewhat submissive. This is not the case with all of them but it seems like most men here prefer that type of woman. With Lyssa, it is as if she is one of the boys.

So it goes for most of the summer with Lyssa. She is allowed to remain in the city for as long as she desires, getting around by walking or taking the municipal bus. To return to Mohyla, she has to take the train and that is a long, noisy ride. Besides, she speaks with her mother almost every night, who advises Lyssa as to the progress, or lack thereof, the team is making. She is reluctant to give details and she strongly admonishes Lyssa to enjoy herself and not worry about her.

It is Maks who notices the escorts first and he points them out to Alexi and Val.

'I'd seen them following you around before,' he states while they share a plate of pyrogys at a restaurant. Two suited men take their seats at the table on the far side of the room. 'They could think you are a spy.'

'It could be the company her mother works for,' Alexi counters. 'Kronas has that reputation. They were close friends with the KGB when it still existed.'

'I wonder if they like to watch,' Val wonders aloud, winking at Lyssa.

None of them own a car as it is something of an expensive luxury, even in a fairly populous city like Uzhhorod. They take the bus to get around in the city and, during the holidays, either go by train or fly into Kiev from the airport, the same which had brought Lyssa to this place.

'You should say something to them,' Maks remarks at Lyssa.

'Or leave them alone,' Alexi retorts nervously. 'If they work for the government, you might disappear, Maks.'

'And then what would we tell your family?' Val jokes.

Lyssa rolls her eyes "oh. those guys. Don't mind them, my mother's boss thinks I might get into some trouble or something and is paying them to follow me around, you know covering their asses and what not, after all if something happens to me then my mother of course will have to stop working. I think it's overkill but whatever helps them sleep at night I suppose".

With her typical flirty and fun loving nature she waves them off the subject and onto something more pleasant, "so what are we going to do tonight boys?" She finds it rather refreshing to be just one of the guys and with the exception of her playful flirting with Val she really thinks nothing of furthering the relationship even if they were interested. After all she really has no idea how long she'll be here and it's not like she can fly over here whenever she wants once her mother's work is done.

It is not only the presence of the chaperones that prevents any of the three men from making any advances. They, in their own awkward way, manage to undermine each other and Lyssa, whose playful demeanor only exacerbates the situation, can only sit back and watch them.

After nearly a month on her own in the city, having successfully avoided being seduced by or seducing any of her admirers, Lyssa returns to the hotel where she is staying only to have the clerk call her over. She is a petite, dark haired woman, hardly older than Lyssa, and she smiles with professional courtesy as Lyssa approaches.

'Miss Dumort?' she says with her heavy native accent. 'You have a message from a Mrs. Elizabeth Dumort.'

Lyssa walks over to the desk, she must admit she is puzzled by why her mother would call, especially since she was going to call her as soon as she got in anyway. She twirls her hair around her finger and smiles "yes of course, was it something important?"

If she were a paranoid woman she would be worrying about her mother, but she knows that just like her daughter Elizabeth is strong willed and independent. She makes a note to call her mother more often when she's not with the boys, though she must admit her mother would find it comical how they seem to trip over each other in Lyssa's presence. She wonders if it's just how she acts or if there is something more to it, but for now her mind is focused on what her mother called to tell her.

The woman extends her hand towards Lyssa, holding out a written note. She is still smiling pleasantly.

It reads as such: NO NEED TO COME HOME. ENJOY YOUR RUN.

There is not any context to the note or any indication what the note might mean. Lyssa can only interpret based on what she knows about her mother, who has always been an intelligent, driven and ambitious woman.

Then Lyssa may notice the receptionist looking over at the two men in suits who are rapidly approaching the desk and her eyes flit back at Lyssa, confused. She clearly knows something is about to happen and that Lyssa is somehow the cause of it but there is so little time to think about it.

Lyssa has always had good instincts and they don't fail her now, she shoves the paper into her pocket and bolts for the door. She's quick on her feet even though she has no idea where she is going or what she'll do when she gets there. She only knows that something has happened to her mother and she wants her to run. Her mother has always been good with codes and Lyssa's instincts flare to life when needed and fill in the gaps.

She darts for the door, grateful that she wore her running shoes today instead of the combat boots she prefers as part of her rebel persona. She is also grateful she's cut her hair for it would be extremely difficult to run with it falling in her eyes. She knows she can't call her father, her "security" will know to look for her with her friends. It seems she's alone, in a foreign country and who knows what the hell is going on with her mother and this Kronas company.