16
Chantou
Shadows. Shadows everywhere. She had existed in this world of shadows for three days now. Before the shadows there had been the light and life of her village. Then, as she had played in the fading light of dusk in a field near her home, the shadows had come and taken her away from the light. Her only warning had been the sudden sound of rushing footsteps behind her. Before she could turn round to see who it was, strong arms had grasped her roughly and some sort of canvas bag had been pulled over her head, blocking out the light and bringing the shadows into her life. Then she had been bundled into the back of a van, thrown about as the vehicle drove wildly away from the scene, her cries muffled by the canvas and by the van engine.
Her name was Chantou. She was 13 years old an
