Chapter One: / 11:57 PM

Series 1 of the Xenia Onatapp series 

 Chapter One: 11:57 PM

In the heart of Marneuli, a town nestled in the verdant folds of Georgia's Kvemo Kartli region, the air was thick with an eerie stillness that belied the storm brewing just beyond the walls. It was **11:57 PM** on **August 13, 1992**. Inside the modest confines of the Marneuli Maternity Hospital, a miracle was unfolding, one that would be overshadowed by the chaos of war mere moments later.

Elene, a Georgian woman with raven-black hair and eyes that sparkled with determination, lay on a narrow cot in a small delivery room. The sterile scent of antiseptic mingled with the earthy aroma of fresh linen, creating an oddly comforting atmosphere amidst her discomfort. She gripped the edge of the cot tightly, her knuckles white against the fabric, as waves of pain surged through her body. Each contraction felt like a tempest crashing against her resolve.

"Breathe, Elene," Farid urged softly, his voice a soothing balm against the cacophony of her anguish. He was her anchor in this tumultuous sea—an Azerbaijani man with dark curls and a gentle demeanor, who had come to love this land as fiercely as his own. He stood beside her, his presence a steadfast reminder that she was not alone.

As the clock ticked inexorably toward midnight, Elene's breaths quickened with anticipation and trepidation. The world outside was oblivious to her struggle; it was a world filled with whispers of conflict and unrest that had been brewing for years. But within this room, time seemed suspended—a sanctuary where hope flickered like a candle in the dark.

At **11:58 PM**, Elene felt an overwhelming surge of strength. With one final push, she brought forth life into this world—a daughter named Xenia. The infant's cry pierced the stillness like a siren heralding both joy and foreboding. In that moment, as Elene cradled Xenia against her chest, she felt an intoxicating rush of love mingled with fear. This child would know only three minutes of peace before being thrust into a world on fire.

"Look at her," Farid whispered, tears glistening in his eyes as he gazed at their newborn daughter. "She is beautiful."

Xenia's tiny fingers curled instinctively around Elene's thumb, a gesture so profound it seemed to transcend the chaos outside. The warmth of her skin was a reminder that life persisted even in the face of impending doom.

But as if on cue, the tranquility shattered. At precisely **midnight**, the distant rumble of artillery fire echoed ominously through Marneuli—a harbinger of the violence that would soon engulf their lives. The ground trembled beneath them as if responding to some ancient call to arms.

Elene's heart raced as she looked toward Farid, who had turned pale at the sound of explosions reverberating through the building. "What is happening?" she gasped, her voice trembling.

"It's starting," he replied grimly, his brows furrowing with concern. "The conflict has escalated."

In those fleeting moments after Xenia's birth, time twisted and warped around them. The hospital room transformed from a sanctuary into a crucible where hope and despair collided violently. The sounds outside grew louder—shouts mingled with gunfire punctuated by explosions that rattled the very foundations of their world.

At **12:01 AM**, as Xenia lay nestled in her mother's arms, another explosion erupted nearby—this one closer than before. The walls shuddered violently; fluorescent lights flickered overhead like fireflies caught in a tempest. Elene instinctively wrapped her arms protectively around her newborn daughter.

"Stay close!" Farid shouted over the din as he rushed to secure their belongings strewn across the room—clothes hastily packed in anticipation of their impending flight from danger.

"Where do we go?" Elene cried out desperately as fear clawed at her throat.

"Anywhere but here!" Farid replied tersely as he gathered what little they could carry—a few clothes for themselves and blankets for Xenia.

The hospital staff moved swiftly but purposefully; nurses rushed past them with expressions etched in determination mixed with dread. The air grew thick with tension as patients were wheeled out on gurneys—some injured from blasts that had already begun to rain down upon their city.

Xenia's cries pierced through the chaos—a sound both fragile and fierce amidst a cacophony that threatened to swallow them whole. Elene cradled her daughter closer still; she could feel Xenia's heartbeat—a steady rhythm against the backdrop of chaos surrounding them.

As they stumbled toward the exit, Elene caught glimpses of other families fleeing into the night—mothers clutching their children tightly while fathers shielded them from danger with resolute determination etched across their faces. It was a scene both heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring; humanity clinging desperately to hope even as darkness encroached upon them.

Outside, Marneuli was transformed into a war zone—the streets once filled with laughter and life now echoed with despair and destruction. Smoke billowed into the sky like dark clouds heralding an approaching storm; debris littered sidewalks where children once played carefree under sunlit skies.

"Where do we go?" Elene asked again, panic rising within her chest like floodwaters threatening to drown them all.

"Toward Tbilisi," Farid said firmly as he scanned their surroundings for any sign of safety amidst chaos unfolding around them.

They hurried down streets illuminated only by sporadic bursts of gunfire illuminating faces twisted in fear or determination alike—strangers united by shared desperation seeking refuge from violence threatening to consume everything they held dear.

As they reached an intersection where roads diverged into shadowy alleys leading deeper into uncertainty—Farid paused momentarily, glancing back at Elene whose eyes reflected both terror and resolve, unwavering despite circumstances beyond her control threatening to unravel everything they had fought so hard to build together since first meeting years ago amidst bustling markets exactly seven years and seven days to the very day of Xenia's birth.

They finally spotted an old car parked haphazardly on the side of the road, its paint chipped and rusted, but it was their only option. Farid rushed over to check the doors while Elene kept a vigilant eye on the surroundings.

"Get in!" he shouted, managing to pry open the driver's side door. They hurriedly climbed in, Elene placing Xenia carefully in her lap, her heart racing as Farid turned the key. The engine sputtered to life, a sound both foreign and reassuring amidst the chaos.

With a quick glance back at the hospital, they took off into the night, the streets of Marneuli a blur of shadows and flickering lights. The tension in the air was palpable; the world outside felt like a living, breathing entity filled with fear and uncertainty.

As they drove, the landscape shifted from the familiar streets of their childhood to the desolate outskirts of town. The cacophony of war faded slightly, replaced by the rhythmic thrum of the engine as they sped away from their home. Elene glanced at Farid, who was focused on the road ahead, his jaw set in determination.

"The sun will rise soon," he said, trying to offer a glimmer of hope amidst despair.

"Do you think it will be safe?" Elene asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"We'll find a way," he replied, his tone resolute. "We must."

But the road was fraught with peril. As they navigated the winding paths, they could see the distant glow of Tbilisi, its silhouette a reminder of what they were leaving behind and what lay ahead. Soon, however, the car began to sputter, the engine losing power.

"Stay calm," Farid urged, gripping the wheel tighter. "We can make it."

But with a final cough, the car came to a halt. They were stranded on the side of the road, the vast darkness enveloping them. The first light of dawn began to break, casting a soft glow over the landscape.

Elene looked out at the horizon, the sun rising over the distant capital. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, a breathtaking sight that felt surreal against the backdrop of their plight. The mountains loomed in the distance, majestic and serene, contrasting with the chaos of the previous hours.

"We need to find shelter," Farid said, urgency creeping into his voice. They surveyed their surroundings and spotted an abandoned barn nearby, its structure weathered but sturdy enough to provide some refuge.

They made their way to the barn, the scent of hay filling the air as they stepped inside. It was dark and musty, filled with remnants of a life long forgotten. Snakes slithered through the shadows, but Elene and Farid paid them no mind as they found a corner strewn with hay.

Elene settled down, cradling Xenia close. Exhaustion washed over her as she lay back against the hay, the warmth of her daughter a comfort amidst the uncertainty. Farid lay beside them, his eyes scanning the barn for any signs of danger.