Difference between revisions of "The Shroud"

It was love at first sight, the aspiring musician smitten by the woman’s beauty thus drawing him to her in what seemed like a meeting destined by fate. The two forming a relationship which eventually resulted in the birth of their daughter Caitlyn.

Jordan now a father and husband were under immense pressure to provide his newfound family with but a failing career as a musician forcing him to seek odd jobs to make ends meet which soon put a strain upon his marriage causing a rift between himself and his wife Svetlana.

Soon after Jordan found a steady gig as an ambient acoustic guitar player in a Russian nightclub called ‘Pacha Moscow’ which in of itself was a front and regular hangout for higher ups in the Bratva the Russian equivalent to the Mafia. His skill and dedication attracted the attention of a regular named Nikolai Reznov a high ranking brigadier (Captain) within the organization.

Noticing the musician’s financial struggles and seeing a great opportunity to put another desperate soul beneath his thumb, Nikolai pulled the struggling Cross aside and offered Jordan a deal a GENEROUS loan of eighty thousand dollars. One which with great contemplation was accepted by the desperate guitarist who sought to use the funds to stabilize his life at home and repair the relationship not only between himself and his wife but also his daughter whom had only just turned four.

It was soon however he’d realize the gravity of his situation as collections were frequent, weekly. The man soon finding this newfound wealth to be nothing more than a mirage of false hope as he found Bratva enforcers arriving at his home regularly for their weekly marked up cut only to find that his debt simply climbed higher and higher by marginal percentages.

Soon the paycheck that once held him steady were torn in barely a half and once the money ran out the Bratva grew more and more bold in their demanding of predatory payments, taxing him a climbing percentage each week until Nikolai himself would arrive upon Jordan’s doorstep in extortion demanding answers, however its then that Nikolai met Svetlana.

A fixation formed then almost immediately as Nikolai grew covetous of Svetlana and so he offered her and her husband a new deal. Another which out of desperation not on Jordan’s part but Svetlana’s was accepted. Svetlana agreed to become a new regular, a dancer at the establishment he ran and in return he would see that their daughter’s financial stability were secured, cutting Jordan’s then one hundred and fifty thousand dollar debt in half with lower weekly payments.

This only further drove the desperate rift between Jordan and Svetlana as months would pass, with this new arrangement leading to a nefarious affair between Svetlana and Nikolai, one driven out of FEAR that the money would stop flowing and Caitlyn’s security would be unassured not only financially but physically.

Aged three now Caitlyn had grown considerably but the relationship between her parents only deteriorated further and further, Jordan finally having enough demanded his wife quit her job and reluctantly she obeyed only for the three year old’s life to be torn asunder by the events to follow.

Going back upon their agreement and jealous Nikolai had finally had enough of the pair and sought to erase them completely. Arriving at their humble studio apartment immediately seeking a different debt entirely, one of BLOOD.

With three soldier’s at his back Nikolai and his bratva associates invaded the Cross’ home and violently killed not only Jordan but Svetlana, raiding the place to take anything of value until Nikolai stumbled upon a sad sight.

Terrified, a young Caitlyn hid within a closet, hands raised and tears streaming down her face as she was brought to gunpoint. A long contemplation followed then as Nikolai even in his heartlessness could not bring himself to harm the girl, seeing so much of her mother in her he instead offered her his hand.

One, which was taken out of fear and innocent desperation. From that moment on, Caitlyn were no longer Caitlyn Cross, she had become Caitlyn Reznov, taken from that home one which were promptly burned to the ground by the Bratva’s men, erasing the Cross legacy entirely.