During World War 1 ( The Great War), there were several reports of women being brutally raped by german soldiers in Belgium. One of these women happened to be eighteen year old Anri Vermulen.

Anri walked down the cold, dark, stone path silently. She held on tightly to her basket handle which carried some bread, cheese and some fabrics. These were items that her family needed and were unable to provide themselves with. As she walked she noticed a group of soldiers walking down the opposite way. She knew they were not Belgian by the style of their uniform. She found it odd that they were here. One in particular locked eyes with her. His eyes were an icy blue. He seemed at least five years older than her and was very intimidating. She couldn't describe the way he looked at her other than simply resorting to a time when her older brother got to eat a large piece of meat to himself for the first time. The way he looked at the meat was the same way the solider looked at her, lustful. When she attempted to walk faster he took a step sideways, blocking her and causing her to bump into him. She gasped, startled by the suddenness of it all and took a couple of steps back.

" I-I am so sorry sir...." She mumbled nervously in dutch, her mother tongue, and checked her basket to ensure that nothing fell out.

The solider looked at her with a straight face and said in very harsh german " Young lady, you are not to touch a solider, I must fine you."

He grabbed Anri tightly by her forearm and dragged her to a dark alley. The other soldiers did not notice or care and simply minded their own business.

" What is going on? Please let go!" She attempted to break from his grasp and was unsuccessful.

He slapped her across the face, not hard enough to bruise her but certainly hard enough to leave a handprint. Her jaw dropped in shock and she bit her lip.

" Please let go..." She mumbled as her whole body began to shake.

Surely he probably didn't understand anything she has been saying. However, one could probably guess what she wanted through actions and vocal tone.  He pushed her against a wall and pulled a gun to her head.

" Say anything, anything at all, and you will die." He whispered in her ear with his hand on the trigger.

In complete shock she fell silent and was completely paralyzed. He let go of the trigger and began to untie the ribbons on her forest green cloak and brushed it off her shoulders. He smirked and put away the gun as he scanned her up and down. It was in this moment that Anri knew exactly what would happen, yet she could do nothing about it. He could at any moment kill her and he was so much stronger physically that there was no way she could fight him off. He unbuttoned the buttons on her cotton white blouse until it fully exposed her bra. He took his left pointer finger and traced from the end of her bra to the top of her skirt waistband. Anri felt an electric shock run through her body. His fingers were so cold and unbelievably rough. He ripped off her skirt and pulled down her stockings and underwear quickly. She couldn't breathe, in fact, she could've sworn she was going to pass out. He paused for a moment, as if deciding on something and then shrugged before undoing his pants, forcing her left leg upwards, and inserted himself in her. Anri no longer could compute what was happening and tears streamed down her face. Blood began to drip down her legs and onto her undergarments. She arched her back and bit her lip, preventing to allow a moan escape from her as another fluid escaped her system. She heard him groan slightly as he went faster and harder.  Eventually he came to and pulled out, and then mumbled something in her ear before biting her neck area just under her jaw.  As if he wanted her to remember these events and left her there.

She had managed to stay in shock for a few minutes before shakily putting back on her clothing, picking up her basket, and sneaking out of the alley. Once she was far enough away she ran as fast as she could until she could get back to her cottage. When she got there, nobody was home yet and so she put away her market items and went to a nearby lake where she took her clothes off and bathed. She felt so dirty and used that in her mind she felt the need to bathe. After about half an hour, she went back and changed clothing. She wore a nice red ankle- length skirt and a red blouse. She brushed out her long blonde hair and took a pair of large scissors and cut it to her shoulders. She then brushed it again and began to prepare supper for her brothers. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, she peered out through the curtains, making sure it wasn't a solider and then opened the door after seeing it wasn't. Instead of a solider, a young boy her age stood at the door, holding a box of tomatoes and oranges.

" Lovino! It's nice to see you" She plastered a grin on her face " Please, come in."

He stepped inside and she closed the door behind him.  He looked at her and chuckled "Your hair-"

" Yes, yes. I figured it was time for a change you know? The decade is ending and lots of girls have started doing this. It's very empowering."

He nodded " You look beautiful" he took her hand and kissed it gently.

She flinched at his touch and felt her cheeks go pink " Really? Thank you..."

He noticed that she was not herself. Something had seemed off about her. However it was hard to tell what that could be.

" So where would you like me to put these?" Lovino asked.

" Right there, by the bread container." She instructed.

With no hesitation he set it down exactly where she directed him and went back to her.  " So how are things with you and Antonio?" He asked. It was the only thing he could think of asking her since she and Antonio had been newly engaged.

That's when she froze for a moment, and then hesitated before answering " Things have been perfect.... "

He sighed " What did the asshole do this time?"

She shook her head " He did nothing."

Lovino sighed " Tell me what that bastard did. I will beat him to a pulp if I need to. Just-"

" It has nothing to do with him Lovino." She insisted.

" If you're sure..." He took out a cigarette from his pocket along with a box of matches and lit up the cigarette.

" Believe me he did nothing wrong if anything it was me!" She began to breathe heavily.

He put the cigarette between his fingers and raised an eyebrow " What do you mean?"

She shook her head rapidly " Forget it!"

He smoked the cigarette and exhaled a large cloud of smoke. He then noticed a large purple mark by her neck. His eyes widened.

" Anri. Your neck. What happened?" He placed his cigarette in a nearby ash tray and cupped her face gently. " Anri, tell me."

Her eyes watered " I wanted to stop it... but I couldn't..."

He was able to quickly put two and two together and he pulled her into a hug " Anri... It'll be fine... you'll have to file a report though."

" I can't let him know..." She mumbled " He cannot know."

" Antonio will understand. If you explain." Lovino replied.

" Lovino... no one can know. Please. Don't tell anyone." She begged.

He sighed, knowing he'd regret everything he was about to say " Alright, I won't tell anyone."