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Chapter 13 - Chapter 13 : The Shadowed Past

"My name is Sarah, and I once lived a quiet life in a small village near the East Kingdom. Our family was small but close-knit. There was my older sister, my father, and my mother. My father served as a soldier in the army, while my mother took care of our home. We were happy and lived peacefully, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. My sister and I were inseparable, playing together as children do. At the time, I was 18, and my sister was 20. She was incredibly beautiful—her **blue eyes** glistened like sapphires, her skin was as soft as **silk** and as pale as **milk**, and her voice was so sweet that it could rival the song of a nightingale.

 

One day, we ventured into the forest as we often did, along with Reva, a neighbor's daughter who was 15 years old. We played, laughed, and enjoyed ourselves before deciding to head to the lake for a swim. As we bathed in the cool water, I noticed someone in the distance—**the leader of my father's battalion**. His expression changed as he saw us. Instead of passing by, he hid behind a tree, his eyes locked on us with a **dark hunger**. I felt uneasy, but I hoped he would leave, so I said nothing. We continued to splash and play, the water lapping at our skin, but when I glanced over again, I saw him—**his hand moving below his waist**, touching himself in a vulgar display as he watched us.

 

My heart raced in my chest. I immediately told my sister that we needed to leave, but she brushed it off, insisting we stay a little longer. Reva agreed, but the feeling of dread inside me grew stronger. '**Let's go, now,**' I said firmly, and we finally made our way to the shore to change our clothes. I could still see him watching us from the distance, his hand moving faster as we stood exposed, vulnerable. My skin crawled with disgust, and we hurried away, leaving him behind.

 

We never spoke of it again. I didn't dare tell anyone, least of all my father. If I did, it would ruin his position in the army, and that man—**that monster**—was too powerful to fight.

 

The next day, I went to the forest alone to collect mushrooms. As I searched the undergrowth, a sound reached my ears—a **scream**, sharp and desperate. My heart sank, and I rushed toward the noise. What I saw froze me in my tracks. **The battalion leader** had cornered my sister. He had already torn open her dress, his hands groping at her **bare chest** as he **forced his lips** onto hers. My sister was silent, her eyes full of fear and submission. He was too strong, too dangerous. I ran to her and tried to pull her back, but he only laughed, grabbing me by the wrist.

 

'Don't get in my way, girl,' he sneered. 'Do you know who I am? I could **snap you like a twig**.'

 

My sister immediately begged, her voice trembling, 'Please, she's my younger sister. She doesn't understand, please let her go.'

 

The battalion leader's face twisted into a sick grin. 'But she's ruined my mood,' he said, licking his lips. 'I'll let you go this time, but next time, tell her to stay out of my way.' He shoved me back, and I stumbled, anger boiling inside me. I shouted at him, 'If you touch her again, I'll tell my father!'

 

He laughed, a low, **vile sound**. 'Your father? He works for me. I could have him killed with just a word. You don't know who you're dealing with, little girl.' With that, he walked away, leaving us trembling and shaken.

 

As we returned home, my sister finally broke down. She told me why she hadn't resisted. The battalion leader had threatened to kill our father on the battlefield if she didn't submit to him. She had no choice but to obey.

 

The next day, news arrived that the East Kingdom was preparing for war, and all soldiers were ordered to the frontlines immediately. My father was among those who were sent off, and the battalion leader—**the man who had violated my sister's dignity**—was the one leading them. He cast a leering glance at us as they marched away, making my stomach churn with disgust.

 

The war raged on for two long months. During that time, my mother's health worsened. She was frail, barely eating, waiting anxiously for my father to return. My sister tried to stay strong, taking care of the house and our mother, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. She missed our father, but there was also relief—**relief that the battalion leader was gone**, at least for now.

 

Finally, after two months of waiting, the soldiers began to return. But when they arrived, we saw that only **half** of them had made it back. **Half of the army had fallen** on the battlefield, their bodies left behind in the blood-soaked earth. My father was not among those who returned. The East Kingdom had won the war, but it was a victory paid for with countless lives, including my father's."