The Rape of Denever

The Imperial Army had made an ultimatum to the besieged Republican city of Denever. Surrender, or be slaughtered to the last woman and child when they finally broke through. Now, that terrible day had come. The Army had finally penetrated the walls of the city and destroyed the garrison of Republican soldiers.

Sarah, the young daughter of the mayor, had turned 10 last week.
Her father had celebrated her birthday with a cake, despite the food shortages. Now her father was one of the many unfortunates impaled on stakes outside the walls of the ruined city.
Despite her best attempts at hiding in the mayoral mansion, the enemy had found her and dragged her all the way to the central courtyard. Soon she was in a vast line of weary citizens shuffling forward to their deaths.

Sarah grimaced as the young peasant girl in front of her was forced to her knees. The girl lowered her head onto a chipped and bloodstained chopping block. The two soldiers holding the child down averted their faces as the executioner swung his axe down. Sarah clenched her teeth in anger as the wet meaty sound of steel parting flesh and bone echoed through the bloodstained courtyard. She felt helpless fury as the little girl's headless corpse keeled over on its side, blood spraying from the neck. The soldiers dragged the body over to the mass burial pit, leaving a trail of blood.

Sarah felt strong hands firmly grip her restrained arms. She was pushed down to her knees. Her heart beat rapidly as she slowly lowered her head onto the block. She shuddered as her chin touched sticky, warm congealing blood on the worn wooden surface. Looking down, she saw a basket almost full to the brim with decapitated heads. The face of the previous girl stared back at Sarah, freckled cheeks wet with tears and blood.

Sarah closed her eyes and silently prayed for a quick death. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. The executioner swung down once more.

Sarah opened her eyes and saw the world turn upside down.

The little girl felt like she was falling, then a hard impact jarred her consciousness. The world turned on its side. She felt something hot and wet on her cheek. It was then that she saw her quivering body fall on its side, neck stump squirting blood. She opened her mouth to scream, only to discover that she couldn't make a sound.
The world rapidly darkened and Sarah closed her eyes, hoping to wake up from the nightmare.

She never opened her eyes again.