• The girl hit the floor with the splintering sound of shuttering glass. Hot, red blood poured from her cut hands, legs and arms. Her bare feet were aching, but not as much as her scalded cheek. The place where he had hit her was thumping and thobbing. Her skin was raw and red. The girl's black hair was glossy, but tangled in places, where the man had gripped it. Now he was kneeling next to her shivering body. His dirty hands reached out, touching her white, fragile leg gently. Her breathing quickened.
    "Please..." she breathed weakly.
    The man did not answer as his hand wandered upwards, his rough fingers gliding over her leg and then over the torn material of her black dress.
    "Please let me be..." she pleaded again, tears welling up in her dark eyes.
    A tear, like a glowing black pearl splashed upon the white tiled floor. The man ignored it, piteously stroking her body, while gripping the hilt of a glinting sword with his free hand. The black pearls kept splashing onto the floor as he drew the sword and held it above her.
    His eyes shone madly, a grin spreading across his face at her terrified scream.
    The sword rushed down, towards the girls frantically beating heart.
    The last black tear hit the floor.