Isidro was covered with soot from all the gun powder that was used. His fellowmen were quickly dying one by one. I just have to keep fighting and stay unseen by those Japanese soldiers.

The women and children were spared, for a while. However, once the door of each house closed after a couple Japanese soldiers went in, Isidro could hear the screams of the women and the nonstop cries of children. They were being raped, Isidro thought as he tightened his grip around the rifle that was given to him.

He wanted to stop this war, but they were too weak. The Japanese were brutal and heartless men.

Isidro closed his eyes and said a silent prayer to God, “Please help us, Lord. Forgive me for what I am about to do.”

His eyes flashed open and he charged towards the first house he saw.



Hiro never really liked fighting in this war, but he didn’t have a choice. At least one man from each family must be sent to fight in this blood filled battlefield.

He followed his immediate captain, Kazuya into a small house that looked like it was about to collapse. He could see the women and children hiding in a corner with fear in their eyes. They know what will happen to them.

“Close the door,” his captain ordered, and he did as he was told.

The captain gave his gun to Hiro and started to walk slowly towards the woman. She quickly turned her back on him and hugged her children tighter. She was muttering to them but Hiro thought she was just praying.

Your God won’t save you now, he thought.

His captain grabbed the woman by the arm and pushed her to the ground. “Look after these brats while I take care of this woman,” he ordered again.

“I’m sorry,” Hiro whispered to the children as he pointed his gun at the tiny little kids.

Kazuya started ripping off the woman’s clothing and she started to scream. Hiro wanted her to stop, because the less they scream, the sooner it would be over.

He closed his eyes and wished he couldn’t hear their screams and cries. 

And when he opened his eyes a few moments later, he felt blood trickling down his face. He fell to the ground and saw a man, not Japanese like him, hugging the children and the woman, who was still alive.