1 Chapter 1 "Mother"

"Ack!..cough!" The little girl gasped for air while clutching at the rough hands firmly gripped around her neck. The unpleasant grin, the same panting and grunting of an unknown man.

Paralyzed by the pain, she laid motionless on the mattress. A room that smelled of bleach, sweat and rust made her feel sick. She would throw up occasionally in between their violent thrusts, but they never stopped until they were satisfied.

To numb the pain, she would shut her eyes, cover her ears and remember the time when she held her mother's hand as they walked to school. On the way, they would stop by a field of blooming hydrangeas.

Remembering the nostalgic feeling of being wrapped in the warmth of her mother's arms and the familiar scent of hydrangeas.

"Chiyori-chan you look adorable...", said the middle-aged man as he violated the child's body. The girl was only 12-years-old, she was frequently visited by these 'customers'. She would be allowed food and clothes as long as she did what she was told to do.

4 years ago. Hase Chiyori, aged 8 was orphaned. She had lost her parents in a car accident and was placed under the care of a relative. That relative was Chiyori's aunt, Asai Mayume.

Asai Mayume seemed like any other middle-aged lady but behind closed doors, she was battling depression after she got a divorce. She hated the fact that Chiyori was placed under her care and that she looked identical to the child's mother.

"Hashimura-san, your time is up please finish up..." Asai Mayume said while knocking on the door to the guest room. The middle-aged man finished his business and got up from the ruffled sheets. "I'll be back to play again, Chiyori-chan..." he said as he placed on his coat and left the room.

Chiyori laid there staring blankly at the poorly patched up hole in the broken window pane, unable to move from the pain.

Asai Mayume walked into the room with a face of disgust. "Get up! We don't have time for you to be lying around, go wash up and clean up the mess!". Asai Mayume said while yanking the arm of the lifeless child. "You'd better obey me or you'll not be getting any food today!" slamming the door shut behind her as she walked out.

"urgh!", groaned chiyori as she slowly got up to pick up the used condoms strewn on the floor and headed towards the washroom.

"Ding Dong," the doorbell rang as Asai Mayume rushed to answer the door. "Good evening Nakamura-san, please come in". she greeted the man. "Where is the child?", asked Nakamura Ken while peering over her shoulder. "Don't be so hasty, she is preparing for your service... We need to discuss the payment first," Asai Mayume said with her hand out to stop the man. "I will pay you any amount you want afterward," reassured Nakamura Ken.

"Alright, follow me..." said Asai Mayume as she led him to the guest room.

As the door opened, Chiyori was found sitting there naked on an extremely filthy and worn mattress. Seemingly, listless and covered in wounds. Nakamura Ken shocked at the state the child was in, he quickly took off his coat and placed it around the frail child. Unable to contain his anger, his face crumpled up with rage, he turned around and took out his badge. "You're under arrest for child prostitution".

Surprised by the situation, Asai Mayume tried bolting for the front door but the police were already waiting for her at the entrance.

Chiyori sat on the filthy mattress, unperturbed by her surroundings like a broken doll. A couple of minutes later, the paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital to get her treated.