November 1, 1779 - The Midnight Hour

The Hessian rode his horse back the way he came and slowed down when he came to a clearing at the end of the trail and discovered a cave. He looked down at the unconscious form in his arms, making sure the abused girl he found was still alive. Her small moans of pain both comforted and worried him. At the moment, his long cape was keeping her warm, protecting her against the cold night and shielding her half-naked body. She needed help, but he couldn't risk taking her back to his camp. His commanding officers would ask questions and he couldn't risk taking her back to Sleepy Hollow without being seen. He would have to tend to her as best he knew how.

Dismounting from Daredevil, the Hessian carried the young woman into the cave. Inside, it was dark and seemed abandoned, but at least it was safe. Very gently, he set her down on a makeshift bed and heard a pained moan escape from the young woman's throat as she started to wake up. She slowly opened her eyes and saw nothing but darkness all around her and started gasping. Her cheeks were already dampened with tears, but the minute she took her first breath, a painful tightness filled her chest and more tears started to spill. The Hessian's gloved hand came into contact with her dirt-and-blood-stained-face, reassuring her she was not alone. He shushed her and spoke something to her in a sort of rough language unfamiliar to her ears. Mostly likely German.

Lillian didn't know what was happening to her. One minute, she was being assaulted by three bastards who kidnapped and abused her, and now a chivalrous stranger was giving her comfort and helping to ease her suffering, wiping away the blood and earth from her face with a soft cloth. The pain between her legs made her made her feel sick and want to vomit, but nothing came up. She heard footsteps fading and heard them return as a kind soul offered her water, quenching her thirst and soothing her dry throat, but not the burning sensation deep within her stomach. The memory of what happened would scar her for life, but for now, Lillian needed only to sleep and not think about it. Very soon, she will have thought of this as nothing more than a bad dream, only to wake up again and find out that it wasn't.

By morning, Lillian opened her eyes and found herself lying down on a warm bed in a dark location, the only source of light coming from the hearth of a fireplace on the other side of the cave. She thought for sure she would be dead by now, but she wasn't. She remembered those three men had taken her by force and how badly they hurt her, but somebody saved her before they could finish what they started. She remembered the whinnying of a horse, followed by the sound of metal slashing against flesh. Lillian remembered seeing somebody approach her and kneel by her side once the three of them were slain, but before she could make out a face, she fainted.

Her body was covered by what she thought was a blanket, but when Lillian sat up and looked down at herself, she discovered it was actually a heavy black cape with intricate silver designs on the back. She was also shocked to discover her dress was gone and was now wearing a white shirt that was much too big for her. Nothing else. Obviously, it was a man's shirt, but it was better she had something to cover herself with instead of being naked.

Her eyes wondered the cave as she took in her surroundings, trying to figure out exactly where she was. Looking to her left, Lillian found a man was sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace. As though he sensed her awakening, the man lifted his head and rose up and turned around to face her. Lillian gasped and held the cape close to her chest, using it for a shield even though it was a useless defense, as she stared upon the face of the most frightening man she had ever seen.

The Hessian was very tall, about six feet in height, and had broad shoulders. His uniform was all in black, from his breastplate to his trousers to his shirt underneath. He also wore black gloves and knee-length boots with spurs on the back. A snake-handled sword dangled from the left side of his belt. His face was not like that of a normal man. His face was thin and pale. His dark hair was wild and unkempt. His eyes were an electrifying blue. And his teeth! What man in his right mind would think to file them down to razor sharp points? What was his purpose for doing so? If his goal was to frighten people with his appearance, this man could have easily frightened the Devil.

The Hessian came over and sat down on the bed with Lillian, staring at her for a moment before he raised a gloved hand to touch her face. Lillian flinched and turned her head away before his hand could make contact.

"Don't be afraid", the Hessian spoke softly. His voice was gentle and smooth, slightly accented. "You have no need to be frightened. I swear I will not harm you."

Lillian looked at him again and this time allowed the Hessian to rest a gloved hand on her face, very gently. He saw the fear in her eyes and watched as fresh tears began to fill them.

"What happened to you?" The Hessian asked her.

Lillian blinked and said very slowly, "...I...I-I was...I was taken by those three men. They...They forced me to..." Lillian could not bare to finish her sentence and felt hot tears flooding her eyes. Her head lowered as her face scrunched up and she broke into a sob, lowering her face into her hands. She took a sharp inhale of breath and started crying. "Oh, God, what have I done? It's all my fault."

"Calm down", the Hessian told her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You have no reason to blame yourself. Those men were the ones at fault. You're safe now. "

Lillian shook her head and told him tearfully, "No, you don't understand! It was my fault...I shouldn't have provoked them. If only I had learned to bite my tongue-"

"Hush", the Hessian whispered, wrapping his arms around her trembling form and rubbing her back. "You mustn't think of them now. If I hadn't been passing through the woods when I did, you would already be dead."

Sniffling, Lillian continued to sob quietly for a minute longer, then wiped her face and forced herself to look upon the terrifying face of the mercenary who saved her life. She had no idea who this man was, and she wasn't even sure if he was human. He was not handsome in the least, but he was certainly alluring, especially with those magnificent blue eyes of his that seemed to be staring into her soul, as though he would try to steal it away from her.

Lillian could no longer look into the cold gaze of his hypnotizing eyes and lowered her face again, wrapping her arms around her torso. Pressing her thighs together, she felt a strong pain between her legs and took a deep breath.

"You've been very badly hurt", said the Hessian.

Lillian could only nod in response, remembering how those three monsters took her by force and stole her purity, which she could never reclaim again. They had very much broken her spirit.

The Hessian picked up a drinking canteen and poured some water into a tin cup and offered it to her. "Here. Drink some water", he said. "You'll be all right."

Lillian looked at him, seeing the cup offered to her, and took it from him, taking a small sip.

"What is your name?" He asked her.

"Lillian...Lillian Waise."

"You're in good hands, Lillian Waise. Soon as you're strong enough, I will take you back to Sleepy Hollow."

Lillian tried to speak again, but ended up swallowing a little bit too much water and started to cough and choke.

"Don't drink so fast", said the Hessian. He took the tin cup from her and set it aside.

Lillian cleared her throat and placed a hand on her chest, sighing. She looked at him again and asked, "Who are you?".

"It doesn't matter who I am", said the Hessian. "What matters is that you're still alive. Now try to relax." One by one, the Hessian started taking off his gloves, revealing long, pale fingers and surprisingly soft hands.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to see what damage has been done down there between your legs", the Hessian explained.

"No", said Lillian, scooting back as far as she could against the wall. "No, you can't. I won't let you."

The Hessian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Calm down. I know you're afraid, but I need to clean and sanitize the area in case of any infections you might have conceived. I promise I won't hurt you."

Lillian hesitated, but took his words into consideration for a moment. She thought it over for what seemed like forever, then slowly, she nodded, complying to his request.

"Wait here", the Hessian told her, rising up. He turned and walked over and sterilized his hands in a basin of warm water and picked up a clean cloth he found earlier and dunked it into the water, then returned back over to Lillian, who remained in a sitting up position and allowed him to proceed. The Hessian sat down on the bed and spread open her legs carefully and inspected her, looking disapprovingly at the blood stains on her thighs.

The Hessian sighed heavily, disappointed in himself. He should have made those three bastards suffer a worser fate instead of letting them off with an easy death. With cloth in hand, the Hessian started washing away the blood and seed still left behind. Lillian froze in tension upon the first contact, but allowed him to continue his work. Once in a while, she exhaled a soft groan of pain. The Hessian stopped and looked at her to make sure she was all right, and Lillian nodded each time in response. He was silent the whole time, as was she.

Once his job was finished, the Hessian rose up and wiped his bloodied hands with the soiled cloth. "You can lie down now", he said, then turned and went to rinse his hands in the water basin. The clear fluid turned crimson in an instant. When he returned to Lillian, she looked to have fallen asleep, but she was only resting her eyes. The Hessian regarded her peaceful form for a moment, then grabbed a corner of his cape and pulled it up to cover her up to her chin. Lillian opened her eyes and looked at him again.

"Why do you not tell me your name? Are you with the enemy?" Lillian asked him.

"Does it matter?" The Hessian asked her in return.

Lillian blinked, thinking it over regarding the circumstances. "I suppose not."

The Hessian placed a hand on her head and rubbed it gently, running his pale fingers through her ebony hair. "Try to go to sleep. You're still not well."

Lillian obeyed him and closed her eyes, knowing this man, whoever he was, would watch over her. He looked the part of a demon, but he acted like he was her guardian angel. Soon, she found herself in a deep sleep.