Another whimper escaped her. It was soft, mixed in with the tears that slid hotly down her cheeks. She had heard a door open and recoiled slightly against the noise. He was coming back. He was going to hurt her, but everything hurt so much already.Couldn't he just leave her alone? She just wanted to be left alone.

Her knuckles tightened momentarily on the bars, her body unable or unwilling to let them go just yet. They were something tangible that she could hold onto through the pain.

The sound of the woman's voice raised hackles of momentary alarm. Opening her eyes, her vision was blurry as she turned to look in the direction of the woman. "Please. Just let me out. I didn't do anything."