"They are gone now. They will never harm you again. Someday you will find a way to manage the memories." Aalyssa lightly stroked Pinja's hair.

"But they're not all gone." Pinja said. "I don't know if any of the men escaped, but that woman... She was just as bad as them and hasn't been caught."

"What woman is that? Can you describe her well? If so, I can let the guards know of her so they can be on the lookout."

"She's a midwife, she was there at the cabin when Jack kidnapped me. She wouldn't help me." Pinja shivered. "She's really old, her skin is all dried and shriveled looking. Gray hair, really long, when I saw her she had it all in a long braid. It's like she doesn't have anything behind her eyes."

"I will let the guards know of her. If I can find someone who can draw, are you up to giving a more detailed description so they would have an image of her?"

"I- I don't know." Pinja tensed up. She was terrified of talking to strangers. If the artist was a man there was no way she could do it.

Aalyssa thought for a moment. "If I can't find a woman who can draw...I could hang a blanket to keep you hidden from view and tell him not to speak. Then I can pass you the picture each time he needs you to see it."

"No!" Pinja was terrified. She shook even harder and struggled to keep from panicking.

"All right," Aalyssa said calmly. It would make it easier of course for the guards to keep an eye out, but she wouldn't push Pinja.

"I know I'm a coward but I just can't." Pinja whispered.

"You are not a coward. You are still hurting after being put through something no one should have had to endure. If anything, you are very strong for surviving. I just wish I could figure out a way to do this because a detailed image would truly help them keep her out of the village or capture her."

Pinja felt sick with guilt. If that woman was not captured she could hurt others. "It would be my fault."

"I'll..." Aalyssa had an idea. "I'll ask Millie how she is at drawing faces. I know her drawings for her designs are exquisite."

"Ok." Pinja said, relaxing just slightly.

"I'll get you a cup of tea. The water should be ready."

"I'm sorry I'm such a bother." Pinja sniffled.

Aalyssa fixed the tea. "You are not a bother."

"I'm tired of being weak." Pinja said. "All the nightmares and flashbacks... and carrying this."

"The babe...is only a few months," Aalyssa said, handing her the cup of tea. "As for the rest,  only time can help along with not thinking so hard on it."

"I feel like my own body has betrayed me." Pinja said, cradling the tea in her hands. "That midwife, she wanted this to happen."

"I know it feels like a betrayal, but it's simply nature."

"Nature twisted to suit Jack's family." Pinja took a sip of tea, angry now besides just afraid. "To go through so much trouble... They must want it. I don't know if they would expect me to keep it or give it to a family. But they'll probably come after it."

"That's why it's so important for the guards to get a detailed image. So they know exactly who to watch for."

"She might not come herself." Pinja said. "There must be raiders that survived, others in Jack's family still living."

"True. But I fear an old woman traveling alone seems on the surface to be far less dangerous than a group of men."