Chapter 52

• Lena stared blankly at the wall in her cell. She found that if she breathed as softly as possible, and didn't move, she could almost control the horrible pain that shook her entire body.
• The wounds on her face stung terribly. Her bruised back felt like it was only moments from shattering. The cell was becoming increasingly cold, causing Lena to cough harder and more often, straining her already damaged throat and chest. That broken piece inside of her made it hard for her to breathe, rendering each harsh cough even more unbearable than before.
• Lena had a feeling that she wouldn't last much longer. But that idea didn't much scare her. Her body was beaten, but she'd protected herself from a far more devastating form of violation. She would not die as a violated woman. She would not die as a whore.