Once the Healers left, the men looked at me. I was calmer than I had been and I guess it showed. They didn't bind me and allowed me to knit with purposefully dull needles while they played a game like chess. Christof kept Looking at me, but he didn't speak.

It shouldn't surprise me, I knew. These men had no idea what was going on with me or how to fix it. They were confused and upset. We didn't want to lose each other, but none of us knew what to do for the other.

We got ready for bed and Bane held a strip of leather. If they wanted to bind me, I wouldn't stop them, but he seemed hesitant. In deference to their desire I offered him my hands to tie. Damien finally settled on tying one of my wrists to a long leash. I couldn't get up from the bed, but was otherwise free to move.

I slept fine and woke up when they did. Evan cleaned and fed me, but they didn't take me to the transport. The same Keepers from yesterday showed up right before Rose and Fuji did.

The men left silently and I sat on the bed with my friends. Once again, I was tethered with a simple tie around my neck.

“Give me," Fuji demanded, grabbing our work pad. "You prevented me from doing the work I was told to do yesterday."

Without a pause she was hooked into the system and drawing pictures of her owners. I watched curiously as her hands drew exact replicas of the men who owned her. She diagramed quite expertly the way they held their weapons.

Rose had my attention after a moment more.

“Have you heard more from Hannah?" she asked quietly.

No, I had not. I bemoaned the long periods of time that would exist between Hannah's messages. How I longed to see her again. If only I had been able to spend more time with her Last time she was here...

“She loves you," Rose said casually, “like any daughter would love her mother. Except for the Sister she found, you are the only creature on the planet that must truly care for her.”

A tear formed in my eye thinking about Hannah. We had such a short time together, but were connected in such a primal way. I missed her dearly.

“Imagine if you were not here to receive the next message she sends..." Rose said suddenly and I almost forgot to breath. "What would she think if she dropped into the forest by the Keepers’ and you never came in or went out?"

My eyes were wet with tears imagining Hannah's expressive face crushed by my strange disappearance.

“Could you really end your life knowing you would never be able to explain it to her?" Rose asked in the same soft voice.

I thought I would throw up and fought the feeling. No, I could never leave Hannah like that. She would never understand. How could she? Hannah had memories, but she was still a child.

I was on the bed crying like a maniac, but Rose would not stop. I couldn't hurt myself, it would only end up hurting my baby. Hannah would never understand and never forgive me.

I agreed with Rose and begged her to stop. She refused and continued to push. She talked about the anger and resentment Hannah would have. No one on this world would understand it, poor Hannah would bear the burden alone.

By Lunch time Rose had broken me. I was a crying mess on the bed. Christof came to feed me and I begged for forgiveness. I swore to him I would never hurt Hannah that way.

He tried to feed me and I threw it up. Eventually he fed me root and put a touch of calming cream on my head. In the back of my mind I was beginning to feel a Little dependent on the stuff. Ridiculous really to come to an alien place and get addicted.

“Rest, Ciara," he said softly stroking my hair.

“No more," I begged him, “please make her stop, Christof. I can't take anymore."