The pain was unbearable. If it weren't for her daughter, she would have welcomed death right then. Death to end all this torture. But she had her daughter to think about. She had to live, to be there as her daughter grew up. She couldn't let her daughter become an orphan like she had been.

Michael looked at her with an ache in his heart. Even knowing they'd surely be discovered if they left now, he couldn't care about that anymore. He lifted Eliana into his arms and stepped out ...