Ducking under one of the plank benches she sent a silent thanks to herself for being thin. The throb in her knee protested the cramped space. It was a stark reminder not to jinx her luck. The louder the voices grew, the faster her heart beat. She drew in a long breath. Without releasing the air which now filled her lungs, she froze at the loud screeching sound of the church doors opening.

The people were moving with a speed that said they were in a rush. Their boots clattered the ...