"It's the middle of fall," Tom said, pulling me back to him."So what?" I said, tolerating the embrace. "It's fucking warm out." We can't go back yet."...y nipples have always been sensitive. When his hand found its way under my shirt, I knew it was over. I forgot the wall and the weird buildings and I remembered Marissa alone with Not-Not. I let Tom take me down and pull off my shirt. I wasn't wearing a bra, and he feigned a look of amazement when my breasts came tumbling out. I've always loved. That plus what they caught from the sea would easily sustain them for two or three months. By then Mary would have identified more edible plants, if they were still stranded. He didn't want to think about that possibility, but he was a pragmatist.All had deck shoes to wear now, making exploring of the forest easier. All salvaged clothing had been washed free of the saltwater in the stream, dried, and packed away in three plastic or nylon suitcases for later use. Doug had found his medical bag. Well, I felt sick, swollen, sore and generally a mess. ‘All right.’ ‘Good. No food for tonight, just rest and stay still.’ I brought my right hand up to my breasts, bandages. I slept. It was the next day when Doctor Tillman came in, followed by Doctor Hansett. ‘Well, let’s see.’ I mumbled something in reply, off came the wrappings on my face. He held up a mirror, I looked at myself. Black eyes, puffy red cheeks, I was awful. But my nose! It was discolored, still puffed up, beautiful! The. She was confident that she could muster the strength to carry herthrough the window, if only barely, but one thought kept her from doingso. She needed to rescue Tristan from whatever horrible fate hadbefallen him. That she had no idea of how to escape was irrelevant.She would find a way. She had to.The beatings continued for what seemed like months, but was, in reality,only a week and a half. For Arista, though, the days blended together.There was only pain. Vaguely, she knew that she was.