Hilda stood stiffly in place and let the beads of tears roll down her cheeks. "No! Don't hurt my child!" She was shaking in fear, but she did not have the strength to protect herself and her child.

Despair, horror, and desperation. Those feelings manifested themselves into every single drop of tear that fell.

Fortunately, Anthony was only gently feeling her belly over the thin fabric. "Why would I hurt him? He's my little nephew!" Grasping her hand, he said, "Let's get going."

Glancing at the hostile people around them, she realized that they were all fully equipped and had come with an intention while she had no means of...