Sorry this has taken so long to be posted. I had exams then Summer Break so I didn't get around to sorting out this chapter, but here it is!

The words hung in the air like glass and cut through Destiny like a knife. Ved couldn't believe what he had said. He expected her to get angry and shout, but instead she done something he'd never seen her do before – she burst into tears.

"I guess there isn't then", she sobbed.

"Destiny, I'm sorry", Ved began.

"No, it's ok. You're right. You go and get on with the rest of your life. I hope you and Chloe have the baby I couldn't give you".

"I didn't mean it, I..." he was helpless to find any words to say how sorry he was.

"Get out", she said.

"Des..."

"NO!" she screamed, "I don't want to hear any more. GET OUT!"

Ved just stared at her. He didn't want to leave her, but how could he stay now? Jay appeared at the door. "Ved, I think you'd better leave", he told his brother as he looked at Destiny, who was crying quietly with her face in her pillow.

With a last look at Destiny, Ved reluctantly left.

Jay went over to Destiny, "Hey, it's ok. He didn't mean what he said."

"Did you hear?" She said in a trembling voice.

"I think everyone in the city heard!" Jay said with a small smile.

She turned to look at him, and tried to wipe her eyes, but the tears kept coming. Her hand was pale and shaking and her other arm was still splinted from where it had been broken. "I thought I loved Ved", she said, "But now I'm not sure. I wanted my baby so much. It was going to be a new start for me, a new life. Away from everything that had happened before. But the past catches up with you, you can't run from it. I was stupid to even try."

"That's not true", Jay said. Seeing that she wanted to talk, he asked, "Why don't you tell me what happened to you, with Carl and Ved. Before..."

She looked at him. He noticed her reluctance and said, "Only if you want to. But it might help you, getting it off your chest and into the open."

"But where do I start?" she whispered.

"From the beginning. Where else?"

She nodded. "The beginning. Well I guess the beginning is after the virus. There's where it all went wrong." She took a breath, "After the virus I met up with Carl. He was lovely and kind and he seemed like a really nice guy. He encouraged me to join his tribe, even though my sister was in another tribe. Carl didn't like her, but I loved him so I agreed to join his tribe. But then Carl changed. I don't know why. He became violent and he... well he treated me really bad. I wanted to leave. I tried a number of times, but he caught me and he, he hurt me." She swallowed. Jay put his hand on her shaking arm. She gave him a watery smile and managed to continue, "Carl wanted me to marry him. I refused. He beat me but somehow I found the strength to say no. But then he raided my sister's tribe, that's where he found the prisoners, and arrested her. He promised me he wouldn't hurt her, on the condition that I married him. I loved my sister, we were really good friends, so I agreed. After the wedding, Carl had my sister 'executed' for treason. I was trapped. But then Carl instructed me to look after a prisoner. He was ill and Carl needed him to work. So I went and tried to help."

"The prisoner was Ved?" Jay asked.

"Yes." She nodded. "He was getting better, and we talked. He made me realise that it wasn't my fault. I trusted him. We made a plan and made everybody think he was dying, while all the time he was getting better. Then he 'died' and I insisted on going with the men to bury him. I pretended that I felt upset that I couldn't have served my 'lord and master' by making Ved better. Carl let me go. I wrapped Ved up in a sort of cloth and put a knife in my belt, for defence, and we got to a clearing in the woods and I..." she faltered.

"You killed the men", Jay said softly. It wasn't a question.

She nodded. "We escaped and got to the city. But something happened before that. I suppose we were falling in love. I'd never felt that way about anyone. You can guess the rest."

Jay was quiet.

"Do you think any less of me now that you know?" She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes, almost challenging him.

"No" he replied, "I think many would have wanted to do the same. But very few have your strength."

She bowed her head. Tears ran freely down her cheeks. Then she looked up at Jay, "Do you think I'd have made a good mother?"

"Nobody can really answer that." The voice was not Jay, but Salene's.

Destiny jumped. "How long have you been standing there?"

"No time at all. I was just passing and I heard your comment." She walked into the room. "Can I speak to Destiny alone?" Although the question was aimed at Jay, Salene kept her eyes on Destiny.

"Uh, yeah, sure. I'll be around if you need anything." He said and left.

Once he had gone, Salene looked at Destiny, who was trying not to cry. Then she went over and put her arms around her. Destiny clung to her like a child and cried.

"It's ok. It's going to be ok," Salene comforted her.

"How do you know?" Destiny's voice was teary.

Salene pushed Destiny away slightly and looked her in the eyes. "Because I've been in the same position as you. I lost my husband and my baby at the same time."

"No one told me." Destiny said.

"It's not something people generally talk about", Salene said wryly, and then hugged her close, "You'll get through this, I promise. Right now you can't believe it, it hurts so much, but you will. And I'll be here if you ever need anything."

Destiny, unable to speak, just cried softly into Salene's arms.

Outside, Jay leaned against the wall. Talking with Destiny had made him realise to things. One, that life was even more precious than he had thought before, and two, he should take his own advice. It was time to sort out his life. He had to speak to Amber...