The rain fell heavily onto her trembling frame, the infant clenched tightly to her chest. It was freezing outside, and she had used the jacket the neighbor's kid gave her to wrap up her baby and give her some kind of warmth.

Her tattered, thin white dress stuck to her skin more and more. A sudden lightning strike behind her made her flinch, the motion of which caused her daughter to start crying once again.

"Shhh," she said softly, gently rocking the baby in her arms. "I need you to be very quiet right now, Mija."

They were hot on her heels. She knew that even without turning around. They had the upper hand. Light, proper clothing, and even weapons. But she had the forest, and she knew how to utilize it.

"Shhh," she said again, rubbing her hand over the baby's back in a soothing motion.

She was hurting, but there was no time to stop and pity herself. She could do that when they were both safe and sound.

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to focus on what little energy she could muster.

Branches emerged from the trees around her, snaking around each other and towards the oncoming pair. They enveloped their ankles, wrapping around them tightly before giving them a hard tug.

The woman yelped, falling down onto her side with a loud thud.

The man looked down at his wife, eyes wide like saucers. "Qué…"

He too yelled out in surprise as he was swiftly pulled to the ground. He turned from his back onto his side, straining his eyes to look ahead.

She peeked around the tree carefully, slightly smiling upon seeing the two people on the floor.

Taking that as her opportunity to run, she began to race through the trees once more. The branches had bought her some time, but the two of them would be up sooner than later.

Her feet hurt. Despite spending most of her life on bare feet, they were not used to these kinds of conditions. The ground was slippery and twigs and sharp rocks ground into the soles of her feet.

And yet, she never once stopped. Not until she reached the firehouse. She stared at the building, her daughter having quieted down once again. She had to find help.

Her breathing was ragged and shallow. Over six months of captivity had worn her out, and the birth of her child had taken whatever strength she had left. Her whole body ached. Blood had stained her white dress and her thighs. So much blood.

The next thought that crossed her mind made her recoil, her face twisting in disgust. She'd come too far. But she had nowhere to turn to. The hairs on her body stood up once again - they were close, she could sense it.

She looked down at her daughter, a sorrowful expression present on her face. She shook her head. The tears falling down her cheeks were well hidden within the rain that was still whipping her in the face from all angles.

"I'm so sorry, baby," she said, her voice sounding so crackling these days.

She gently placed the baby on the steps of the firehouse, careful to keep her out of the rain. She began wailing as soon as she was out of her mother's arms.

She put the back of her hand on her forehead, desperately shaking her head again. "No, no, no," she repeated over and over again.

"Josefa!"

Her head snapped up, eyes wide. They had caught up again.

Josefa's mouth hung open for a second, eyes flitting back and forth between her daughter and the couple out to get both of them.

"I'll come back for you, I swear."

And with that, she took off, leaving her daughter behind as the husband took off after her.

Just as the wife was about to pass the fire station, she could hear the cries of the abandoned infant at the doorstep. Her hand wandered to the side of her face, a slight gasp slipped out of her mouth.

"Oh my," she said under her breath.

She smiled. There was a devilish hint to it, but it was also caring. Tentatively, she picked the baby up from the stoop and began rocking her in her arms. She hummed a lullaby until the girl calmed down for her.

Suddenly, a plan formed in her mind. One that her husband would not like. They were both supposed to die. But looking at the pretty little face of the baby in her arms, the wife decided against it. She would live.

She smiled down at her, stroking her cheek with the back of her finger.

"Maria."