The next day, Mona was making her bed when she heard a small commotion downstairs. It didn't seem as bad as the day before which she was thankful for. She didn't think her heart could take another incident like yesterday.

She slowly left the room and saw all the girls watching something below. When she approached the railing, she saw Shu talking to an older man. By the looks of it, it had to be her father.

They were conversing in Chinese, and Shu didn't look too happy with what he was saying to her. She furiously reached into his pocket and pulled out a miniature Japanese fabric flag. Mona gasped a little, wondering why Shu's father seemed to be working for the Japanese. Shu yelled at him for a little bit then threw the fabric on the ground and stood up to leave. He grabbed her arm and started talking to her again. He seemed to be begging with her, and she looked ready to burst into tears. She finally wrenched her arm out of his grasp and ran up the stairs where she was faced with the very angry faces from the other girls.

One of the girls said something, and from the tone of her voice, they weren't kind words. Shu turned around and ran out the door in tears.

"Shu!" Mona called. She ran after her and caught up with the girl who was sitting against the wall, sobbing into her hands.

"They hate me," she cried to Mona.

"No, they don't," Mona said tenderly as she sat down and took Shu into her arms. "They don't hate you. They're just…scared. And when people are scared, sometimes they say things they don't mean."

"I didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know. It's okay. You did what you thought was best. I admire you for looking after your friends and refusing to leave without them. That's what makes a great leader."

"Then why are they angry?"

"Because…after what happened yesterday, they're afraid of what's going to happen to them. They just want to get out of Nanking, and when things didn't go according to plan, they didn't know what to do anymore. Shu, I know that this wasn't you wanted, and it's not what I want for you either. But you have to stay strong, even though they're angry. They're still going to follow your lead because they trust you."

"How can they trust me? My father betrayed me and our country. He's working for the Japanese!"

"Sometimes parents do stupid things to protect who they love. Don't you worry. Just give them some space for a little while and then let them come to you."

"Thank you, Mona."

"You're welcome."

John came in and out of the cathedral all day and it wasn't until the evening that she saw he was working on the broken down truck parked outside the church. She quietly headed outside and over to him and George.

"Need a hand?" she asked.

John looked over at her, seemingly surprised by the fact that she was out here. "Sure, help me push down on this."

"No problem."

Together, Mona and John pushed down on a pipe so he could fix the tires on the truck.

"How do you plan on fixing this?" Mona asked. "Don't you need proper tools?"

"Shu's father came by earlier. He should be able to sneak them in to me. Then I can fix this thing. I'll also need to get a permit so I can drive us out of here."

Mona was more than surprised at his willingness to fix the truck. Apparently, the events from yesterday had changed everyone.

"Let's head back inside for now," she said to him. "Hopefully tomorrow, you'll have your tools and can get working on it."

John started lighting a cigarette again, but Mona looked at him sharply.

"What?" he asked.

"Do you really want to do that? You know what's going to happen, don't you?"

John looked at her for a second then stamped the cigarette onto the ground.

"Good choice."

George went back in and headed to his own sleeping quarters while Mona and John began to head back up to Mona's room.

"Even if you fix the truck," Mo's voice called out to them, "how would you get past the Japanese guards?"

"I don't know," John admitted. "I don't know how long the guards will stay here. But I want to get that truck started for when they leave."

"It seems that you know more than just drinking."

"We're all shocked," Mona joked.

There was a small noise and all three of them looked up to find Shu watching them. John looked at her almost sadly as she ran off once she realized she had been caught.

Mona chuckled lightly. "That girl never seems to sleep."

"I don't think she likes seeing us together with John," Mo said. "She has a crush on you."

"Really?" John laughed.

"You know, I was like her."

"Yeah?"

"I was at a convent for six years."

"That's where you learned your English?"

A tear dripped down Mo's cheek as she became lost in the memory of what life she had as a child. Immediately, Mona felt extremely sorry for every rude thought she had about her and the rest of the women.

"What happened?" John asked when she didn't say anything.

"Just another story of misfortune. It wouldn't interest passer-bys like yourselves."

"Yeah, it would. Tell us."

Another tear rolled down her cheek.

"Tell us," he said again.

Mo turned to face the two of them. "I was never meant to be like this. Never mind. You know what? I was the best in my English class, but everyone used to mock me. They said I put on airs and graces and acted like I was the Queen of England."

Mona sighed. She hadn't realized that these women, or at least Mo, had been through such rough times before this life they had chosen. Or more likely, had been forced into.

"Well, that's not what you were going to tell us, but…" John said. He didn't seem to know how to handle a situation like this. "So…the Queen of England. You mean you're not? I thought…yeah."

"Like Shu, I too had a crush on someone. But he was a young, fresh-faced guy, got the most beautiful eyes. Not a dirty, bearded man like you."

Mona laughed lightly at that comment and John lost his smile. Mo smiled at him warmly.

"Okay," John said awkwardly. He turned and went up the stairs to head to his little couch.

"Mona," Mo said to her. "Thank you for all you're doing for us. You're helping the girls and helping us too."

"I'm glad you can say that. I'm trying my hardest, but…I've been subjected to more horrors in the last few years than anyone should ever have to face."

"I know."

"Oh…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I—"

"Mona. It's okay. It's not a matter of who's had it worse. We both just have different stories to tell."

"I'm guessing neither of us want to share."

"You're right."

Mona smiled a little. "You're a good woman, Mo."

"So are you."

Mona lightly touched her hand then headed upstairs. When she walked into the room, John was still moving about, but she was exhausted and crashed into her bed without another thought.

At one point, Mona stirred a little because of a small noise. When she looked over, she saw John standing in front of the mirror with a small light on, but she couldn't make out what exactly he was doing. Still tired, she drifted off to sleep once more.

"Mona."

Mona opened her eyes at the sound of her name. It must've been really early in the morning because the sky was a very light gray as the sun tried to rise its way up into the sky.

"I need some help," John said to her.

"Alright," she said drowsily. "With what?"

"Down in the cellar."

She threw off the covers and stood up. Her eyebrows raised a little as she realized that John had shaved off his beard! It took years off his face and made him look so much younger. And though she tried to deny it, he did look kind of attractive now.

She'd have to thank Mo later for getting him, in her own unique way, to shave.

She and John went downstairs and Mona saw the very, very pale body of a young boy who by the looks of it had been a soldier. He couldn't have been much older than any of the girls here. There was a huge nauseating gash on his leg that was severely infected and it had to have been the reason he was no longer alive.

She had no idea where he had come from or how he had gotten into the cellar, but it was a bit late for those kinds of questions. All that mattered now was sending him off properly.

Mona helped John get the boy onto some boards and then she sat next to him as he did his work. It was silent in the cellar as he made the boy look better. Not even one of the women said a word.

George held the lamp for him and Mona handed him the tools he asked for. After a couple hours, he finally finished working on him and motioned for them to come over.

Mona was very impressed with how well John fixed the boy up. He had gotten rid of the deathly hue and made it look almost like he was simply sleeping.

Mona, George, and John took up the boards and gently carried the boy out to the courtyard. John dug a hole for him and then the three of them lowered the boy down into it. Mona softly kissed his head, and whispered, "Thank you for your service."

Mona helped him bury the boy and she had no idea how John made a living out of such depressing work.

"John?" she said.

"Hmm?"

"Just…how do you do this kind of work? Isn't it…emotionally draining?"

"Yes, but it's good because it gives the family and loved ones peace."

From the way he said that, it sounded like there was more to it than that. But she didn't pry because she knew better than to get ask too much about someone else's life. Due to experience, she knew there were some things that were better left unsaid.

They finished burying the boy and headed back in. When they came through the doors, the women and girls, who must've been watching from the window, ran up to them with panicked expressions on their faces.

"What happened?" John asked with such concern in his voice that it surprised Mona.

"Dou and Lan snuck out on their own," Mo answered trying to fight back tears.

This was bad. Two beautiful girls alone on the war-torn streets of Nanking where Japanese soldiers sat in waiting? No good could come from this.

"Dou and Lan? How? How did they leave?"

"I don't know."

"You know when?"

"No."

"Where did they go?"

"They went back to our brothel to get pipa strings."

There was silence in the room as the women looked to John expectantly and Mona knew exactly what they wanted. By the look on his face, she could tell he did too.

"You want me to…go find them?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Mo, I'm not sure—"

"Please," Mo begged. "Please. Please."

John looked over at Mona, but she looked away not wanting him to gather any information from the expression on her face. She didn't want John to go out there, but someone had to go after those girls.

"Alright," he finally said. "It's safer for me than anyone else, so I'll try. I'll try. If I can leave. If they let me leave."

John went back up to Mona's room to get his priest garments so he could leave the church. Mona followed him and when she walked in, he was putting the garments on.

"John," she said as she went over and helped him straighten out the garments. "Please, just…be careful."

"Concerned about me, are you?"

"You may have been rude and as Mo said, 'a drunk brute', but yes, I am concerned. But I'm more concerned for those women. I've seen what those Japanese will do, and I'm terrified for them. I want you to find them, but…don't get killed yourself."

"The Japanese won't touch me. I promise. I'll do everything I can."

They exited the room and went down the stairs to the church entrance. George followed him out, but all the females stayed inside the doors and watched the two males leave the protection of the church walls.

"Is he going to be okay?" Shu asked Mona.

Mona put her arm around the girl. "He's going to be fine."

She meant those words, but she couldn't ignore the fierce beating of her nervous heart.