After a few days of spreading the name of the Williams family, there was nothing else for either Hannah or Rio to do. They had spoken to everyone they could, and now they could only wait. Wait in hope. And dread.

Hannah returned to work as usual, although these days, she was much quieter, as was Ginia. Things between the two girls had definitely changed. They were still friends, but it was a cracked friendship, and for the most part, Hannah could only blame herself. She wondered how things would be different if she'd refused to help Macks. Ginia would be happy, Ginia would like her still the same. And Raul wouldn't be awaiting death.

Weeks passed, and then one day, it happened.

There was a sudden excitement that morning, close to noon. Hannah could see a few people outside, running and gesturing, although she wasn't sure to where or what.

Sora was standing outside that day, and she came in a minute later, her face flushed.

"What's going on?" one of the customers asked.

"They're going to the square," Sora answered.

"Is there a march?"

"Either that or an execution," another man piped up.

Hannah cupped her mouth; across the room, she saw Ginia wobble on her feet. For a few moments, no one moved or said anything. Then, there was a blur as Ginia raced towards the door. She didn't stop even when Jono yelled at her.

Hannah followed, taking to a run, but no matter how much she called at her friend, Ginia kept going. She didn't know if anyone else had come after them, but it didn't seem that way. There were others running with her, bored to eagerness to watch a man die. She hated them. Did living in a city make people this way? Make them cruel?

Together, they crested the road, and she saw Dalen's square below, filling with people. The podium at the edge held three men – a priest, a guard, and a man in a noose. A man foreign, a man she had served and chatted to and laughed with dozens of times. A man she'd betrayed. Gone were the fancy clothes, the healthy frame, the smile in his eyes. He was thin and lost-looking now, that she could hardly believe this was the same man that had charmed them all, that had held such power over Ginia.

There were too many people at the square. Hannah couldn't find her friend. She plowed through, calling her name as the priest loudly read a verse. Through the crowd of ugly, shadowy figures, she saw something light, near the front. "Macks?" she whispered.

He was speaking to someone, someone old and important-looking. Macks was pushing something towards him, but the man kept refusing. It looked like ... a money pouch.

Finally, the man walked away, and Macks backed down, defeated. Putting away the money, he raised his head and saw her. Even she though couldn't hear him, she saw him mouth the words of a curse. He pushed through the crowd, and she felt like crying as his hands gripped her. "God, believe me, I tried, I tried everything," he swore.

"I know."

"Why are you here?"

"Because Ginia is here, somewhere."

"What?" he went, spinning his head around.

'Do you on this day, as you stand before the Lord, repent of your sins?'

"I have to find her."

'Do you repent, man?'

The priest was repeating his words, pressing for something, anything from Raul. But he got no reaction at all. 'May the Lord absolve you this day.'

There was a shift, and the guard moved over, kicking the stool under Raul's feet. As Hannah turned away, she heard the scream. She ran after it, Macks close behind, but by the time she found Ginia, the girl was on the ground, unconscious.

"Out of the way!" Macks yelled at everyone around, while Hannah knelt to her friend.

"Oh no."

There was cheering all around her. The noise of it made her ill. She couldn't bear to look. She couldn't bear to see for herself.

Macks gazed at her, looking tense. "We need to take her away from here."

"We'll bring her to the apartment. Help me, Macks," she asked, and he leaned down, taking Ginia into his arms. He hoisted her up, and neither of them looked back as they fled the square.

Where they went, people stared at them, but Hannah didn't care. She stared at Ginia's limp form, draped in Macks' arms. What kind of life would this be for her now? How could Hannah ever forgive herself?

"Don't go past Jono's," she said suddenly, as they neared the Corona.

Macks glanced back at her.

"We can't let them see us."

Macks nodded curtly, taking an alternate street round the back. He moved quickly until Mrs. Baines's building, ignoring the woman's children gaping at them. Somehow, Macks managed the stairs with Ginia's weight, and Hannah ran ahead of him to open the door. He toddled inside, where she led him to her bedroom. Even in the situation, it felt strange having him in there. She watched as with extra care, he placed Ginia down on the bed. He sighed afterwards, stretching out an arm as he gazed down at her.

Silently, Hannah went outside, standing by the light of the window. It was warm and assuring on her cheek, like a mother's hand. It made her feel ... less of a bad person. Made her feel calm.

Hannah pressed her hands to her eyes, and cried. She couldn't remember the last time that had happened. It must have been after her Da died?

She felt her shoulders rock and heave, and a wetness bleed through her fingers. She heard Macks, his footsteps, moving and coming closer towards her, but she didn't look. She felt him slip behind her, like a shadow, and then his arms came round to hug hers.

His chest kissed her back, his hands crossed to cup her shoulders. The strength of it somehow eased her, made her go still. They stood together, like molded statues locked in the sun. Just a short distance away, Ginia lay, but that didn't seem to matter.

Hannah blinked slowly. Her head felt thick, slow, like she was in a drunken dream. Macks had his fingers in her hair, spidering and hot, pulling gently through the locks. The side of his wrist bumped her face, and she felt him lean to her ear. "Why are you allowing this, Hannah?"

That woke her. The next moment, she jerked away, staring back at him. Macks stared back, but didn't say anything for a long time. "Do you want me to stay?" he asked finally.

She shook her head, wiping off her cheeks.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

He swallowed, nodding in acceptance. He started away, but just at the door, he stopped to look over at her. "I swear. I did everything I could."

"I know. I know you did." She met his eyes, holding a gaze. "Thank you."

He didn't say anything in answer, but something did soften in his face, before he went away.

After he'd gone, Hannah stayed vigilantly at Ginia's side. She half-expected someone from Jono's to drop in on her, but no one did. Didn't they know? Didn't anyone understand other than herself and Macks?

It wasn't long before Ginia started coming to, and Hannah quickly readied some water for her.

"Hannah?" Ginia murmured, disoriented. "Where am I?"

"My home. Here."

Ginia took a drink, then suddenly gasped, sputtering some of it. "Raul ... "

"Now, Ginia, calm down."

"They killed him." Her face wrinkled suddenly. "Oh, God, they killed him." She tipped forward, sobbing against Hannah's shoulder. The rest of what she said was a mess, jarred words mixed up with tears – it was impossible to understand. Through it all, Hannah held her friend and tried to be of comfort. She'd never been good at this sort of thing. What could she say? What was she supposed to do?

"Let me make you something," Hannah suggested after a while, after Ginia had stopped crying and was lying down again. "Tea. Tea will be good."

Ginia didn't answer.

Hannah went away, retreating into the kitchen. She took her time to heat the water and prepare. Later, she poured tall mugs of tea for both Ginia and herself, trudging back to the room. Ginia drank obediently, but didn't speak. Hannah left her alone, and saw her drifting in and out of sleep. By now, it was close to dark, and Jono would probably be livid about their disappearing. She didn't want any trouble with Jono, but she couldn't possibly go back there like this, now.

Hannah sat in a chair, dozing off when she could, checking now and then to see if her friend needed anything. Sometime in the evening, Ginia finally stood up and came outside, to her surprise.

"Ginia," she murmured. "Where are you going?"

"Home." She went to the door, shaking her head as she looked back. "Do not look for me."

Hannah didn't know what to say. She let her friend go, even though it worried her. She sat back in her chair, her thoughts wandering. She thought of herself that afternoon, standing here in the same room, with Macks' arms around her. The memory still bothered her.

That night, she barely slept. She forced herself to Jono's in the morning, finding herself the first girl there. Jono was sitting behind the bar, talking softly with his daughter. They both looked up as she entered. "You finally decided to show yourself," Jono commented. "Is it true about Raul?"

"It's true."

"You saw it?"

"I saw enough."

Jono shook his head grimly. "Where's Ginia then?"

"I don't know. Probably at home."

"Is she coming in?"

"I don't think she's recovered yet."

He huffed at that, annoyed. "When do you think she'll be in?"

"I don't know, Jono," she answered, getting just as exasperated. "Just leave her alone. I'm sure she'll come around when she can."

"She'd better, because I'm not going to keep her place for long."

"Don't you even care at all what happened to Raul? You knew him."

"Yes, I knew him, as much as I know every other lout that walks in here. So what? All it is to me is another lost customer, a lost coin."

"You're cold-hearted."

"Keeps me sane."

Hannah turned away, swallowing her anger. No point wasting time on Jono. A man like him didn't understand. She kept an eye on the door and on every girl that walked in after her – no Ginia to be seen. For days, they waited, but she wouldn't come.

"Somebody needs to check on that girl," Jono declared.

"She told me not to see her," Hannah said.

"She might have told you that, but not anyone else. So? Any volunteers?"

"I'll do it," Deedee nodded. "I'll go visit her."

"Good. And if you can bring her back, I'll have a reward in it for you."

"She's just money to him, isn't she?" Hannah muttered, and beside her, Sora nodded grimly.

"We all are."

The next day, everyone descended on Deedee, looking for news about Ginia. "Well, you know, she's with her family, and they're taking care of her."

"Did she say anything?" Hannah asked.

"Not really. She was very quiet." Deedee did a bleak smile. "Not like her at all."

"When can we expect her back?" Jono wanted to know.

"That's the thing. She says she's not coming back."

Jono cocked his head, disbelieving. "What?"

"That's what she told me."

"That's impossible."

"She seemed very sure about it, Jono. She wanted me to tell you."

"She needs the work."

"She needs to get away," Hannah slotted in, getting a look from Jono. "Too much has happened here. And now she can't bear it."

"I'd thank you to stay out of this, Hannah."

"So we'll never see her again?" one of the girls chirped, upset.

"I'm sorry, Jono," Deedee offered.

"Stupid girl. All over a sweet-talking scoundrel. Unbelievable." He took off, disappearing into the back room.

Hannah glanced at Sora and Deedee, the three girls sharing a grieving look. Ginia had always been such a part of Jono's. Hannah couldn't imagine the place without her. To think that she had done all she could to protect Ginia, and ended up losing her, perhaps forever.

Sacrifice. Just as her mother had done.