Prison Break

Samantha didn't know how much time had passed in the cell. She tried to count the seconds, but stopped after reaching three thousand. "I can't sit here and wait for him," she said into the darkness, her voice echoing in the cell.

She had to find a way out of here before Reverend Crane returned to make her a baby. She got to her feet and started to walk around the cell, searching for anything that might help her escape. She found fragments of the clay jar she'd drank from scattered across the floor. A wedge-shaped fragment pricked her finger hard enough to draw blood. She picked it up and tucked it into the pocket of her apron. If she couldn't find any other means of escape, she might be able to take the reverend by surprise. The odds were against her, but they gave her a small amount of comfort. She would go down fighting at least.

The cell contained no furniture, but in the far corner she found a pile of straw. Samantha tapped the pile with her foot and felt something soft. She got down on her knees and felt a tight knot of hair. When she touched a bulging stomach, she said, "Prudence! Are you awake?"

Prudence said nothing. Samantha shook her, but still Prudence didn't wake up. In desperation, Samantha rolled Prudence flat on her back and slapped her across the face as hard as she could. "Ow! Who's there?" Prudence said.