The moment the woman saw Adeline approach, panic flashed across her face. She instinctively shielded her child and scrambled forward on her knees."Please!" Her voice cracked, hoarse from screaming. "Please, don't hurt us! Take me, just spare my child!"
Adeline froze. Slowly, she knelt down, lowering herself so she didn't look threatening. "Hey… Hey, it's alright," she whispered gently. "I'm not here to hurt you."
But the woman wasn't convinced. She shook her head violently, her hands trembling as she tried to push the child further behind her. Her thin body bore the marks of heavy beatings—purple bruises marred her arms and neck, whip marks on her face. The child whimpered, hiding his face in her tattered dress.
Adeline felt a pain in her heart. Her fingers tightened around the cell keys. "I promise you," she said, voice steady, "I'm here to help. We're freeing the prisoners. There are others with me. You don't have to be afraid."
