"No," Elle said quickly. She didn't need help. Daddy had put her here to make her stronger, better, he'd said. So she'd be strong. She'd prove to him that she was the best.

Elle pulled her hand out of the wound, choking back a whimper as fresh blood started to ooze again. No, she'd be fine. This was nothing she couldn't handle.

With that thought, she braced an arm against the highest point on the ditch wall and tried to lever herself up. But dizziness swept over her. There was something rushing in her ears. She could feel the blood pumping out of her with every beat of her heart.

"I need to sit," she said, lowering herself back to the ground. "But I'm fine."