Not Without My Daughter

Seven years ago, Catherine was a researcher hunting poachers. Then she was sold to a village, forced into a pigsty, and married to a mentally disabled man. She gave birth to Jasmine in that hell. Seven years of abuse broke her mind, until Jasmine's song woke her up. She used animal behavior to escape: She sent rats to steal money from her captors, and even predicted an earthquake using insect behavior. When the earthquake came, a village cadre named Nora broke the lock and whisked them away on her motorcycle. They almost made it to freedom. Almost. At the bus station, Carl caught up. Jasmine stepped into his path. "Run, Mom!" Catherine watched her daughter get dragged away. She whispered, "I will come back for you. I promise, baby. I will tear this world apart if I have to."