[ It stings, but Mielle fights the urge to pull her hand back long enough for Penelope to patch up her finger. It's embarrassing to be caught being so clumsy – she hasn't pricked her finger on a needle since she was twelve years old – but even more embarrassing to be caught in such a state. Even if (or maybe because) Penelope's being so kind about it. Something about the understanding – or maybe the pity – makes her skin itch. ]

... it just makes me sick. To think that he... knows enough about the things that hurt us to use them against us like this. Bringing people we know last week was bad enough, but this...

[ A little shudder runs through her as her hand falls limply to her side. ]

I don't want to be seen like that by a man like him.