Chapter 3

Dad picked up the water bucket and reminded us to be careful.

Then he turned and headed for the water station.

The three of us walked side by side, moving quickly toward the campground market.

The whole time, I was on edge.

My eyes kept scanning our surroundings, and I had no heart to pick out food.

Mom and my sister could see how anxious I was, and they didn't dare drag their feet.

We paid quickly and got ready to head back to the RV.

But we'd only taken two steps when my gaze froze, and every hair on my body stood on end.

A strange man was lingering around our RV.

He stood by the car window, head slightly bowed.

He kept peering into the car.

My mind went hot, and every ounce of reason left me.

I dropped my shopping bags and rushed over.

"Who are you?"

"What are you doing next to our car?!"

The man turned around, a faint smile on his face.

"Hi there, little girl..."

The shadow of my past life swept over me in an instant.

My eyes went bloodshot.

I didn't even take the time to figure it out. I slammed a fist into him, hard!

"Angelica!"

Mom and my sister went pale with fright.

They rushed up at once and put themselves in front of me.

"Who are you? What are you planning to do next to our car?"

Dad, who had just finished getting water, walked right into the scene.

He dropped the bucket in his hand and rushed over with big strides.

"What do you think you're doing? Picking on my daughter?"

The standoff was instant.

"Don't hit me! Don't hit me!"

The man covered his face and hurriedly backed away.

"I just came to borrow a pair of pliers! Nothing more!"

Dad stopped short, eyeing him warily.

"Pliers? What do you need pliers for?"

The man was sweating all over with anxiety.

"My daughter was fooling around and got her hand stuck in a railing, and she can't get it out!"

"I saw you had an RV, so I figured you might keep some repair tools on hand, and I thought I'd come and ask!"

"Who knew your daughter would just walk up and punch me..."

Dad was half-convinced.

He looked in the direction the man was pointing.

Sure enough, a crowd was gathered around a railing not far off.

And every so often, the heart-wrenching sobs of a little girl carried over.

The tense atmosphere dissolved almost all at once.

Dad looked apologetic and quickly spoke up.

"Sorry about that, buddy, we misunderstood you."

"I've got pliers—I'll grab them for you right now."

I stared blankly at the man in front of me.

My heart was pounding without stop.

He really was short.

And a little chubby, too.

Completely different from that burly attacker—like two different people.

Guilt welled up in me all at once.

My ears turned red, and I apologized quietly.

"I'm sorry, sir, I was just too nervous."

"I shouldn't have hit you."

The man waved a hand and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"It's fine, it's fine. It's a good thing for a young lady to be on guard."

"Just don't be so impulsive next time."

Dad dug out a pair of pliers.

He hurried out of the RV and put them in the man's hand.

Not far off, the little girl's crying went on.

It set your nerves on edge to hear it.

Dad looked pained, and he offered on his own.

"I'm a retired firefighter, so I've got a bit more experience."

"Why don't I come along and take a look with you?"

The man's eyes lit up, and he thanked him at once.

"That would be great!"

"Sorry to trouble you, and thank you so much!"

Alarm bells were blaring in my head.

My instinct was to stop them.

But before I could get a word out, Mom shot me a fierce look.

She lowered her voice, her tone full of anger.

"Angelica Summers, what on earth are you trying to do today?"

"You just walked up and hurt the man without stopping to ask a single question."

"He's being gracious about it and not holding it against you. Your dad is making up for your mistake!"

My eyes went red with frustration.

"But..."

"No buts!"

Mom cut me off sharply.

"With this many people around, what could possibly happen?"

"Stop stirring up trouble over nothing!"

My sister gently pulled me back too, whispering to soothe me.

"Angelica, be good, don't be nervous."

"Dad's right nearby, just a few steps away."

My palms were slick with cold sweat, and my nails were nearly digging into my flesh.

I knew Mom didn't understand.

Nobody understood.

They lived in the safety of the present and couldn't see the tragedy I'd been through.

They thought crowds meant safety.

That daylight meant no evil.

But in my past life, the demon had used exactly that kind of bustle as cover.

I didn't dare let myself get distracted again.

I kept my eyes locked on the figures moving all around.

Just then, Dad's voice came from a distance.

"Honey, bring me a wrench..."

"This spot isn't lining up right..."