Chapter 4

Mom answered right away, digging a wrench out of the toolbox.

She turned to hurry over toward Dad.

My eyes instantly welled up, and I clutched at the hem of her clothes.

"Mom, I'm begging you, don't go! Don't leave here!"

With me holding on so tightly, her face went red with anger.

"Angelica! Have you lost your mind?"

"There's a child trapped over there, it's a matter of life and death. How dare you stop me?"

I was so frantic my voice went hoarse, and the tears wouldn't stop.

"Mom, it's a matter of life and death here too!"

She just took it for nonsense, frowning as she snapped at me:

"What are you rambling about?"

"Our family's perfectly fine, what could possibly happen to us?"

In the distance, Dad's urging voice came again.

"Hurry up, honey! The kid's crying so hard he's about to pass out!"

Mom didn't hesitate anymore. She threw off my hand.

"Angelica, listen to me and stop making trouble!"

The moment she said it, she grabbed the wrench and squeezed quickly into the crowd.

But I didn't dare relax for even a second, and immediately took my sister's hand.

Every nerve in my body was strung tight.

Agatha noticed my panic and gently soothed me.

"Don't be scared. As soon as the road's fixed, we'll head straight home."

My teeth were chattering as I told her over and over.

"Sis, don't leave my side even half a step, do you hear me?"

Agatha smiled helplessly.

"Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

All around us was laughter and sunshine.

Just then, a low male voice cut in out of nowhere.

"Hey, little girl, do you have anything to eat?"

The instant I heard that voice, a cold sweat broke out across my back.

The blood in my body seemed to freeze.

It was that voice!

I'd heard it thousands of times in my dreams.

There was no way I could be wrong.

Stiffly, I turned around.

Before me stood a tall, hulking man.

He wore a black mask, and the brim of his cap was pulled down low.

Only a pair of sinister eyes showed.

It was him!

The monster who destroyed our whole family in my past life!

He lowered his eyes slightly and spoke, faking weakness.

"I think my blood sugar's crashing. I'm really dizzy."

"Could you give me a little something to eat?"

Agatha was soft-hearted, without the slightest guard.

"Yes, yes, hold on a second, I'll get you something..."

The next second, I didn't hesitate for another instant.

I yanked my sister hard and shoved her up into the car with everything I had.

Fast as a thunderclap.

I locked the front and rear doors from the inside.

The whole sequence flowed in one motion.

My sister stared at me, completely lost.

"Angelica, what's wrong with you?"

My teeth were chattering, and tears smeared across my whole face.

"Sis, it's him!"

"He's the bad guy who's going to hurt you!"

I didn't dare stop. I fumbled my phone out in a panic.

Dialing Mom's number again and again like crazy.

"Pick up, Mom, pick up the phone!"

We couldn't stay here.

Not for one second!

But all that came from the receiver was that beeping tone.

Over and over.

No one picked up.

I looked up in despair, my eyes hitting the car window.

The man's sinister eyes were locked on us.

Like a beast fixed on its prey.

The next second, he rushed to the front of the car.

He pulled a key from his pocket and gave the lock a light twist.

Click.

The door opened.

He quickly locked the doors and pulled down the sunshade.

The light was instantly shut out.

I gripped the safety hammer in my hand and forced myself to speak.

"You—you stay back! Come any closer and I'll smash you!"

The man let out a scornful laugh, his tone full of impatience.

"Meddling little brat, you've wasted so much of my time."

Then he closed in on us, step by step.

The pressure of it made it hard to breathe.

I clenched my teeth, raised the safety hammer, and swung it hard at his head!

But an adult's reflexes were nothing a teenage girl like me could match.

His eyes went contemptuous, and he twisted aside in a flash.

The safety hammer struck nothing but air.

Before I could pull my hand back, a slap landed hard across my face.

I was knocked straight to the ground.

My cheek burned.

But he had no intention of stopping.

Several more slaps followed.

Each one heavier than the last.

I was hit until I saw stars.

Blood filled my mouth.

I lay limp on the ground, without even the strength to lift a hand.

"Angelica!"

Agatha's eyes went red with panic in an instant.

She threw herself toward me recklessly, screaming:

"Let go of my sister! Don't hit her!"

But against the hulking attacker, she was no match at all.

The man reached out and clamped her tight.

He leaned close to her neck and greedily breathed in.

"You smell so good... All that time following you was worth it."

Then the man roughly tore at her clothes.

"No! Let me go! Help!"

Agatha struggled desperately.

Tears soaked her whole face.

My ears were ringing.

I watched helplessly as the nightmare played out all over again.

Even coming back for a second chance, was I still going to fail?