"Wait… isn't it strange how Erick suddenly had a baby nine years ago? He claimed he found it while herding sheep…"
"I remember hearing screams from Daryl’s house at night," another villager added hesitantly. "He always said it was just the TV…"
Realization dawned on them, their unease growing into suspicion. Then, in a wave, they surged toward the houses to see for themselves.
Erick and Daryl saw the shift in the crowd and panicked.
"You little bitch!" Erick roared, lunging at me with reckless fury.
I had no time to react.
The knife was wrenched from my grasp. A brutal kick sent me sprawling to the ground.
Pain exploded through my ribs, but before I could recover, Erick grabbed a nearby hoe and swung it down toward my head.
"No!"
Simon screamed, struggling against his parents as they held him back.
The impact came hard and fast. A searing pain tore through my skull, warm liquid trickling down my face. My vision blurred.
They were going to kill me.
I curled in on myself, shielding my head as their fists and feet rained down on me.
Then—
"Police! Stop right there!"
The commanding shout echoed through the chaos.
Relief washed over me, and I let the darkness take me.
---