Lila felt a pang of sadness at Ash's words.

She broke the bread in half and handed a piece to him. "I can't finish it all. Will you help me eat half of it?"

Ash shook his head.

"Grandma said one for each of us. I can't take yours, Lila," he said earnestly.

His eyes suddenly caught sight of the man in the military coat, and his face lit up with a cheerful smile. "Mr. Mapleford!"

Said man looked up briefly. He had taken off his mask, but his long hair and lowered head still obscured most of his face. When he heard Ash calling, he gave

a low grunt in acknowledgment without looking up further.

Lila hadn't heard James speak when she met him, so she didn't recognize his voice.

After finishing his meal, the man in the military coat quickly put his mask back on, as though afraid someone might see his face.

Lila asked Ash, "Have you ever seen what Mr. Mapleford looks like? Why does he always wear a mask?"

"Because he's not handsome," Ash replied with a child's bluntness. "I asked him once, and Mr. Mapleford said he has scars on his face and doesn't want to scare people."

Lila's grip on her spoon tightened. "Have you seen those scars? Where are they? What do they look like?"

head in thought before pointing to the side

more disappointed or relieved at

deaths would remain unavenged if

flooded with police bulletins seeking James, and news could spread

feared that if cornered, he might act out

man. He kept his head down as he

If this man were

afternoon, he

was well-behaved, the production team didn't stop

up, Lila washed up and prepared to head back, holding Ash's

walked, something felt

seemed

you know those

there were few young people left in the village. The sudden appearance of several strong, 30-something men in military style coats struck her

shook his head. "I

her grip on his

turned a corner, she felt the cold press of an iron rod against

a low

Ash into her arms to

kept his voice low, but Lila caught a glimpse of green fabric out of the corner

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