Too late for a second chance (Lila and Dorian)

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?"

thought before

felt more disappointed or relieved

deaths would remain unavenged if she couldn't find

bulletins seeking James, and news

might act out in desperation

his head down as he worked,

the area. If this man were James, wouldn't it be far too

and was fascinated by them. In the afternoon, he followed

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

and prepared to

they walked, something felt

seemed

do you know those people?"

the locals, but Louise had mentioned there were few young people left in the village. The sudden appearance of

his head. "I

grip on his hand and quickened

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

a low voice

pulled Ash into her arms to

his voice low, but Lila caught a glimpse of green