My heart went back to that day at the lake. I felt Kaylee squeeze my hand as the scowling kid wearing the white hat seared his angst into our faces. The business relationship between he and my father was obviously strained, and after the last few dramatic weeks he was boiling with revenge.

We stood motionless in the gas station doorway, hoping he didn’t recognize us. Kaylee told me later she tried to look invisible.

“Where are your parents?” the cashier squawked, his bottom lip swollen with chewing tobacco. The white hat kid looked at us for an answer. His eyes were glazed, and there was a deliberate grind in his jaw as he leaned on the counter for support.

“I think they’re mute,” the kid joked.

“We’re waiting for our dad,” Kaylee responded.

“Your dad?” The cashier chuckled, looking back at the clock on the wall. “Little late for kids to be out.”

“What’s your dad look like?” the kid asked. It seemed his sensors had shaken away the cobwebs. He stood up straight and scrutinized us a little more, as our colorful t-shirts felt as if they were glowing.

“You from the camp?” the cashier asked.

“Yeah,” I answered quickly, “but she got sick and we had to go home. We were told to wait in town.”

The white hat kid bangs his fist on the counter. “I know you!”

Every drop of blood fell to my shoes. I grabbed Kaylee and ran us out the door. With both hands, the kid threw every item on the counter into the air. Bits of gum and breath mint packages pelted the glass window.

“Where’s your dad is right!” he bellowed. We ran as fast as we could to the road. There was really nowhere to go. The kid’s speed was matched by his fury. He charged us like a bull, tackling us to the ground. “Oh no you don’t. You tell me where he’s at or I’ll kill you.”

I tried my best to pull away, but he had half of my shirt clenched in one fist. With the other arm he wrangled my sister.

“I’ll feed you to my dogs!”

Kaylee screamed. “Let go! Let go!”

I dragged him to the road. There were headlights getting larger from down the road. I yelled for help and my head went blank. All light disappeared. My ears rang with soft sirens, and my thoughts went back to mom. She was whispering to me, but I couldn’t make out the words.