Reborn

They all got into the car, and the car sped off. Arianna sat down beside Bobby, but she kept looking at Anita curiously, trying to figure out something.

“She looks familiar somehow," Arianna whispered to Bobby who in return turned to look at Anita.

“I don't think so," Bobby replied, scrutinizing Anita's face. “If we'd met her before the market incident, I would have surely known. Moreover, she is from the city, and we have never been there, so where exactly did you see her? Let me guess, in your dreams,” he teased and burst into laughter.

Arianna didn't respond to him, she kept quiet, her eyes secretly fixed on Anita, after a while, she turned to look at the seven other foreigners who they saved from being sacrificed.

“What do you think we'll do with them?" Arianna asked Bobby, looking at the foreigners. “My father might kill me if he discovers that I am behind their escape, and I don't have any empty house to hide them. If they find them, they will be brutally murdered," she moaned with a genuine look of concern.

Bobby's expression turned serious, his laughter fading away. "We'll figure something out, Arianna. We can't just leave them to die, you said so yourself."

"Of course, I don't want them to die. They're humans just like me, and I am not better than them in any way." Arianna's gaze lingered on the foreigners.

Bobby's brow furrowed in concern. "We'll think of something. Maybe we can find a way to get them out of the country."

Arianna sighed in frustration. "That will be almost impossible, the usual road checkers will be doubled by ten, and it will be impossible to breathe without the guards knowing.”

Bobby knew she was right, but he couldn't think of a better plan either, so he comforted her with a hug. “Let's forget that, instead we should be celebrating the fact that we entered a sacred cult, rescued eight humans: Anita included, and came unharmed,” he said with a smile etched on his face.

“You are right. There are better things to do than. We should rest for now, we can worry about the future later,” Arianna agreed cheerfully, and the two love birds embraced each other.

The car fell silent, the only sound was the hum of the engine and the soft murmurs of the foreigners.

Anita sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her expression unreadable.

Jacob looked at her curiously, wondering what was going on in her head. “What are you thinking about, dear? You should be asleep,” he said with a soft voice, calling her by the endearment he loved the most.

Anita's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, her expression unchanging. "Just thinking," she replied softly.

Jacob's eyes lingered on her face, searching for any sign of emotion. But Anita kept a blank look firmly on her face.

"You're worried about something, aren't you?" Jacob pressed, his voice gentle.

Anita's silence was her only response.

Jacob nodded, understanding. "You don't have to tell me. But know that we're grateful for your help back there."

Anita's eyes flickered towards Jacob, a hint of surprise in their depths. “I didn't do anything. You and the chief's daughter saved my life.”

“Firstly, the chief's daughter's name is Arianna. Secondly, I didn't do anything serious. I should have warned you about the danger of Ku Di Jo, but I chose to keep quiet, endangering your life. I am sorry,” Jacob apologized, looking remorseful.

Anita's expression softened, her gaze lingering on Jacob's face. "You don't have to apologize. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead by now."

Jacob's eyes searched hers, seeking forgiveness. "Still, I should have warned you."

"You didn't know me then." Anita's voice was barely above a whisper.

Jacob nodded, accepting her words. "True. But now I do know you, and l am sorry."

Anita's gaze drifted back to the road ahead, her expression returning to its neutral state. Jacob looked restless as if he wanted to ask a question, he decided to keep it and wait for her to regain her strength, but his curiosity got the better part of him.

“What exactly happened back at the hotel? You said the hooded drillers were killing the ladies, how come you weren't killed?" He asked with arched brows. Although he heard that she was reincarnated, he couldn't believe it and he wanted to hear her side of the story.

Anita looked like she didn't want to talk about it, the menacing face of that elderly lady still lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside, opening up.

“I can't explain what happened. One moment, I felt like a knife was passing through my heart, and the next I was receiving criticism from the scary-looking killers. They claimed I am the devil incarnate and kept saying all sorts of meaningless stuff,” Anita explained, her eyes looking stressed.

"Meaningless stuff like what?" Jacob asked curiously.

Anita was surprised at his question, she wasn't expecting him to ask. “When I said meaningless stuff, I mean their words had no backing, so I didn't listen to what they were saying,” she explained.

Jacob's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "Try to remember," he pressed gently. "Any detail could be crucial."

Anita's gaze drifted away, her eyes clouding over. "They said...they said I was cursed, that I'd been reborn multiple times."

Jacob's expression turned intense. "Reborn?"

Anita's voice barely rose above a whisper. "Yes. They claimed I'd lived before, that I'd died and come back."

Arianna and Bobby's gentle murmurs ceased, their attention drawn to Anita's words.

Jacob's eyes locked onto Anita's, searching for truth. "Do you believe them?"

Anita's gaze faltered, uncertainty etched on her face. "I don't know."

Jacob's expression softened. "We'll figure it out, together."

Anita's eyes lingered on Jacob's face, a hint of gratitude in their depths. She focused her attention back on the dark environment outside the bus.

Jacob, Bobby, and Arianna gave one another a surprise look. They looked shocked, confused, hopeful, and worried, and they all prayed that Anita was the person they had been waiting for for decades.