I froze for a moment, my breath catching. Marga’s innocent question cut deeper than any of Ezekiel’s threats ever could. She was just a child, too young to be caught in the middle of this nightmare, too fragile to understand the darkness that man carried with him. I forced a small, gentle smile as I approached her bedside, even though my pulse still pounded with leftover fear.

“Yes, baby,” I said softly, brushing her hair away from her forehead. “You saw him before. But listen to me, ...