Chapter 20

Luna White curled up under the blankets, her body utterly exhausted, yet sleep eluded her. Her mind replayed scenes from her past life like a relentless film reel—anger, resentment, bitterness, and her final, desperate struggle.

She clenched her fists in fury but accidentally tugged at the wound on her arm, hissing in pain.

"Now's not the time for this," she murmured to herself.

The most urgent matter was testing whether her supernatural ability still worked as it had before. Closing her eyes, she placed her uninjured right hand over the wound. A familiar warmth surged beneath her skin, swirling before gradually fading.

She didn’t dare remove the bandages. The villagers were watching. If the wound healed too quickly, suspicions would rise. As for the gash on her forehead, she decided to leave it untreated.

Then, a familiar suffocating sensation seized her. The side effects were coming. Her feet turned icy, and all sound vanished—even the barking dog next door.

Her senses dulled, her body limp as a deflated balloon. Cold seeped from her core despite the summer heat, leaving her shivering under the thick quilt. She remembered a foreign film she’d seen in her past life, where the heroine had a similar ability—except she had a love interest to keep her warm.

Luna had no one. She would endure this long night alone.

"At least... the ability is back..." Her teeth chattered, but she couldn’t help a faint smile. This time, she would save her brother and sister. She would change their fates.

There was always a price. Fate was nothing if not fair.

Dawn had broken by the time Luna finally drifted off. When she woke, her limbs were still stiff and cold, but the chill had receded. She rubbed her feet vigorously, coaxing blood back into them.

"A new day begins," she whispered, inhaling deeply.

After tidying the bedding, she pushed open the creaky wooden door. The mountain air was crisp, scented with earth and grass.

Food was the immediate concern. Mayor George Clark had promised her fifty pounds of cornmeal, but that wouldn’t last. Harvest season was near, yet her grandmother Clara White would never share the yield. And school started in September...

"The acceptance letter!" She jolted. Last time, it had been sent to her uncle’s house and hidden by Clara. She had to get it first this time.

A knock sounded at the gate.

Luna opened it to find Mayor Clark with Security Chief Paul Jackson and Women’s Committee Head Amy Miller. Jackson carried a sack of flour over his shoulder.

"Mayor, you’re here early..." Luna’s eyes reddened—not an act. She truly had nowhere left to turn.

Mayor Clark reassured her, "Don’t worry, your uncle’s family will provide their share after the harvest—"

Before he could finish, Jackson’s face drained of color. He clutched his chest and collapsed. The flour sack hit the ground with a thud, sending up a cloud of dust.

"Paul!" The mayor and Amy rushed forward.

Luna’s chest tightened. Her medical training from her past life recognized the symptoms instantly: a heart attack.

"Don’t move him!" she snapped. "It could be cardiac arrest—moving him could kill him!"

Amy grabbed her arm. "You know medicine?" Then, remembering Luna’s father had been the village doctor, she added, "I’ll fetch the doctor. Stay here!" She sprinted off.

Mayor Clark hovered helplessly. In mere moments, Jackson’s eyes rolled back, his breathing growing fainter.

Luna bit her lip. Save him or not? Using her ability meant enduring agony. But if she didn’t...

Jackson’s lips were turning blue.

"No time to wait for the doctor." Resolved, she pressed her hand discreetly against his chest.