Chapter 86.

The gas station parking lot seems to hold its breath as I stand there, staring at the unexpected figure that has appeared before us. My heart races, and I feel a surge of emotions, ranging from shock to curiosity. The person standing before us is someone I never expected to see on this trip.

It's Jessica.

Jim and I come down from the car. Jim tenses up and a part of me wants to know why.

How and why did she surface? Is she constantly tracking me? Is she constantly following me?

What does she want from me again?

Her presence here, in the midst of our road trip, is a complete surprise. I've met her before, in secret, during a chance encounter back on the vacation.

How and why she got in is still a mystery to me and the thought has been lurking around my brain.

It’s like an evil shadow.

But now, she's here in broad daylight, and I have no idea what this means.

Jessica smiles, but there's an undercurrent of tension in her expression. "Anastasia," she says, her voice composed, "I didn't ex