James sat in the back seat of the car, his tiny legs swinging while his father drove through the early morning traffic. The soft hum of the engine filled the silence. Dr. Nelson glanced at him through the mirror. "You're unusually quiet today."
James looked out the window. "I'm thinking."
Nelson smiled. "About toys?"
"No."
"School?"
"No."
Nelson chuckled. "Then what do three-year-olds think about?"
James turned his head just enough for his father to see his eyes, calm, observant, frighteningly adult. "People."
Nelson frowned. "People?"
"People who pretend."
Nelson tightened his grip on the steering wheel. This again. "James,"
he said gently, "about yesterday… that man didn't mean any harm."
"He will," James whispered.
Nelson swallowed. "How do you know that?"
James leaned back against the seat. "I just know."
Nelson didn't argue. He was beginning to realize something: His son wasn't guessing.
He was certain.
AT THE HOSPITAL
Nelson carried James into the hospital lobby. Nurses greeted them warmly. "Oh! Doctor Nelson!"
Nurse Rebecca waved. "And the little genius!"
James forced a smile. "Good morning."
Nelson whispered, "Be nice, James."
"I'm always nice."
Rebecca bent down and pinched his cheek. "Children aren't supposed to talk like old men, you know?"
James blinked. "Most old men aren't supposed to talk like children either."
Rebecca blinked. "What?"
Nelson coughed. "Sorry, he's been saying strange things lately."
Rebecca laughed it off. "Kids and their imagination!"
James didn't reply. His eyes were already scanning the hospital corridor. He could feel it. A familiar energy. A scent. A presence that didn't belong in this peaceful place. A ghost from his past life. A monster wearing perfume and a fake smile. Tom.
THE MEETING
Nelson carried James into his office, And stopped. Tom sat in the visitor's chair. Nelson looked confused. "Sir? Can I help you?"
Tom stood with a bright smile. "Doctor Nelson! So good to see you. I didn't want to come without calling, but your secretary insisted you were available."
Nelson forced a polite smile. "Of course. Please, have a seat."
James stared at him from his father's arm. Tom waved playfully. "Hey, little man."
James didn't respond. Nelson placed him carefully on a chair. "James, sit here. Don't move."
Tom chuckled. "Kids don't sit still."
"They do when I tell them to,"
James said quietly. Tom froze. Nelson frowned. "James, don't be rude."
James folded his hands. "I'm not rude."
Nelson sighed and turned to Tom. "What brings you here?"
Tom gave a rehearsed smile. "A company checkup. I'm representing the health foundation. We want to partner with your hospital."
James leaned forward. "Liar."
Nelson's eyes widened. "James!"
Tom's smile cracked. "Excuse me?"
James stared straight at him. "You're not here for partnership."
Tom scoffed. "And what would a child know about hospital partnerships?"
James blinked slowly. "I know what fear looks like."
Tom stiffened. James continued, voice soft but sharp: "You're afraid right now."
Tom swallowed. Nelson looked confused. "Tom… is something wrong?"
Tom forced a grin. "Just not used to… children with strong personalities."
James tilted his head. "You mean children who can see through you?"
Tom inhaled sharply. Nelson cut in. "Tom, please ignore him. He has a wild imagination."
James looked at his father, sadly. "I wish it was imagination."
AFTER TOM LEFT
Nelson shut the door behind him and turned to James. "What was that?"
Nelson demanded softly. "Why are you acting like this? That man did nothing to you!"
James stared at the floor. Nelson knelt down. "Look at me."
James didn't. Nelson's voice softened. "James… please."
James finally lifted his eyes, silent, old, tired. "If I tell you the truth," he said quietly, "you won't believe me."
Nelson frowned. "Tell me anyway."
James hesitated. Then whispered:
"I met him before I was born."
Nelson blinked slowly. "James…"
"I've seen his face," James said steadily. "He helped kill someone. Someone who trusted him."
Nelson rubbed his temple. "James… you're three."
"No. I'm not."
Nelson froze. James whispered: "Dad… I've lived before."
Nelson stared at him, speechless.
James continued softly, "I died. They killed me. Poison. Betrayal. A woman I loved. Friends I cared about. I remember everything. And one of them, one of the men who murdered me, is here."
Nelson stood abruptly. "Stop. Stop this."
James sighed. "I knew you wouldn't believe me."
Nelson paced the room, hands on his head. "James, this is not—this is not normal. Kids don't—kids can't remember past lives."
James looked away. "I know."
Nelson whispered, "You're scaring me."
James whispered back, "Good."
Nelson stopped. "James!"
James pointed at the closed door where Tom had stood minutes ago.
"That man will destroy our family if you let him close."
Nelson stared at him, shaken. But before he could respond, A nurse knocked on the door. "Doctor Nelson! Quick! A Code Blue!"
Nelson rushed out. James remained still. His small hand clenched into a fist. "This is only the beginning," he whispered.
LUNCH BREAK, HOSPITAL CAFETERIA
James sat on a bench, swinging his legs, eating rice slowly. Nurse Rebecca brought juice and sat beside him. "You miss your mom?"
she asked. "No."
"You're bored?"
"No."
"You're angry?"
James looked up. "A little."
"Why?"
He picked a grain of rice. "People lie too much."
Rebecca laughed. "Honey, that's the world."
James shook his head. "No. That's their world. Not mine."
Rebecca looked curious. "What do you mean?"
James whispered, "My world ended once. I won't let it end again."
Rebecca blinked. "James… you talk like an old man."
James looked up.
"I am an old man."
Before she could question it, Nelson returned. "James,"
he said, "we need to talk on the way home."
James nodded and slid off the bench.
INSIDE THE CA
The silence was heavy. Nelson started the engine. "What you said… about past lives, murder, betrayal… James, that's impossible."
James stared out the window. "Impossible things happen every day."
Nelson exhaled shakily. "Do you really believe what you're saying?"
James turned to him. "I don't believe it,"
he said softly. "I remember it."
Nelson clenched the wheel. "You're three."
"Age doesn't erase truth."
Nelson swallowed hard. "James… are you… okay?"
"No," James murmured. "I'm not okay. But I'm patient."
Nelson blinked. "Patient for what?"
James looked forward again."For justice."
THAT NIGHT
James couldn't sleep. He sat on his bed, knees pulled to his chest. A cold wind blew through the open window, stirring the curtains. He whispered into the darkness: "One returned."
He thought of Tom. "Six more remain."
He thought of Maria. "My wife,"
he whispered bitterly, "my murderer."
His tiny fingers curled around the blanket. "I'm coming."
His voice was soft. But the promise inside it was sharp as steel.
MEANWHILE , AT TOM'S MANSION
Tom paced the living room, sweating. Mike, one of the seven friends, sat on the couch, confused. "What's wrong with you?"
Tom stopped. "Mike… something is wrong."
Mike frowned. "You've been acting paranoid since yesterday. What is it?"
Tom sat heavily. "The boy."
Mike scoffed. "What boy?"
"The kid at the doctor's house."
Mike rolled his eyes. "You're losing it."
Tom leaned forward, voice trembling. "He knows."
Mike laughed. "Knows what? That we stole candy? Tom, stop."
Tom slammed his fist. "He knows about James Wood."
Mike froze. Tom continued, voice harsh: "He looked at me like James used to. He spoke like James. He said things only James could know."
Mike went pale. "Tom… James Wood is dead."
Tom whispered, "Then why did I see him in that child's eyes?"
Mike swallowed. "You're imagining things."
Tom shook his head. "No. I'm not."
Mike stood. "Okay, calm down. We'll talk to the others."
Tom nodded slowly, rubbing his face. "Yeah,"
he whispered. "We have to."
He looked at the window, his voice shaking. "Because if that child really is him… we're all dead."
BACK IN JAMES'S ROOM
James whispered into the darkness: "One by one."
His eyes glowed with a calm, terrifying certainty. "I will tear your world apart."
He lay back down, closing his eyes. But he didn't sleep. Vengeance stayed awake with him.