Experiments.

"Let's go over what we know now..." Nathan Irons said from inside his car with the window rolled up, "The sign's obviously not stuck to your hands, at least not like if they were glued on or something. Else you wouldn't be able to put them away. Likely you are just sort of... Controlled to hold it, like you are controlled to... uh... Make good of the warning on the sign. "

"Controlled?" Elin cocked her eyebrow, "Controlled by whom?"
Nathan smiled excitedly, "That's the big question, isn't it? Before you came to this beach, you were entirely in control over yourself. By the time you touched that sign, you were no longer entirely in control. What changed when you picked it up? Or did something happen before, that made you go here and pick the sign up? So many questions, and yet..."
"Will you get to the friggin' point!?" Elin yelled.
"...Indians cursed this beach. Geez, I was getting to that." Nathan pouted.
"That... Okay, dude. That's really racist."
"Sorry, mi'lady. We can't always expect the truth to come only in forms we are comfortable with."
"Yeah, but we can point out when something is clearly a tired old stereotype made up to justify bigotry against an already minimized people!"
Nathan raised his finger, "You may be right. Or you may be wrong. But in my experience, the difference between the bigot and the enlightened man is that the bigot lacks an open mind. Especially to experiences that makes him uncomfortable."

"That..:" Elin took a deep breath. Rarely did exactly the wrong thing to say ever elude this guy. Even so, what did he really know about her? That she holds up a sign with threats of sexual ****, and that she does not hesitate to make good on that promise.
None of that seemed to matter to that guy. Sure, he might be nutty as a fruitcake, and that was probably the reason he didn't hesiate, but that didn't make her any less grateful to have someone with whom to confide in when things in life get this crazy.
Elin sighed and looked down at the sign in her hands, and back at the portly young man, "All right... So where did you find out about this so called curse?"
"Why, back at the Truthbusters. net Forums, of course!"
Elin wanted to facepalm. Instead she bonked her head on the sign, "...So just some rumour on the Internet then?"
"Hey!" Nathan shot her with a finger gun, "I've been investigating posts from fellow Truthbusters for years. Not once have I found out that it wasn't what they said it was."
"Uh huh. And how many times have you found out it was exactly what they said it was?"
"That's got nothing to do with it, darling." Nathan shot her a confident smile, "The point is that we need to figure out why this is happening to you. And the way to do that is to figure out how whatever it is that's happening is happening."
"...You lost me right now."
"It's simple! We need to figure out exactly when that curse of yours activates!"
Elin raised a brow, "When you get within six feet of me, right? That's what the sign says, and it seemed to be just about the time that I reacted."
"Exactly!" Nathan snapped his fingers, "Doesn't that seem kind of strange to you?"
Elin ground her teeth in frustration, "Mmmmph... I have a hard time seeing what's not strange about this situation, buddy."
"Look at it this way; if that sign is right, and you act on anyone who gets near you... Then it wouldn't matter whether you see them or not. Right? What matters is if they're close by, so even if they were hiding in a garbage bin you would just beeline towards them even if you had no idea why!"
"That... Hmmm... That's actually a good point. I mean, if I had to spot someone who got close to me to attack them, then I could just close my eyes. Then I wouldn't see anyone." Elin blinked to confirm that she actually could close her eyes, "Am I going crazy, or are you actually making sense?"
"In my line of work, you gotta go a little crazy first before you can start making sense."
"But... How do we know for sure that's how things work?"
"That's the easy part! You just gotta close your eyes... And walk towards me."
"No!" Elin sighed, shaking her head, "Then we will get back into that situation, and I will end up having my way with you!"
"Listen, Elin... When you're out for the truth, you have to accept that not all risks can be avoided. Besides, if I'll roll up the window and lock the door, then you won't be able to get me even if you were to lose control. All right?"
Elin thought about this for a moment, "...I dunno. Seems like anything could go wrong if we let it, and..."
"It's probably gonna turn out you're in control though." Nathan said, "Think about it, that Indian curse or whatever likely didn't know your fancy judo moves. That means it relies on what you know and feel in order to functions... Which means if you can see nothing then nothing will happen."
Elin looked down at the sign. It would be nice to get some good news before this terrible day ends, "All right... But if this backfires..."
"Trust me! It won't backfire!" The window of the car rolled up, as a click from the door sounded.

"Right... Here goes nothing..." Elin said as she closed her eyes, and moved with firm steps in a straight line...