‘But I’m not happy, am I?’ Karin whined. ‘Nor is Beth. If she isn’t babysitting me, she’s out working. I don’t know how long we can go on like this.’

Claudia checked the time. ‘I’m sorry, but I have to go. Please stop blaming yourself for other people’s decisions, Karin. If Beth chooses to work herself into the ground, it’s only because she loves you.’ She stopped short of saying how sorry she felt for the poor cow who had been landed with Karin as a girlfriend.

Karin was sobbing as Claudia left. She hoped she hadn’t pushed her over the edge, but on the other hand … it would solve all their problems if Karin found she couldn’t go on.

The Empress Theatre

Sedgefield, Cheshire

After Declan had disappeared from view, Karin used the backs of seats to navigate her way across the auditorium while she continued to scan the balcony. The closer she moved to the open wound in the ceiling, the hotter she became, and she hoped it was only the effort of breathing that made her sweat.

‘Declan! Where are you?’

When no answer came, Karin wanted to believe it was because her brother was already on his way out, but how could she leave without knowing? What if he was still looking for her? She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Beth hadn’t done something stupid like turn back for her. She didn’t need two people to worry about. Where was Declan?

As she moved along the row, glowing embers rained down and she patted her scalp now and again to make sure her hair wasn’t on fire. She was getting further away from the only viable exit.

‘Declan!’ she cried out again, unsure how much longer she could fight the urge to flee.

‘Help.’

The voice was as much a wheeze as it was a whisper. Karin looked around, unsure if she had imagined the sound above the crackle of fire and the diminishing wail of the alarm. Shadows stretched and contracted above her head, the orange glow inside the smoke cloud twitching like a beating heart. Karin stepped into an aisle strewn with rubble and was horrified to see one of the shadows reaching out to her.

‘Please.’

Karin rushed towards the woman crouched on the floor. Her short cropped hair and her face were layered with dust, and her lips were a violent shade of blue.

‘It’s OK, I’m here,’ said Karin. ‘I’ll get you out.’

‘Not me. The girl. She needs help. Under there.’ She pointed. ‘Go.’

Karin looked to where the woman was pointing and immediately recalled seeing a girl who had refused to move from her seat. If she was under the rubble, she couldn’t have survived. Karin was about to refuse to even look, when the woman gripped her arm with more force than she could spare.

‘She’s alive. Go.’