‘They’ll need time to make everything safe.’

Declan was shaking his head. ‘It’ll be too late.’

He had kept his voice low, but Hilary had heard him. ‘There really is nothing to be done for me,’ she said, her voice drifting. ‘It was quite some show, don’t you think?’

Forced to wait, Claudia edged closer to the crumbling balcony. There were a handful of people heading for a side exit, but the rest of the stalls looked to be deserted, until she saw a figure the colour of dust pulling what looked like a child’s body from the rubble. Claudia was mesmerised by the sight of what she presumed to be a corpse being handed over to someone else. If they were the child’s parents, she was confused when the mother didn’t follow the man out.

As the figure turned, she looked up, and Claudia dipped behind the shattered balcony. The theatre was full of noise, but she heard a name being carried above the useless cry of the alarm. Someone was calling for Declan and there was only one person it could be.

Remaining low, Claudia clambered back to Declan. ‘We should go.’

Declan wasn’t listening. ‘It’s OK, I’m still here,’ he said to Hilary. He had her hand clasped tightly in his, but the dance teacher’s long, white fingers had uncurled and were extended in a grim ballet pose.

‘She’s dead, Declan.’

‘I know.’

‘And so will we be if you don’t let her go,’ Claudia said impatiently. She should mention Karin, but it would be another distraction. ‘Please, you have to listen to me.’

Declan placed Hilary’s hand down gently. ‘How many other people have died tonight?’ he asked. ‘If it turns out it’s my fault, I’m not sure I could live with myself.’

‘You can go back to Ireland, start again.’

Standing up, Declan moved towards her. ‘I couldn’t go without you,’ he said, taking her hand. ‘I need you, Claude. We have to stay together.’

Claudia forgot about the fire raging above her head. The real danger lay directly in front of her and, when Declan went to lead her away, Claudia pulled her hand free and shook her head. She stepped back. No.

‘It’ll be OK,’ he promised.

‘No, it won’t!’ Claudia yelled at him. She backed away until she was dangerously close to the exposed edge of the balcony and the void beyond.

‘Jesus, watch what you’re doing!’ Declan cried out.

Claudia held his gaze as she took another step in the wrong direction.

As Declan lunged towards her, time slowed enough for Claudia to consider every possible outcome. She could simply fall back and bring this torture to an end; she could let Declan save her and commit herself to a life of purgatory; or she could step to the side.