But then a flash of blue caught his eye. There it was – the Fire Stone.

Gotcha, he thought, and took a few strokes towards the huge sapphire. It was so close. The final Chaos Stone. The one that would bring his mum back.

Mum. Josie’s smiling face eclipsed all other thoughts in his mind. They’d be together again at last. The vision of his beautiful mother powered his arms and legs as he swam closer to the giant gem. Him and Mum. It would be perfect.

With unsteady hands, he reached out his fingers and gently plucked the Fire Stone from the ash-strewn ground. Without thinking, he held it to his chest and tried not to weep with relief. He’d done it. He had found all four Chaos Stones. He could get her back. Everything was going to be OK.

But first, he needed to get out of this fire.

He swam his way steadily up towards the surface. But as he swam, dark thoughts started to pollute his focus, trying to make themselves heard above his single-minded determination.

But where will you live? Patricia Horse’s-Bum has your farm . . .

Elliot could feel the heat intensify around him. He closed his eyes and tried to answer his heart’s fears. It didn’t matter where they lived. He’d live in a cave if it meant being with Mum.

If you give Thanatos the stones, how will you keep her safe? After all, you couldn’t do it before . . .

‘Argh,’ he cried as a flame bit his cheek. He looked up – he was a long way from the surface. If the flames started to burn him, he’d be dead before he could reach the shore.

A second flame jumped and burnt his shoulder. He had to conquer his fears.

I don’t want you, hissed a new voice inside his head. It was Dave, his so-called father. Elliot felt his hatred grow, but this only seemed to fuel the flames around him. They were enveloping his body in an unbearable blanket of heat, licking at his skin. He was losing control. He was going to die.

And then you will have failed, laughed Dave inside his head. Again.

Elliot felt a huge flame scorch his right arm. It was no use. He’d never get out of this alive. His dad was right. He had failed.

He looked at the fire fighting to consume his body. The flames had won. At least Thanatos wouldn’t get the Chaos Stones this way. And maybe, just maybe, this would bring him back together with his mum . . .

There was nothing more he could do. He was all out of fight.

Elliot Hooper closed his eyes, lay back in the flames and waited for the end to come.

5. Shades

5. Shades