Another two guards appeared and Adele could feel herself being forced back. Between them, the guards shoved the other inmates out of the way and slammed the cell door shut.

Adele peered anxiously through the cell window to see if Anna was alright. But a guard had covered it with her jacket. Adele stared desperately at the deep blue of the prison officer’s uniform. Then she rocked back on her heels. Her feet were wired with the hum of adrenalin. She paced backwards and forwards until the crowd blocked her way.

The animated buzz of morbid fascination surrounded her. Prisoners jostled her as they fought their way to the cell door, full of frenzied chatter. Vying for their place at the front. Trying to catch a glimpse.

Of Anna. Of blood. Of death!

And their eagerness sickened Adele.

‘What’s happened?’ inmates demanded excitedly as more of them arrived at the scene.

Caroline put her arm around Adele’s shoulders and drew her aside.

‘It’s OK. The guards are on it,’ she said and, as Caroline’s words penetrated Adele’s brain, she felt her eyes flood with tears.

‘Oh God, I hope so!’ she replied, shaking. ‘I knew I shouldn’t have left her.’

‘Shush,’ said Caroline, taking Adele into her arms. ‘Don’t blame yourself. You weren’t to know she’d do something stupid.’

Adele tried to respond but then she caught sight of her hands. A recollection crowded her brain. Crimson hands. The brass cat. Covered in blood. Viscous and sticky. Hammering the cat against her father’s head…

The reason she was in here in the first place.

‘Oh God!’ she yelled, the breath catching in her throat. Then her breath seemed to come in short gasps, accompanied by a wave of dizziness, as panic took over.

‘Adele, it’s OK,’ Caroline reassured her, releasing her hold on Adele. ‘Breathe! Come on, deep breaths,’ she urged. Then, glancing behind her, she shouted, ‘Back off! Give her some space.’

The other prisoners took a step back, staring fixedly at this new spectacle.

‘I said back off!’ shouted Caroline, but the women didn’t move any further. Their curious eyes were watching Adele’s every move.

‘Come on, Adele. Take some deep breaths,’ Caroline encouraged.

Adele tried to follow her instructions. She could feel her breath juddering inside her as it fed her lungs.

‘That’s it, nice and slowly,’ Caroline continued.

After taking a few deep breaths Adele could feel the dizziness subside. But tears flooded her eyes again.

‘It’s OK,’ said Caroline. ‘Anna will be OK. She was still conscious when we found her. That’s a good sign.’

‘Did you see the other marks on her arms?’ Adele sobbed.

‘Yes,’ said Caroline. ‘I think she’s been cutting herself for a while, by the looks of it.’