I twisted out of Dad’s grasp and it was surprisingly easy. I think I was in the grip of a huge adrenaline rush and I felt strong. I felt so strong. I butted him in the stomach and I heard the wind rush out of his lungs. He doubled over and I ran for the door, turned the handle and nearly got away, but Mum grabbed me from behind and dragged me a little way back into the room. I screamed and jabbed my elbow back, making contact with some part of her body. I heard her gasp and then I was free. This time I ran as fast as I could. Behind me I heard a shout of ‘Get him. Don’t let him get away.’

I ran down a number of corridors, taking turns at random. Once I turned a corner and a middle-aged man in a white coat was a metre ahead of me. I caught him a glancing blow and then I was in clear space once more. I ran and ran, checking my internal clock. Three and a half minutes. Maybe. Aiden should have pressed the emergency override by now. He couldn’t do it right outside the gate, because that would make his recapture easier when Mum called the security guards to search the area. Had I told him that? I didn’t think I had. Hopefully, he’d worked that out for himself. So, if everything had gone well, he’d be a minute and a half away from the lab, the car door would be open and he’d run into the rain and the wind, and the darkness would give him shelter. Maybe.

I had no idea where I was, but I turned another corner and the lab entrance was in front of me. I burst through the doors, but nearly didn’t make it. I don’t know where Dad came from, but his hand grabbed the shoulder of Aiden’s nightclothes, so I twisted and felt the fabric rip. Then I was in the storm and I couldn’t see a thing. The rain was so intense that visibility was reduced to no more than two metres. In less than a second I was as drenched as if I’d dived into our pool at home. I had to buy some more time and maybe the storm could be my friend. I ran with no idea where I was going.

The storm wasn’t my friend. I ran straight into a security guard, who caught me in a grip I knew I would never break. This guy was strong. I stopped struggling and went limp instead. He half-dragged, half-carried me back into the lab. Judging by his muttering he wasn’t very pleased that I’d caused him to get soaked. I didn’t care. Over four minutes. He must be away by now.