I took some bread and cheese from the fridge and shut myself away in my bedroom. No one stopped me. Mum had gone straight to her office. Dad looked lost. I put the chair under the doorhandle again before getting my tablet from under the bed and calling Aiden. I was hoping that in the confusion of the escape, Mum hadn’t thought I might have smuggled in Aiden’s tablet and that we could be in communication. She’d work it out eventually, but I had some time on my side. I hoped.

Aiden answered immediately.

‘What the hell is going on, Ash?’ he said. Under other circumstances I’d have been tempted to cry. His hologram, wearing that yellow dress (a small part of me noticed the headband had gone), was shivering, a tiny Z hugged close.

‘Are you safe?’ I said.

‘No. I’m cold and wet and lost. It’s dark and I’m scared and I want to come home.’

My heart lurched, but I couldn’t let pity be his downfall.

‘Listen to me, Aiden,’ I said. ‘You mustn’t come home. If you do, you’ll die. Please trust me on this. And whatever you do, don’t talk to Mum and Dad. Find Xena and her gang if you can. She said she likes you and I think they may protect you.’

He started crying then and that got me going. He seemed so lost and small and helpless.

‘I don’t understand anything,’ he sobbed.

‘I’ll be at the entrance of Victoria Park at nine in the morning,’ I said, without having the slightest idea how I was going to manage that. ‘Stay hidden and only come out if I’m alone. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, but …’

‘Find shelter, but keep moving. Don’t call me back and don’t stay in the same place for too long. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, Aiden. I swear.’ I hung up. I didn’t want to, but I needed him scared and jumpy. For a while, at least, I thought his survival would depend on it.

I’ll explain everything tomorrow? I’d have to do that. But that didn’t mean I was looking forward to it.

I’m not sure if anyone slept that night. I know I didn’t, and judging by the faces of my parents in the morning, they hadn’t either. It was certain Aiden hadn’t got any rest, but his absence and Mum’s presence was evidence he hadn’t been recaptured. Not conclusive, but …

Mum pretty much confirmed that hope by speaking on her tablet almost continuously. She kept away from me, but I heard the occasional word and I thought she was organising a search. Then she called for the car.