‘Who did this to you?’ she says, grabbing my hand and squeezing it as there’s another sound from the hallway. Annie’s gaze trails over Meg and then towards the noise.

I know it is Bob. I see it in the way Annie draws in a long breath, her eyelids fluttering half closed with what looks like relief.

No. Please don’t, Bob. Not Meg, who is innocent in all this. Who is only fifteen and has turned up at Annie’s house for a reason I can’t explain but somehow I think she came looking for me. Not Meg, who is continuing to study me with concern, waiting for me to tell her who put me in this state.

It was her, I plead with my eyes, the old lady lying next to me. But we’re all in danger now.

I squeeze Meg’s hand back. I don’t want her to see him standing in the hallway but at the same time I should prepare her for what’s coming.

But then Annie does the one thing I least expect. She gives a small shake of her head. Only a flicker, but enough to tell him, don’t come any further.

I hold my breath until it burns my lungs. Until there is a creak of a floorboard and then nothing more and finally Annie looks away.

‘Okay, I’m getting help,’ Meg says.

I have no idea why Annie’s done what she just did.

‘Don’t go,’ I say as Meg reaches into a deep pocket and pulls out a walkie-talkie.

‘Stupid thing,’ she mutters, ‘my mum makes me take it everywhere because there’s no phone reception.’

As it crackles and Meg pulls away her hand, getting to her feet, talking to Emma in short, sharp bursts of urgent conversation, I want to laugh out loud with relief. But I don’t. Instead my eyelids droop and I drift into some semi-state of consciousness, aware much later of a pillow plumped under my head, a blanket wrapped over my body, hands held lightly against my forehead as we’re told help is on the way.

Every time I open my eyes Annie is still beside me. She hasn’t moved or spoken but her eyes snap around the room, occasionally settling on me. I consider what she will tell the police when they arrive, how she will spin what has happened, but for now she says nothing.

I pass out again and the next time I wake there are more voices murmuring around me.

‘Stella, can you hear me? I’m a paramedic. We’re going to take you back to the mainland and get you checked out in hospital, can you understand?’

I nod.

‘Okay. We’re going to lift you on to a stretcher—’

‘Annie—’ I say.

‘Your friend’s being taken care of, no need to worry.’

I try to shake my head. ‘She did this to me.’