‘I wanted to help,’ says Barbara pleadingly. ‘After all, what light did you have in there, you needed something.’

‘I had Zoe,’ says Julia. ‘She was always there for me.’

‘Oh, please,’ says Barbara, rolling her eyes. ‘That little pikey? She wasn’t like you, dear. She was a mess. The child of drug dealers if I remember correctly. And such a bad influence on you. You were so much better off when she was gone.’

‘You bitch,’ screams Julia. ‘You fucking bitch.’

She lurches towards Barbara. I see the glint of the blade in her hand.

‘Julia, no!’ I cry.

But I’m too late. It’s over in a second. A flash as the blade moves in the air. A sickening squishing sound as the knife meets flesh. Barbara tries to scream but instead a horrifying gurgle comes out of her mouth. She staggers for a couple of moments, her hand at her throat. Then she looks at me, an expression of utter bewilderment. I watch as she struggles for breath then falls on the stone floor, her silver skirt rippling like moonlight across the surface of a river.

57

A low wail fills the room, so loud that at first I fear it’s some sort of alarm but then I see where it is coming from. Julia is standing above Barbara’s body, the knife still in her hands, and the sound is coming from her mouth.

‘Untie me, Julia,’ I say, trying to keep calm.

She doesn’t respond, though the noise continues.

‘Julia,’ I say, raising my voice. ‘Untie me. Now.’

The tone of my voice seems to have an effect. She stops and turns towards me. Her face is parchment white.

‘I … I didn’t mean to …’ she says, her eyes wide with fear.

‘We don’t need to think about that just yet,’ I say, trying to keep my own breathing steady. ‘Untie me and we can sort this out.’

She looks at me then nods her head briskly. For a moment I see the child she once was, lost and bewildered, and I know that I must be strong for her now.

‘Good girl,’ I say as she drops the knife on to the ground and slowly walks towards me. ‘That’s it. Just untie me. It’s all going to be fine.’

But her hands are shaking so badly that at first she can’t get a grip on the knotted wires.

‘I can’t do it,’ she cries.

‘Keep calm,’ I say as I feel them loosening. ‘You’re almost there.’

When she finally unknots them I slump forward in my chair as the reality of what has happened sinks in. Then my chest begins to tighten. I can feel my breathing grow shallow. But I have no inhaler. I’m going to have to focus, try to keep calm.

‘I … don’t know what to do.’ Julia is sobbing. ‘She’s dead. She’s definitely dead.’