It is all I can manage, and the frustration leaves me in the form of more precious liquid running over my cheeks. The hands reach out to brush them away, scraping claws where fingers should be. I flinch. Fingers press on my jaw and this time I voluntarily open my mouth. The water returns. Cold bliss flows over my tongue and I gulp it down. It vanishes again far too quickly, but now I can speak.

‘Who … are … you?’ A creaking groan, matching the tacky feeling of my lips and tongue. I wait in the silence. Wait and hope.

The hands return to brush my face, a harsh texture to them, like a wolfhound’s rough fur, but all over. The hands rub over my cheeks, stopping on my chin, pinching slightly at the tip and angling my head upwards. A slow, reverberating growl begins and at first I think the world is shaking. Two bright red pinpricks of light appear and I rejoice. Is my sight returning?

My eyes slowly adjust, taking so long to focus it almost hurts, I realise what I am looking at just as the soft pinch of my chin turns to a bite and claws spike into my skin. I open my mouth and scream and scream and scream.

The red eyes watch and the world shakes from its growl.

I feel my self rip backwards, away from her. I’m not Laney now, but Tace. I fly through the blackness, exploding out into light. I have seconds to see the cave, the mountain. I know this place.

I jerk awake. Rhi is lying there snoring with her mouth wide open. The room is claustrophobic as the heat presses in. I pull myself up, careful not to wake her and tiptoe into the kitchen. I am so stiff and sore I move like an eighty-year-old with a hunchback. I know it’s hot but I feel ice cold.

Tea in hand I head to my steps. I sit on that spot and let go of all my mind is telling me, staring up at the waning moon. I open myself up to the certainty that my twin is alive and waiting for me. I ignore the voice that says I am imagining it, if only for tonight. I know she’s out there, I know I have to find her.

It’s like watching a horror movie and the black chick heads into the house. Everyone is screaming ‘No! Turn back!’ but the silly cow goes in anyway. Hopefully the ending will be better for me, but regardless, I have to go find Laney.

The old man in the moon stares down at me with concern.

I whisper into the night air, ‘Nan, I need your help.’

I have to go out to Potters’ again and I need her with me. It might be easier if I can find whatever is in this house.