When the car crawls over the embankment I sob. It’s too bright to see past the headlights. It scatters the shadows, shrieks go up as light reaches unexpected places. They move too fast to see but a few sound like they’re hurt.

As the car pulls up beside Aunty Mel’s, I realise my mistake.

‘No! Stop!’

I jump to my feet, waving like a mad woman. Rhi pulls me down by my shoulders, but we’re all yelling now.

‘Stay in the car!’

‘Don’t open the doors!’

‘Fuck that, LOCK the doors!’

A combination of relief and that last comment from Rhi makes me bust out laughing, and everyone around that little fire joins me. We’re laughing so hard tears are flowing down every face, and if we’re a bit hysterical no one points it out.

A window cracks open and my mother’s voice slaps the night air.

‘What the fuck is goin on?’

That sobers us up quick.

‘Long story, but they’re everywhere, Mum. It’s not safe.’ I choke on the words.

‘What are?’

I lift my hand, palm out and curl my fingers into a claw, flexing them in and out a few times, just like Nan always had.

A gasp and the internal lights come on. I can see Uncle in the front, lowering his arm from the roof, and Mum beside him. They both look pale.

‘How do we get you in the car?’ Uncle calls.

I shrug. It feels like a sick joke. They’re so close, but still an eternity away.

‘Can we drive over?’

‘Let’s try it.’

Uncle turns the car back on and shifts as close as he can without hitting us. As we watch the chassis block the light, I spot movement.

‘Stop! They’re under the car!’

Uncle hits the brakes, and this time they’re close enough I can see the fear in their eyes. I force myself to look away and think.

‘What if we moved the triangle out and made it a circle big enough to fit the car?’ Sam asks.

I smile. ‘Worth a try. The car’s too close now though. If Uncle backs up, we can build little fires and widen it out enough that he can drive into it.’

‘Will that work?’ Rhi asks, fear and hope mixing on her face.

‘We have to do it real careful,’ I say with a confidence I am far from feeling. ‘Always make sure there’s light to our front and our back and remember – never cross over each other’s light. Once we have the triangle big enough we can slowly move the fires outward, make more little ones, till they can drive into it.’

‘Got it,’ Uncle calls. He reverses back a few metres. I can’t look at Mum.