The shrieks turn to screams. Dan goes from crouching over me, staring at the necklace in shock, to flying through the air. His torchlight flickers crazily against the walls. I stay utterly still as I feel air rushing over me, shadows deeper than the dark. I catch glimpses of fast-moving images in the flickering torchlight as Dan strikes wildly around him, keeping the torch in his fist.

Dan swinging at the dark. Light. Inhuman screams. Laney. Dan. Light. Screams. Laney.

I’m up and moving, leaping down to the ledge. Pure adrenalin pouring. Pulling her up I try not to wince at how hard it is to lift her, she’s almost a dead weight. Her entire body is shaking and I can hear her breath coming fast and hard. It feels like she might be going into shock. This will be my only chance. Focus!

Laney. Dan running, falling. Laney looking at me, dazed. Dan.

‘Run!’ she whispers.

‘That’s what I’m doin,’ I growl back.

Lifting her enough to get her arm over my shoulder, I half lift, half drag her back up the ledge.

Dan punching out at the black, his back against a wall. Deep scratches appearing over his exposed skin. Darkness flows down his skin, a deep red when the light moves over it.

The movement of the torchlight is slowing, but I can see the way back. Laney locks her legs and tries to help me. It’s not much but it’ll have to be enough. I move as fast as I can, refusing to think about the screams behind us.

‘Help! Don’t leave me!’

I’m not a killer, and there is no righteous justice here. I did this. I close my ears and focus on Laney. She is the bull in the paddock, my only goal. I’ll deal with what I’ve done later.

The shrieks and scuffling are getting louder. Dan is still fighting.

‘Stacey! Help!’

I’m crying and I don’t know why. He was going to rape me. God help me, the longer he fights, the better for us.

We’ve made it past one of the many curves in the tunnel, blocking the horrible flashing light. The dark closes in. By some miracle Sam’s torch is still tied to my shirt. I have to pause to turn it on, fumbling the switch. The screams became wordless, pushing me faster. Laney’s quiet sobs force me to harden up. It will all be for nothing if I can’t get her out. His struggles bounce off the walls around us like an accusation.

As far as we’ve come in that short while I can still hear the screams turn to gurgles. Hear the struggles lessen. Quieten. Stop.

Soft tearing noises. Oh God, please tell me he isn’t feeling that. Sharp snapping in the dark.

Another growl and a shuffle tells me we’re next.