Rhi quirks an eyebrow. ‘I thought you didn’t believe in special dreams and all that “stuff” anymore?’

She does the quote marks thing with her fingers and I cringe. I’d lectured them all after Nan died and we’d had the biggest fight. I’ve been so cocky. Maybe tomorrow once the sun is up I can defend myself, but with the dream so fresh and that rock in my stomach, all I feel is fear for my twin. I drop my head.

‘This feels different.’

‘What happened?’

Feeling slightly stupid but mostly scared I let the whole thing rush out.

‘The first one was last night, Laney was runnin from the property owners. They’d all split up to get away from them fullas. She made it back to Troy’s car, but a ghost bird swooped her and she climbed under the car. Troy turned up but something grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her away. That’s when I woke up.’

Rhi doesn’t say anything, just watches and listens.

‘Tonight she was somewhere so dark I couldn’t see anything and she’s hurt. She can’t walk. Someone was cryin but when she called out to them it chased her through the dark. She was so scared.’ The last bit came out so soft I doubt Rhi heard me. Taking a deep breath I brace myself for the rest. ‘It came right up and whispered in her ear. She tried to punch it and hit something, it felt like a mouth. And maybe … maybe teeth?’

I can’t finish. Shifting slowly, I put my left hand on the table between us. I peel back the bloody toilet paper and we both stare at the cuts that gouge my knuckles. Rhi takes my hand, tipping it to the light so she can get a better look. I can’t tell what she is thinking, but then I’ve never seen her dumbfounded before.

‘I don’t know, cuz. But you said you punched im so why’s it on your left hand? You’re right-handed.’ She looks up with an ‘ah-ha’ expression.

My hand starts to shake.

‘Mirror twins, remember?’

Rhi freezes for a long moment, then shakes herself.

‘Well, dream or not let’s get that cleaned up.’

A trip to the bathroom, a dose of stinging Betadine and some Band-Aids later, and we are trying not to stare at each other over our joined hands. Neither of us says anything, we are both too busy thinking. It’s strange to see my carefree cousin so deep in thought, she’s usually all action and no thought to consequences.