‘But her mirror image might see a way she can’t, a way I couldn’t.’

The creak of a car door and Sam is there, stepping forwards, making soothing sounds, even while I flee in horrible slow motion.

‘They’ve got her now, girl. Got her good. And no man can pull her out without damage. But what a man can’t, a woman does.’

Sam reaches May’s side and takes her wildly gesticulating hands in his. I am so shaken I didn’t even notice them. He clasps her gently by the wrists.

‘Come back now, Ma. You can come back now.’

‘No, no! She doesn’t have it yet. She’s gotta have it fore I can …’ Her attention shifts to Sam and for a second reason flickers back to life. ‘Potters’ place, son, you’ve got to take her out to Potters’. And she can’t go alone.’ She grips his face and glares into his eyes, her voice quiet but so intense it carries to me just fine. ‘It has to be soon, she’s almost out of time!’

Her small body slumps in a dead faint. Sam catches her as she rolls forwards, his horror and fear so like my own. I spin on my heel and take off like the Devil himself is on my tail.

‘You could’ve helped me get er in the car!’ Sam yells at my fleeing figure.

Day 2, Twilight

Day 2, Twilight

I lie on my back in the old cast-iron bed and stare up at the ceiling. After sprinting home I’d bawled my eyes out for a bit but got over that pretty fast. Tears are weak, they don’t fix any of it. All crying does is give me puffy eyes, a worse face and a headache. Mum and them will be home soon anyway. I can’t let her see something is up.

I lie there and don’t think about May’s words.

Flinging myself onto my side, I stare into the open space. The Millers aren’t to be trusted. This is probably some cruel joke to get me in trouble. The sheet feels like it has been sitting in the sun and it’s sticking to my sweaty skin.

Ah shit. If I’m going to be uncomfortable then I’m going to do some freaking baking.

I hop up and make my way to the kitchen. Mum’d defrosted a cornmeat last night, so I find her big stockpot and set it on the stove to cook. Cutting up the veggies ready to go only distracts me for so long. Thank God the mob did a raid on the snacks this morning, gives me a good excuse to restock.