I let go at the same time I throw his sheet up and over his head. I’m all set to throw myself out the window like Rhi and I practised, but he beats me to it. Sheet wrapped around his head, he leaps sideways, arms and legs flailing in a mad scramble away from me. He clears the door and the last I see is him stumbling over that raggedy sheet, and nearly knocking himself out as he goes round a corner. I almost bust out laughing, but when I hear Ray yelp and Edna scream ‘What the fuck?’, fear wins. I bolt out the window, skinning my shins as I go. Every noise I make is like a car backfiring in my ears, but I can’t force myself to slow down.

I’m almost out of the yard when lights start coming on in the house. They would see me if they look out the window. I give Laney a run for her money on speed then.

Sprinting past the corner, Rhi appears at my right, our arms and legs pumping hard. The breath is already burning in my chest, but fear and fury push me past it. Neither of us speak as we race each other till we hit the first open paddock, and dive into the dirt and grass. We spread ourselves flat, waiting for a car, running feet, anything. Staring into Rhi’s face I can see her wide grin.

That girl is so cracked.

The exit is the weak part of our plan. Having to run and make noise would break the spooky spell so we’d planned a run and hide sprint. Rhi knew about this spot with the perfect little ditch in this field that hid a body laying flat. I’d rolled my eyes at her and didn’t ask, even though she wanted me to.

We lie that way for a long while, looking into each other’s faces. Nothing happens.

‘Where are they?’ I swear Rhi sounds like she’s pouting.

‘Dunno,’ I whisper back. ‘Think it’s been long enough?’

Rhi pokes her head up, scanning around before dropping back.

‘Don’t see anythin.’

As if on cue, we both stand, dusting ourselves off.

‘He must not ave twigged it was you.’

‘He’s probably too busy cleaning his sheets.’

‘Ay?’

‘Pretty sure he pissed imself.’ Does it make me an evil person that I say it with a grin?

Rhi doubles over, stuffing a hand in her mouth to hold back her laughter. I slap her on the back, hard.

‘Come on, that thing between his ears might start workin soon. Let’s get home.’