Unfortunately there was another figure standing in the gap on the opposite side. Byron, panting slightly, stared at me while I stared at him. Distant sounds of skirmishes and cries could be heard from other parts of the maze. For us, however, time seemed to stop. He wasn’t ignoring me now: his emerald eyes glittered, challenge reflected in them. It was a mere six or seven strides to the finish – and victory. I could do this.

‘It’s me or you,’ he said.

I lifted an eyebrow. ‘It’s always me or you,’ I replied softly.

Something flashed across his expression, regret perhaps or something else. His muscles tightened as he prepared. From outside the maze, the audience was chanting. I couldn’t hear my name being yelled any more. They were all on Team Byron.

‘You have a lot of supporters.’

He tilted his head. ‘I’m one of the good guys.’ His implication was clear. Enough already.

I leapt forward at precisely the same moment as Byron, my hands outstretched towards the giant button. I was almost there when there was a faint rattle and a shadow appeared across Byron’s determined face. Debbie’s massive jaws lunged down, inches away from his head.

Byron realised the danger at the same time that I did. He jerked his thumb to the right and, doing as he bade, I flung myself against the smoky mirrored wall. Debbie hissed, the hairs on her gigantic legs quivering.

‘There’s your spider,’ Byron grunted. ‘Pretty little thing.’

She rose up on her hind legs, then sent a jet of silk towards me. It encircled my arm, pinning me back. ‘Little?’ I snarled, as I extricated myself, using my free hand to rip away the sticky strands. ‘Compared to what?’

Byron bunched his muscles and dived for the floor, rolling until he was behind Debbie’s massive frame. ‘Your ego,’ he said.

I scowled in annoyance while Debbie lumbered round to face him, the sound of his voice leading her away from me. I glanced at the button. It was really close; I could probably reach out from here. Instead I turned back to Debbie.

‘Go for her belly,’ Byron suggested, breathing heavily as he dodged her snapping jaws.

‘I don’t want to hurt her.’ I took a step back and considered. ‘It’s not her fault she’s here.’

‘You need to get your priorities in order.’

I thought of the red button behind me. The man had a point. ‘Hey,’ I said softly. I reached out and prodded Debbie’s arse. Her body tightened and she swung towards me. ‘Remember me? We’ve met before. I’m not a bad person.’

Her eyes glittered with hatred; clearly Debbie didn’t have much of a memory for faces. I touched my forehead, using my index finger to wipe away a drop of sweat. It dangled on the tip. ‘Sorry about this, Debbie,’ I apologised, then I flicked my finger, arcing the droplet upwards. It splashed onto Debbie above her gaping mouth. She let out a strange howl and leapt upwards, disappearing out of sight.