I just had to play along until I could get help. If Madison was dead, I had to at least save this little boy, his hands twining in my hair, fingers in his mouth. His satin skin and warm little head. I would do anything to save Carson. I would not let him die.

What would David have done to the baby? I wondered that later, in my darkest moments. The knife, like Abby, or a supposedly kinder death, the pillow? Or just his hands, his strong man’s hands, crushing the little neck? No. I wouldn’t let it happen.

‘You can’t have him,’ I said, and I was surprised that my voice didn’t shake. When you have something to protect, your own fear evaporates. I would literally die for this baby. I knew that.

David’s face shifted, some tiny muscles adjusting, that was all, but I saw what was going on behind his eyes and I let out a yelp of fear, I couldn’t help it.

‘Why are you making it so hard! You stupid girl.’

That’s when I ran. I dodged past him, baby and gun and all, and I ran into the hallway, slipping on the marble floors, my feet wet with Abby’s blood. Hence the footprints the police found, but at the time I wasn’t thinking about anything except the front door, that narrow portal to the outside world and to safety. Would anyone even have seen me? Would someone have come to help? I don’t know, because I didn’t make it that far.

Rachel

Rachel

For the second time in my life, I was running from a man I was terrified of. First David, now Alex. I’d slammed the scissors into the wrong spot in his neck. Rhonda had been wiser than me.

Oh, help me, please, Rhonda!

I ran out the back door of the shelter, hearing Alex curse and slip behind me. The night air was fresh and cool. The moon glinted off the lake. I ran towards it. I don’t know why – I wasn’t even much of a swimmer, and the water was deep and cold. But what we do in such moments rarely makes sense. When someone is trying to kill you, you just run.

Soon I was at the stony lake shore, the cold water lapping at my jeans and soaking my shoes. Alex wasn’t far behind, lumbering towards me. In the moonlight I could see his neck was a welter of blood, one hand clutched to it.

‘You stupid bitch,’ he panted. ‘You’re nothing. Everyone thinks you’re guilty – and when they find you dead, they’ll know for sure.’

I stepped back, and suddenly the lake shelved and I lost my footing. I was in the water, the fierce cold penetrating through to my skin in an instant. I gasped. Water filled my mouth, choking me.