‘Oh, er … maybe …’ Kellen says. ‘But it doesn’t matter, right? We can do whatever we like, totally free of consequences! That’s what you said, right?’

‘Why would she say that?’ Chase asks, bewildered.

‘I don’t know how you took that from what I said. Don’t start getting reckless now.’ And, just as she says it, everything suddenly goes wrong.

‘Fuck!’ a voice exclaims from the stairs as someone trips, staggering into one of the flickering candelabras. From there, it all seems to happen in slow motion – the candelabra topples, and in a flash one of the trailing Hawthorn banners goes up in a fiery blaze.

‘Stay calm! Stay calm!’ Miss Madzikanda yells as everyone immediately descends into panic, practically climbing over each other to get out of the way as the fire begins to spread. The flames curl and twist, and black smoke starts to billow. Another banner catches, and then another. It’s happening at such an alarmingly rapid pace, it’s almost as if somebody has doused the whole room in petrol.

This all happened before, but it was just a dream. I close my eyes and open them, expecting everything to be fine, but it’s not fine. I’m not dreaming; this is actually happening for real. In no more than thirty seconds, the whole room is consumed by flames, along with everyone’s ability to stay calm!

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck,’ Kellen says, still holding the cake. ‘It’s OK, right? The day is just gonna start over.’

I look at my watch. ‘Not for another ten minutes …’

‘Now is not the time!’ Madzikanda says. ‘Everyone out! Now!’

‘Fuck,’ I say, reality dawning on me.

What if this is real? What if this sticks?

The rope suspending the pig’s blood must have caught fire because it comes swinging down, spattering half the student body. Now it really is like we’re in a Stephen King movie.

While everyone scrambles for a way out, Madzikanda is checking corners and alcoves, making sure that absolutely nobody is left behind. The other teachers are too – and they have no idea that this day may potentially loop. It’s impressive, really. Harrington is the only one to go for the exit – which says it all. Everyone else stays.

‘I think that’s all of them!’ one of the teachers calls.

The hall is really fucking hot now, the smoke is getting thicker, and it’s getting harder and harder to breathe.

‘Boys, out!’ Madzikanda yells as she sees the two of us lingering. ‘Come on, move!’

By the time we get outside, people are coughing and spluttering, and flames have burst through the upstairs windows, licking the night sky. At least everyone is out safely.

‘Josh?!’ Owen yells suddenly.

‘Huh?’ I say, scanning the crowd Madzikanda is trying to headcount. ‘Where is he?’