I found the second sandwich and ate it like a wild beast, tearing chunks and chomping on them briefly before swallowing them down into my empty tummy. It was spam, but it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. When I finished the sandwich, I reached for the bowl and tipped water into my mouth, delighting, despite everything, in the deliciousness of the cold, crisp liquid. I was careful not to spill any. If Mother didn’t let me out, we would need to make this water last a long time.

Carefully, I passed the bowl to Olivia and heard her drinking hungrily. She moaned with relief and burped. It would have been funny if not for the queasy uncertainty that plagued us. For a time that seemed impossibly long, we sat in silence listening, waiting and hoping she would open the door again, and that her answer would be the one we needed. I bit my nails and prayed to a god I didn’t believe in. It was a simple yes or no answer. Please say yes. Please say yes, please say yes. Please say—

The door creaked open a few inches. Light shone in, golden and glorious. Birds sang.

‘I’ve given it a long hard thought and I miss you too, Mirabelle. You’ll never know just how much. Things have been hard, so hard. I’ve thought about letting you out hundreds of times. I nearly did once. I came out here and I stared at the shelter. I even pulled the key out of my pocket. I was so close to opening the door and letting you come back inside, but right at the last second I remembered how very badly you behaved, and I realized, as I’ve come to realize again, just now, that you are not the little girl you used to be. You used to be so pretty and kind and good. Such a good, beautiful little doll, but you’ve changed. You’ve developed these strange, wild ideas about me and about yourself. You seem convinced I’m not your mother and it’s hurt me very deeply. Too deeply. You’ve given me a wound that will never ever heal, but worse than that – if that’s possible – is that I know you can no longer be trusted. I know you’re lying to me about Clarabelle. I know—’

‘No, Mother, please. Listen. I’m not lying about her! I promise you I’m not. I know where she is and I’ll take you there. I’ll—’

‘Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself now. My goodness, Mirabelle, I’ve never heard you sound so pathetic. You’re a nasty little liar. You’re just as bad as her. You’re both evil and evil deserves to be punished. Evil, evil, evil, evil!’

A scream-like roar tore itself from Olivia’s throat, ‘YOU’RE THE EVIL ONE, YOU MONSTER!’