I began to see better. More things around the cottage. A double mattress in one corner with darkly stained sheets and a pile of damp-looking blankets. Next to the mattress was a bucket – probably the same bucket I’d peed in when Michael made me sleep out here. And there were magazines and candy bar wrappers strewn around.

Annalise’s face turned soft. ‘Can I hold the baby?’

‘Of course. Was she … did you give birth out here?’

Annalise nodded. ‘My baby was born in this hellhole.’ Then she started to cry. ‘And she’ll die here too. Michael didn’t want anyone to know I was having his child. So when I boasted to you about the baby … Michael said I couldn’t stay in the house anymore. I had to be punished.’

‘You must have been so frightened.’

‘He kept me prisoner out here. I had to do whatever he wanted. It was a nightmare.’ She cries harder. ‘But I don’t expect pity from you. I know you hate me.’

‘No, I don’t hate you. Michael’s not what I thought. I’ll get us out.’

‘You won’t get us out,’ Annalise croaked. ‘This is a prison. Do you think if there was a way out, I wouldn’t have found it? Michael’s been keeping me out here for months.’ She cried harder.

‘You’ve been out here for months? Oh God.’ I stared at her. ‘He’s … You’ve been living out here?’

Annalise nods.

‘Why—’

‘I told you. Michael couldn’t have anyone knowing about the baby. So he couldn’t have me staying at the house anymore. He hid me out here. He said when the baby came, I could come back, but … it was a lie. All the nice stuff – it’s just a mask. He’s a monster. You haven’t seen the half of it. He’s not human at all. He does what he wants with me. Whatever he wants.’

‘You’re bleeding.’

‘Forget about that. It’s too late.’ Her eyes looked longingly at Reign. ‘Please can I hold her?’

I carried baby Reign over and placed her in Annalise’s arms. ‘Let me try and stop the bleeding.’

‘Forget about me. It’s all over.’

‘No. I’ll get us out.’ I bang at the solid metal door and window panels. ‘And then I’ll get you to a hospital. They’ll know what to do.’

‘You’ll never get past Michael. Don’t even try to go against him. You have no idea what he’s capable of.’ She cried jerky, gaspy sobs.

‘You got out before,’ I said. ‘You were in the woods. I saw you from the window.’

‘Michael left the cottage door open when he took my baby away. I think the birth messed with his head.’

‘Wait.’ I sat upright. ‘I smell smoke.’