Michael claps me on the shoulder. ‘Still, must have felt like you were walking into the lion’s den, coming here today. Am I right? A big scary monster ready to eat you up.’

‘Something had to change. Life is unbearable at home.’

Michael takes off his sunglasses, and I see his face is soaked with tears. ‘I’m sorry to hear that. God. I’m so glad you came, Liberty. I can’t tell you how happy. I’ve been waiting sixteen years. Hey, listen. Come into the house. I’ve got something to show you.’

‘Show me what?’

‘Well, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?’ Michael bites his lips. ‘You’ve been so close this whole time? This whole time?’

I nod.

‘And you didn’t know I lived in the same county?’

‘I didn’t even know who you were until a few weeks ago.’

‘That must have been quite the surprise.’

‘A big one.’

‘Your mother is good at keeping secrets.’ Michael puts an arm around my shoulder, steering me through the trees. ‘And she certainly knows how to the twist the knife too, keeping you so close by. I turned San Francisco upside down. LA. New York. London too. But you were right here. Hiding in plain sight.’ He takes in a deep breath. ‘But hey. You’re here now and that’s all that matters. Listen. Are you ready to see something special?’

‘Sure.’

‘It’s inside the house. Come on, I’ll show you. You’re gonna love this. Just you wait and see.’

Lorna

‘MICHAEL, GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTER!’

Can throats bleed? If they can, I should be swallowing blood right now. Rivers of it.

My eyes scan the awful, frightening woods – trees I ran through with a baby in my arms.

Where is she? Inside Michael’s castle? In one of the turrets? MY turret? Or … my stomach drops … the little cottage in the woods?

Bad memories tumble with blind fury as I rattle the gates, black metal paint flakes scratching my palms.

The fir trees … the smell of earth … those golden twisty turret towers.

There was a girl here once. A skinny, weak, pathetic girl. A girl who cried and pleaded and never fought back. Why didn’t I? Why didn’t I kill Michael when I had the chance?

I remember my sister coming to these gates. Begging me to come home. Pain and fear pulling at her soft, plump face.

I’ll never leave you, Lorna. I’ll always be there for you. No matter what …

Dee never did leave me. She was the only thing in my life that was real back then. My mother, my friend and my hero. A real hero, not just the image of one.

More memories come, thick and fast.