The three of them gathered around Alice. Jem’s presence filled Lily with hope as if he, simply by being there, had given her the strength to carry on. Grace tried to pull at the manacles, but they wouldn’t give. She pulled and she pulled, but they remained enclosed around Alice’s wrists.

‘I can’t free her. I can’t … I don’t…’ Tears streaked her face. She was helpless. Lily’s heart sank. Too much pain and anguish had already fallen upon them today. She couldn’t lose the one person she’d come all this way to rescue. She felt the air buzz with electricity and the golden light filled her veins once more.

‘Move,’ she choked out. The heartbroken girl looked over her shoulder at Lily in confusion. ‘Move!’ Lily cried, and Jem threw himself forwards and knocked his sister to the ground, shielding her. The light burst from Lily’s hand once more, but instead of shattering the wall, the shackles, and Alice’s arms with it, the glow danced around her unconscious friend, shimmering and swirling around her bloody wrists. Her face was illuminated by the warm light and the chains melted away. Alice dropped from the wall and fell into Lily’s arms. Her eyes flickered and she looked up into the face of her best friend.

‘Lily?’

‘It’s me. I’m here. I came for you.’ She held Alice to her chest and sobbed into her raven hair.

Their embrace was interrupted by another deep rumble, and a piece of rock fell from the ceiling and shattered right by Jem’s foot.

‘Everyone,’ he said tentatively, ‘Lil, Grace, we need to leave now. Get Alice. NOW!’ he shouted and dragged Lily to her feet. Grace lifted Alice from the floor and carried her, one arm underneath her shoulders and the other supporting her legs. Alice’s arms wrapped around Grace’s neck, and they followed Jem and Lily as they sprinted from the dark room as the roof began to disintegrate.

They ran through the rabbit warren of corridors. Lily felt weak and paused to lean against the damp wall, struggling to catch her breath. Jem whirled round in a panic when she stopped.

‘Lil, you need to keep moving. Please, come on, you can do this.’ He stepped towards her and held his hand out. She took it and wrapped it around her shoulder, leaning into him. With his arm around her and him supporting her weight, they stumbled through the final few snaking tunnels and pushed themselves out into the open air, Grace and Alice following close behind.

A deafening rumble filled the air and rocked the very earth beneath their feet.

The lair was no more.

Hecate had vanished and her followers had bolted.

The foursome had survived, by the very skin of their teeth. Once they were clear of the entrance, protected by a gathering of trees, Lily stumbled to the ground. It was only just nightfall, but her eyes felt like they were filled with sand and she couldn’t move another step. Grace placed Alice down by Lily’s side, both of them resting their backs against a rounded rock that kept them upright. Alice rested her head on Lily’s shoulder and closed her eyes. They were holding hands, afraid that if either one let go, they’d lose each other again.