The boat barely scuffed the pebble beach before Jem was out. He ran directly towards the flames. In a matter of moments, a coughing and spluttering Morven appeared, clutching the hands of Maeve and Brenna, from the spot into which Jem had plunged. Grace ran to them, sobbing through smoke-stained eyes. Alice and Lily stood back, clutching each other.

The tower was completely overwhelmed by fire and smoke. The thick black stripes that Jem had painstakingly painted were now completely invisible; the contrasting white bands were entirely caked in ash and soot.

As they gazed upwards in horror, the precious, beautiful glass of the lantern room shattered. Lily loved that room, that view. She loved the calmness of a quiet sea reflecting in the sunlight, casting patterns on the white painted floorboards. Now the room that had been such a comfort to her rained down upon them in brutal, jagged shards.

‘Take cover!’ Lily cried, and saw Grace throw herself over the twins to protect them from the falling debris.

A few more minutes passed and Lily couldn’t take it anymore.

She squeezed Alice’s hand, let go of it, and ran.

She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, through the door that Jem used.

‘Jem!’ she cried, choking as the smoke clawed at her throat. A beam from the ceiling, eaten by the flames, fell inches from her head, blowing dust and ash into her face. The air was so thick, she felt her head spin with the lack of air to breathe. She shielded her eyes and pushed forwards. Someone was running towards her. As the figure grew closer, she saw the cropped hair and height of Cass. He ran at her and shook her.

‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?’ he shouted over the noise of the flickering flames. ‘YOU NEED TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.’

‘But, Jem!’ she cried, trying to push past him. She couldn’t stop coughing from the smoke inhalation.

‘HE WILL BE FINE. WE NEED TO LEAVE.’ Before she could protest, Cass had scooped her up and carried her back in the direction she’d come. When they got outside, Alice ran to her and helped her to her feet. Cass still clung to her side, the two of them holding each other up.

‘What happened here, Cass?’ Lily managed to choke out.

‘I can’t … I…’ He was lost for words. The shock crashed over him in a wave as they watched the building begin to crumble. ‘It was Glenn… I didn’t think he would actually do it but…’ He burst into tears and fell to his knees.

Agonising minutes passed. Lily’s mind was reeling. Glenn? Was that why he apologised to me before we left? she wondered. Had he planned this?

All of them were on the floor now, gazing blindly into the fiery beacon that was once their home. Grace stood ashen-faced, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Maeve and Brenna clung to her, quietly crying.

Then, impossibly, a figure appeared out of the black smoke. Actually, one figure carrying another.