‘Oliver? But how? I didn’t tell him anything.’

Melody scratches her neck. ‘To be honest, I don’t know.’

‘Everyone in the camp was so worried about you,’ Autumn says. ‘We figured, hoped, you’d taken the last bus. Drove here as fast as I could. Lotus saved the day, didn’t you, girl?’ She taps the side of the van lovingly.

‘What happened, Sky?’ Melody turns to me. ‘Did someone hurt you? That guy, Jaxon, or … it wasn’t Adam, was it? Should we call the police?’

I shake my head. I want to say thank you and tell them how scared I was, but it’s like my brain’s frozen.

‘Maybe she’s in shock.’ Autumn puts her hand on Melody’s shoulder. The kettle whistles, and Autumn fills up the pot. ‘All these herbs come from the Alaskan woods,’ she says, mixing in fresh leaves.

My hand shakes slightly as I hold the cup, making the tea splash. Melody takes the cup and puts it to the side. ‘It’s going to be okay, you’re safe now.’ She rubs my hands between hers. ‘Let’s get you warm and find out what’s happened. Do you have something sweet?’ she asks Autumn. ‘Maybe her blood sugar’s dropped.’

Autumn rustles in one of the cupboards to find a packet of biscuits. I take a bite, not bothering to check the ingredients, and force myself to chew. In a second, I’ve finished the whole thing and then two more. I drink some tea; it’s sour.

As the rush of sugar surges through me, I rest my head in my hands. ‘I want to go home,’ I say through my fingers as my eyes start to brim. ‘And I need my passport.’

‘Passport? Don’t worry, I have it right here.’ Melody reaches into her handbag and shows me. ‘I’m sorry, Sky. My phone went dead and couldn’t be revived. Must be the weather, everyone says. I guess the newer phones manage the cold better. I’m so sorry.’

And then I’m crying, chest heaving, like a wounded animal, totally out of control.

‘Let it all out, honey,’ I hear Autumn say as Melody takes my hand.

I don’t know how long it is until I stop.

Autumn gives me a handful of tissues and gets up to light a tea candle, sprinkling the ceramic stand with lavender oil from a small bottle. ‘We’ll set up here in the parking station for the night,’ she says as I wipe my face dry.

Autumn moves the car to the far side of the lot and turns off the engine.

I whisper to Melody that I need to go to the toilet, and she points out the door.

The all-in-one bathroom, toilet and shower is smaller than a shoebox and, sitting down, my knees touch the sink.