Isla came jogging out through the back door of the shop. She had been helping out at the shop for a few weekends and was enjoying it. It was lovely to be getting close to someone who her girlfriend adored.

“If you get that smaller bag, Isy, I’ll get these two big ones,” Flora said.

When Flora stepped out into the backyard of the shop, she saw a white van sitting there. “That’s strange. We don’t have any deliveries—”

Just as she said that a hand was put over her mouth. She screamed into the hand, but there was no one to hear her muffled cries apart from Isla, as Sandra was on her break.

Flora was lifted off her feet and carried over to the van. She saw the same happening to Isla, except it was a woman seizing her. She thought she recognized the female assailant’s face but couldn’t place it.

Flora’s panic was mounting, and when she was thrown in the back of the van, she was nearing meltdown. She closed her eyes tightly and put her hands over her ears. The fear, the terror were too much, and her feelings were overwhelming.

But then she heard the van doors slam and Isla’s cries and screams. Flora’s instinct was immediate. Isla was the most important person here. It was her responsibility to keep her safe while Mack and Nikki weren’t here.

You can do this. You can do it.

Flora pulled Isla to her and held her tight in her arms. “It’s okay, Isy. I’m here. We’ll get out of this. Your mum and Mack will find us.”

“It’s her, it’s her, and him,” Isla said through convulsive tears.

“Who are they?”

“The woman and man that killed my friend.”

“You’re sure about that?” Flora asked.

“Yes, she asked who was Isla Sharkey, and my friend said she was. The woman grabbed her, and the man injected her with something. I screamed, and then they came after me, but I ran back into the school, and they didn’t follow me. They’ve come back for me, Flo. They are going to kill us.”

Flora cupped her face and said, “Listen to me, Isy. I’m going to fight them all the way, and your family is going to find us. No matter what happens, always try to stay behind me. I’m here, and we’re going to get home, okay?”

Isla nodded and hugged Flora tightly. Flora was terrified, every anxiety-filled part of her teetering on the edge. If this had happened before she’d met Mack, or before she’d started her therapy and medication, there would be no hope. There might still be no hope, but Flora resolved to go down fighting.

* * *