She stopped in her tracks, face hardening, eyeing me like I was prey. A camera flash: those same eyes in the mirror, the silver-backed brush shaking in my hand, running through her hair. I almost screamed.

‘I went to see her recently. Amber.’ Mum’s mouth curled into a smile, like she was enjoying my distress. ‘She clearly thinks you’re a total mess.’

‘She cares about me,’ I said, my voice shaking. ‘She loves me!’

She gave a humourless laugh.

‘No, darling, she cares about the money. And there won’t be any more of that coming her way. Not from us, anyway. The Bank of Mum and Dad is shutting up shop. After all, you’ll be middle-aged soon. It’s about time you learnt to stand on your own two feet.’

‘I’m thirty-one!’

She shrugged on the elegant berry-coloured coat which she’d left slung on the sofa like it was her own home, belting it decisively.

‘You let me know when you’re ready to talk. When you’re ready to accept some responsibility for your behaviour. And call your sister if you care about her at all. She’s in pieces.’

‘Mum… I need her.’ Why had I let my rage get the better of me? I was pleading now, snot and tears streaming down my face – it was gross. ‘I need Amber. To stay well.’

‘Amber’s certainly going to be hearing from us, but not via any more bank transfers,’ said Mum, that cold smile still dancing across her face. ‘She’s the one that’s toxic, Rachel. And trust me, I’ll do whatever I have to do to make you see that for yourself.’

A few seconds later, I heard the door click shut. I sunk to the ground, my back against the sofa, too emptied out even to cry. A thin stream of cold air snuck through the rickety, rental windows, but I couldn’t find the juice to go and get a jumper from my bedroom. Eventually my phone beeped, and I grabbed for it. It was, of course, Hannah.

Your mum is HORRIBLE, she wrote. Are you okay? I could come back?? xxx

I stared at the bright square of the screen, then typed a message back.

Don’t worry, I survived! I think you must’ve scared her into submission xxx

I could almost see Hannah’s round face lighting up, the pride she’d feel at how she’d protected me. But how could anyone protect me from her if she’d stalked me through centuries?

I dropped the phone, sunk to my knees, and howled into the empty darkness.

LILY

It took all my strength to walk out, all my strength to try to force Rachel to witness her dangerous obsession with that manipulative bitch for what it really was. She hated me for it in that moment, but I know that it was an act of pure love.