‘Ted Barclay literally had the IQ of a ten-year-old. There was no way he took all those girls without a trace. And then he killed himself?’ said Madison.

‘He only got blamed because he was Aboriginal,’ added Georgia.

‘Alright, everyone go to bed.’ Mr Michaels clapped his hands. ‘Now. Or I’ll get Mr North.’

Slowly the girls stood up, with some dark mutters. He kicked some of the coals back into the centre of the fire, then continued to shoo the girls along. Madison took her phone from Cierra, slipping it quietly into her pocket.

When Jasmine unzipped the flap of her tent, she saw Bree lying on top of the sleeping bag, still awake, staring at the tent’s ceiling. She rolled onto her side, facing away. Jasmine grabbed her toothbrush, water bottle and the cloth toiletries bag that now held one of the bags of weed, a cigarette lighter and a pipe.

She walked off into the trees and sat on a rock, taking out the weed and the pipe. A moment later, Cierra joined her. Jasmine packed the pipe, lit it, and then handed it to Cierra.

‘How you doing?’ said Cierra, before taking a drag.

‘We’re really doing this, aren’t we,’ said Jasmine.

‘After tomorrow, everything’s going to change,’ said Cierra. She handed the pipe back.

Jasmine took a heavy drag and coughed. ‘Are we doing the right thing?’

Cierra took a drag. ‘We are. Madison knows what she’s doing.’

They sat there smoking, neither speaking. Jasmine watched the trees. Finally she said, ‘What is the game?’

Cierra went perfectly still.

‘The game,’ said Jasmine. ‘I’ve heard you and Madison talking. Players, nudes.’

‘I don’t know what —’

‘Tell me or I swear I’m going to tell Miss Ellis everything. Everything.’

‘Don’t be a bitch,’ snapped Cierra.

‘I’m not going into this if you and Madison are keeping secrets.’

Cierra looked like she was about to reply, then hesitated. She took another drag of the pipe. ‘Alright, I’ll tell you . . . tomorrow. This time tomorrow. Alright?’

Jasmine watched Cierra. ‘You don’t have to be afraid of Madison, you know,’ she said. ‘We would protect you.’

Cierra laughed. ‘I’m not afraid of her. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Alright, Cierra. If you say so. But just remember, me and Georgia are here for you.’

They turned back to the trees, and that’s when Jasmine saw it. A chill ran down her back, the hairs rose on her arms.

‘Cierra,’ she hissed. ‘Keep very still, and look to that group of trees, a little to the left.’

‘What is it?’ Cierra whispered back.

‘It looks like someone’s standing there. Watching us.’

Cierra shook her head. ‘It’s just a tree, Jaz.’