‘Even still. There are … things out there tonight. I don’t like the feel of them.’ The ghost-girl shivered. ‘If you need us, just call and we’ll come.’

With that, the ghost-girl began to fade.

‘Wait!’ Cat cried, ‘How can I call you; I don’t even know your name!’

The ghost-girl smiled. ‘My name’s Caitriona,’ she said and then she was gone.

That’ll be easy to remember at least, Cat thought.

‘Was that a ghost?’ said Shane, still coughing up bits of muddy lake.

‘Come on,’ Cat said. ‘I have lots to fill you in on.’

She picked up the Merrow-bottle, which pulsed with an eerie green light that made her nauseous when she looked at it. If they got through this night, she would absolutely be getting rid of that thing as quickly as possible. She shoved the bottle back into her backpack and started walking up the hill, away from the lake-that-wasn’t.

Chapter Sixteen

The Green Rath

‘We’re lost,’ said Shane, as he heaved himself over yet another stone wall.

‘We are not!’ said Cat, but they were. She had figured it out a while back, but was too stubborn to say anything. The problem was, after the business with the Merrow and the Dullahan she had gotten all turned around and now they seemed miles away from pretty much anything. They should have at least seen a road or the lights from houses in the distance but there was nothing but hilly farmland as far as she could see.

‘You didn’t think to bring a map with you, did you?’ asked Shane and Cat snorted.

‘No, I didn’t think to bring a map with me. Who even uses maps any more?’

‘I do. I like them.’

Cat rolled her eyes. Of course, Shane would like maps.

‘We can’t keep going like this, it’s getting really late.’

Shane was right. Somehow it was already after midnight and time was fast running out.

‘Well, what do you suggest we do?’ sighed Cat, exhaustion and exasperation breaking through. ‘If we had a phone we could at least look up a map, but we don’t so–’

‘I have a phone.’

Cat glared at Shane, open-mouthed. ‘You what? Since when?’

Shane shrugged. ‘A while.’

‘And you didn’t think to mention it till now? Come on, give it here.’

Unbelievable! thought Cat. She had been trying to convince her mam to let her get a phone for ages, but she always insisted Cat was too young. If I get through this in one piece, I am definitely getting my own phone!

Shane fished the phone from his pocket and handed it over. Cat realised with dismay it was soaking wet.

‘It won’t turn on,’ she said.

‘Aw, really? The guy who sold it to me told me it was waterproof!’ He took the phone back and began trying to dry it as best he could.

‘OK,’ Cat said, rubbing her forehead. ‘We’re smart, we can figure this out. Which way is north?’