“Yes, Danny,” Gant says, kicking Valkyrie’s legs out from under her, “go. Run. I’ll hunt you down soon enough.” He stomps on Valkyrie’s back. She cries out.

Limping, staggering, throwing one foot in front of the other and willing his knees not to buckle, Danny crosses the walkway. He almost falls at the hut, but manages to keep himself standing. He doesn’t look back. He doesn’t turn at every cry of pain. He lurches into the hut, clinging to the hanging chains for support. The broken link dangles above him and he looks at it for a moment before reaching up to slip it from the chain. He pockets it, then stumbles to the doorway on the other side. He rests there for a moment. He’s almost out. He just has to keep it together for another few minutes. Just one more little bridge, and then the front door, and fresh air and freedom. That’s all.

He leaves the hut. One foot in front of the other. Hands on the railing. Easy does it. Don’t get distracted. Don’t look over at what’s happening to Valkyrie. Don’t look over at what Gant is doing.

One foot in front of the other.

One foot in front of the—

Danny falls against the door. He grabs the latch. It’s slippery beneath his fingers. For the first time the thought occurs to him that it might be locked, that it won’t open, that some kind of magic will deny him his escape, but when he finally gets a grip and turns the latch the door does indeed open, and he pulls it wide and cold air blasts his whole body.

He sobs with relief and throws himself forward, the steps taking him by surprise. He falls to the sidewalk, skinning the palms of his hands but not feeling it. He crawls on, tries calling for help, but the street is as empty now as when he first got here.

He reaches the Cadillac, fumbles for the handle, uses it to pull himself to his feet. Valkyrie’s pickup is parked right behind it. He hears her yell in pain.

He looks back, into the house. He can still see the top of Gant’s head, bobbing up and down as he continues to beat Valkyrie to death. Danny takes a deep, deep breath, and wipes some of the sweat from his eyes. Then he stands, and takes the broken link of chain from his pocket. It’s heavy and big.

He turns to the Cadillac, and smashes the driver’s window.

Next to go is the wing mirror. That smashes easily, making plenty of noise.

“Hey!” Gant yells from inside the house.

Danny ignores him, goes round to the front of the car. He swings the broken link into the left headlight.

“Hey!” Gant screams. “You leave that car alone!”