Ryan gave a laugh, realised he was blushing. “No, she’s not. We’ve just met, actually.”

“My apartment’s around the corner,” Francine said, gesturing ahead of them and sniffling. “Do you want my advice? Don’t make the same mistake I made with Deacon. Tell her how you feel.”

“I really just met her.”

“But you like her, don’t you?”

“I, yeah, I suppose.”

He helped her round the corner.

“Seize the moment,” Francine said. “You never know when you might get another chance at happiness.”

“I’ll think about it,” he promised, hoping that she’d change the subject before anyone overheard them.

“My apartment’s just up ahead,” Francine said, standing a little straighter. “You really are very nice. Such good manners, helping me all the way to my door.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

“Unfortunately,” Francine said, “it will be.”

“Sorry? It will be what?”

“Trouble,” Francine said. “It will be a lot of trouble.”

Vincent Foe walked out of the apartment ahead of them.

FIVE

Ryan spun, grabbed Francine, tried to drag her with him, but she laughed. She got an arm round his throat before he could call for help and hauled him backwards. He kicked and struggled, but she was much too strong, and then he was in the apartment and Foe was closing the door behind them.

Francine released him, and Ryan jumped away, almost colliding with Obloquy. Samuel watched him from the corner of the room.

“If you shout or scream,” Foe said, “we’ll kill you.”

“And then we’ll kill Valkyrie,” said Francine. She looked at Foe, and grinned. “He’s got a little crush on her.”

Foe raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? Well, can’t say I blame you, Ryan – she is a fine-looking girl. If I were a few hundred years younger, I’d be in there like a shot, believe you me. I’m not altogether sure what she’d ever see in you, though. You don’t seem quite up to her standard. No offence, but you’re kind of… unexceptional.”

“Maybe he’s hoping she’ll like him for his sense of humour,” Obloquy chuckled.

“Young love,” Foe said, almost wistfully. “If you’re lucky, you might have a chance to confess to her your eternal devotion, so long as you do exactly what I tell you.”

Ryan’s mouth was so dry his voice was a croak. “I’m not going to help you destroy the world.”

“Yes you are.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. If you want to die, why don’t you just kill yourselves and leave everyone else out of it?”

“Where’s the drama in that?” asked Francine.

Foe glanced at her. “That’s getting really disconcerting, you know.”