“Hey, you,” whispered Jess. Joel blinked up at her, then gurgled and laughed; she wanted to cry. Then she saw she had more company.

“Hey,” said Ellie Cheetham. The little grey dog sat beside her. He had warm, melting eyes; not like Dom’s dogs at all.

“Hi.”

“Glad you’re okay.”

“You’re glad.” Jess managed a weak laugh, but it died quickly. Wasn’t something to joke about, who’d lived and who’d died. Stupid Jess. Stupid.

“We need to talk,” Ellie said.

Something clenched in Jess’ belly; what now?

“We think it’s finished,” said Ellie. “Won’t know for sure till tonight. But – we stopped the Dance, and Madeleine...” A moment’s silence. “Madeleine brought the cavern down, the one in the Hollows. Blocked their way out.”

They all knew that wouldn’t stop Them finding another, but Jess didn’t say anything. “Madeleine?” she said. “The vicar? Is she...?”

Ellie nodded, and stroked the grey dog.

“I’m sorry.” Jess shrank in on herself. Another one dead, and all her fault – that was what they’d think now, wasn’t it, now it was over and they didn’t need Jess any more? She was a Harper again, an outsider, to be kicked out and –

“It was what she wanted. She was –” Ellie broke off and shook her head. “Anyway. With any luck, it’s over. But they’re still down there. So we’re gonna need people to keep watch.”

“Oh.” Jess’ eyes prickled; the clenched hollow weight inside her sank, threatening to drag her back to the floor. That was it, then: back in your box, Harper scum; back in your hole. After all this, after everything, they were packing her back to Barrowman Farm – assuming Dom even let her in the door – to do the crap they didn’t want to. Watch for Them coming back and be the first one standing in Their way if They did, the first one to die. She felt sorrow and betrayal, then anger; her fists clenched. She understood Mum now, her bitter rage and spite against the world outside. Fuck them all, it’s just us, even if us means Keira and Paul. At least we stick together. At least we’ve got each other’s backs. Was that what they wanted of her now, to become Mum?

“No,” said Ellie, “not you.”

Had it been that obvious? But then Jess had never been good at hiding things.

“Ernie’s volunteered to live at Barrowman Farm,” Ellie said. “Help run it. Keep watch. Charlotte, too.”

“Charlotte Famuyiwa, breaking her nails on a farm?” Milly laughed. “Can’t tell me you don’t believe in miracles now, Ell.”

“I heard that,” called a familiar voice. Milly grinned and blew a kiss in its general direction.

“Maybe some others, too,” said Ellie. “You won’t have to live there again, Jess. But – there’s Dom.”

Jess waited.

“We can’t just send strangers in to live there,” said Ellie. “So –”

“You want me to go back there?”