“Tsk, tsk,” Isaac whispers into my ear. “I really should chastise you for being late for meditation, Emma. But you’re here now.” He throws an arm over my shoulders and pulls me into him so we’re standing side by side. “Shall we go in?”

A hush falls as we enter the meditation room. I try to pull away but Isaac tightens his grip on my shoulder and steers me through the mass of cross-legged bodies. When we reach the altar, he releases me and steps in between Isis and Cera so he’s the focal point in the room. I turn. There’s a small space to the left of one of the Swedish girls, two rows back.

“Here.” Isaac indicates the floor to his right, where Cera is sitting.

I shake my head. I don’t want to sit somewhere so visible. Not when Daisy, Al and Leanne are all sitting together at the back of the room, pointing at me and talking amongst themselves. When I make eye contact with Al, she acknowledges me with the smallest nod of her head. It’s a tiny movement, almost as though she doesn’t want Daisy or Leanne to notice.

“Sit down, Emma.” Cera inches to her right and taps the space between her and Isaac.

“Isaac—” I say, but he silences me with a look.

I squeeze into the space, pull my knees into my chest and keep my gaze lowered.

“Okay, everyone,” Isaac says. “Close your eyes and breathe in deeply through your nose.”

I close my eyes too but concentrating on my breathing is making me feel claustrophobic. Isaac stops speaking and the room falls silent.

Someone is watching you, Emma. Someone has their eyes open.

I fight the thought but the harder I fight it, the more powerful it becomes.

You need to open your eyes, Emma. You’re in danger.

The darkness behind my closed eyes is suffocating. My skin is prickling, my breathing quick and shallow. I press my sticky palms to the floor to try and anchor myself, but it does nothing to stop the seasick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Open your eyes, Emma. Open them NOW!

I don’t recognise her immediately. Her hair has been washed and falls to her shoulders in soft waves, the dark shadows beneath her eyes have almost disappeared and her slim body is engulfed in an oversized man’s plaid shirt.

Paula is staring at me from across the room.

I smile at her – pleased she’s no longer in the hut, relieved that it wasn’t Daisy that was staring at me – but she doesn’t return my smile. Instead, she shakes her head. It’s a minute movement but it’s there, disapproval and something else. Another emotion I can’t put my finger on. Her gaze flicks towards Isaac and I instantly recognise the expression on her face. Envy.

Chapter 33

Chapter 33