I take another step forwards. The repetitive bang-bang-bang-bang-bang of Shona’s drum, and the wailing of Kane’s song, grows louder, drowning out the chatter. My eyes water as I approach the fire. The goat, above it, spins round and round, the black sockets where its eyes should be gazing up into the dark sky then at me, then down at the ground. There’s a crack, then a pop, and its lower jaw drops to the ground. Paula stoops to pick it up then squeals with pain, drops it and dances away, her arms twisted above her head like the branches of a vine. I glance back at Isaac. Daisy is back in his arms and they’re both watching me, their eyes glazed with booze, their mouths twisted into amused smiles.

“Carry on!” Isaac shouts.

All I need to do is hold my palm between the goat and the fire for a couple of seconds and then I can go. If I do it quickly, it won’t hurt.

“Emma.” Leanne moves so she’s standing beside me, one hand shielding her face from the heat of the fire.

I reach out a hand towards the flames. They jump and dance towards the tips of my fingers. I instinctively curl them into my palm.

“I’ve only ever wanted us to be friends, Emma.”

Time slows as I turn to stare at her. And in that second, that split second when I realise that she’s lying, her hand reaches out, whippet fast, and slaps mine into the heart of the fire. Sparks fly, the fire roars, ash spills onto the floor and I snatch my hand back.

At first I feel nothing.

And then it comes.

A wave of pain so violent my knees give way and it’s all I can do to stand upright.

The drumming stops, Kane falters mid-note and falls silent, and everyone stops and stares.

Flat-nosed Girl raises a hand to her gaping mouth and covers it. The guy beside her half rises, and the skinny brunette stifles a nervous laugh. Daisy, her arms still wrapped around Isaac’s neck, meets my gaze. There’s no compassion in her eyes, no concern, no regret. She regards me dispassionately, the same way she looked at the gecko after she’d stamped on it.

“She’s okay.” Leanne’s voice cuts through the silence. “Just a bit pissed. Step away from the home brew, everyone. It’s more lethal than it looks.”

Flat-nosed Girl snorts from behind her hand, the tall guy sinks back to his knees, and the brunette laughs openly.

“Come on, you.” Leanne grips my elbow and yanks me away from the fire. “You need to have a lie down.”

As she pushes me roughly out of the circle, Kane catches my eye. His tongue protrudes from his mouth and he licks his top lip.