“But I am to blame,” Will said softly. “It was my fault we were in the lighthouse in the first place, and I’m the one who disturbed whatever’s inside. I am responsible. I used to be really close to my dad but now … it’s like he can barely stand to look at me, and I don’t blame him. I don’t blame him at all.”

I reached out for Will’s hand. “I believe every word you’ve ever said about the lighthouse. I believe there was some dark presence in the Strangers’ Room with you that night, and I’m grateful to you for trying to help us. I’m only sorry I was too stupid to listen.” 221

Will gave my hand a squeeze. “If you were stupid, then I was too,” he replied with a small smile. “Emily tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen either. I was too sure of myself and what I thought I knew was real or possible. And look, I was wrong earlier when I said you should go home without your sister. Of course you can’t do that. Of course you have to stay and try to get her back. And I swear I’ll do everything I can to help you. This island has already taken everything from me – if I could swap places with your sister, I would in a heartbeat.”

Suddenly I was very aware of the warmth of his hand against mine, as well as our physical closeness as we huddled together in the bothy. I could feel an unwelcome heat prickling over my face. Will must have noticed because suddenly our hands weren’t touching any more, and he cleared his throat.

“All that matters now is finding out what’s going on with that place so we can break the loop,” he said. “I think there’s someone or something inside the lighthouse that doesn’t want anyone else in there with it. You and I both know there was a person in the room with us earlier. Kenzie was the only one out of our group to see them properly last year, and she 222was the only one who died. I think that whoever’s there doesn’t want to be seen, and if you do see them then it’s too late.”

“That’s why you told me to close my eyes,” I said.