The bottom of the wall bubbled like the topping on a pizza in the oven. Was it coming out?

Sam pulled my arm. ‘You maniac! It’s dangerous!’

I shook him off. ‘Won’t hurt us – could have done that by now. It knows I let it out. It’s listening to us.’ To me.

‘I’m getting your mum.’

He legged it, and for the next few silent seconds, me and the creature were alone again.

The coats in front of me rippled, and one slipped off its peg. That sour smell came back. Where the wall met the floor, a swirl of dusty smoke drifted from a tiny gap, like a shadow—

Lily was suddenly beside me. Before I could stop her, she’d thrown something at the smoke.

‘No!’ I snatched at her hand too late.

Red liquid ran down the wall. A massive arc of blue light shot from the gap to where Lily’s hand had been a second before.

CRACK! The sound came a moment later, like the air was breaking apart.

Then nothing.

Lily stepped back and wiped her trembling hands on her trousers, breath quivery, face pale.

I gripped both her arms. ‘You could have been killed!’

‘It was only blackcurrant juice. I smelt burning.’

I glared at her, squeezing her arms hard. I couldn’t stop, even when the others came back. Mum pulled us apart.

Then, instead of yelling at me – which I expected – Lily hugged me.

I could feel her heart beating like crazy, and a warm feeling started in the roots of my hair. We pulled away and looked at each other, both of us doing that smiley-frown thing. I was so glad she hadn’t been hurt. The relief felt like a weight coming off my chest – the everyday Lily-ness of her suddenly mattered more than my creature.

We left just as Mr Lombard arrived, frowning between me and the burn marks.

9.30 p.m.

Now I’ve got over the shock of Lily nearly being zapped, I want to go back to the village hall. Mum bundled us off home before I could check that wall again – there was no time to even listen for any movement. Has Lily killed it? Would water kill an electric creature? Water and electricity don’t mix – that’s so obvious and vital, and I can’t get it out of my head. The wall was hot and steaming.

And Lily actually hugged me! That’s so random. Maybe the old Lily is still in there somewhere.

10.30 p.m.

Sam just texted me: