This place is called the Mandeville Centre, and it’s the Appropriate Setting. There’s a town somewhere close, but the Mandeville Centre is in the countryside. It’s not a prison; it’s a Secure Training Centre. Sounds like a college, doesn’t it? It’s not.

By the time I got here the sky was dark. I had to have my assessment straight away because it was so late, but they took ages to explain everything, because they were being so calm and slow. Nearly fell asleep, but halfway through explaining all the rules and routines, they brought me some toast and juice. And this new notebook.

They asked weird questions. What are my favourite hobbies, what scares or worries me. They aren’t like teachers. They notice you, every inch of you, and they’re always there. Always.

Then they took me straight to my room in the main building. I’m at the end of a long corridor on the ground floor, by myself. There isn’t any upstairs here.

I’m wide awake now.

22nd August: 6.15 a.m.

I must have gone to sleep at least a little bit, because I dreamed Ash House was nothing but ash. It fluttered in the breeze all over the village, like summer snow.

Woke up in a bed made of orange wood with a brown duvet in strange pyjamas. My eyes are scratchy and sore. The sun woke me. It seeped through the sides of the thin blue curtains. I knew it was early, because the building was silent, and this place is full of boys. Lots of them.

No idea who they are or what they look like, which makes me feel a bit sick. They’re all asleep now, though. All except me.

Things I Wish I Hadn’t Done:

1.Listened to the scrap in the village hall. I should have gone home with Mum and Lily and a plateful of cupcakes instead.

2.Gone near Tombard. Wish I’d never set eyes on him.

3.Got caught up in Whizzy’s hot-phone blaze on the recreation field. Of all the things I did, this was the worst. This was the one that really convinced them.

4.Gone back to Ash House looking for Mr Clemm the day of the fire.

That’s how many mistakes I made: four. And now Mr Clemm might be dead, the entire village thinks I’m a fire-starter, I can’t talk to Mum or Dad or Lily, my best friend hates me, and I’ve ended up here. And where is Whizzy?

Going to explore now.

11.15 a.m.

The first corridor is really long, with fire-escape doors at each end. From the first door, you can see a brick wall, some small red brick buildings and a concrete yard.