‘Where is he now?’ Granny said.

‘In his study.’

I straightened as Mummy caught me standing at the door. ‘What are you doing there? Up to bed.’ The sadness I sensed in her took my breath away. I ran towards her like a little child, inhaling the scent of lavender as I wrapped my arms around her.

‘Love you,’ I said, feeling her relax in my embrace.

‘And we love you too,’ she said, too swept up in her own concerns to see mine. ‘Now go on, bed.’

I turned left on the landing, to Daddy’s study, instead. Peeping through the crack in the door, I watched him clean his shotgun. Methodically, he inspected each piece, a throwback to his army days before he gave it all up to help Grandad with the farm. His face was vacant, his eyes flicking towards the door as a floorboard creaked beneath my foot. Tentatively, I pushed it open, gauging his reaction as I stepped inside.

‘Hey wicked witch, what are you doing up?’ He lay the barrel of the gun on the mahogany desk before turning to face me. He looked tired but raised his arm to draw me in for a hug. ‘It’s late; you should be in bed,’ he said, his short beard tickling my forehead as he kissed me goodnight.

The sparse light of the moon only added to the coldness of my bedroom as I lay awake in bed that night. No number of posters or fairy lights could cheer the space up. Pulling my blanket to my chin, I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed for sleep.

At first, I thought the sudden boom was thunder. Rubbing my eyes, I tried to focus as I sat up in bed. What time is it? I flicked on my bedside light, but the room remained in darkness. The electricity had gone again. But why hadn’t the generator kicked in? I squinted at the digital clock as it ticked the seconds past midnight on my dresser. The air was too chilled for thunder tonight. Fireworks? I wondered, half asleep as I slid out of bed. The floorboards felt like ice beneath my feet as I tiptoed towards my bedroom door. I froze as I heard my mother’s footsteps rapidly hitting each stair. I wanted to call out for her, but the words locked in my throat as she screamed Robin’s name. My hands rushed to my mouth as I heard my mother’s guttural howls. Grandad called out from downstairs. Where was Daddy? Nothing made sense. Heavy footsteps thumped across the landing towards my bedroom door.

‘Nigel!’ Mummy’s voice echoed throughout the house, but no response came. ‘Not her. Please, not my little girl!’