The wind blew through the trees, causing the branches to sway and crash together. The clouds that Matt had seen on the horizon earlier were almost directly above them now, and even blacker than they’d looked from a distance.

Outside the copse of trees the rain hammered against the heather, hard enough to kick up a light mist of spray.

3

They sat around the campfire in silence, listening to the storm.

In the end they’d set up camp near the middle of the copse of trees, beneath the shelter of a giant oak. Rain hammered against the canopy above them, but only a spot or two managed to squeeze through the thick roof of branches. They’d built up their fire much larger than usual tonight to compensate for the storm, and the flames that twisted and shifted in front of Matt were huge and bright. The fire crackled and the wind moaned through the trees around them. Matt felt himself shiver with something other than the cold.

It was just after 10 now, and the last of the light was seeping out of the day. The trees around them were a network of grey and black shadows, dancing back and forth in the flickering light of the fire.

Matt looked around at his three companions.

James was slumped with his back against the base of the oak, his eyes half-closed and a streak of snot drying on his upper lip. Mr Stevens was sat to Matt’s left, his face an expressionless blank as he poured bottled water into a small cooking tin. He dug in his rucksack and took out two Wayfarer meals, which he scrunched down side-by-side in the tin before positioning it over the fire on a clamp.

Tim was sat directly opposite Matt. His face looked extra pale in the glow of the fire. He kept biting his nails as he stared into the flames, and every now and then he’d steal a glance at Matt.

‘We’ll get some food down us and then we’ll feel better,’ said Mr Stevens. ‘These two are for you, James and Matt. Tim and I will eat later.’

Tim paused in the act of biting a nail and glanced at his dad, before returning his gaze to the fire.

‘I’m not hungry,’ muttered James. Matt thought he’d drifted off to sleep, but when he looked again he saw his friend’s eyes were now fully open.

Mr Stevens sighed. ‘When you’re anxious it’s easy to feel like you can’t eat, but believe me, your body needs it.’ He looked over the fire at James and smiled. ‘You’ve done a good job making it this far, James, and we’re going to get you home first thing tomorrow morning.’