I looked up at her again. She was beautiful. Of course she was. And so well put together. She was a perfect match to Frederick’s chiselled features and immaculately tailored suits. I bet their wedding photo looked like it came with the frame. I fingered the frayed hem of my shirt.

‘Alexis?’ said Naomi.

‘I . . . yes?’ I noticed everyone was staring at me. ‘Sorry, I missed that.’

‘I was just asking how come we meet so often this week and then nothing?’

‘Oh right. We’re calling this the Initiation Stage. For the programme to work we really need to spend a lot of intense time together in this first week. I will be here guiding the sessions and once the week is over it will all be up to you to arrange the meet-ups and keep in touch.’ I smiled round at everyone. ‘Now, if you could just whip out your phones and accept the WhatsApp invite I sent you all it will make planning things so much easier.’ I took out my mobile and they all followed suit. I clicked onto WhatsApp and watched as each one of them joined the group. ‘Wonderful. Here we all are. Linked together.’ I checked the settings and noted each of their numbers now had a download icon next to it. The worm was doing its work.

*

Ten minutes of getting-to-know-you chat and I was already flagging. I nodded as I tried to pay attention as Naomi droned on about the difficulty she was having with school choices.

And then I heard it.

The alarm.

It was faint. It was coming from the corridor outside. Whoever had done up this room had the foresight to silence it in here. But they hadn’t disabled the light that was hidden behind one of the family posters. A grinning mum’s white shirt was flashing red.

There was an intruder.

It had to be Tenebris. What were they after?

I looked round the busy room. Or who were they after?

Mrs Moulage had clearly heard it too. She had already stood up and was heading towards the double-doored exit.

I got up. ‘Please excuse me a moment. I just need to check on something with a colleague. Do carry on.’

Walking towards the exit I slipped my earpiece in. Jake crackled in on Eight’s secure channel. ‘We’re on our way. We got the alarm notification. There in seven.’

‘Copy that. I’m checking it out now.’

Mrs Moulage had already gone out through the doors. I caught up with her in the long corridor.

‘Mrs Moulage?’

She stopped and turned around, smile in place.

‘Oh, hello there, dear. If you’re wondering about the noise, it’s nothing to worry about. They’re just testing the alarm system.’

‘I’m Lex. I’m the Rat.’

The fake smile dropped.

‘The unauthorised entry is at Door Three. How far away is back-up?’

‘Seven minutes.’

‘Do we know what they’re after?’