Skittering away, Meggy kept low on the floor so she didn’t fall. One of her knees felt like it was on fire, and there was a sticky liquid on her head she didn’t want to think about. Trying to control her breathing, she huddled into a corner. There was no light at all. Whatever he’d done with the windows in their upstairs flat, he’d repeated on the lower floors as well.

Elspeth was crying now, sobbing with her exhale then groaning on the inhale. Fergus was muttering to himself and throwing items around in the dark. Meggy kept her head down and reached out her hands. She needed a weapon. One good hit would do it. If she could just get him in the head, she could run for the door and get help.

‘Oh, Meggy, what have you done?’ Fergus snarled.

She shoved a hand across her mouth, forcing herself not to give away her position as she shifted on her knees to locate anything that might help her.

‘Do you want to know what I’m going to use to kill Elspeth with?’ Fergus said.

His tongue sounded too thick in his mouth, like he’d just been to the dentist and the anaesthetic was still in full force.

Ignore him, Meggy told herself. Keep going. He’s bluffing. He’s obsessed with Elspeth. He’ll pretend to hurt her, but he wouldn’t really dare.

The whiplash through the air changed her mind. The cable caught the outside of Meggy’s left elbow, and she gave a small cry.

‘Hurts, right? I’d never have thought of it if you hadn’t brought the light down with you, but now it only seems fitting. Do you want to listen as I strangle her with it, Meggy? I’ve got to warn you, it’ll be upsetting. Takes longer than you’d think. Minutes sometimes, as a person fights the loss of air. It’s painful, too, Nothing peaceful. She won’t pass out until the very end. Probably will scratch her own neck to pieces trying to get the cable off.’

He dragged his body across the room, and Meggy could hear him heaving himself into position. Elspeth let out a whomp of breath, and she could imagine Fergus astride her in the dark, winding the cable round and round.

‘Don’t,’ her tiny voice whined in the blackness. ‘Please don’t.’

‘Too late now. You hurt me. I’ll hurt her.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Meggy cried. ‘I didn’t mean the things I said. You can beat me or … whatever. Don’t kill Elspeth. I need her. Please?’

There was a gasping noise, the slither of cable, a satisfied hiss from Fergus.

Then the drumming of feet on the floor.

‘Please, what?’ Fergus growled.

‘Please, God, please. I’ll do anything. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.’