In the hours that followed, she prepared her kill from the day. The small animal hardly offered enough meat to be worth her time, but it was better than nothing. Then she cleaned the kitchen, willing to do anything to distract herself from the thoughts that consumed her.

Martia found her standing near the window later that night and offered her an extra blanket.

‘I have been given more than enough today,’ Sapphire reasoned, but Martia shook her head.

‘You will accept the kindness I extend to you, child.’ Martia shoved the blanket forcefully into her hands. ‘Now, get to bed. The candles must be blown out before midnight. You know that.’

Sapphire accepted the blanket and obeyed.

She had not earned such kindness, she knew that. The meal she had provided that night was hardly enough. She could see in Martia’s face that it was only a step short of failure but still, it was more than anyone else had offered.

As she approached her bed, she saw that something was out of place. A small stack of objects she didn’t recognize was sitting on her thin mattress. As she picked it up, she noticed that it was a mix of charcoals and one jar of red paint – a gift from the girls who slept around her. Tears spilled over, hot and heavy with guilt.

When she could no longer tolerate the weight of the guilt she shouldered, she walked over to where Lyna and Susanna slept. It was winter and the timeworn walls of the Home were little protection from the chill. She placed the large blanket over their sleeping forms and Lyna hummed with satisfaction.

‘I hope you had the best birthday, Saph.’

Sapphire bent forward, placing her lips to each of their foreheads in turn and listening to their murmured thank-yous before getting into her own bed.

She sighed, rolling over in the small uncomfortable cot. Anger and grief swelled inside her; the weight of the others’ hunger resting on her shoulders was crushing her. She had been carrying that burden since war arrived at their doorstep two years ago. The memory was still vivid in her mind, the Mothers locking them in hidden rooms as Beasts tore down doors and took lives.

Martia was the only Mother to survive.

She had come to Sapphire the day after the Fall, grasping her chin in a wrinkled hand.

‘You are a few years short of adulthood – I’ve tossed far more useful girls from this place at your age. But,’ she added, her exhaustion obvious in a way it never had been before, ‘I will make you an offer. I train you how to wield a blade, you gather food for all of us, and you may remain.’

And so they began.