She feels angry again.

She places her palm flat against Archie’s chest to calm herself. Feels the rise and fall of his rib cage. She grapples for the words to continue. ‘Remember the day before we were snatched when Marie was off school sick? It was because she’d overheard them planning it and she wanted to talk Simon out of it. He… he told her that it wouldn’t be real. It would be like a game. He warned Marie that if it didn’t work we’d all be separated and sent to different homes. He was broke. Remember when she used to say, “This isn’t real. This is just a game. Just pretend.”’

Leah opens her mouth and closes it again. Instead of speaking she nods.

‘She was scared. I get that but…’ Carly’s voice cracks. ‘Our parents betrayed us. Doc and Moustache were the worst kind of people. The world is full of them. But Marie… We were all supposed to have each other’s backs. Sisters. You can’t trust anyone. You really didn’t know, Leah?’

Leah shakes her head violently. ‘I swear, Carly. I swear on Archie’s life.’ Carly believes her but it doesn’t change the way she feels right now.

‘Please.’ Leah stretches out her arms. ‘Please give me Archie. Let’s go home, Carly.’

Carly is torn in a million different pieces. She knows what she’s about to do is the right thing, but it still hurts all the same.

Chapter Seventy-Two

Leah

Now

‘I can’t give you Archie,’ Carly says. ‘He’s too good for this world. Too pure.’

My blood freezes. Ice heavy in my veins. I watch Carly’s hand caress the handle of the knife. Panic bulldozes into me. She wouldn’t, would she? She loves him. She loves me. Marie.

‘Marie.’ All at once my throat is hot and swollen at the thought that has just occurred to me. I’m wrong. I have to be. ‘Marie… is dead.’ The words burn my tongue. I study Carly’s face through my clouded tears. She doesn’t look surprised. ‘I… I found her in the ballroom.’

I fall into silence. So much hinges on Carly’s reaction.

‘I know she’s dead,’ Carly speaks slowly. ‘She’s been dead for days.’

‘How…’ I want to ask how Carly knows that but I’m scared of her answer. I don’t recognize her, this woman with wild, staring eyes and flat robotic voice. She shifts Archie on her lap. The blade is horribly close to his perfect, unblemished skin. What has happened to my sister? Our protector. Marie might have made a mistake by not telling us but she was eight. We were all just children. How can Carly have known that Marie is dead and not tell anyone? To stand shoulder to shoulder with me in the police station, her lips straight and silent, while I tried to report my twin missing. I know Carly’s not coping. I’ve barely seen her this past week. I know she’s been avoiding me but this?

This?

Surely I’m wrong.