‘What the fuck?’ the second man growled. Through the slit in his balaclava Carly could see the hairs of a thick black moustache tickling his pale pink lips.

The first man, Doc – as Carly called him in her head after his Dr. Martens boots – didn’t reply but continued working at the rope until it slackened. Her fingers tingled as she flexed them. Her eyes met Doc’s through the slits in his balaclava and for a split second she felt an unspoken message pass between them but she couldn’t quite decipher it. Nevertheless, some sixth sense told her not to try and fight him. She didn’t want to risk being separated from the twins again. Instead she knew that she should wait. That he wouldn’t hurt her.

The second man, though? Moustache. She wasn’t so sure.

Doc stood and brushed grey dust from his knees and this small act gave her hope. If he cared about dirt he wouldn’t leave them here in this grimy room. The sun barely filtered through the thick bars at the window. Sour air clogged her nostrils, making her mouth taste of wee. But he did leave, trailed by Moustache. As Moustache strode towards the door he scratched the back of his neck. His balaclava rose and Carly saw the tattoo of an eye. She shuddered. Even when he wasn’t facing her, he was still watching her.

She was left here for the second time that day but this time the door slammed shut although the men were still there, outside the room. Carly could hear their voices, one loud and angry, the other speaking more slowly and calmly.

Terrified, her eyes scanned the room. There were no other exits. No other way out.

They had to get out.

Carly tore off the tape that covered her mouth and before tackling the binding around her own ankles she reached across to her sisters.

‘I’m going to untie you both,’ she whispered, eyes darting fearfully to the door. On the back of the wood someone had sprayed a clown’s face, a shock of orange hair and a bright red nose, his mouth stretched into a macabre grin. She gently eased the tape from Marie’s mouth, millimetre by millimetre, not wanting to pull at her skin.

‘Now for your blindfold. Leah, I’ll get to you in a minute. Marie, are you okay? Say something,’ she whispered but Marie’s lips remained clamped together, too scared to make a noise.

Once she had uncovered Marie’s eyes, Carly could see they were glazed with shock. ‘It’s okay. We’ll be home soon.’ Carly started on the ropes tying Marie’s hands but her shaking fingers couldn’t unpick them.

‘Shit.’ She leaned forward and tried to work the knots free with her mouth. The rope was bitter and strands of thread stuck to her tongue. She was only making it worse. Frustrated, she began to try and rip the rope apart, grunting with the effort, until finally it began to give.

‘Quick. Pull your hands free.’