He stops and looks at me wide-eyed, his voice serious. ‘If the journals are right and you are descended from Odin, I mean, wow! Odin is the most powerful of the gods, the All-Father! Who knows what else you can do?’

A flicker of excitement catches inside me. I guess having some of his power would be amazing.

Stig grins. ‘You have to tell me more! Is it just clothes, or could you read the material on this sofa because I just sat there?’

‘No, it’s just clothes. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s something to do with intent, because they’re made to fit us or something.’

‘Clothes are an expression of who we are on the inside, you mean?’

Before I can answer, he fires more questions at me. ‘I have to know – are my jeans annoyed because I don’t wash them enough? And my shirt, is it cross because I don’t iron it?’

I shake my head and giggle. ‘It doesn’t work like that!’

Stig pretends to hit me with his sock. ‘Well, it should!’

My phone vibrates in my jeans pocket. I’m still laughing when I swipe the screen. Twenty missed calls and eight text messages. My heart races. Most are from Mum, some from Kelly and Dad.

Stig looks over. ‘Something wrong?’

‘I’m not sure.’

I read through the most recent messages.

Dad: Please call me darling, it’s important x

Mum: Where are you? I know you’re not with your dad. Call me ASAP

Kelly: Sorry!!!!! Your mum was worried sick. Like having a panic attack. I had to tell her. Please don’t be mad!!

My chest tightens. Mum knows I’m here. She knows I lied to her. I bite my lip, worried what she’s going to say. I read the final message and my stomach drops.

Mum: I don’t want to scare you, but you need to leave the cabin. I’m getting the first flight I can. Go to Olav’s house. Go anywhere. Just leave NOW.

14

‘It’s Mum. She knows I’m here. She says to leave the cabin.’

I show Stig my phone.

‘What? Why?’ He scrolls through the messages. ‘She sent this a couple of hours ago. Even if she got the first flight …’

My throat tightens. ‘The last ferry goes at five fifteen. She won’t get here until tomorrow now.’

I read the messages again, a knot of anger in my chest along with something else – an empty, dull ache. I miss her. When I was a kid, I only had to graze my knee and Mum would come running. Despite everything, I know she loves me and would do anything to protect me – I felt it when I touched her jacket in the hospital. I wish she was here now to keep me safe.