I hide my face in Stig’s hair, then peep out and gasp. The air above our heads glows and pulsates. A group of women stand around us, shielding us in a bubble of light. I recognise Karina’s long wavy hair instantly. Next to her is the tiny lady I saw in the photo – Gerd with her feathered cloak, and Trine. I don’t know them all, but I know they are the women who went before me. My family.

A dozen voices chant a hushed lullaby. I don’t understand what they mean, but the tone of their words is reassuring.

‘Ikke vær redd.’

‘Familien din er her.’

‘Vi er her for å hjelpe.’

‘What’s happening?’ Stig whispers. ‘Is there something here, in the room?’

My mouth is too dry to speak. The light from the women starts to fade – I wish I could see his face, but all I can make out is the shape of his head and the glint of his eyes.

Karina taps a finger to her lips.

‘Shh,’ I whisper to Stig.

Everything is silent. The wind has died to nothing, as if the world no longer exists. Even the darkness holds its breath.

Shuffling outside. Then a low, breathy snort.

Stig’s arms tighten around me.

Thump.

The sound of laboured footsteps.

Thump.

It’s climbing the steps!

The bubble of light around us shimmers and changes, partly obscuring the room.

The ghostly women are still here, but their faces are blank. They have no features at all.

A single, heavy blow at the door.

I stiffle a sob.

Pots and pans rattle as something slams against the outside of the kitchen wall.

It’s moving, fast. Circling us. Trying to find a way in.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Coming from above.

I scream as deafening noise thunders above my head. The banging gets louder and faster, as if the creature is drumming its heels on the roof.

The noise goes on and on. The terrible sound is more than I can bear. I press my hands to my ears. My heart feels like it will explode.

Stig cries out, ‘Kjære Gud, få det til å stoppe!’

And then it stops. Maybe the creature heard him.

Gandalf whines and I lay a hand on him, every muscle in my body tense. My chest heaves and falls. There’s a sound of creaking wood and then the bottom chunk of the door is ripped away. I stare at the silvery moonlight that floods through the gap, the only light in the room.

Suddenly, blackened fingers appear.

I clamp my hand to my mouth and fight a scream.

Click. Click. Click.

Curved black claws tap the wood as fingers scrabble at the floor. Scraps of flesh hang from them, the bone white in the moonlight. Stig grabs me tight, as if he sees it too.