The bubble of light around us shimmers and expands. I can no longer see the women, just a swirling vortex of light. The air turns into a transparent metallic liquid that reaches out, filling the room.

The creature’s fingers touch it and hold still. Slowly the claws retreat, scraping the floor with a sickening screech.

Please don’t come back. Please don’t come back. Please don’t come back.

I stare at the door, too afraid to move.

My pulse races as I count the seconds. There is no noise. Just the cry of the wind.

‘Has it gone?’ whispers Stig.

Karina reappears and takes her finger from her lips, then nods.

A shudder runs through me. ‘Yes, it’s gone.’

A moment later the bubble retracts. The shadows become denser and the women reappear. More faces emerge, all with glowing black eyes. Most are old and wrinkled, but some are about my age. Each one smiles, as if they’ve been waiting to say hello. The apparitions begin to flicker and fade, like they no longer have the strength to form. I search the crowd, desperately hoping to see Mormor, but she isn’t among them. If there was any way she could come back to see me, I know she would.

Karina must be telling the truth: Mormor is trapped at the tree. The thought of going outside makes me feel sick, but I can’t leave her out there alone, knowing she needs me. I have to help her.

18

Stig strikes a match, then returns the box to his pocket. The flickering light makes him look older, gaunt almost.

‘Is it safe to light a candle?’ he whispers.

Gandalf jumps down from the sofa. A moment later, I hear him lapping at his water bowl. He seems at ease, so perhaps the creature is no longer close.

‘I think so. Wait, I’ll get one.’

I crawl across the floor and reach for a tall pillar candle.

‘Quick.’ Stig grimaces as the flame touches his fingers.

I hand him the candle and climb back on the sofa. He lights the wick and places it on the floor. Shadows swarm about the room: faces of men, women and children appear and disappear. A little boy wearing striped pyjamas tiptoes a few steps and then vanishes. Seeing them makes me uneasy, but it’s not like they want to do us any harm. They don’t seem aware of us – or even of each other for that matter.

I wish I could see Mormor. I can’t bear to think of her suffering.

Yesterday, when the water went cold and the bathroom lights flickered, I think it was Karina, trying to appear to me. She wouldn’t tell me to go out there unless Mormor needed me, and not unless it was safe.

I take a deep breath, my decision made. ‘I’m going to the tree.’

Stig’s head snaps up. ‘What?’