I stand and search for some weakness in the earth: a door, a tunnel, something. There’s barely enough room to lie down; I can’t stay in here! There has to be a way out, has to be. But there isn’t. With dirt-thick fingers I smear away a tear. I thought I would give anything for Stig to live, but I can’t stay trapped in this dark hole.

Long minutes pass. I stamp my feet to try and stay warm. Someone will come soon, something will happen. My breath hangs on the air as the cold gnaws at my thoughts. Maybe I’ve been left here to die.

I scream so hard my throat hurts.

The light dims and I look up and see the silhouette of a head and shoulders. At last! Someone must have heard me. Maybe it’s Mum. I wave my arms. ‘Hey, I’m down here! Please hel—’

Clawed fingers curl over the edge of the hole and a fresh wave of panic hits me.

Scrabbling sounds. Soil rains down, covering my hair and face.

The draugr – it’s trying to get in!

I stumble back and fall to the ground. The creature grunts and bellows, and I bury my face in my hands, my stomach roiling at its smell. More soil patters down on me, on and on, until my hair is thick with dirt.

An enraged howl, and then everything stops. The only sound is the thud of my heart.

I blink and shield my eyes against a shaft of brilliant sunlight. Perhaps the light made it go away? Weak with relief, I drop onto my side and curl into a ball. The sun’s warmth is only faint, but it’s wonderful to feel it on my skin. I rock myself gently for the longest time. I yearn to sleep, to escape, but I keep my eyes open, afraid to close them in case I never wake.

I don’t know how long I lie there, staring at the earth. Overcome with tiredness, my eyes eventually close. The sound of my own ragged breathing fills my ears, and then my breath slows and I am slipping away, spinning into darkness, speeding through a tunnel, twisting and …

I jolt awake.

Someone is stroking my hair, just like Mum did when I woke up in hospital. A cold, bony finger traces the scar on my cheek. It doesn’t feel … I swallow hard, afraid to even think the words.

Something shifts beside me, a cold looming presence.

Every muscle in my body freezes. I don’t dare breathe.

A strange low voice. ‘You do not belong here.’

Whatever is whispering, it isn’t human.

A hand tugs my shoulder.