Only now does Izzy falter into surprise, startled by what she has done when cornered and consumed by rage and fear. Quickly, her raised hand winds a circle clockwise.

The birds find an escape route. The wake of their flight fades and a profound silence falls. Every molecule of air and every wave and ripple of sound might have been sucked from the room. In the space that then brightens by near imperceptible increments, two of the girls are revealed to be sitting on the floor with their hands clutched to their ears. Inconsolable, they issue sobs unheard within the vacuum.

Izzy stands upright in the middle of the room, unaffected by anything but surprise at herself. She stares at the bone wheel in her palm.

The silence ends in the passing of a heartbeat and into the old storeroom comes the bedlam of crying, frightened girls.

* * *

As the phone trills and vibrates on the bedside table, Jess sits up in bed. Eyes wide, she heaves air into her lungs. Then slaps her hands about the bed covers, reorienting herself within her surroundings. Awareness dawns that she’s inside her bedroom at home and not trapped within a wheelchair in darkness. Her eyes briefly close in relief and she unleashes a single sob before calming.

She snatches up her baying phone. The number for ‘IZZY SCHOOL’ is calling.

20

School gates fit for a high-security prison swing closed automatically, crashing and rattling within the frame. The shuddering gate passes a judder through the spiked fence posts thrusting outwards at the summit of the long barrier.

Outside the steel palisade, Jess lowers herself to one knee so her eyes can meet Izzy’s. Or would do if her daughter didn’t insist on dolefully gazing at her feet.

‘What happened, Izz? What was them kids on about?’

Izzy shrugs.

‘Izzy, I want you to tell me what you did. They was scared half to death. I don’t understand. It don’t make no sense to the teachers. What did you say to those girls? You must have said something to frighten them like that.’

Unable to look at her mother, Izzy mumbles, ‘It all just come. Like a dream.’

‘What did? They said you brought the bird? Put a devil in their eyes? What’s that mean?’

Izzy shrugs again.

‘I’ve asked you a question. Now answer it.’

With no way out of the interrogation, Izzy’s eyes well with tears and her face crumples. It’s not the response Jess wants and only when she gives Izzy’s shoulder a little shake does Izzy look up, before shouting a response broken by sobs. ‘They wouldn’t leave me alone! You said they would if I hid! I hid! I did! They still stole from me! Pushed me over! You keep making me come back!’