The dark trees loomed in his vision; he felt the panic building inside of him, and his world began to go on spin cycle again. Familiar images flew out of the wood, fevered memories hurtling towards him, tumbling between the trees like the cheap horrors on a ghost train, so real that he almost flinched. He saw the pint of water on the floor beside his foot; the sword of early morning light burning between the curtains; the damp-stained ceiling; and the mattress on the floor with the sheets twisted on it.

Abs stopped and rubbed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the images, then plunged again into the trees. A twig scratched his cheek just below the eye, making him stumble on the soft, damp earth. Something ran past him in the darkness, its golden eyes reflecting in the blackness, and it scared the shit out of him. He listened to the clatter of his heart, his own stricken breathing, and tried to ignore the rustling and scuttling and hooting of all the invisible creatures in the wood with him. He was totally lost. His gaze whipped from left to right, but all he could see was an army of trees. He wished he had his phone, just for the torchlight.

And then he heard it. Somewhere to his left, the squeak of a door hinge. Abs launched himself forward, and straight into a thicket. Thorns and twigs scratched at his arms and legs, but he didn’t care, just ran straight through it and out the other side. The black ground swelled and dipped, and then his ankle twisted in a hole. Abs fell and rolled, dirt and mulch filling his mouth. He felt a slick of warm liquid on his arm, his own blood. He climbed to his feet and ran towards the noise.

‘Jez,’ he shouted.

And then he saw a glow through the trees, coming from the chalet. The door swung open and Jez’s silhouette appeared against the light inside.

‘What are you doing here?’ Jez said in shock.

Panting, trying to get his breath back, Abs walked to the small porch where Jez stood. His friend closed the door behind him so Abs couldn’t see inside.

‘She’s in there, ain’t she?’

‘What are you talking about?’ Jez laughed nervously. ‘I ain’t got no one in there.’

‘Then what are you doing here in the middle of the night?’

Jez looked around. ‘I like to come here sometimes to think. I like the peace and quiet.’

‘Don’t lie to me, Jez, you’ve got your mum in there. The police are looking for her, mate. They want to talk to her about the death of Deano and Tony, and all this time you’ve been hiding her.’

‘No.’ Jez shook his head, as if Abs had lost his mind. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’