‘And I told them we’re splitting up even further,’ Jack continued. ‘You can go on your own, and me and Gracie will stick together. We’ll meet up at the house in Lemsford – the one we slept in last time. Might take a whole day to get there, but it’s better than getting followed to Spitfire’s Rise.’

Ewan grunted, but didn’t turn around. Jack’s unwelcome fingers landed on his shoulder.

‘I told them we were splitting up to lose anyone chasing us. And because it’d make us all faster. I didn’t tell them the third reason. Figured you’d need some time alone.’

Screw you, Jack, Ewan thought again. Screw you for knowing me so well. For knowing where I’m weak, and…

…And for being my friend.

Chapter 9

Kate twitched in fright as Mark’s brick smashed her geography teacher’s car window. To their left, Simon shook his head frantically.

‘You’re making me do this,’ Mark growled as he opened the door from the inside. ‘You’re both slow as hell, and the clones are coming. Either I break the no cars rule, or I leave you both behind.’

You had no problem leaving my brother behind …

‘Get bloody running, they’re not worth it’, you said. You had no idea how much James was worth.

One day, when I’m my better self, I’ll confront you about it. Not today, but one day , Mark .

They had stumbled for about a hundred metres before Mark had realised the hopelessness of escaping on foot. Before Kate knew what was going on, he had ordered them back to Oakenfold where he had picked out Stuart Lincoln’s car: the one which just happened to be the newest in the car park, and perhaps the most reliable.

Mark reached somewhere behind the steering wheel. A crunch sounded, and a couple of wires appeared. Kate didn’t understand what happened next, nor how Mark knew the science of hot-wiring a car, but it didn’t surprise her. A few moments later, she heard the rev of a car engine for the first time in a year.

‘You getting in?’

Kate started to move. Simon, rather tellingly, headed straight for the back seats as if he weren’t allowed to sit in the front. Once Kate was in the passenger seat with the door half-closed, Mark pulled away. Her door flung open again and bashed against the first car they passed, and the resulting bang sent some much-needed adrenalin through Kate’s veins. She closed the door properly on the second attempt, and glanced through the window as something moved in the early morning light.

They were clones. Angry clones, and they were running.

‘Mark!’ she shouted, her first and only word since her boyfriend had blown himself to pieces.