Behind a tree, a short distance away, the creature watched the children. They were the enemy. If it was to stay alive there was one order to obey – you will need to kill. He wanted to give his new body a try. He was meant to await command, but what difference would two small girls make? Perhaps the master would be pleased? This new body was powerful; it would be practice. The others had gone – two girls and a little white creature could be quickly disposed of. It flexed its clawed hands and edged closer. A branch cracked beneath its feet.

“What was that?” said the pale girl, suddenly looking his way.

“Got it!” called the other girl. “Feisty one, this!”

“We should go,” said the pale girl, weakly.

The creature took another step closer, behind the next tree. The leaves shook.

This time the other girl, the one with the wild hair, looked over her shoulder, into the forest. “Did you both hear that?”

She was barely ten metres away. The creature crouched, ready to spring. The ferns crunched.

“We should go,” said the small white animal.

“I think you’re right,” said the girl.

The creature surged forward, thundering through the undergrowth towards them.

“Run!” Prue cried, but Edwin and Agapantha were already dashing across the lawn towards the transport hut.

Prue sped after them, dropping her net so that the spirit light fizzed away, her heart suddenly felt like a rotary engine thudding in her chest. The rush of leaves and pounding of feet came from the forest behind, or was it her own hectic steps thumping, and what in Medlock was that great snorting sound? She willed her legs to charge faster through the dew-soaked lawns and sprinted onward, her eyes firmly on the glow coming from the door of the transport hut. She was fast – she’d always been able to beat Francis – luckily, Ag and Edwin were too. Prue risked a swift look over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of something. A horned creature. Was it just a stag?

Then, with a terrible rasping hiss, it called, “Need to kill.”

Blood whooshed in her ears and she doubled her efforts, not even daring to look again for fear it would slow her down by one moment. The group hurtled inside the transport hut and Prue slammed the door behind them. Agapantha rushed to pull the lever to bring the pneumerator their way. There was an immediate whirring sound.

“What was out there?” Agapantha said, her chest heaving.

“You ran, so I ran! What happened? I didn’t see a thing!” said Edwin.

Prue’s legs felt like the bones had disappeared. “Hurry up!” she said, willing the pod to appear, glancing back at the door.

Agapantha stared at her, emerald eyes glistening and as wide as one of Lavender’s dinner plates. “What did you see, Frances?”