Allie swallowed hard. ‘What did he say?’ Her voice sounded as if it came from far away. ‘Emma, where did the blood come from?’
Tears streaming down her face, the girl held up a folded piece of plain white paper, stained with bloody fingerprints.
‘He said to give this to you.’ As Allie took the page from her hands gingerly, a tear rolled down Emma’s cheek, tracing a path in the gore.
With her heart pounding out no recognisable rhythm and her head beginning to swim, Allie knew she couldn’t stop to read the note. Clutching it in her hand she turned back to Emma.
‘Can you run?’
The girl nodded.
Standing, Allie grabbed her hand – it felt so small and fragile.
‘As fast as you can, Emma.’ She was surprised by the steadiness of her voice.
They ran down the hall to where a door hid the old servants’ staircase. As the door swung open revealing the winding stone staircase, Emma recoiled.
‘It’s dark.’
But Allie wasn’t about to stop now. ‘Don’t be afraid of the dark, Emma. Be afraid of that man.’
Then she pulled her on to the stairs.
Emma’s broken sobs and the scuffing of their footsteps were the only noises that accompanied them down for what felt like eternity. Around and around the staircase twisted and turned until Allie was certain they must be halfway to Hell.
But she held back the rising tide of panic until she saw Zoe waiting for her near the foot of the stairs.
‘She’s here!’ Zoe called over her shoulder. Then she looked back at Allie and her eyes widened. ‘Who’s that with you? What happened?’
Carter and Sylvain appeared behind her as Allie stumbled into the room, still clinging to Emma’s hand. She could see their shock as they saw the blood-covered girl.
‘Rachel.’ Allie gasped, trying to breathe. But she couldn’t get any more words out. There seemed to be no oxygen down here.
Moving quickly, Carter grabbed Emma and examined her for wounds.
Realising she was about to fall, Allie put one hand on a stone column. It felt cold as ice under her fingertips.
‘Is she here?’ she wheezed. The walls moved rapidly towards her, as if they were about to attack her. ‘Rachel… is she here?’
‘Rachel?’ Sylvain’s voice seemed to come from far away. ‘She was with you. Allie…?’
He caught her as she fell, his arms warm and strong around her.
‘Sylvain…’ She struggled for air.
‘I’ve got you,’ he said, lifting her from the earth.
‘We must find Raj Patel.’ Nicole sounded frightened. It was the first time Allie could ever remember her sounding scared.
Sylvain said something to her in French before switching back to English. ‘It’s not safe yet.’
They were all sitting together in a tight circle on the gritty stone floor. It seemed like they were talking in circles, too.
They needed to do something but there was nothing to be done.
Allie’s head felt as if it had been stuffed with feathers that were occasionally kicking her in the face.
After she’d nearly passed out, they’d forced water on her and made her sit still, her head resting on her knees. Her breathing was steady now. In fact, her lungs were working so perfectly it was kind of enraging.
They told her what they knew – the students they’d seen going and those who’d made it to the safe places.
She still clutched Nathaniel’s blood-splattered letter in her hand like a weapon. Although the light in the cellar was dim she could make out the words he’d written. It was obvious he’d been rushed – his handwriting was usually so precise and neat; this was a hurried scrawl.
Dear Allie
I looked for you but could not find you. Unfortunately, no one was willing to tell me where you were. Your friend Rachel was singularly uncooperative. I was forced to punish her for her rudeness. I’m keeping her with me.
Allie, I’ve grown impatient with our little game. So here is what you will do. You will come to me tonight and offer yourself in exchange for Rachel. Come alone. Do not bring Raj Patel or Isabelle or any of the other instructors or guards.
When you have done this, Rachel will be released, alive and well. If you fail in any regard, if you break any of the rules I’ve set out here, she will die precisely as Jo died. And you will know, for all your life, you could have saved her.
I will be at the castle ruins at midnight. Do not be late.
Nathaniel
The thought of Rachel alone with that monster made Allie’s stomach twist; doubling over she dug her fists into her abdomen, pressing back against the pain.
We underestimated Nathaniel again, she thought, despairing. Oh, Rachel, I’m so sorry…
Reaching across her body to free one of her fists, Carter squeezed her hand. ‘She’s still alive, Allie,’ he said, his tone gentle.
She shook her head so fiercely her hair stung her cheeks as it swung. She couldn’t afford to hope now; hope was nothing but delayed heartbreak. He should know that anyway – Jules was gone. He hadn’t got to her in time.