‘He’s gone,’ she said, frantically undoing the knots that bound me. ‘Sorry. It was the only way I could think to get rid of him. The police wouldn’t have got here on time. Stay with me, please. I can’t lose you too.’
Overwhelming relief washed over me as I realised she had been pretending to play along. If she had screamed at Alex to call the police then Luke would have killed her too. With the tide in, they would never have reached us in time. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes as I struggled to speak. ‘Come on,’ she growled, tugging at the bindings.
‘Just get me out,’ I croaked, the crackle and hiss of the wooden floors almost deafening. The contents of our tiny fire extinguisher had only served to dampen the flames, not put them out. We’d have to move fast if we were to get out alive.
‘Go!’ she said, picking up the fire extinguisher and turning it back on. But the tiny expulsion of foam was not enough to fight the fiery war from within. I watched horrified as pictures peeled and curled from the walls, as everything I knew became blackened and disintegrated. My legs like jelly, I pulled the neck of my sweatshirt over my mouth, masking the fumes as the furniture took hold. A slice of fear rose up as I saw Luke, his features contorted with anger, stumbling into the living room in front of us.
‘Fucking bitches!’ he roared, shielding his head with his forearms as he ran through the flames to get to us.
Disbelief scored my brain. He was unstoppable. Just when I thought I was safe, he was back. Drawing back his fist, he punched me hard in the stomach, making me drop to my knees in pain. The circle of flames was growing stronger now, burning my flesh, the fumes invading my lungs. I was wasting precious seconds. I needed to get outside, to claw back some air. Black circles spotted my vision. I was too weak to fight any more.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
ALEX
2017
After waiting what felt like a lifetime, I put my car into gear. Water still flooded the road, but as long as I drove steadily, I was confident I could get through. I held my breath as the sea splashed against my windows, the reflection of the moon appearing in hazy zig-zags before me. Having found purchase on the road and come out the other side, I put my foot down on the accelerator, aware that my drenched brakes could fail, but all I could think about was Emma and the need to get to her as quickly as I could. My heart sank in my chest. There was no sign of Theresa anywhere on the road. I raced through the traffic, aware of a blue flashing light in my rear-view mirror. I didn’t care if they came up behind me, I was not stopping until I got to my wife. Thoughts spread through my mind like wildfire, my brain trying to work things out.
I pulled on the steering wheel as I negotiated a bend, sending stones flying from the ditch and rattling against the paintwork of my car. In the distance, the flashing lights were advancing as I sped down the twisty lane. That was good, wasn’t it? But what if it were not me they were after? What if something had happened to Emma?
As I turned the corner, my worst nightmare became reality. The sky was flamed with red, and the sight stole the breath from my lungs. It was only then that I realised it was not the police gaining in the distance, but a fire engine – on its way to our home. But where was Emma? ‘Please God, don’t be inside,’ I whispered, my words laced with dread. Pulling up my handbrake, I skidded on to our drive. Flames leaped from the top of the building, the heat beating me back. I focused my gaze on a man running in through the open front door. Was that Luke? What was he doing here? Stumbling over my own feet, I ran to the house, but the whole of the entrance was engulfed in flames. ‘Emma!’ I called, praying for a sight of her, but whoever had run inside was making no sign of coming back out. I scrambled around to the side of the house, trying to find a way in, but the searing heat beat me back every time. My heart hammered against my ribcage. I could not lose her, not now. I was getting her out – even if it killed me.
CHAPTER EIGHTY
EMMA
2017
Sweat slicked my skin, the heat of the flames making it hot and blistered. Fingers pressed into my flesh and shook my shoulder hard. Slowly, my eyelids fluttered open, and I realised I had passed out on the floor. I recoiled as I saw Luke beside me, blood pooling beneath his head. A horrible sense of déjà vu encompassed me, and the scene took on a surreal tone.
‘Get up,’ Theresa coughed, grabbing the fire extinguisher and turning it back on. The butt of the metal was streaked with blood. With one hand, she wrenched me from the ground. ‘Out the back. I’ll keep you covered.’
I stumbled through the smoke and flames towards the back door, my legs like rubber bands. Light bulbs popped and fizzed overhead, sprinkling us in glass. In the hall, the smoke alarm beeped beneath the full roar of the hungry fire. Hissing and spitting, it consumed all in its path, and soon we would be next. Plunged in darkness, I had only the flames to light my way. My lungs felt like they were caving in on me as I heaved for breath. I fought to stay conscious as my world closed in. I presumed Theresa was behind me until I heard Luke call her name. He was still going, still after us – still alive. I was in the kitchen now, and the scene took on a dreamlike quality as I turned around to find her. But my legs buckled beneath me as darkness closed in once more.
Looking up into the face of my husband I wondered if I was dreaming. A flashing blue light illuminated the night as he hovered over me. The cool night air touched my blistered skin, and I realised I was outside. For a second time I tried to call out Theresa’s name. ‘Thank God you’re OK,’ he said, answering my question. My lungs were burning as I drew in air, feeling as if I was breathing in hot coals. I grimaced as I tried to swallow, barely able to raise my head from the ground.
‘Shh, stay where you are. The ambulance is on its way.’
I blinked through the pain of crusted eyes as I watched my house go up in flames. The roof had caved in, and I knew whoever was still in there would not be coming out alive.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE
EMMA
Twelve months later
The playground seems different today, and I’m glad Alex managed to persuade me to visit Mersea again. I watch as Jamie reacquaints himself with the equipment, his face alight with pride as he negotiates the slide he was too scared to climb before. I hold my husband’s hand as we stand side by side, watching him. I can’t believe we made it, after all we’ve both been through.