But it is.
I know.
I’m strong, but not strong enough to fight my way out of this. For once, I have to accept the situation for what it is. Find strength in other ways. The strength to accept I’m dying.
As I fade, a calm comes. For a few moments, a comforting tranquillity. Mum tells me to fight, but Daisy tells me,it’s OK.Don’t be scared, she says. I see the three of us together last Christmas. Granny had gone to Mum’s sister’s, so I paid for us to go to Barbados. It had been a year since the three of us had spent quality time together. Too long. It was as hot there as it has been here these past few weeks. We fed monkeys at the nature reserve. Snorkelled with the sea turtles. Paddle boarded, and Daisy and I swam every day. The water was so warm, not cold like this. I told her I loved her, and I missed us swimming together. She told me she loved me, too. We didn’t see each other much after that. How I regret that we didn’t spend more time together this year. I should’ve made more of an effort. Please forgive me, Daisy.
I open my eyes. A beam of light shines down on a face. Daisy. It can’t be. I must be dreaming, hallucinating. I blink. And again. My precious sister has come for me. She smiles. Her beautiful smile that I’ve missed so much. ‘Daisy,’ I shout. Water enters my mouth, cold and bitter. I push it out.
She’s panicking a little. As if the effort of rescuing me is more than she bargained for.I’m going to be OK, she tells me. Or is that in my head? For a moment, a wave of calmness consumes me. It’s beautiful. Pure. Whole. The light brightens. A sense of peace settles over me. But then as quickly as it appeared, the face vanishes. I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. The hallucinations overwhelm me, and then, a sharp tugging sensation around my lower body. My legs drift apart, restricted by the sides of the bag. My sister is freeing me. I knew she’d come for me. I wriggle. A final attempt for freedom. Daisy tearsthe sack apart. The fight within me returns. She heaves my body out. My leg gets caught. I kick like fury until I’m free of the bag.
She grabs me around the middle and pushes me upwards. I give in to her, willing myself with everything I have not to breathe. Her grip is too tight, too strong, but I succumb, rising on my final journey to heaven. Up and up, undramatic, unhurried, almost tranquil. She tightens her grip. I want to embrace her, feel her close to me, inhale her appley smell, but my bound hands prevent me from reaching out.
My head breaks the water into the warm summer air. I scream, coughing and spluttering for oxygen. ‘Daisy!’ I call. ‘Daisy!’
67
SCARLETT
My eyes pop open wide. I look around, kicking desperately.
‘Breathe, Scarlett. Breathe.’ A voice I recognise drifts from behind me. A strong arm tightens around my middle.
I turn my head sharply.
‘It’s Tim. DS Porter.’ His hand cradles my head against his shoulder. ‘I’ve got you. You’re going to be OK.’
‘Tim!’ I say, confused. ‘But my sister?’ I continue looking around, fighting to come to my senses. I gulp air, coughing and spluttering, struggling to free my tied hands. ‘My sister was here. Where’s she gone?’
‘I’ve got you, Scarlett. You’re safe.’
Daisy’s presence was a mere apparition. Some kind of figment of my imagination. It fills me with sadness and relief in equal measure. I’m now depending on Tim to keep me afloat. ‘Justin told me you came earlier,’ I cry. ‘Why did you leave me?’
‘We had to go and get a warrant. But then Beth called, saying she needed to tell us something, so we came straight back.’
A noise makes us turn to a struggle several feet away. The rowing boat rocks from side to side. Justin is desperately trying to maintain his balance, while another person clings to the side of the boat attempting to board it. At first, I think it’s another police officer, but then I see George’s curls stuck to his head. ‘George!’ I call, confused.What is he doing here?
The boat’s see-saw motion is too much for Justin. He tumbles backwards into the water, immediately submerging close to where George is treading water.
‘You’ve got to help George. Please, Tim.’
‘I can’t leave you.’ He sounds as desperate as me. ‘You’ll go under. There’s only so long you’ll be able to tread water, and I can’t get those cable ties off you in here.’ He holds me close, supporting my weight in the water.
As Justin fails to surface, George dives under and disappears. The lake turns still. The siren of an ambulance sounds in the distance.
‘George!’ I try to break free from Tim, but he tightens his grip.
‘Calm down, Scarlett. I need to keep you safe.’
We wait. Nothing. I exhale, exasperated at the helplessness of the situation. Nothing can happen to George. I’ve grown fond of him. Apart from family, he’s the last close connection I have to my sister. I can imagine us being friends for life. It’s my fault he’s here. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him.
Tim starts kicking, leading me back to the boat. Suddenly, the water erupts.
George bursts out, wheezing for breath. The relief at seeing his face is enormous. His frantic voice echoes around the grounds. ‘His leg’s caught in the reeds. I can’t get it free.’ He gulps air, ready to dive back in.
‘No!’ Tim yells. ‘Come back. You need to help me here.’
‘But he’ll die,’ George calls back.
