‘Comeon,’ I heard Lachlan’s voice over the sound of the storm. ‘We need to get under cover; this looks like a bad one.’
Almost dreamily I turned to run up the wooden steps into the castle, seeing Cellar Dog eschewing the presumed comforts of the castle fire and instead coming along with me, one flopping ear half-cocked as though he also heard Lachlan’s yell.
As we hurled ourselves into the dimly lit and smoke-scented basement all the light went out of the day above us. I heard sounds of consternation as those who’d ignored the first flakes and approaching cloud bank ran for shelter, and wonderedwhether the goat would choose now to come back up to the castle. Or maybe it was skipping free along the headland, no longer obligated to scowl at Mal and see people who weren’t there.
Down in our usual basement room it was darker than night. I knew Lachlan was there because he’d grabbed hold of my hand, and I could hear Kaylinn muttering under her breath about how cold it had suddenly become, but I couldn’t see or hear David and Mal.
Cellar Dog whined briefly then went quiet and Lachlan let go of my hand.
‘Well,’ I said. ‘That was all a bit stressful. Poor George.’
Silence.
‘What do you think? Kaylinn?’
Still silence. A cold, deep silence that first made the hair on the back of my neck prickle into goosepimples, then gave me a feeling of such terror that I flailed my arms, desperate to touch someone. ‘This isn’t funny!’
Still nothing. Nobody spoke and I gradually realised that I was completely alone.
23
‘Hello?’ I knew there was nobody to answer, but somehow the sound of my own voice made me feel better. ‘Where are you all?’
It was eerie – the silence and the darkness continued. Then, just as I was really getting twitchy, there was a half-forgotten sound and a peculiar sensation from the pocket of my jacket.
My phone was buzzing as a text came in.
Where are you? Your car is here but I didn’t see you arrive.
Lennox. I was getting a text from Lennox’s number. I couldn’t help it, I let out a small gasp and tried to lean against the rough-hewn table that should be beside me. But wasn’t.
I rang back. ‘Lenny?’
‘Come on, Pax, where are you?’
How did I say it? How could I sum up what had been happening to me over the last – how long had I been gone? Why didn’t Lenny sound more worried?
‘I’m… I’m not sure.’
‘You sound weird. Have you hit your head?’
It was so wonderful to hear his voice, I found my throat clotted with impromptu tears. ‘I…’
‘Nope, you still sound weird as hell. Are you on site?’
I don’t know,I wanted to say.I have no idea where or when I am or what the hell is going on. Or even what’s been going on for however long I’ve been away. I am, in fact, at a total loss.‘I’m in the cellar. I think I might have bumped my head. I’m a bit…’
Concern crept into my brother’s voice. ‘Wow. You might have concussion. You know we’re not meant to go down there – it’s not safe. Stay where you are. I’ll come and find you.’
He disconnected but now my vision was clearing a little and I could see where I was. Still in the cellar, at the foot of the half-gone stone staircase where I’d fallen so many ages ago. Alone, and exactly where I had been.
I put a hand to my head and felt around. Nothing was bleeding, nothing hurt any more than was occasioned by my trying to think my way around what was happening. So I hadn’t hit my head. Had I fallen asleep? Was everything that happened – Lachlan, George, the goat, the inescapable turnips – was that all adream? ‘Oh no,’ I said to the dim silence. ‘No. That’s not fair.’
Then I looked at the fallen staircase. The stony chute that had precipitated me into the cellar wasn’t completely smooth, and I ought to be able to scramble my way back up, using the missing steps as footholds and hanging onto the wall to steady myself. I hand-over-handed my way up, like a spelunker groping their way towards a cave mouth.
‘Ow.’ Daylight hit me and my head echoed to the sudden resumption of sound outside. Voices, laughter. Someone holding forth, broken by occasional intercessions from another voice. Then the light was blocked by a shape.
‘Pax!’
