Page 181 of Serenity Falls

‘But you can’t,’ I stutter. ‘I mean, rebuilding the world takes more than a town of people.’

‘Not if you have the best people. Everyone here has been chosen for their specific skills. Each a small part of the jigsaw. And, of course, we have the Conservators. We can build more towns, all based on the Winsom ethos.’

‘Turn the world into a theme park?’ Davey says.

‘What’s so wrong with that?’

I gape at her. ‘You want to kill billions of people.’

‘No. We want to save thousands. Including you … and your daughter.’

And there it is. I feel my stomach cave.

Save her, Dan. You’d better fucking save her.

Lorraine watches me, like a cat who has just cornered her prey. ‘You do want to save your daughter, Dan?’

I look at Sadie.

‘Dad?’ She shakes her head. ‘This is bullshit.’

‘I promised your mum I would always look after you.’

‘She’s nuts, Dad. And even if she’s not, I’d rather take my chances out there than be stuck living like some brainwashed drone in this shithole.’

It’s easy when you’re young. You believe you’re immortal. You believe everything is black and white. Good and bad. Right and wrong. But life isn’t that easy, or kind.

When it really comes down to it, I am not a good man. I don’t give a fuck about billions of strangers dying. I give a fuck about Sadie, my daughter. She’s all I have. And I want her to live. I would burn down the world myself to protect her. Ask any parent.

I smile sadly. ‘Save the world or save you. It’s not even a choice.’

‘Dad.’

I look at Lorraine and nod. ‘Okay. We’re in.’

She smiles. ‘I knew you’d understand, eventually.’

‘What about Davey? Can you just let him go now?’

‘He won’t be protected out there.’

Davey gives me a black look. ‘I’m good with that.’

Lorraine considers. ‘Well, I suppose you’re the boss, Dan.’

She laughs. I force out a smile. She walks towards me. ‘Thank you. For not making this harder.’

I stand. ‘Look, you know I’m not on board with everything. I need to see some changes.’

‘We can talk about that. I wanted to take this slower. Let you adapt. But events’ – she glances at Davey – ‘kind of overtook us. I know you’ll do your father proud. I think we should make the announcement at our fiftieth celebrations next weekend.’

She places her hands on my shoulders. ‘Welcome to the family.’

I smile, and then I headbutt her.

There are moments where time seems to both speed up and slow down. Everything happens in seconds, yet I watch it all in slow motion.

Lorraine screams and falls backwards, clutching her face. As she does, a loud bang echoes around the small room. I feel something whizz past my ear and I hit the ground. Davey launches himself at Freya, tackling her and knocking her off the chair. I hear another shot, more muffled.