Page 48

CHAPTER 48

OLIVIA – D AY F OUR

Amelie stands stock still for a moment, her hands trembling. But then very suddenly she tilts up her chin and steps forward.

‘No, Amelie,’ I say, holding her back. ‘You stay behind me. I mean it, Dad. Take me outside. The girls are going to stay in here.’ I am absolutely petrified but I have it in my head that he is less likely to shoot me. And I have to save these girls.

‘No,’ says my father, still gripping the shotgun. ‘Step out of the way, Olivia. Amelie knows to do as she’s told, don’t you, Amelie?’

Amelie nods, then she turns to me, her eyes unblinking. ‘The Lord will want to keep me safe, won’t he, Olivia?’

I’m broken. Confused and stunned that this girl, this poor child – so desperate and so obviously terribly afraid – is managing to play along like this ? But it’s a dangerous ploy and I can’t allow it.

‘You’re right, Amelie. The good Lord will want you to be safe so you stay here.’ I turn back to meet my father’s eye. ‘See. She has faith, Daddy. Amelie is a good girl. You let her stay and take me instead. We can talk. I can—’

‘You be quiet!’

I lunge forward but he points the gun right at me. ‘Stay back, Olivia. I mean it.’

I freeze. Chloe bursts into tears.

‘Amelie, get a move on.’ He swings the gun back towards Amelie then signals to the door with the barrel of the shotgun. ‘Outside, Amelie. That’s right, you go first. See that wood, just across the meadow? I want you to walk straight towards it. Olivia and Chloe, you stay in the bedroom. No more of your nonsense or you will make me very, very angry . Do you understand?’

‘Please, Dad. I’m begging you. Take me.’ I move forward again but this time my father swings the gun to point it at Chloe who is sobbing with terror.

‘I told you to step back, Olivia.’ His eyes are wild with anger and I remember again what happened in the cellar. What he’s capable of.

There’s a split second when I consider diving for the shotgun or trying to kick it from his hand. An upward kick? But with the weapon now pointed at Chloe, I just can’t risk it. And the moment’s lost as my father turns the gun away from my daughter and points it at Amelie’s back as she opens the caravan door and steps outside.

Chloe’s still crying as her grandfather slams the door behind him and locks it. ‘Where’s Grandad going?’ she asks. ‘What’s he going to do with Amelie?’

I can’t answer, my own body trembling. Terror gnawing at my insides. Too late, I’m wishing with every ounce of my being that I’d at least tried to grab the gun. Or kick the gun. Again I’ve got it wrong. Failed the girls. What was I thinking, trying to break out of the bedroom? It’s only made him angrier. More dangerous. Why didn’t I stop him from taking Amelie with him?

I want to rewind. Get a second run at it. I go back into the bedroom and sit on the bed, my whole body shaking as I pull Chloe close to me. There is a deadly silence all around. A minute passes. Two. Three. And then a single shot pierces the silence. Chloe screams, then starts sobbing ever more loudly. I clutch her even closer, the echo of the shot reverberating around inside my head. There’s a pause and then a second shot.

And then nothing.