Page 239 of The Sleepwalker

Bernard swings the axe again, and more of the blade smashes through the wood. It gleams in the light as he works it free, then he yanks it back and kicks the door again.

Hugo’s feet disappear beneath the cabinet.

Agneta crosses the room, trying to protect her injured hand as she gets down onto her back. She has to turn her head and press her cheek to the floor to be able to get beneath the cabinet.

Bernard has started hacking at the door again, shards of wood falling into the room.

Agneta pushes her right arm through to the other side and grabs the front of the cabinet, pulling herself out as she tries to find a foothold.

Her breathing is ragged.

There isn’t much room, and the cramped space isclaustrophobically tight against her ribs.

The floor is freezing cold beneath her.

Her bloody left hand is throbbing.

Hugo grabs her denim shirt and pulls her towards him slightly before losing his grip.

Agneta looks up and sees the ceiling in the lounge.

‘Help me,’ she whispers between quick breaths. ‘I’ve hurt my hand.’

He tries again, but one of her boots is caught on the back of the cabinet.

Agneta manages to kick them off with a cramping sensation in her calves.

Somewhere in the house, a window breaks.

Hugo lets go and hurries away, out of view.

Agneta tries to push herself the rest of the way through the gap, but her knees knock against the underside of the cabinet.

She hears heavy footsteps approaching.

Turning her head towards the hall, she sees Bernard in the doorway. He is wearing a blonde wig, and his lips are pressed so tightly together that they have turned white.

She uses both hands to pull herself clear of the cabinet, screaming in agony.

Bernard rests the axe on his shoulder for a moment, and has just started walking towards her without a single shred of emotion on his face when Hugo appears in the doorway behind him.

The teenager swings the poker as hard as he can, hitting his father on his back and lower neck with a sickening thud.

Bernard falls headlong and then lies motionless on the floor.

Hugo stares down at him with a hand to his mouth.

Agneta wriggles clear, rolls over onto her stomach and gets to her feet, leaning against the china cabinet to steady herself.

She has bled through the T-shirt around her hand, and theblood has begun dripping down onto her socks.

Bernard’s right foot twitches a few times.

Agneta is struggling to think clearly. She is in a great deal of pain, and she looks around the room in astonishment. The storm has torn open the patio doors, and a large amount of snow has blown in over the floor, sofas, coffee table and lamps. Two crows have taken refuge on top of the mahogany bookcase, and the crystal chandelier sways in the wind.

Hugo drops the poker and leans back against the wall with his eyes closed, drying the tears from his cheeks.

Agneta is in shock, blood dripping from her hand. She sways to one side and feels something grip her leg. Looking down, she sees that Bernard has his hand around her ankle. His mouth is bloody.