Chapter 65: Cora - The Foster Child

The rain is heavier now, lashing through the broken window and forming a puddle on the carpet. I try to keep calm, I have to think. Someone – it might be Jacob, it might not – is outside and has thrown a rock through the window. That same person might actually be inside and have written that horrible message on the bathroom mirror.

And taken our phones.

Is it Jacob? If so, what’s he planning?

We’re all terrified. The fear in the air is palpable. We’re in the dark, with no way of calling for help. Elliot has been gone for a long time and I’m seriously worried about him. I need to go and find out if he’s all right but I’m scared of leaving Lori and Violet alone.

And frightened of what I’ll find.

I have to be brave, for everyone’s sakes.

‘Let’s light some more candles, it’s far too dark in here,’ I say. ‘Then we need to make a plan.’

Picking up one of the candles, I take it over to the range of cupboards and put it on the worktop, then open the cupboard where I keep my candle supply. I take out half a dozen and use the already burning candle to light them all, placing them around the kitchen so that it’s bathed in a warm glow. Next, still holding the first candle, I go over to the window, my heart thudding, wondering if anyone is outside in the garden, watching me. We need to board up the hole in the window but first I must check up on Elliot. I pull down the blinds then turn back to face Lori and Violet. They’re both standing in the kitchen doorway, looking petrified.

‘I’m scared. We haven’t even got our phones, we can’t call for help,’ Lori says. ‘Maybe we should get out of the kitchen and barricade ourselves in the living room?’

‘Elliot has his phone. I’m going to the garage to tell him what’s gone on. He must still be trying to fix the fuse box. You two go into the living room and stay there.’ I don’t want them to know that I’m worried that Elliot might be hurt. He’s been gone far too long. I realise now that Jacob – or whoever the intruder is – could have turned off the electric and been lying in wait in the garage for Elliot to come in and check the fuse box. Elliot could be seriously injured.

Or worse…

Lori shakes her head. ‘I’m coming too. I’m not staying here.’

‘Neither am I,’ Violet says.

‘No, stay here, you’ll both be safer here,’ I tell them. I’m petrified what I’ll find in the garage.

‘Lori’s right, we need to stick together,’ Violet says firmly. ‘If it is Jacob he might be trying to isolate us so that he can get to Lori.’

She has a point.

‘Okay, let’s get going.’ I pick up a candle flickering on its holder.

Lori and Violet pick up a candle each and follow me. I pause outside the closed connecting door into the garage, wondering what I’m going to find in there.

Taking a steadying breath, I brace myself and turn the handle.

I step inside, Violet and Lori right behind me, and move the candle in my hand so that it illuminates the fuse box which is on the back wall. The door is open but there’s no sign of Elliot. There’s no sign of anyone else either.

‘Elliot! Are you in here?’ I shout.

Mum!’ Lori whispers shakily, her hand pointing to the front wheel of the Mercedes.

My gaze follows her finger and a cold hollowness fills me when I see Elliot’s phone smashed on the floor.