He holds his hands out to return her greeting as he approaches. They are nearly within touching distance before she can see him properly in the dim light. And then, in an instant of confusion, she realises something is not right. She knows the face, but not the eyes. She does not know the savage twist of the mouth, nor the hands that are growing black talons as they reach towards her. She does not know this creature wearing her friend’s face.

But she knows it has come to take her life.

The revelation is like a jolt of raw electricity, shocking her so much she can’t think straight. Her mind tells her to run, but her body can’t move. When she opens her mouth to scream, no sound comes out. At last, she manages to make one foot take a step backwards.

But by then it’s too late.

*

The Hunter looks down at its fallen quarry. The hunt is less satisfying when the prize is taken so easily.

It turns and walks away in its borrowed shape.

It is still hungry.

*

The girl lies by the black canal, her face turned upwards to the sky like a stargazer. But she will never see the stars again. Her eyes have been torn out. The rain fills the empty sockets until they brim over, spilling bloody tears down her cold, white cheeks.

Chapter 1

Callum Scott was miserable and cold. He sat hugging his rugby kitbag while he waited for his train, trying to ignore the ghost that stood beside him on the empty station platform.

The pale, blank figure didn’t surprise him. Callum had always been able to see ghosts. Lately they seemed to be everywhere he went.

Callum clutched his bag more tightly. The ghost couldn’t see him – they never could – but it still felt rude to stare. Even so, it was hard to take his eyes off the horrible figure.

It was a man, his body grey and insubstantial, as if it had been drawn in chalk on the empty air.