‘Whose hand have I got?’ asked Foster, squeezing as he asked.

‘Uh… mine,’ replied Liam.

‘You holding someone else’s?’

‘Mine, I think,’ whispered Maddy. ‘And I’ve gotSal’s.’

‘Good… let’s move, slowly and quietly.’

Foster clambered to his feet and Liam felt a gentle pull. He followed, his eyes remaining onthe pale cloud a few yards away. It was hesitant now, still finding curious fleeting outlinesand just as quickly abandoning them.

Liam felt his feet catch on something snaking across the floor and steppedgingerly over it, fearful of tripping and making a noise. Behind him he heard Maddy and Saltreading lightly.

Through the pitch black, Foster led the way stealthily until finally Liam sensed they hadarrived at a wall.

‘The door’s here somewhere,’ hissed Foster.

He heard the old man patting the crumbling brick wall with his palms and then the rattle ofknuckles on something metal.

‘Found it.’

Liam turned to look over his shoulder. The seeker was little more than a faint blotch in thedarkness.

Foster cursed under his breath. ‘With the power off I’ll need to crank theshutter-door open by hand.’

‘Will it take long?’ asked Sal quietly.

‘Not too long.’

‘Good, because I think it’s moving our way.’ She looked at the others.‘Oh my God, can you hear it? It’swhispering!’

Liam cocked his head as he studied the faint bluish blur. He couldn’t hear anything butFoster working the crank handle. ‘No… but you’re right about it coming thisway.’

The manual winch was squealing like it needed oil badly while the metal shutter rattlednoisily in its frame as it inched slowly upwards.

He felt a draught of cool outside air on his legs and saw a crack of pale light at the bottomof the shutter.

‘She’s right, it’s definitely coming closer, Foster,’ said Maddyurgently. ‘Can you do that any faster?’