Page 49 of The Memory Wood

There’s a minute or so of silence. Then he laughs.

It’s not the same sound as earlier. This one isn’t joyful. It makes her skin prickle. There’s something odd about it. Something not-quite-right. ‘What’s funny?’

‘You’re trying to trick me,’ he says. ‘Aren’t you? You want me to bring you a phone so you can call someone to come down here and get you.’

‘No, I’m—’

‘Yes. You are. You’re trying to trick me—’

‘Elijah—’

‘—and if you think you can trick me, you’ll think you can trick him, and then you’ll fail the test, and then you won’t be here any more and I’ll be all alone.’

‘I just thought you wanted to play chess.’

‘You don’t understand the danger.’

‘I’m not trying to trick you, Elijah.’

‘I don’t want you to die.’

‘Why would I die?’

‘Because you’re playing with fire. And that’s what happens to people who play with fire. They mess up, and then they die.’ He swallows. ‘Kyle was right. You’re dangerous.’

‘Kyle? Is that his name? Is that who brought me down here?’

She’s going far faster than she intended, but now she’s started she can’t hold back. ‘Do you know what he’s planning? Is there anything I can—’

‘Stop, just stop.’

‘Please, Elijah, all I’m asking is—’

‘NO!’

His voice boomerangs around the tiny space.

Elissa lurches backwards. The manacle pulls taut against her wrist. She screams long and hard. Even with her makeshift bandage, the pain is grotesque. It feels like a wolf has seized her in its teeth and is chewing through her flesh.

Elijah scrabbles to his feet. She waits for the feel of his hands on her skin – over her mouth or around her throat. Instead, all she catches is the erratic flickering of his torch as he charges out of the cell. The door swings closed. Three heavy deadbolts shoot home.

Pain and silence fill the void.

Mostly pain.

Elijah

Day 4

I

My head ringing with voices, I crash through the Memory Wood, desperate for peace. I cannot believe I shouted at Gretel; cannot believe, either, that she’d be so foolish – so brave and reckless and gosh-damnedadmirable– to try and trick me.

As I stumble between the trees, my trainers ripping through wet bracken, all I can smell is the sweetness of Brazilian rosewood.

Inthisgame,the most powerful person is the queen.

I thought Magic Annie was the only sorceress I knew, but Elissa Mirzoyan has put a spell on me more powerful than any I could have imagined.

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