“Mummy! Dad! I missed you so much!” Annora melted into her mother’s arms.

“Hello, sweetie,” Mr Huff kissed his daughter on the cheek before embracing both Tonia and Maggie. “Thank you for being here with our Annora.”

“Of course,” they replied. “You’re welcome.”

“We had such trouble getting here,” Carol Huff told the three girls.

“It was a nightmare!” her husband added, shaking his head. “We set out in the car and then had to leave it halfway, there was just no getting through the crowd.”

“So you walked the rest of the way?” Maggie exclaimed.

“Indeed, what a palaver! It’s all right though, we’re here now,” Stanley Huff scratched his bald patch. He pulled over the mid-century armchair and grimaced at the harsh scraping sound its legs made on the floor. “Ouch,” he chuckled. His wife perched on the arm of the chair, and he put his arm around her waist.

The Huffs, Maggie, Tonia and Annora sat for a moment.

“So,” Stanley Huff broke the silence. “What has Annora missed at school? Anything exciting?”

“Oh yes,” said Maggie. “We have end-of-year exams coming up, see. So we’ve finished all of the curriculum and for most subjects we’re in the review period. Next week we have some more mock exams too.”

“I don’t think so, Mags,” said Tonia.

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“Why?”

“Umm, because of everything?”

Maggie’s forehead wrinkled in horror. “They wouldn’t close the school, though. Surely not. They can’t close school, can they?”

“I think they can.”

“But it’s exam season!”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine, dear,” Carol Huff smiled gently. “Every year schools get closed for a few days when it snows. Just think about it like that.”

“Winsbury never closes for snow!” Maggie shrieked. “Oh no, what if we miss our exams and have to repeat the year?”

“You have to calm down,” said Tonia. “Look at me, Maggie. Seriously, look at me. Now look around this room. And now remember how we got here.”

Maggie’s mouth closed, then her eyes followed. For a moment, her bottom lip wavered. She inhaled loudly through her nose. “I’m sorry. I just had this moment where I almost forgot—”

“Annora?” Carol Huff jumped from her seat.

“Annora!” Tonia crawled up from the foot of the bed.

Annora’s hands were over her ears, and her eyes were squeezed closed. “Make it stop!” she screamed.

“It’s okay! You’re okay! You’re safe!” Tonia held her hands over Annora’s, desperately trying to soothe her.

Annora froze, and removed her hands slowly away from the sides of her head. She stared into nothingness.

“I can hear him,” she whispered. “He’s talking to me.”

“Lynch?” Maggie came closer. “What can you hear? What’s he saying?”

“He says I’ve been chosen. He says I’ll feel what it’s like to be infinite.” Suddenly she keeled forward, clutching her stomach and whining in distress. “I can see him.” Her face wrinkled in pain. “I can remember when he took my mind. I remember when he stole me.”

“My sweet girl,” tears rolled down Mrs Huff’s face as she stroked Annora’s hair.

Annora’s small body fell limp, away from the hands of her loved ones. She slumped into convulsions, her body cramped and ghoulish.

“Quick, put her in the recovery position,” said Maggie.

Mr Huff shifted his daughter onto her side, while Tonia sat behind her, rubbing her back until the fit subsided. Mrs Huff used the sleeve of her cardigan to tenderly wipe away a string of saliva from the side of Annora’s mouth.

“Mummy?” Annora wept.

“I’m here, flower. Daddy’s here too. And Maggie and Tonia. We’re all here.”

“I’m tired.”

“You can rest. We’ve got you.”