As we walk through the front door of Por Por’s little house, I feel very pleased with myself. Por Por is smiling and I know she’s pleased, too. On the way home she said I definitely had the talent and the genes because I knew exactly what to do.

I imagine a ghost-hunting business card, which I could hand out at school when I get back. And I would buy a small suitcase to carry my equipment around in. Less obvious than a long cloth bag over my shoulder, I think. I’m still smiling to myself when Por Por turns on the light. But my smile fades to horror.

Ting Ting is lying motionless on the kitchen floor, her clothes torn and bloody. For one terrifying moment I think she’s dead, but then she groans. Por Por bends down and strokes her hair. When I look closely there are cuts and bruises all over her face and hands. She looks terrible.

We help her to the bed and change her out of her dirty clothes. I kneel on the floor beside her while Por Por rushes to the kitchen. Where did she go last night? Who did this to her? I want to ask Ting Ting, but I don’t dare.

Por Por comes back with a bowl of warm water and a bottle of antiseptic. She gently wipes Ting Ting’s wounds with a washer, but she doesn’t ask any questions. Por Por is always so patient, never pushy. That’s one of the things I love about her.

I see a tear roll down the side of Ting Ting’s face and fall onto the pillow. She blinks her eyes and lets out a long sigh. ‘It was so … horrible, Por,’ she says, weakly.

‘Sshh … don’t talk now. Just rest,’ Por Por says, wiping the blood from a graze on Ting Ting’s elbow.

‘I want to talk about it. I have to.’

A long silence follows as Ting Ting tries to hold back more tears. Then she takes a deep shuddery breath. ‘I went back to Bao Mansion last night,’ she says. ‘I had to find out the truth … about my grandfather.’ Ting Ting winces as she draws up one knee. ‘I heard you praying, Por. I heard you say his name – Shen Da Pai, you said. That’s when I knew who the ghost of Bao Mansion was. Then Little Cloud told me what he did to your father.’ Ting Ting looks at me and I look away. My face reddens with shame.

Por Por strokes Ting Ting’s head without saying a word.

‘I didn’t want to believe her. How could I?’ Ting Ting goes on. ‘He was my hero.’

‘Shhh … shhh.’ Por Por says. ‘No more talk now. I will make you some warm chicken broth.’

‘No, Por, wait …’ Ting Ting says, grabbing Por Por’s arm. ‘I want to tell you everything. I can’t hold it inside me. Shen Da Pai is like poison in my veins.’

Por Por puts the bowl of warm water on the floor and sits on the edge of the bed. I slink over to the window and sit on the floor. I feel as if it’s all my fault.

Ting Ting blows her nose on a tissue. ‘I only wanted to meet him. I had heard so many great things about him from my father. But when I met him, Shen Da Pai boasted about how he got rid of your father. He was so proud of it, too. He said his plan was all written down in a letter that he kept hidden in a strongbox in Bao Mansion. I couldn’t believe it. After the house was sold, he felt your presence, Por, that’s what drew him out after all these years. Then he wanted to use me to hurt you. To do something bad to you.’ Ting Ting begins to cry again. ‘He said you deserved it. And that I was in a perfect position, living in your house and all,’ she sobs. ‘I almost believed him … I was so confused … But when I refused to help him, he began tearing things off walls and throwing furniture around. I had no weapons with me – I didn’t think I would need any. The windows started shaking, then they exploded inwards. I covered my head and face with my hands. Glass was flying everywhere! I was so scared, Por. I have never been so scared in my whole life.’ Her body starts trembling.

‘Slowly, take it slowly,’ says Por Por, stroking her arm.

‘I didn’t know what to do. All the things you taught me were suddenly gone from my memory. It was as if he had sucked them out of me.’

‘He made you powerless by using your emotions against you,’ says Por Por.

‘Yes, that’s what he must have done. I thought he was going to kill me, so I ran from the house and kept on running.’ Ting Ting clutches her throat. Suddenly her eyes widen. ‘My talisman necklace! It’s gone!’ She tries to sit up.

‘Little Cloud, make us some hot chocolate,’ Por Por says.

‘Yes, Por Por,’ I say.

As I walk towards the stove, I hear her say softly to Ting Ting, ‘Don’t worry, child. I will find it for you.’

‘But what if he has it already? What if … if he’s using it against me now!’ Ting Ting’s voice sounds full of terror. ‘You can’t go back there, Por. It’s too dangerous for you.’

‘Everything will be all right, child. Your por por can take care of herself.’

‘But you made that talisman necklace for me. Doesn’t that mean he has power over you?’

‘Hush, child.’

I bring over three mugs of hot cocoa. I want to say sorry to Por Por. I want to tell her that it was all my fault. Will she ever trust me again?