17.

Racing towards the river, my feet slap the ground like leaves batting against branches. I can’t go any faster. Stupid, human legs! Ahead, Stella’s feet echo across the hillside, we’re making loud noises on a still night.

But Celeste? I can’t hear her, she’s barefoot. A silent threat.

No, don’t think. Focus on Stella’s footsteps. If I hear them she’s still alive.

Panting, I burst through the trees. The city flashes into view, a blaze of street lights burning across the valley. Ahead of me, Stella’s feet thud along the track like an irregular heartbeat. Yes, she’s there. Moving left, she’s following the winding path, heading for the memorial bridge.

Smart girl. Above us the sky grows paler but she can’t go home, she won’t make it. The bridge provides shelter. But what if Celeste catches her first?

Sprinting across the track, my feet scrape against loose gravel. Skidding sideways, I kick dirt through the herb garden and branches snap under my feet. I’m nearly there.

Yes, I see them.

My stomach twists. They’re tearing towards the canal path instead of cutting through the herb garden. Stella doesn’t live outside, she doesn’t know the shortest route. Not like me. She’s never had to run for the dawn and she doesn’t know the best places to hide from sunlight.

Instead, she’s running alongside a section of the river wall, where the Leith rushes through high concrete sides, turning into an open storm drain before gurgling out to sea. Celeste glides behind her, swift as a bird on the wind. Stella won’t make it. I’m not close enough to help, if only I had something to throw …

Celeste’s arm stretches out, her fingers grasp the air, grazing Stella’s arm.

‘No!’ shrieks Stella, her voice far away and thin. ‘Help!’

Again, loose stones scatter as I run — yes! Slowing, I scoop a large handful off the ground. My fists curl and for a single moment, I hold the gravel tight. Choices dig into my palm, and then my arm flicks sideways creating a high arch. Pieces of gravel fly through the air, sailing over the canal. I don’t miss. Celeste jolts with surprise, blinded by stones.

She glances at me and our eyes meet, both of us knowing I’ve picked my side. She touches her face, a split-second distraction, but barely slows. Stella takes the advantage, edging in front, but Celeste leaps after her.

Jumping over mulberry bushes, I dive through a gap between two trees, leaping onto the lowest branch. I know a shortcut. Grabbing hold of the branch above me, I swing myself over the lower path and drop onto the bank. When I slide down, mud slips under my feet. I’m heading straight towards the river.

Celeste throws herself forward again, leaping at Stella’s arm. But Stella twists, jumping out of reach and — she slips. Stella falls, dragging her brother down, disappearing over the edge. Everything inside me falls with her.

‘Stella!’

It’s too far. Connor screams. I hear the splash.

‘Stella!’ Gasping, I slide across the grass, just missing a council rubbish tin. Reaching the river’s edge, I collapse onto my knees and lean over. Below me, Stella lies on the river stones, face first, her hair splashing across the grey water. Connor lies on her back, sobbing but safe, cushioned by his sister’s fall.

Not thinking, I jump off the wall, landing with both feet in the river.

My right ankle twists sideways, making a popping sound. I gasp and fall backwards, splashing onto the rocks. Deep aches run along my ankle like streams of hot water.

‘What the … oww!’ Broken bones? Maybe. But something worse slaps my skin, forcing me to drag myself out of the river. It’s sunlight.

Shoving my hands into the stony river, I feel sharp rocks cut into my palms as I push myself up. No, ignore the throbbing. Think about Stella, think about the sun. We need to reach the bridge, right now.

But Stella’s already up.

She’s ahead of me, staggering along and pulling Connor behind her. Of course, she broke his fall with her body. Her body’s stronger, more like a troll, she’s barely hurt. Still, Connor’s voice cuts the air, crying for his mum.

Forcing myself to stand, I run after them. My ankle stings and sunlight bleeds into my arms. Half-human and half-troll, I run for the bridge.

Behind me there’s another splash. Celeste. Of course, she leapt into the river.

‘Celeste!’ I shout as she rushes past, stronger and faster than me. ‘Don’t!’

She glances at me, but only for a moment. Her eyes look cold and wide. Her hair curls behind her like smoke and … it’s grey?

We’ve only seconds.

Celeste’s heading for the same bridge, same as us. It’s wide enough to hide everyone. And if we all make it into the shadows together, what then?

They’ll kill each other.

Daylight drags its nails across my back, stripping skin from my neck. I throw myself after them, the current pushing against my legs, white foam flying everywhere. Icy water soaks through my clothes, while the rest of me burns. I gasp and swallow hard.

Ahead of me, piercing shrieks echo along the river. Stella. She’s new, she’ll feel it the most. I want to call out something comforting, but my lips won’t move.

My legs grow heavy, the joints stiffen. Not yet … no.

Dragging my aching leg, I move faster. My skin lasts longer than usual in sunlight, I’m almost human, but the world’s getting darker. Shapes melt. Colours vanish.

My eyes. They’re turning into stone.

Water splashes against my legs. Is Stella still alive? Don’t think, just reach the bridge. My ears close over, sound disappears. Shoving down on my good leg, I throw myself head-first into a cool, dark shadow. My body falls forward, collapsing into the water. Skin loosens and my knees bend. My hands clench around stones, fingers numb and my skin growing cold. I’m not stone, not any more and I gasp, choking on relief.

I’m under the bridge.

Pushing myself up, my body shivers. Next to me, someone’s crying and I can’t bear to look. The aching in my foot pulses back into life, but after sunlight it’s a relief. For one moment, I stand there, watching the Leith sparkling with sunshine, water running away between my feet, and wishing I could move with it, drifting far away from here.

But the crying grows louder. I can’t ignore that wailing forever, I can’t pretend this isn’t happening. I turn away from the golden light and face the shadows.

I need to know who’s won.