Finn nearly jumped out of his skin when Josiah's mother's voice sounded. All this time it had felt like he and Josiah were in a world of their own, even at the party, even when there were other people around. It was almost as if her voice had come from the void.

The look in Josiah's eyes, his sudden drawing into himself, made Finn's heart clench. Nodding briefly, he climbed out of the window, landing like a cat. He crouched under the ledge to wait.

It was well and truly morning. A neighbour was pottering about their flower beds. Curtains had been pulled back. The other face of the world had turned beneath his feet, leaving the one in darkness behind him. It all felt slightly unreal.