Prologue

 

It was raining. Water falling in explosive drops, soaking her hair, her clothes and she was running, trying to keep her balance, slipping, almost falling. Pine needles, sharp beneath her feet and cobwebs brushing her face. Thunder erupted, one flash – blinding her momentarily and brightening the dark wood.

    In that instant, she could see her surroundings clearly. The tree branches reaching skyward to leaden-grey clouds above and then, in the deafening silence that followed the thunder, she could hear Eric. He was somewhere behind her on the twisting path, out of breath, trying to keep up.

   She heard a voice, a disembodied sound, almost lost in the noise of the storm.

   “Come on!”

   And she knew it was her voice, calling Eric – leading him onwards. She could hear his footsteps now and the pattering of heavy rain falling against broad leaves. Then another sound, low, a background noise at first but growing stronger, louder, beginning to roar in her ears. It was water, rushing, flowing.

  Then silence, as she passed into darkness.