ELLIE
"It's up here," I say, turning into the north corridor. "Third floor. There's a back staircase, it's faster."
Adrian follows. He's had his jacket over his arm since we cleared the hall, and his sleeves pushed up. He keeps glancing at the crest cloths on the walls like he's counting them.
"Why the back staircase?"
"Because the main one goes past the good rooms." I take the corner. "They didn't like me using it."
A muscle works in his jaw. He doesn't say anything.
My old room is at the end of the third floor. We get halfway down the corridor when Clara comes around the corner ahead of us at speed, hair loose, one earring in.
She gets close enough to see me properly and stops.
"It’s true." Her mouth hangs open.
I stand still and let her look.
"You've been lying." Her voice co
