Will rubbed his temple. It throbbed with encroaching menace. Even in the trance, the Shadow found a way in. It was probably what kept his thoughts alive, even when he found actual recall so difficult afterwards. If not for the box, he probably would not remember anything at all. Something about a message, more voices in his head. All a confused noise. Perhaps he was just crazy. Perhaps it had not happened at all.

Davey was not much help. All he talked about was destiny and justice: 'When you are old enough to understand, you will be able to end all this.' They often mocked his melodramatic sincerity: 'The reign of terror will be no more, you have the power to change everything. Heal yourself, and you can heal the world!'

At least Alex was there to save him from going insane.

Davey: The old man, his friend, saviour, teacher. Ultimately, his jailor. Forever forcing him to re-live a distant memory of whirling confusion, machines and fire. After he had exploded the computer, little Billy ran screaming towards the corridor where he had seen the old man. He leapt into his arms, Davey helped him find Alex and then - then he had lost the fight to stay conscious. When he awoke, he was back in another car, travelling at nightmarish speeds into an uncertain future.

Alex had clung to him all the way.

She told him afterwards that he talked incessantly in his sleep, long conversations about talking birds, strange shapes and infinite shadows. Voices. A room full of children, all screaming at him without moving their lips. They had helped each other through the trauma, the loss of their families, struggling to come to terms with the new life Davey created for them. Suddenly they were all grown up. Decades later they were no closer to unravelling what had really happened to him, or why. Davey protected them from that, as if he could protect them forever.

The memories faded, yet the Shadow remained.

There was a sudden noise, like windows being shattered. Raised voices and running feet. Davey clicked his fingers.

'Okay William, you can wake up, now,' he said in a loud, clear voice, hand firmly gripping Will's shoulder. It was a surprisingly strong grip. Will shuddered and blinked slowly, as if emerging from a deep daydream.

'What happened?' he said. 'Did I say anything good?' The words of the previous hour floated away, banished back into the infinite depths of his damaged memory.

'You're safe, my boy.'

Safe, he says. Wake up kid!

Quiet, Will thought. I said not now. He realised Davey was talking again. 'Sorry?' he said.

'I do not have time to repeat myself,' Davey said with a knowing smile, 'but you know the story of the Seekers by now. Everything I know, you know.' Not much then. If only he could remember more. There were so many gaps in his memory. So many years lost.

'What am I supposed to do?' he asked. Davey's mischievous eyes crinkled as he tried to hold the young man in focus.

'Keep moving,' he said. 'Keep searching. There is a Beast on your trail now, when you find him, he will lead you to the Dragon. She will give you the answers that I cannot. But tread carefully, lad. Find him, before he finds you.'

He has already found you.

Will listened. He could just about make out Nari shouting something, but then the crash of the bedroom door flying open prevented him from making out what the Indian was saying.

The red-haired girl burst in. She was out of breath, an eight-inch blade in each hand. 'He's here!' she gasped.

'Ah, Alexandra,' said Davey, without batting an eyelid. 'I see that it is time.' He reached a shaking hand under his pillow and drew out a small pistol.

'What are you doing?' Alex said, reaching out to seize Davey's arm. 'You can't fight, we gotta go, now!' Davey smiled kindly at Alex, as if she were a child, trying to get him to ride the carousel at the village fair. He carefully pulled himself free. Cocked the pistol. The sound rang out into the suddenly silent room. Will and Alex exchanged uncertain looks.

'No,' Davey said quietly. 'It is you who must go.'

'But we can't leave you,' Will protested, 'we've escaped before, we'll just move again.'

'And next week? The week after?' Davey shook his head. 'Don't be foolish, William. I am not strong enough. I cannot leave this bed.' He gestured towards the wardrobe. 'Leave through the cellars, I'll be the distraction. You must continue this journey without me.'

'I won't leave you alone! They'll kill you!'

'You must. My life is worth nothing if you die now.'

'But I can stop them! I'll shift for you!' Will closed his eyes and summoned the Shadow. The familiar haze was with him almost instantly, always ready, always watching. The sounds dulled and deepened, the edges of his vision became filled with feathery threads of darkness.

Alex's palm cracked across his cheek.

'Oh no you don't!' she said. 'We need you. There isn't enough time, and Nari can't hold them forever. Please come.'

'I can't leave-'

'He warned us about this. You know it's what he wants. Let's go.' Alex said. Will watched her draw the sheets back over the frail old man, a tear rolling down her freckled cheek. She kissed Davey gently on the forehead.

'We won't forget you,' she whispered. 'I'll never forget your kindness.' Davey laid a shaking hand on her head.

'Go in peace, my love,' he said. 'Look after the boy.'

'If I must.' Alex nudged Will and he smiled, sadly.

'You must.'

Will felt the familiar mist begin to collect in his mind's eye when he approached the bed. The insistent darkness, smudges and suggestions of coloured lights were still dancing on the edges of his vision. He tried to choke back his emotions. He would not be able to hold it for long.

Not now, he thought. Five minutes, then we'll talk. He breathed slowly, deeply. The mist cleared. He drew his own pistol from its holster under his arm and laid it on Davey's chest.

'Take some of the bastards down with you, old man,' he muttered, and coughed awkwardly.

'You have to go back to the beginning,' Davey said. 'Go to my house. Find the clock. Follow the disappearances and the invisible deaths. Listen to the Shadow and the box. They will tell you what to do.'

He wanted to argue, but Davey had closed his eyes. He had been quite adamant over the years that to return there would be the most dangerous thing of all. The place was crawling with Secs.

'Just remember,' Davey whispered as the shouting grew louder. 'Run first; then remember. Now go.' There was a hammering on the door. It stopped abruptly, followed by a bloodthirsty cheer. The villagers were joining in the defence of the house.

'Will, we have to leave. Now!' Alex said. 'Dan can't wait much longer, we got Seekers everywhere.' She seized his hand.

He tried to shut out the vision of the tiny, frail and weak old man they left behind, barely strong enough to lift the two pistols, so full of confidence in him and Alex. They heard the front door of the cottage splintering, then gunfire fading as they pulled the old wardrobe closed behind them and ran down a dark, dank tunnel.

While he focused on Alex's pink light ahead, Will's mind showed him two little children running for their lives through the woods twenty years earlier. A lifetime gone, and yet the man in black found them again and again.

We are nearly there, kid. The voice said inside his mind. One step closer.

'And two steps back,' Will whispered.

He clutched the box tightly and concentrated on running.

No more secrets. Next time, he would be ready.