‘Fine,’ says Graham, then switches off the radio. ‘I don’t like this, Stephen. It’s a trap.’
‘Don’t worry. I can handle myself.’
‘Somehow I very much doubt that.’
Stephen ignores Graham’s swipe at him and turns to Sophia. ‘You were about to tell us if Ceri Griffiths is the person in charge before the trapdoor slammed shut?’
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Who is she though?’ asks Graham. ‘I don’t recognise her name.’
‘That’s because she’s known as Karen. In Wales, it’s tradition to use your middle name. Her name is Ceri Karen Griffiths. My first name is actually Cariad. Sophia is my middle name.’
Graham’s mouth drops open.
‘Isn’t Karen the name of your friend you mentioned, Graham?’ asks Stephen.
Graham closes his eyes and mutters, ‘I’m losing my touch. She never told me her surname. It’s never even come up.’
Stephen ignores Graham’s bitter tone and turns back to Sophia. ‘I need to know what I’m up against. Is there anything else you think I should know? How will they play this? Is this Karen woman dangerous?’
‘She’s the worst there is. She pretends to be all nice, but my dad’s told me stories about her family. They’re all psychos. I’m pretty sure her family started the whole curse thing and twisted and used it to control everyone in the village.’
Stephen pauses for a moment, his brain working on super speed. ‘With your father now dead, that makes you the last Hammel in the family, does it not?’
‘I guess so. My little brother died when I was young and now dad is dead … and Mum is only a Hammel by name. Perhaps they think if they kill me, they can end the curse once and for all. Protect the members and their families at all costs. I’m not sure why they’d want you in place of me, but it can’t be for anything good.’
Stephen brushes off a spiderweb from his shoulder. ‘You let me worry about that. They’re panicking, that’s all. I reckon they plan on killing all of us. It’s the only way their secret will remain safe. They want to tie up all the loose ends before the truth gets out into the community.’
‘What’s your plan?’ asks Graham. ‘Take into account that the police are corrupt in this village. No one is coming to help us.’
Stephen nods. ‘Don’t worry, I have a plan.’
‘And that would be?’
‘I don’t know yet, Graham.’
‘Are you telling me that you’re about to make it up as you go along; the man who always plans everything in detail, who doesn’t go anywhere without a step by step outline of how to proceed?’
Stephen grins. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’
‘Hmm. Our lives are in your hands. If you fail, we’re going to be trapped down here.’
‘I’ll try and wedge the trapdoor open while they aren’t looking. You’ll need to try and find a way to get Sophia and her mother out from behind the bars. Here.’ Stephen hands Graham the thin piece of wire.
Graham takes it. ‘I’ll get them out.’
‘It’s settled then.’
Graham extends his hand for Stephen to shake, but Stephen just smiles at him. He steps forward and embraces his old friend, squeezing him into a hug like he wished he could have hugged his own father. He doesn’t like being physically close to people, but now isn’t the time for his personal preferences.
‘You’re a good man, Stephen,’ says Graham, slapping him on the back.
‘You’re going to need this too,’ replies Stephen, handing Graham his phone.
It looks like he’s going to have to make his way back to the ladder using only touch.
Less than five minutes later, breathing heavy and clammy with sweat, Stephen reaches the top of the ladder. The trip through the darkness has rendered him almost catatonic, but his nerve endings are on fire. Every sense is alive and kicking, on overdrive.
