Prologue

1996

Pull round the corner, keep running. Never stop running.

His breath caught in his throat, while his heart pounded in his chest. His head hurt, his whole body ached. But the sound of his feet slapping on the uncarpeted floor reminded him that he was still alive.

And if he wanted to stay that way, he had to keep running.

Pull round another corner. Look for the door. How do you get out this flat?!

There was a rush of wind past his left ear. A white-hot pain hit him. He began to cry out, but the sound died in his throat as it was seized roughly.

He was swung into the wall by the large male, who was slowly choking him. His blue eyes widened in shock, and his somewhat pretty face creased in pain. He was carried into the bathroom, his legs dangling in mid air.

His neck was released slightly as his face was pressed up against the mirror above the sink. He could feel the cold glass under his cheek. Behind him, the other man had started to chant what sounded like some kind of mantra.

The smaller man flailed madly all of a sudden, fighting to escape the man’s clutches. He was not usually scared easily, but the harsh tone of the other man’s voice was petrifying him beyond all limits. As the mantra became louder, the smaller man lashed out even more.

The mirror began to shine with a bright blue light. The man screamed.

When the light died down, only one man was standing in the room.