“It’ll take more than a cap.” Tamsin was already removing her jacket. “Put this on. Quick.”

Moving on autopilot I shoved my arms into the body-warm sleeves looking around frantically. Where was Justin?

“Where’s your Oyster card? We can’t stop at the gates.” Tamsin shook my arm. “Get with the programme, Oh. Do you want to spend the night locked up?”

I shook my arm free of her grip and pulled my card from my jeans. I showed it to her wordlessly.

“Come on then.”

We were facing the giant escalator. Tamsin pushed me onto the stair ahead of her and the others crowded on. “Run, Oh.” Tamsin gave me another shove and I forced myself to speed upwards, trying not to trip as my eyes blurred the lines on the stairs and turned the escalator into an illusory slope.

There was an angry shout behind us and I paused long enough to turn around. A guard stood at the bottom of the escalator, walkie-talkie in hand.

“We’re not going to make it,” Tamsin gasped.

“Harley, Pete – diversion,” James snapped.

Pete and Harley shouldered past, sprinted to the top of the moving stair and vanished.

I grimaced and held onto my side as a stitch drove a spike through my kidneys.

Above me Pete began to shout.

“They’ll close the station any minute,” Tamsin called.

My legs felt like jelly and I was shaking all over, exhaustion, adrenaline… rage. I forced one last effort from my body and hurtled up the final steps. I staggered off the escalator like a drunk and doubled over.

“Only one more.” Tamsin patted the middle of my back then gave me another push. “Not so long this time.”

“I know,” I gasped and stood up. James and Tamsin hemmed me on each side and forced me to move faster. We ran up the last escalator and emerged into daylight. Only one gate was open and guards were checking cards and faces.

“You’ll be fine,” Tamsin whispered. “We’ve got out of stations before.”

I nodded, too shattered to disbelieve her, and got into the queue.

Just as I was about to place my Oyster card on the gate, shouting broke out. I turned along with everyone else. Pete and Harley were having a fist fight. My mouth fell open. I’d never in my life seen Pete hit anyone.

They rolled to the floor, howling and yelling at one another and all but one of the staff ran through the gates to separate them. The single guard remaining wasn’t too interested in peering beneath my cap, especially as they were looking for a bare headed girl in filthy clothes. I ducked into the fresh air, where I inhaled as if I’d never breathed before.

Tamsin and James flanked me once more. “There’s a Pizza Express down the road. You can clean up and we’ll wait there for the boys.” Tamsin fingered her jacket with distaste. “You’d better keep this till you get home. Dry clean it before you give it back.”

I wrapped my arms around myself with a sigh. Now I was in the open air I could smell the Poison seeping from the designer threads. My stomach lurched, but she was right. I had to stay covered up for the journey home. I glanced down. My jeans were blackened and torn at the knee; who knew what my shirt looked like.

While Tamsin and James slid into their chairs I sidled past the tables and ran down the steps into the toilet. I cleaned my clothes up as best I could with paper towels and water, then pulled off the cap and stared into the mirror.

My right cheekbone was scraped and bleeding and I had a lump on my forehead that was already bluish purple and surrounded by angry red swelling. I touched it gingerly and winced. My left hand was also scraped and I ran it under the tap as I pulled the filthy glove from my right. I couldn’t go home without it. I hesitated for a moment then put it back on. I held a wet towel against the lump on my forehead and tried to run my fingers through my hair. They came up against another bump on the back of my head and a snarl of knots so tight there was no moving it.

I rammed the cap back on. I’d deal with it later.

Then I stood and just looked at myself. I barely recognised the girl in the mirror. That was it then, I was in the V club. I was… popular. But I felt as if maybe I’d been hit by that train after all.

When I got back to the table, Pete and Harley were already sitting down. Harley actually had a bruise forming on his cheek and Pete had a cut lip. I winced; they hadn’t held back on each other.

There was a spare chair between the two of them.

“So you’re in. How does it feel?” Tamsin leaned against James and stroked the inside of his forearm. “I’ll be honest, sweetie, I didn’t think you’d do it.”

“I didn’t think I’d do it either.” My legs gave out and I dropped next to Pete.

James regarded Tamsin from under lowered brows. “Not sure the others are going to like this, babe. The V club isn’t for the likes of her.” He brushed his tattoo as if to remove dust from the ink and glanced at me. “No offence.”

I shrugged. He didn’t have to like me, just let me ask for a truth. “So can I set a challenge now?”

Tamsin laughed and leaned back. “You are funny. Your initiation got you in the club. You don’t get to be a challenger until you’ve been selected by the wheel and completed another dare.”

“What?” I pressed my throbbing palm between my thighs and my head reeled. “How long will that take?”

“That desperate to get me back, huh?” Tamsin sneered. “The next meeting is in three days. I suppose there’s a chance the wheel will land on your name. James is the challenger though, so you don’t want it to land on you.” A flicker of remembered terror blurred her blue eyes. “Trust me.”

There was a dark haired boy in school uniform standing outside my house. Of course, he hadn’t known where we’d gone, after.

I hadn’t realised how heavy my tread had become until I rushed towards him, my shoes apparently filled with air. “You’re alright!” It was automatic to raise my arms but, just a breath away, I stopped myself from embracing him.

“You thought I was what? Dead?” Justin drawled, with a sardonic twist of his lips.

“I…” I flushed and lowered my arms. “I’ve never seen one of you hit by a train. I wasn’t sure what it would do.”

“It dragged me as far as Moorgate then I managed to get back onto the platform.”

“Did it hurt?” I wrapped my arms around my chest.

“It was more scary.” He started climbing the steps to the house. “Shall we?” He gestured ahead of himself like an old fashioned gentlemen.

I opened the door and Justin held out his elbow so that I could take it. With a single deep breath I wrapped my arm around his. “I’m in the club.”

He nodded. “Sorry about knocking you off the platform.”

I nodded. “I wouldn’t have done it otherwise. It was the most freaking stupid thing...” I suddenly remembered how Justin had died and choked my words back down. We were in my hallway but hadn’t pulled away from one another. The feel of his arm in mine reminded me of something else. “I’m sorry too, about Tamsin. Are you OK?”

Now he pulled his arm free. “I couldn’t expect her to stay single forever.” He shrugged, but his eyes were hooded.

“A couple of days would’ve been nice.” I shut my mouth when I saw his face. “You don’t want to talk about it. I get it.” I checked the clock and headed towards my room; it was almost nine, curfew time.

“Taylor?” Dad appeared from the kitchen, a mug of tea balanced on the arm of his chair. I froze. He rolled into the hall and gasped. “What happened?”

I looked down at myself.

“I had an accident.”

“An accident? Christ.” His elbow knocked the cup from his chair. A tannin rainbow splashed as the mug spun and bounced on the carpet. Tea spattered the wallpaper and a wet stain spread under his wheels. He ignored the mess and pushed himself towards me. “Look at you. What sort of accident?” His fingers fluttered over me, light and desperate. “Are you alright?”