I glance at my watch. It’s coming up to a quarter to nine; taking in a steady breath I focus my attention on the fields opposite and follow the progress of a tractor moving steadily across the grass. If Callum gets here in the next five minutes we should be at the address Jeremiah gave me within an hour’s time. At least the weather forecast was right; the skies a deep shade of blue today, the sun’s already beginning to warm the back of my neck. I study the trail left behind by an aeroplane in the sky, and imagine everyone on board off somewhere on their holidays, without a care in the world, excited for the next few days ahead. I still don’t get why Jeremiah couldn’t have just told me about this place, rather than arranging this visit with Harvey and making me even angrier. Despite Harvey's futile attempt at an explanation, it still doesn't make sense to me. 

I tried to see earlier if I could get a look at the house Harvey told me about on street view, on Google Maps, but the road was blocked up; I guess it must be private. I could see part of the house from the main road nearby but that wasn’t enough to give me a clear view. From the Google Earth aerial images it looks as though the house is surrounded by marshes. I reckon the nearest house will be a good half hour's walk away. I can’t imagine living so remote, I always thought the area where I live now was pretty remote, but it's nothing compared to Marsh View. Before I went to bed I decided to Google the house to see if there was anything I could find, there was nothing, but then my eyes had found an old Facebook post that made my blood go cold. I can still remember the Facebook post I read, posted in a local community group to Leigh on Sea around five years or so ago word for word.

Crazies were out in town again, did you see them all, all huddled together?

I’d headed straight for the replies, and that’s where I’d come across the houses name.

Marsh View isn’t it, where there from?

That’s right, the house overlooking the marshes, on its own. They must perform some weird rituals up there.

Someone had jumped to the defence of the people they were talking about.

Leave them alone, why can’t you? It’s a community of likeminded people living together, sounds idyllic if you ask me.

Off you go and join them, then. Go and join the crazies, bet you’ll be drinking sheep’s blood by next week lol. 

The comments I’d read had swirled around in my head all night, making me feel sick. These Facebook users were referring to the people who supposedly knew my family.

I spot Callum’s blue Vauxhall at the top of the road. A shiver pulses through me, I take a step forward as he pulls up.

‘All good to go?’ he asks, rolling down the passenger window and leaning across the seat.

‘Yeah, sure.’

I open the passenger door and slip in, flinging his West Ham scarf off of the seat and into the footwell. I glance back at the house. I left Mum and Dad in the kitchen; they’ve still got it in their heads we’re going to be spending the day strolling around Leigh on Sea, visiting all the old haunts they used to take me as a child. I bite my lip. I hate the fact I’m lying to them, but what other choice do I have? They’d go mad at me if they knew what I was doing. They can’t stop me from doing what I want to do now I’m an adult, but I don’t want to create any animosity between us, particularly after everything they’ve done for me. They’ve given me the best life I could possibly have asked for after what happened.

Callum manoeuvres the car back out onto the road

‘My sleep was shit last night,’ Callum says, yawning.

‘Tell me about it,’ I say, rubbing my eyes. ‘You alright driving though? How was it at football last night?’

‘Yeah, yeah fine, we won so that was good. You should've come out with us, Danielle, we had a right laugh. So, I take it this Jeremiah bloke’s gonna be there then at this place?’

‘Well, he said he still lives there. I have a feeling when we get there, whoever greets us, is going to know exactly who we are.’

We pull out onto the main road and Callum gradually picks up speed, I texted him the address earlier so he could put it into his satnav. I’m reminded of when we used to go off together for days out during the long summer months. We’d never go too far, our parents wouldn’t let us, but it was always amazing getting out of the house and being able to spend all day together and do whatever the hell we wanted. Sometimes we’d just sit in the middle of the field near the forest and drink beer, once we were eighteen, of course, and we would take our bikes then. Now that we’ve both started working, those days are getting few and far between. It makes me sad to think those days are in the past. 

‘Why d’you reckon your parents lived with a bunch of people in the first place, bit weird, isn’t it?’ Callum asks. 

‘I’ve no idea, but I’m sure they’ll be able to tell us everything when we get there. It’s gonna be weird, being back in the place where I grew up, it’s strange I have virtually no memory of the place, just snippets here and there.’

‘Perhaps your mind’s blocked it out,’ Callum suggests.

‘But I thought that only happened if you’ve suffered some kind of trauma?’

‘Well you suffered a pretty massive trauma when your brother killed your parents.’

‘Yes, but that was after I lived there.’

‘Well, weren’t you only living in that house for three weeks after you left this place where we’re going? Look, Danielle, there must’ve been a reason why your parents left. If they thought it was a great place for you and your brother to grow up, why didn’t they stay?’

I don’t reply. I stare out at the rolling fields passing me by and the horses grazing. Callum doesn’t ask me again; instead he keeps his focus on the road. Shit, I don’t want things to be awkward between us. He's doing me a massive favour coming with me, there's no way I could've done this on my own. 

‘Well, I’m hoping I might find out some information today,’ I say.

I loll my head against the window. In an hour, or two hour’s time, I’m going to know more about my family than I’ve ever done. The thought’s crazy and scary at the same time.