In the hallway, the only light on is the green emergency exit sign. She hears whispers behind one of the doors. Nina thinks the other girls are having a party and didnt invite her. As if Id ever want to go.
She can smell cinders, an old fire that has gone out. The dog starts barking again. Nina doesnt worry about whether shes quiet or not. She feels like slamming the door over and over. She doesnt give a damn that Almira will get angry and throw things at her.
The floor is colder out in the hall. The old tiles creak. She heads toward the bathroom, but stops when she steps in a wet patch. A dark pool is spreading from beneath the door of the isolation room where Miranda is sleeping. Nina doesnt know what to do at first, but then she sees that the key to the room has been left in the lock.
Thats weird.
She opens the door, walks inside, and flips on the light. Theres blood everywhere; it runs down the walls. Miranda is lying on the bed.
Nina takes a few steps backward and sees bloody shoe prints on the floor. She thinks shes going to faint. She doesnt notice that shes peeing herself.
Back in the hall, she opens the door to the next room, and crouches down to shake Carolines shoulder.
Mirandas hurt, she whispers. I think Mirandas hurt.
What the hell are you doing in my room? Caroline asks as she sits up. What time is it, anyway?
Nina stops whispering. Theres blood all over the floor!
6
Nina can hardly breathe as she looks into Carolines eyes. She needs to make her understand, and shes surprised when she realizes that shes screaming at the top of her lungs.
Shut up! Caroline hisses as she gets out of bed. Calm down!
Ninas screams have woken the other girls. Alarmed voices ring out from the other rooms.
Come and see for yourself, Nina says, and she begins to scratch her arms. Miranda looks weird. Youve got to take a look at her! Youve got to!
Can you please cool it? Ill look, but Im sure
Another scream erupts in the hallway. Caroline scrambles out of her bedroom. Tuula is staring into the isolation room and her eyes are as wide as saucers.
Indie walks out of her room, too, scratching her armpit.
Caroline pulls Tuula away and catches sight of the blood on the walls and Mirandas pale body. She blocks Indie, thinking that no one should have to see another suicide.
Theres been an accident, she explains quickly. Can you ask everyone to go to the dining room, Indie?
Whats wrong with Miranda? Indie asks.
We have to wake up Elisabet.
Lu Chu and Almira come out of their double room. Lu Chu is wearing only pajama bottoms and Almira is wrapped in a blanket.
Go to the dining room, Indie orders.
Dont I have time to wash my face first? Lu Chu pouts.
Take Tuula with you.
What the fuck is going on? asks Almira.
We dont know, Caroline says.
While Indie tries to gather everyone in the dining room, Caroline rushes to the staff room. She knows that Elisabet takes sleeping pills and never hears when the girls get up and wander around at night. Caroline bangs on the door as loud as she can.
Elisabet, you have to wake up! she yells.
Nothing happens.
Caroline hurries past the registration room and over to the nurses office. The door is open and she runs to the telephone and calls Daniel.
Theres static on the line.
Indie and Nina press in at the office door. Nina is shaking and her lips are white.
Go wait in the dining room! Caroline snaps.
But the blood! Did you see all that blood? Nina says and scratches her arm furiously.
Daniel Grim, a sleepy voice says on the other end of the line.
Its me, Caroline. Theres been an accident and I cant wake Elisabet. I called you because I dont know what else to do.
Theres blood all over my feet! screams Nina. I have blood all over my feet!
Calm down! Indie shouts at her as she tries to pull Nina out of the office.
Whats going on? Daniel asks. His voice is sharper now and in control.
Mirandas in the cell, but its all full of blood, Caroline says. She swallows. I dont know what we should
Is she seriously hurt? asks Daniel.
Whats going on? Daniel asks. His voice is sharper now and in control.
Mirandas in the cell, but its all full of blood, Caroline says. She swallows. I dont know what we should
Is she seriously hurt? asks Daniel.
Yes, I think so... or I
Caroline, Daniel says. Im going to call for an ambulance. And then
What should I do? What should I
Go wake Elisabet.
7
The emergency center in Sundsvall is in a three-story redbrick building on Björneborgsgatan, next to Bäckgatan. Jasmin usually has no problem working nights, but at the moment shes having trouble staying awake. Its four in the morning and the witching hour has passed. She sits at her computer with her headset on, blowing on her coffee. Laughter pours out from the cafeteria. The evening newspaper reported that one of the centers police officers might have earned extra cash as a phone sex worker. The reality is likely more complicated than that, but at this hour, nothing could be funnier than the idea that two very different kinds of calls have been coming into the emergency center.
Jasmin stares out the window. There is no light in the sky yet. A truck thunders past.
She puts down her mug to answer an incoming call.
SOS 112. Whats going on?
My name is Daniel Grim and Im a therapist at Birgittagården. One of the girls has just called me... You have to send someone to the home right away.
Can you give me more details? Jasmin searches for Birgittagården on her computer.
I dont know anything. One of the girls called, but I didnt really understand what she was saying. She was crying... Everybody was screaming in the background... The girl said there was blood everywhere.
Jasmin signals to her colleague, Ingrid Sandén, that more operators are needed on this call.
Are you at the scene now? Ingrid asks as Jasmin tries to refine her search.
I was home asleep when they called
You are talking about Birgittagården north of Sunnås? asks Jasmin.
Hurry, please! The mans voice is shaking.
Were sending police and an ambulance to Birgittagården, north of Sunnås, Jasmin says clearly to give the man time to correct her if shes wrong.
She turns away for a moment to issue the alarm, and Ingrid picks up the questioning.
Isnt Birgittagården a youth home?
Yes, for girls.
Shouldnt there be staff on the premises?
Yes, my wife, Elisabet, is on duty tonight. Im going to call her now... I dont know whats happening... I know nothing...
Ingrid can see blue lights flash across the deserted street as the first car pulls out of the garage. The police are on their way, she says in a calming voice.
8
The turnoff from Highway 86 leads directly into the dark forest and toward Lake Himmelsjö and Birgittagården. The cars headlights play between the tall trunks of the pine trees. Have you been there before? asks Rolf Wikner as he shifts into fourth gear.
Yes, a few years ago when a girl tried to set fire to one of the buildings, Sonja Rask says.
Why the hell cant anyone reach the person on duty? Rolf mutters.
Theyre probably too busy, no matter whats going on.
I wish we knew more.
So do I.
The officers fall silent so they can hear the voices coming over the police radio. An ambulance is on its way and another police car has been dispatched.
The gravel road runs completely straight. Its in need of grading, and their tires thunder across the potholes. Little missiles of gravel strike their fender as tree trunks flicker past and flashes of blue light stab far into the forest. As soon as they reach the yard between Birgittagårdens dark red buildings, Sonja reports in.
A girl wearing nothing but a nightgown is standing on the front steps. Her eyes are wide open but her face is pale. Rolf and Sonja get out of the car and hurry toward her. The pulsing blue light swirls all around them. The girl doesnt appear to notice.
A dog is barking excitedly.
Is someone hurt? asks Rolf in a loud voice. Is there someone who needs help?
The girl waves vaguely toward the edge of the forest, sways, and then, when she tries to walk toward them, her legs give way.
Sonja has reached the girl. Are you all right? she asks.
The girl lies absolutely still on the steps, staring up at the sky, breathing shallowly. Sonja notices that she has fresh scratches all over her arms and neck.
Ill go inside, Rolf says.
Sonja stays by the girl, who has gone into shock, while Rolf enters the main building. Bloody prints, marks from both shoes and bare feet, seem to fly in all directions. One set, going up and down the hall, belongs to someone with long strides. Rolf moves swiftly, while being careful not to mess the prints.
In a brightly lit room, four girls are huddled on a sofa.
Is anyone hurt here? he asks.
Maybe. Miranda a little, says a tiny girl with red hair.
Where is she?
Mirandas in bed, says an older girl with straight black hair.
This way? He points down the hall.
The older girl nods and Rolf follows the bloody footprints past a dining room with a large wooden table and tile stove, and comes to the dark hall leading to the girls private rooms. He shines his flashlight along the Bible quotes on the walls and then aims at the floor again. Blood has seeped out from under a door at the back of the alcove. The door is shut and the key is in the lock. He walks over, shifting the flashlight from one hand to the other. He presses down on the tip of the door handle. Theres a click and the door swings open.
Hello. Miranda? My names Rolf and Im a police officer, he says into the silence. Im coming inside now.
The only thing he can hear is his own breathing. He pulls the door all the way open, but the violence of the sight inside stops him short and he slumps against the doorjamb. Instinctively he looks away, but his eyes have already registered what he wishes hed never seen.
A young woman is lying on the bed. A great part of her head seems to be missing. Blood has spattered the walls; it drips from a lampshade.
The door behind Rolf slams shut and hes so startled that he drops his flashlight. Now theres nothing but darkness. He turns around and fumbles for the door handle. He can hear the sound of hands on the outside of the door.
Now she can see you! shrieks a young voice. Now shes looking right at you!