It was the beginning of the school summer holidays and the sun was streaming down into the garden. Eight year old Evie was excitedly awaiting the arrival of her cousins, who always loved spending their summer holidays at the big, old family home deep in the heart of the countryside. Evie's ten year old twin cousins Rebecca and Emily and their other cousins, five year old Timmy and six year old Joshua were collected from the nearby train station and driven to the house by her father Edward.
    Evie could hear the wheels of her father's beloved bone-shaker churn up the large chunks of gravel in the drive-way. It was the moment that Evie had been waiting for. She had spent all morning in the garden preparing, sorting out all the outdoor play objects including her father's new shiny, metal watering can, whilst her mother was in the kitchen baking fresh scones and cake for tea.
    All the joy, laughter and excitement of the summer reunion filled the old house. After tea, all the children ran outside to play. You wouldn't believe just how much fun could be had from filling up the watering can from the large pond at the bottom of the garden and pouring it down each others backs. It was so lovely and refreshing on a warm summers day.
    A few fun-filled weeks quickly passed and come to an abrupt end when tragedy struck. One night as they all slept, a mysterious fire spread through most of the east wing of the house, where a large number of the bedrooms were. Evie's room who she was sharing with her twin cousins Rebecca and Emily began to fill with smoke billowing from beneath the bedroom door. There was an orange glow and loud crackling sounds coming from the other side of the bedroom door. Evie tried to wake Rebecca and Emily. Rebecca woke in an instant but Emily was laying completely motionless with her lips becoming blue. Screaming, Evie and Rebecca knew that they had to get help and that their only escape was out of the window and over the sun room roof.
    After they both scrambled down, they started to run as fast as they could from the house up the gravelled drive in just their slippers and nightdresses. They didn't look back until they arrived at the gate at the top of the drive, only to see the night sky glowing orange and the beautiful old family home alight.
    As they started their terrifying journey along the dark country lane, Rebecca began to start coughing and became very weak, leaning heavily into Evie before collapsing. Evie petrified and in a huge dilemma, decided to stay with Rebecca until what seemed like hours passed by and head lamps started coming towards the two girls.
    A young couple on their way back from a local dance noticed the two young girls practically in a ditch at the side of the road. The nightmare seemed such a blur and all Evie could do was breathlessly say 'Fire'.
    Evie and Rebecca were taken to the local hospital where Rebecca later died and the emergency services were sent to the house, only to find Timmy, Joshua and Emily dead from smoke inhalation and burns. Evie's mother and father were alive but both badly burnt. Unfortunately, once at the hospital, Edward didn't make it either but Evie's mother, overcome with great relief at seeing Evie alive, kept saying how sorry she was and told Evie a huge family secret that shocked her to the very core.
    Evie's mother passed away a few weeks later leaving Evie orphaned and alone.
    Years went by and Evie was passed from old aunt to uncle until one brighter day, she had a new family unit of her own.
    One day early in the Spring, Evie's grandson and new wife announce that they have bought cheaply a plot of land deep in the heart of the countryside, where they plan to rebuild an old house. They are keen to show Grandma and the rest of the family their new purchase.
    As Grandma Evie is driven down the country lanes, a strange weird feeling comes over her, sending shivers down her spine as these lanes are beginning to look all too familiar. The horror of that fateful night returns as she sets her old eyes on the once beautiful old family home, now overgrown with bramble and weeds.
    The sound of the car wheels over the gravel reminds Evie of the first few special weeks spent with her long lost cousins all those many summers ago.
    Evie's grandson picks up a rusty old object and brings it over to the car. Immediately, Evie recognises it as her father Edward's once new and shiny watering can. The flashbacks come flooding back and unable to contain her grief and tears any longer, tells her grandson of the horrific story that has haunted her for years.

The fire had been started by her father but this man was not Edward.