The girls in the back of the room are pushed aside when Mr. Hodge bursts into the small space. The moment he enters the arena, the floodgates burst. I don't know how exactly it happens, but it goes something like this:
Mr. Hodge bumps Lotion Face in the back.
Lotion Face collides with Poppet.
Poppet shoves her backward.
Lotion Face makes a fist.
And the room erupts into civil war. I'm taken to the ground, my head slamming into the hardwood floor. Someone is on top of me-Ruby, I think-and she's clawing at my face. I remain calm even though Wilson is bouncing around up there. Instead of defending myself, I let her tear her nails down my cheeks. Then I wait for an opening.
There.
I throw a tight blow to her nose. It snaps and blood gushes out. Her hands fly to her face, and I push her off me with everything I have. Now she's on the floor, and I'm the one scaling this mountain. I'm on her chest for two seconds, enough time to hit her once more in her ribs, before two girls are pulling me off.
The Neck is yelling and trying to hold a Daisy off Poppet, but Poppet is doing just fine on her own until a second girl hits her from behind. Now Mr. Hodge is standing between the three girls-two trying to clobber the third-and I'm left to defend myself against three Daisies.
Wilson positions himself firmly in my mind, whispers sweet nothings.
You don't want to know the things he says.
Or maybe you do.
Get the lamp, he says. Smash it over her head.
What does that cord go to? Let's wrap it around her neck.
There's a pillow on your bed. I know exactly what we could do with that.
I try to drown him out and do what I do best when luck has turned its back. I curl into a ball and cover my head, wait while the Daisies get their licks in.
Get up! Wilson yells. Get up! Get that blanket from your bed. Tie a noose with it. Where are those high heels you wore last night? They'd make a fine blade.
I ignore him.
Domino Ray, do something. Do something or I will!
Nothing.
I said, DO SOMETHING!
My hands fly out without my permission. I grab hold of a Daisy's ankle mid-kick and yank on it. She's ripped from her feet and lands on her back. I spring on top of her like a chimp. My fingers find my dresser drawer and I rip it open, dive my hand in, pull out a fork. It appears like magic.
Abracadabra.
The girl beneath me stops fighting, and her eyes enlarge. Her mouth forms a black circle of surprise, and it seems to me the best place to sink this fork.
But I can't stop staring at the weapon in my hand.
How did it get there?
When did I nip this from the kitchen?
Shhh, Wilson coos. Go to sleep, sweet Domino Ray.
I raise the fork, my arm shaking, and bring it down.
I'm an inch from driving it into the Daisy's mouth-open wide!-when strong hands pull me from the girl. I'm no sooner on my feet than another girl is lunging at me. But a wall separates us.
Cain.
I know him by the look of his back alone.
That can't be healthy.
Each time someone grabs for me, each time a girl tries to get in one last shot, he blocks their advance. He doesn't lay his hands on anyone. Just stands there, making it clear whose side he's on.
Mr. Hodge drags Ruby from the room and yells for her to calm down her girls. Ruby shakes her head like a skipping record. But finally she relents and calls for the Daisies to get out of there. They don't listen until she stomps in and pulls two girls out by the elbow.
Though Daisies are still screaming profanities, and Poppet is acting like she might instigate another round, things begin to calm. As for me, I'm shaking. Not my whole body, just my left side. I can't stop thinking about that fork.
About what Wilson almost had me do.
I can't stay in this place much longer. It's not so much about my safety, but the other girls. At the same time, I need more cash before I take off. If I leave with what little I have, I'll end up in the same situation: depending on others, surviving day to day, forming rocky relationships that won't stick.
I need a place of my own.
I need money.
The Neck shoves his face inside and roars for us to stay in this room and not come out. He starts to close the door, but I grab the edge.
"I want to see Madam Karina," I bark, delirious.
He screws his face up like I'm mad. "Out of the question."
"She'll want to hear what I have to say."
"I doubt that."
"I could bring her up," Cain suggests. "If the madam seems upset, I'll take her away."
Mr. Hodge looks back and forth between the two of us for a long time before glaring at Cain. "She's not going to be happy with you."
"Domino, don't leave me," Poppet squeaks.