The impact knocked the wind out of him. We crashed to the floor, rolling over the shattered debris of the door. He dropped the poker, but his fist caught the side of my head.

Pain exploded behind my eyes. I tasted copper where my teeth cut the inside of my cheek.

“You stupid bitch!” he snarled, throwing me off with terrifying strength.

I scrambled up, dizzy. Daniel was already dragging my mother by her hair toward the hallway, meaning to use her as a shield — to take her to the dark.

I grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the bedside table, ripped the cord from the wall, and swung it with everything I had. The base connected square with his shoulder.

He cried out, and his grip loosened just enough for my mother to tear free and scramble into the corner, weeping.