She looked at me like I was smaller than she thought, ‘You should.’

We didn’t say anything for a bit. I got worried she’d start to see all the flies I’d done, the black, red-brown splodges everywhere on the ground and some on the walls. I got ready for it, that she wasn’t going to like me. I spoke to try and put it off, and because I didn’t know why I’d done it.

‘What’s revenge?’

‘I’m going to get lots of money.’ That’s what she said. ‘And I won’t have to live in your house. I’ll have my own house. And then anyone who wants to come in will have to ask me.’

I thought about it, and wasn’t sure. It felt like she was talking about being a grown-up, so I said, ‘You gonna grow up?’

‘No,’ she said, ‘I’m going to be rich and I’m not going to be shut up. I’m not going to depend on you to get upstairs and read my book. I’m not even going to let my mum and dad in if I don’t want.’ She made a frowning look with her eyebrows that were thick and black over the pale skin. I noticed the hairs in between them where her skin was rumpled. She had no freckles, so when she didn’t frown her skin was completely smooth. But now she looked really pale in the shadow under the wall and her brown eyes looked reddish again as though she’d been crying. ‘I don’t care if it hurts.’

I wanted to know but I didn’t want her to tell me, so I didn’t ask. But then it came out, ‘What about me?’ She looked away and shook her head. ‘But I want to rescue you!’ I said.

She turned round to me and leaned forward with her head on one side to make sure I could see in her eyes. I could, they were blaming me again. ‘It’s because of you we’re shut up in that room. It’s your house.’