Contents
Chapter Ten
Overview
Gabe abducts Holland “for safety” on January’s orders, destroys her phone, and reveals a torn note warning someone will target Holland next. He claims January is engaged under suspicious influence.
Holland connects Jake’s assignment to her family with the Alchemical Heart. Gabe says it’s coveted and near-impossible to find, grimly validating Holland’s death-timed warning.
Summary
Gabe speeds Holland away from the scene, refuses her demand to go to the Professor’s house, and throws her phone out the window, claiming January told him to keep her safe. He lets Holland call January from his burner, but it goes to voicemail. Holland finds an insurance slip naming another owner, increasing her distrust.
Traffic stalls and Gabe shows a torn note in January’s handwriting: “KEEP MY SISTER SAFE. If he doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll come for her next.” Pressed by Holland, Gabe says January recently met a man while working, spoke as if in love, and wore an engagement ring—behavior he believes suggests manipulation. He explains he freelances as an acquisition specialist and had noticed January acting off before finding only the note.
Holland shares Jake’s gold-and-black folder revealing he was hired to infiltrate her life and investigate her family, suspecting January’s new partner might be similar. She withholds details about Mr. Vargas’s safety deposit box, wary of trusting Gabe. Gabe asks what the man could want; Holland has no definite answer.
Seeking a way to survive, Holland asks about the Alchemical Heart. Gabe reacts sharply, saying everyone wants it and she’ll never find it. Desperate, Holland admits she was told she will die at 11:59 p.m. on Halloween unless she finds the Alchemical Heart. When Gabe learns the prophecy included a precise time, he curses and concludes she’s in serious danger.
Who Appears
- HollandProtagonist; abducted by Gabe, calls January’s voicemail, withholds Vargas’s box, seeks the Alchemical Heart to survive a timed death warning.
- Gabe CabralTattooed fixer sent by January; confiscates Holland’s phone, shows January’s warning note, reveals suspicious engagement, doubts the Heart is findable.
- JanuaryHolland’s twin; offstage. Left a warning note; allegedly in love and engaged, likely under manipulation; sent Gabe to protect Holland.
- Watch ManMythic figure referenced; predicted Holland will die at 11:59 p.m. on Halloween unless she finds the Alchemical Heart.
- JakeHolland’s deceased ex; his folder proves he was hired to infiltrate her life, prompting fears of a similar setup with January.
- Mr. VargasBanker who arranged pickup of Holland’s inherited safety deposit box; Holland keeps this secret from Gabe.
- The ProfessorOffstage mentor figure; Holland wants to reach him but Gabe refuses to take her there.