Chapter Seventeen

Holland opens the Professor’s package despite hesitation and discovers the worn red journal inside. A freshly carved composite symbol on the back matches elements of the tattoo shared by January and Gabe, which Gabe identifies as the symbol of the Alchemical Heart. Holland feels betrayed by prior lies about the tattoo’s meaning.

Reading the journal, Holland finds class notes that align with her memories until a section on the Chained Library. A fresh line mentions a slip of parchment bearing a series of dates stretching back centuries, ending with 10.2025 and notably including 10.2010. Connecting this to Mr. Vargas’s claim about a safety deposit box leased fifteen years ago, Holland deduces that her father likely found the Alchemical Heart in 2010 and hid it, possibly for his daughters.

A sudden knock interrupts. Chance Garcia stands at the door, worried after Holland’s earlier call about Jake’s death and her subsequent silence. Gabe insists Holland get rid of him and hides his gun while urging speed and secrecy.

Holland greets Chance through a barely opened door, trying to reassure him without revealing Gabe or the blood on her clothes. Gabe steps in, wraps Holland possessively, and loudly pretends to be her boyfriend, even baiting Chance with a reference to an unaired episode of The Magic Attic. Hurt and alarmed, Chance withdraws. Gabe warns Holland not to follow, reinforcing control as the night closes in.