Contents
Chapter Forty-Eight
Overview
Holland recovers in the tunnels to find Gabe gone with her father’s pages but January’s backpack returned. Reuniting with Adam, she deciphers the final clue pointing to the Hollywood Roosevelt’s bowling alley. Adam reveals Mason is trapped there and will target Holland. As they head out, Holland insists on one last stop by her mother’s gown, underscoring personal stakes before the impending confrontation.
Summary
Holland comes to on the tunnel floor, sticky with humidity, and realizes Gabe has vanished with her satchel—and all her father’s pages, including the two she just found. He has, however, left January’s backpack behind, complete with the Professor’s journal. With under four hours left, Holland weighs Gabe’s warning not to trust Adam against Adam’s consistent support.
Adam finds Holland, worried, and confirms she isn’t hurt. Holland admits Gabe stole the pages but explains she still knows the final destination: her father’s last screenplay scene featured a bowling alley with six pins spelling “The End,” and a clue describing “Cassius Marcellus Coolidge meets Spanish colonial revival.” She connects this to the Hollywood Roosevelt, which has a gaming parlor and bowling alley.
Adam turns pale and reveals that Mason is at the Hollywood Roosevelt because Adam’s attempt to strip Mason’s abilities only trapped him inside the hotel and blocked his magic. Adam warns Mason remains dangerous and will attack Holland if he sees her with Adam. When Holland proposes they split up, Adam refuses, insisting he won’t let her out of his sight, sharpening Holland’s internal conflict about trust under time pressure.
They exit the tunnels into a JME tour corridor lined with film costumes. Passing displays—including one for Knife and Cross—they reach a glittering Mirrorland exhibit centered on the famous gown Holland’s mother wore. Holland stops and declares there is one more thing they must do before heading to the Roosevelt, signaling a personal errand that may influence the coming confrontation.
Who Appears
- HollandProtagonist; recovers in tunnels, loses her father’s pages to Gabe, identifies the Hollywood Roosevelt clue, and insists on one final stop by her mother’s gown.
- AdamAlly with nullifying abilities; finds Holland, warns Mason is trapped at the Roosevelt and dangerous, refuses to let Holland go alone.
- GabeAntagonist; flees with Holland’s satchel and pages but leaves January’s backpack behind, further undermining trust.
- MasonAdam’s brother; revealed to be magically trapped in the Hollywood Roosevelt and likely to target Holland.
- JanuaryHer backpack, containing the Professor’s journal, is left behind by Gabe, giving Holland resources despite the theft.
- The ProfessorReferenced via his journal found in January’s backpack, still part of Holland’s remaining clues.