Contents
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Overview
Holland and Eileen reach the Regal, a time-dilated sanctuary accessed by January’s key. Holland separates from Eileen to protect her and attempts to check in under scrutiny after being mistaken for January. The hotel’s time magic offers respite, but staff attention foreshadows new obstacles.
Summary
Eileen turns onto Hitchcock Way using January’s transformed key, and the world shifts into the Regal’s golden-hour glamour. She explains the hotel’s time magic: an hour inside equals a minute outside, giving Holland precious time and security from pursuit.
Worried about endangering friends, Holland asks Eileen to drop her before the valets and to tell the Bank that Holland retrieved only something sentimental from the vault. Eileen reluctantly agrees to try, revealing concern but accepting distance, and drives away as the Regal’s magic welcomes Holland.
At the entrance, an attendant mistakes Holland for January, then grows wary when he realizes she is the twin. Holland presents January’s key and is directed to check in, sensing strict rules and scrutiny around entry and identity.
Inside the opulent lobby, the atmosphere brims with old-Hollywood magic and eccentric guests. Clocks show the Regal on its own timeline, confirming time dilation but raising fears about Halloween’s approach. As Holland queues at the desk, anxious to secure access, managerial staff confer and fix their attention on her, signaling potential complications ahead.
Who Appears
- Holland St. JamesProtagonist; uses January’s key to enter the time-dilated Regal and seeks refuge while avoiding entangling friends.
- EileenFriend and Bank employee; drives Holland to the Regal, agrees to misdirect the Bank, then departs.
- Regal Door AttendantMistakes Holland for January, then insists on check-in, signaling strict entry rules and heightened scrutiny.
- Regal Managerial Staff MemberNotices Holland at the desk, whispers to a colleague, and focuses attention on her check-in.