Contents
CHAPTER 89: JAMESON
Overview
Emily Laughlin reveals herself alive and taunts Jameson while Grayson lies unconscious. Jameson strategically refuses to engage, denying Emily the reaction she seeks. Emily boasts about coercing Eve into shooting Slate and her willingness to target Avery. She finally forces something down Jameson’s throat to silence him.
Summary
Jameson reflects on the defining trauma of watching Emily Laughlin “die,” recognizing that her supposed death fractured his and Grayson’s lives. Now, with Emily alive before him, he decides to give her nothing—no words, no reactions—knowing Emily cannot bear being ignored.
Emily tries to provoke Jameson by claiming she mattered to both brothers and by emphasizing it was always Grayson for her. Grayson remains unconscious. Slate—identified as Mattias Slater—interjects, linking Emily’s fixation on Gigi to Gigi being Grayson’s sister and recalling Emily’s interrogations about Lyra during the Grandest Game.
Emily taunts them further, asserting that she coerced Eve into shooting Slate, testing Eve’s limits and proving Eve could be pushed to kill Avery. She hints at Candidate mortality in the Crucible to raise the stakes and keep Jameson off balance.
To maintain control, Jameson retreats into calm memories, refusing to react despite Emily’s escalating need for attention. When provocation fails, Emily resorts to force, pouring a substance down Jameson’s throat and declaring that if he will not speak to her, he will not speak at all.
Who Appears
- Jameson HawthorneCaptive and resolute; denies Emily any reaction, retreats mentally, then is forcibly drugged.
- Emily LaughlinRevealed alive; taunts Jameson, fixates on Grayson, claims she coerced Eve to shoot Slate, drugs Jameson.
- Grayson HawthorneUnconscious throughout; the focus of Emily’s fixation and comparisons meant to provoke Jameson.
- Mattias SlaterAlso called Slate; chained captive, confronts Emily about Gigi and Lyra; target of Eve’s coerced shooting.