Chapter 11

Hazel gathers Mariah and Valec in Alice’s room to test a theory about Alice’s condition. Hazel asks Valec to scent Alice’s skin, and Valec immediately senses that Alice is alive but not fully living, suspended between life and death rather than simply comatose.

Hazel concludes that Alice is in limbo, which explains why Hazel’s healing, rooted in the life force of the living, has failed. Hazel believes Mariah’s Medium abilities may help because Mariah can perceive the connections between life and death. Mariah doubts herself, comparing her powers unfavorably to Bree’s, but Hazel insists Alice needs Mariah’s specific gift.

Valec angrily pressures Mariah by invoking Bree, arguing that Bree would help any of them and may now be facing the Hunter alone because Valec and Lu directed her toward that threat. Hazel rebukes Valec for trying to coerce a Rootcrafter, but Mariah decides to help because she agrees Bree would do the same. Hazel prepares a foul root-enhanced tea and has Valec move another bed beside Alice’s for Mariah.

After drinking the tea, Mariah collapses into a vision-like state and enters a dark forest wearing unfamiliar black clothing. Drawn forward, Mariah climbs over tangled roots while a black, mold-reeking mist and howling hounds pursue her. Mariah realizes the pursuing force is Alice’s death, eager to pull Alice away.

Mariah reaches a frozen version of the battle at Volition, where Alice is trapped in the moment she used a sonic weapon against the Mageguard. Mariah sees Alice repeatedly replay and alter the scene, trying to save Selwyn and avoid the outcome in which Bree-Arthur accidentally threw Alice into the van. Each attempt ends in disaster or reset, revealing that Alice is consciously negotiating with the moment of her own death.

Alice finally notices Mariah but refuses to stop, insisting on trying “one more time.” Before Mariah can tell Alice that the event has already happened and that Alice must move forward, Mariah is thrown back into her body.