Content Warning: This section features discussions of sexual violence and harassment, rape, ableism, mental illness, death by suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm, animal cruelty and death, substance use, addiction, graphic violence, sexual content, cursing, illness and death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Over the following weeks, Glyndon gets closer to Killian, and he seems genuinely interested in her and her friends, though he still punishes her for refusing to say she belongs to him. Gareth upholds his end of the bargain and sends Glyndon information about Devlin, letting her know that other than her, Killian was likely the last person who saw him alive. In art class, Glyndon is surprised when the professor praises her art in front of the class. Cherry approaches Glyndon later that day and tries to warn her away from Killian, saying she’s too “neurotypical” (297) to be with him and that he’ll eventually kill her. When she sees Killian later, she asks him if this is true, and he admits that he has always wanted to kill. Though Glyndon is shocked, she refuses to run from him and tries to empathize with him. Killian also admits that his murderous urges have lessened in Glyndon’s presence, stunning her again.