The chapter opens with a reflection on Louisa’s earlier observation that learning who survives a story implies others may die. This transitions into Ted’s lifelong fear of men, rooted in childhood abuse by his older brother, who beat him and once threw him down the basement stairs. Ted recalls lying to protect his brother, internalizing habits to avoid “slipping,” and hearing their mother normalize boys’ violence and pornography while implicitly stigmatizing being gay.

Ted remembers an incident when he was eight or nine: his brother and older boys, including a hulking teen nicknamed the Ox, drank stolen beer and mocked Ted’s accent. The Ox taunted Ted about his sexuality, and when Ted’s brother retorted, the Ox lunged. Ted impulsively threw a full beer can, shouting “DON’T TOUCH MY BROTHER!”, striking the Ox but triggering a brutal beating. Ted describes the reckless brutality of young men, concluding that the most dangerous animal is a young man.

Afterward, Ted’s brother brought him grilled cheese and worried only about being reported for stealing beer. Their mother later told a friend that boys are supposed to fight and view porn, reinforcing Ted’s sense that male violence is expected. The narrative affirms that Ted has been frightened all his life.

The scene returns to the present: Ted lies on the pavement by the train station, being kicked by two men who lured him away after Louisa left the train. His pain dulls under adrenaline, echoing past trauma, including his later stabbing as a teacher. Then a cry pierces the haze—one of the attackers, shocked rather than pained, as if facing a more dangerous animal.

Louisa charges from the darkness wielding a metal pipe. Fighting with fierce instinct reminiscent of Joar, she breaks one man’s arm and smashes the other’s calves, dropping him. The pipe clatters to the ground as Louisa shouts, “RUN!”

Louisa drags the staggering Ted up the steps, through the turnstile, and onto the platform. They arrive just in time to see the taillights of their train disappearing into the night, carrying away the painting, the ashes, and Ted’s suitcase.