The Butcher's Masquerade
by Matt Dinniman
Contents
Chapter 71
Overview
Lucia abruptly shifts between a frightened childlike persona and her usual violent self, and Florin reveals that multiple real children may be trapped inside her mind. He says the true threat is a dog linked to Alexandro that can still control Lucia from afar, changing Carl’s approach from confronting Lucia to capturing the dog. When Carl presses Zev for answers about the apparent presence of child crawlers, Zev refuses to explain, and Ferdinand’s sudden arrival raises the tension again.
Summary
Carl and the others whirl around when they see Florin standing over a sobbing Lucia with his hands on her shoulders. Carl, Imani, Katia, and Elle move to stop what looks like an attack, but Lucia unexpectedly throws herself into Florin’s arms. Florin comforts her and insists they must keep Lucia safe at all costs, immediately signaling that he believes something far stranger is happening.
While Lucia clings to him, Florin says that other people are "in there with her." Lucia speaks in a different accent and says she wants her mother, which convinces Carl that her behavior has changed completely. Then the shift reverses in an instant: Lucia regains her usual hostile swagger, shoves Florin away, insults him, and threatens violence. Carl recognizes the abrupt personality switch from Lucia’s earlier fight with Donut, confirming that this is not simple moodiness but a dramatic internal change.
Lucia then fixates on Donut and declares that Donut is still marked for death because of Cici, promising blood for blood before limping back toward the buffet and demanding tequila. Florin warns everyone to leave Lucia alone, trying to prevent the situation from escalating. Elle voices the group’s confusion, and Florin uses chat to explain what he has learned: there are multiple people inside Lucia’s head, including a ten-year-old Dutch girl named Jill, and Florin believes they are real children rather than a scam.
Florin adds that the situation is connected to the dog and someone named Alexandro. According to Florin, the dog can still control Lucia from a distance in short bursts, so the group’s real objective must be capturing the dog rather than killing Lucia. Shocked, Carl demands an explanation from Zev, especially because the syndicate claimed children were not allowed to be crawlers. Zev refuses to discuss it and only warns Carl that something is coming. A moment later Ferdinand suddenly appears at Carl’s shoulder and mockingly asks if Carl is feeling okay, and Carl immediately signals Samantha to act while Ferdinand is distracted.
Who Appears
- CarlNarrator who witnesses Lucia's shifts, questions Florin, presses Zev, and reacts to Ferdinand's arrival.
- LuciaViolently unstable crawler who switches between personas, including a frightened child, and renews her threat against Donut.
- FlorinProtects Lucia and reveals that multiple real children may be inside her mind, controlled through the dog.
- DonutAppears at Carl's shoulder and becomes the focus of Lucia's vow of revenge for Cici.
- ZevRefuses to explain the child-crawler mystery when Carl confronts her, offering only a warning.
- FerdinandSuddenly appears beside Carl and mockingly distracts him at the chapter's end.
- JillTen-year-old Dutch girl whom Florin says is one of the real children trapped inside Lucia.