After two quiet hours hiding in Grave’s rooms, Genevieve passed time by rearranging Grave’s closet, folding paper into swans, and removing hairpins, while Rowin grew silent after their Two Truths and a Lie game revealed family details, including that Grave was their mother’s favorite. Genevieve noted her exhaustion and anxiety as she prepared to leave the bathroom.

Rowin suddenly rushed in with Umbra, signaling danger. He instructed Umbra to create a distraction and told Genevieve to run when Grave entered, emphasizing not to get cornered because the first room switch was imminent. Hearing Grave at the door and the trap chains rattle, Rowin cut away Genevieve’s cumbersome skirts with a razor so she could move.

Umbra lured Grave into the hall, and Rowin drew him farther away. Genevieve slipped out, but when she spoke to Umbra, Grave’s attention snapped to her and he grinned. She sprinted through the foyer with Grave in pursuit and dove into the dining room, circling the table to keep it between them. Grave leapt onto and over the table, knocking a fruit bowl to the floor and cornering her.

As Grave taunted her and raised the Hunting Blade, Genevieve grabbed an apple to block the dagger’s thrust, momentarily slowing him and saving herself from the blow, though she was trapped against the table. Rowin appeared in the archway, exchanging barbs with Grave about their grandmother and mother. At Genevieve’s prompt, Rowin had her shift left, then vaulted the table.

Rowin struck Grave, locked an arm around his neck, and choked him until Grave turned blue. Grave stabbed Rowin through the bicep with the Hunting Blade, but Rowin did not flinch; he pulled the blade from his arm, hissed in pain as if burned, and hurled it across the hall and out a window, shattering glass. He released Grave just as four tolling bells sounded through the house.