The Book of Lost Hours
by Hayley Gelfuso
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
Amelia reenters the time space to find Ernest Duquesne’s memories and instead discovers Anton Stepanov alive inside, in possession of the blue flower-stamped book. Her flight triggers a near-fatal encounter with a crumbling section of shelves and a whispering chasm, and Anton saves her only for Amelia to attack and escape in terror.
Moira comforts Amelia and reveals the chasm may have formed around the time Lisavet Levy disappeared, suggesting a deeper rupture in the time space. When Moira tries to pull Amelia out of danger, Jack overrules her and demands Amelia return for one final attempt.
Summary
In 1965 Boston, Amelia returns to the time space the night after visiting James Gravel, determined to find her uncle Ernest Duquesne’s memories even if she must witness his death. She enters armed with a kitchen knife, immediately confronted again by the strange, talkative memory who teases her about the weapon and refuses to directly help. When Amelia demands his identity, he says he is called Azrael and advises her to listen because “memories talk.”
Amelia focuses on the shelves and begins hearing a distant, collective whispering that seems to pull her deeper into the stacks. Following it, she rounds a corner and spots Anton Stepanov—alive, solid, and carefully wrapping a battered dark-blue book with a flower stamped on the cover. After Anton leaves the aisle, Amelia grabs the book, but Anton quickly returns and catches her holding it.
Terrified by what she believes Anton did to Ernest, Amelia bolts with the book as Anton shouts for her to stop and warns her about where she is running. The time space around her deteriorates into dust and gaps; she nearly runs off the edge of a hidden chasm as the whispering rises from below. Amelia drops the book and knife and would have fallen, but Anton grabs her and drags her back to safety, injuring her shoulder in the process.
Instead of trusting him, Amelia attacks. Anton disarms her with practiced skill, knocking the knife into the abyss, and demands an explanation. Amelia accuses Anton of killing Ernest; Anton seems genuinely confused but then recognizes her name—“You are Amelia”—which shocks her into renewed panic. She knees him, shoves him away, and escapes through the door out of the time space, collapsing in sobs as midnight chimes in the house.
Moira finds Amelia crying and, unexpectedly gentle, comforts her. Amelia tells Moira she saw Anton and that Anton has the book. Later, Moira gives Amelia tea (and herself whiskey), admits she knows about the chasm, and says theories suggest it is a hole in the space-time continuum that appeared around the time Lisavet Levy vanished. After Amelia falls asleep, Moira calls Jack to stop the mission; Jack agrees Amelia should stop after tomorrow, but calls in Fred and insists Amelia must go back into the time space one more time.
Who Appears
- AmeliaErnest’s niece; enters the time space, finds the blue book, panics, and escapes Anton.
- MoiraTRP director; comforts Amelia, explains the chasm, and confronts Jack over Amelia’s safety.
- Anton StepanovRussian man in the time space; possesses the blue book, saves Amelia from a chasm, recognizes her.
- JackTRP power figure; pressures Moira and insists Amelia must reenter the time space once more.
- AzraelA strange, self-aware memory; advises Amelia to listen because “memories talk.”
- FredJack’s nearby security; summoned as Jack prepares new plans involving Amelia.
- Ernest DuquesneAmelia’s uncle; his room and memories motivate Amelia, and Anton is accused of killing him.
- James GravelMan Amelia visited the day before; referenced as context for Amelia’s renewed investigation.