Chapter 42: Kate
Contains spoilers
Summary
- Kate feels intense fear, assuming her pursuer, Simon, has located her because of an email.
- Her phone receives a sequence of threatening messages implying that Simon will see her soon.
- She experiences a moment of paralysis but snaps back to reality when her baby kicks.
- Her senses become heightened, taking in the intense colors and sounds around her as she prepares to defend herself.
- Kate secures her home quickly by drawing curtains and bolting doors, even though she doubts their effectiveness against Simon.
- Feeling trapped without a car, she considers calling the police or her friend Emily but worries they won't arrive in time.
- She decides to hide in the attic and gathers supplies: water, fruit, her phone, candles, and matches.
- Struggling with the weight, she drags a ladder into the house to access the attic trapdoor.
- With difficulty due to her pregnancy, Kate manages to climb into the attic, cutting her hand in the process.
- Her brief moment of relief is interrupted by the sounds of Simon's car arriving and knocking at the door.
- Regretting not calling Emily earlier, she hears Simon trying to get in and realizes she left the back door unlocked.
- Panic sets in when she thinks of the ladder being visible to Simon, which could reveal her hiding spot.
- She calms herself and decides to pull the ladder up into the attic to conceal her location.
- With the blood rushing to her head and in spite of the pain, she successfully pulls the ladder inside and closes the attic trapdoor.
- The chapter concludes with Kate in the attic, hearing the back door open as Simon enters her house.