Chapter summaries Amari and the Great Game B.B. Alston

Chapter 28: Summoning Thomas Fletcher

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Amari and Elsie share a warm lunch in the food court, where Elsie excitedly describes her weekend in London and the offer of her own Inventor Lab from Director Ansers. Amari genuinely supports her friend’s transfer, despite the bittersweet feeling of losing a safety net. Later, alone for dinner, Amari spots Julia Farsight, a medium from the Department of the Dead, and convinces her to help contact a ghost from the Ancient War era: Thomas Fletcher. Julia agrees in exchange for a waffle.

That night, Amari and Elsie break curfew using the service elevator Mischief, promising a favor in return. They meet Julia in the constantly shifting lobby, now a spooky forest. Inside the visitation booth, Julia dials a ghostly phone. After a failed attempt that summons a big bad wolf, she successfully contacts Thomas Fletcher, who initially refuses to speak. However, upon learning it’s Amari Peters—the girl who stopped Dylan Van Helsing—he agrees. Thomas reveals that Dylan visited him last summer, tricked him, and used a spell called “Dreamcatcher” to steal the memory of the first time freeze directly from his mind. Thomas cannot remember what he told Dylan.

Key Events

  • Elsie tells Amari about her weekend offer from Director Ansers, and Amari expresses genuine happiness for her.
  • Amari recruits Julia Farsight as a medium, bargaining with a waffle.
  • Amari and Elsie use the service elevator Mischief to break curfew, promising a favor.
  • The Department of the Dead lobby appears as a dark, dangerous forest.
  • Julia attempts to contact Thomas Fletcher; first she accidentally summons a fairy-tale wolf.
  • Julia reaches Thomas, who initially refuses to talk but changes his mind when he learns it’s Amari.
  • Thomas reveals that Dylan Van Helsing contacted him the previous summer, claimed to be investigating Moreau, and stole Thomas’s memory of the first time freeze using a spell called “Dreamcatcher”.
  • Thomas can no longer recall what he told Dylan.

Character Development

  • Amari: Shows emotional growth by truly supporting Elsie’s departure, acknowledging her own over-dependence. Also demonstrates resourcefulness and courage by recruiting Julia and breaking curfew for the investigation.
  • Elsie: Confirms her excitement about leaving and reassures Amari they will stay in touch. Her presence on the investigation highlights her loyalty even as she prepares to transfer.
  • Julia Farsight: Portrayed as quirky, sleepy, and helpful, with a professional comfort around the dead. Her ability to contact a 700-year-old ghost shows her competence as a medium.
  • Thomas Fletcher: A tragic figure who trusted the wrong person. His guilt over being tricked by Dylan underscores the theme of deception.
  • Dylan Van Helsing: Even absent, his manipulative actions continue to drive the plot. He used a spell to steal memories, showing he is methodical and dangerous.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

  • Deception and Trust: Thomas trusted Dylan because of the Van Helsing family name. The motif of being tricked by an apparently good person recurs, echoing earlier betrayals.
  • Memory as Power: The spell “Dreamcatcher” allows Dylan to steal memories, making recollection a tangible resource. The first time freeze memory is a target, emphasizing that knowledge of the past can change the present.
  • Friendship and Letting Go: Amari and Elsie’s lunch scene explores the theme of growing apart while remaining connected. Amari’s willingness to let Elsie pursue her dreams signals maturity.
  • The Underworld Journey: The visit to the Department of the Dead—with its shifting creepy environment—symbolizes a descent into mystery and danger, mirroring Amari’s investigative quest.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter provides a critical plot revelation: Dylan already possesses the memory of the first time freeze. It raises the stakes because Dylan now knows details that Amari lacks. The introduction of “Dreamcatcher” as a powerful magic tool adds a new layer to the world-building. Additionally, Amari’s emotional arc deepens as she balances friendship with her mission. The chapter also sets up the coming confrontation with Dylan, as the stolen memory likely contains the key to his plans.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Thomas Fletcher initially refuse to speak, and what changes his mind?
    Thomas refuses because he has already told his story twice and feels tricked. He changes his mind only when he realizes the caller is Amari Peters, the girl who stopped Dylan Van Helsing—someone he considers a greater threat than Moreau.

  2. What is the significance of the spell “Dreamcatcher” in this chapter?
    “Dreamcatcher” is a spell that allows the caster to steal a memory directly from a person’s mind. Dylan used it on Thomas to take the memory of the first time freeze, meaning Dylan now holds information that Amari desperately needs.

  3. How does Amari’s attitude toward Elsie’s transfer reflect her character growth?
    Earlier, Amari relied heavily on Elsie as a safety net. In this chapter, she tells Elsie she deserves her dreams and shouldn’t give them up because of a friend who depends too much. This shows Amari is learning to be less codependent and more supportive.

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