Chapter 35 Summary: The Death of Paul

⚠️ 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

Paul regains consciousness on the control-room floor after being knocked out. He searches for Hannah via camera feeds, seeing most participants have fled. He spots a figure dressed as the old miner Waylon Barlow, believing it is Hannah in costume. Paul retrieves his electric stun baton and confronts the figure, but the flesh mask proves real. Barlow stabs Paul’s shoulder with a pickaxe. Paul escapes into the secret room, but Barlow pursues him, smashing monitors. After a struggle, Paul ends up in the water feature. Barlow retrieves the stun baton and electrifies Paul, then impales him on an amethyst crystal. Paul dies as Pax’s consciousness leaves the body.

Key Events

Paul wakes up injured from a previous blow to the face.
He reviews camera feeds; all yurts are empty, participants have left.
Paul blames Kimi for betraying him and decides to find Hannah.
He sees a figure in a Waylon Barlow costume flip off the camera.
Paul retrieves his stun baton, believing the figure is Hannah.
He confronts the figure; the flesh mask is revealed to be real.
Barlow stabs Paul in the shoulder with a pickaxe.
Paul escapes to the secret room; Barlow breaks in, destroying equipment.
Paul is thrown against a mirror, falls into the water feature.
Paul challenges Barlow to a fistfight; Barlow drops the pickaxe but picks up the stun baton.
Barlow electrocutes Paul in the water.
Paul is impaled on an amethyst crystal through the mouth.
Paul dies; his consciousness is described as transcending.

Character Development

Paul: Meets a violent end. His arrogance and deceit are exposed as he fails to control the retreat. His death shows his vulnerability—he clings to his “empath” persona yet is helpless against a genuine threat.
Waylon Barlow (the killer): Remains a mysterious, possibly supernatural entity. The real flesh mask confirms that this is no costume or delusion; Barlow is a tangible, lethal presence.
Hannah: Not directly present, but Paul’s obsession with finding her leads him into the trap. Her absence raises questions about her role and mental state.
Pax: Mentioned at the end as the consciousness that transcends. This suggests a split identity or multiple consciousnesses, likely connected to Hannah’s disorder.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Reality vs. Performance: Paul initially dismisses the Barlow figure as a Spirit Halloween costume, but the real skin and decay force him to accept grim reality.
Water and Electricity: The water feature becomes a death trap. Paul’s immersion in water (a symbol of cleansing or the subconscious) combined with electrocution emphasizes his failure to purify his motives.
The Amethyst Crystal / Crown Chakra: Representing spiritual transcendence, the crystal that kills Paul also “opens” his crown chakra, implying a twisted spiritual liberation through violent death.
Empathy as a Shield: Paul’s boast “I’m an empath” is his final plea, but it fails to protect him, undercutting the theme of emotional manipulation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter delivers a pivotal turning point: the death of the retreat leader Paul. His demise removes the central antagonist of the wellness retreat, but leaves many questions unanswered—Who is the real Barlow? What happens to the remaining participants? The chapter escalates the horror from psychological manipulation to supernatural violence, setting the stage for the finale’s resolution of multiple plot threads.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Paul initially believe the Waylon Barlow figure is Hannah in a costume? Paul sees a figure in an obvious costume and thinks it’s Hannah because he has already labeled her a “psycho” from her file. He assumes her multiple personalities are acting out, and the retreat’s collapse has pushed her into a delusional state.

2. What is the significance of the amethyst crystal at the end of the chapter? The crystal is a decorative centerpiece of the water feature, but it also represents spiritual healing and the crown chakra. Paul’s impalement on the crystal, described as “transcending this earthly realm,” ironically completes a spiritual opening through murder, transforming a symbol of peace into an instrument of death.

3. How does the chapter contrast Paul’s self-image with his actual behavior? Paul views himself as a powerful, empathetic leader who controls the retreat. Yet he drinks whiskey while injured, calls participants “crazies,” and uses force (stun baton) to assert dominance. His death exposes the gap between his performative empathy and his ruthless, manipulative nature.