Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

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

(Note: The chapter is numbered Chapter 6 in the book, but it is the seventh chapter in the overall structure, hence the page URL uses chapter-7-summary. This is a common discrepancy in books with prologues or interleaved chapters. The content is the same.)

Now, let's begin with a chronological summary of the events.

Summary

After leaving the club, Iris turns off airplane mode and is flooded with missed calls and messages from her mother, Cate. She immediately calls back, apologizing profusely, and Cate's panic is palpable—she almost called the police. Iris reassures her they are heading home. As they walk to the Tube, Vivi criticizes Iris for being too close to their mother, and Iris defends herself, explaining that she is all Cate has left and must be everything for her. Vivi places a comforting hand on Iris's back, and they board the Northern Line to Golders Green.

On the train, Iris feels exposed in her short dress, and she notices a strange reflection in the window—two Irises joined at the skull, a distorted image that unsettles her. They walk home along the main road, a route chosen for its brightness and safety, but tonight they check behind them frequently, aware of the stalker's presence. Iris realizes the man knows her running route, her school, Vivi's show, and their home. Once inside, they lock up, change out of Grey's gossamer clothes into pajamas, and eat pasta left by Cate. Grey still hasn't responded to calls or messages, so they decide to wait until morning before contacting the police.

While eating, Iris asks Vivi why they are so strange and whether the skull-masked man is connected to their childhood trauma. Vivi deflects, saying it's time for bed. Iris follows Vivi to her old bedroom, crawls in beside her, and presses her fingers to Vivi's pulse—a childhood habit that helped her sleep. She silently prays for Grey. At dawn, Iris wakes, messages her mother, checks her Find Friends app, and runs through Hampstead Heath, avoiding the wooded area where she saw the man. She runs until it hurts, holding her phone, hoping for a message from Grey.

At breakfast, Cate is cooking in her scrubs, and Vivi is lounging on the kitchen island. Cate dismisses worries about Grey, saying Grey can look after herself. Iris recalls the night Grey left home four years ago: after months of conflict, Grey came home drunk and vomited, Cate grounded her, and Grey choked Cate against the wall, whispering something that made Cate snap. Cate slapped Grey so hard her lip split, and ordered her to leave and never return. Grey packed and left, and they haven't spoken since. Vivi decides to delay her flight to Budapest and contact Grey's agent after nine.

Key Events

Iris discovers seven missed calls and a dozen messages from Cate, and calls her back, apologizing.
Vivi and Iris argue about Iris's closeness to their mother, with Iris saying she must be everything for Cate.
They take the Northern Line to Golders Green and walk home on the main road, checking behind them.
Iris realizes the stalker knows her running route, school, Vivi's show, and their home.
At home, they lock up, change, and eat pasta; Grey still hasn't responded, so they decide to wait until morning.
Iris asks Vivi about their strangeness and the skull-masked man, but Vivi deflects.
Iris sleeps beside Vivi, pressing her fingers to Vivi's pulse.
At dawn, Iris runs through Hampstead Heath, avoiding the wooded area.
At breakfast, Cate dismisses worries about Grey, and Iris recalls the night Grey left home after a violent confrontation.
Vivi plans to delay her flight and contact Grey's agent.

Character Development

Iris is the emotional center of this chapter. Her guilt over worrying her mother is immediate and visceral—she apologizes repeatedly, and even calls Cate