Later Chapter 64: Aftermath – Jamie Calls for Help
⚠️ 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
After Liz Dutton’s fall, Jamie Conklin collapses in a chair by the conversation pit, sobbing in relief and horror. He notes the bodies of Liz and Donald Marsden, plus the “leftovers” (the dead people he can see, including Marsden and Teddy). He forces himself to stop laughing, then shuts the front door to keep out the revenant of Therriault. He retrieves Liz’s phone from her pocket and calls 911, identifying himself as a kidnapped child at Donald Marsden’s house. He tells the dispatcher there are two dead people: Marsden murdered by Liz, and Liz who fell down the stairs. He then calls his mother, Tia, omitting the deadlight. When police arrive, flashlights center on him. A female officer kneels and asks if he is alone. Jamie lies and says yes, even though the dead leftovers of Liz, Marsden, and Teddy are still visible to him.
Key Events
- Jamie sobs in the conversation pit, overwhelmed by survival.
- He shuts the front door to block Therriault’s revenant.
- He retrieves Liz’s phone using the passcode 2665.
- He calls 911 and reports the deaths.
- He calls his mother and tells a sanitized version (Liz tripped and broke her neck).
- He observes Marsden’s corpse standing by the wall.
- Police arrive after 25 minutes; Jamie is found alone in the dark.
- Jamie falsely claims he is the only person in the house.
Character Development
- Jamie Conklin: Shows maturity under pressure. He calms down enough to make strategic calls, lies to protect his secret, and resists the temptation to whistle for the deadlight. His tears mix horror, hysteria, and joy at being alive.
- Liz Dutton (post-mortem): Even dead, she gives Jamie practical advice (“Call your mother”) and reveals her passcode. Her disinterested tone highlights the emotional flatness of the newly dead.
- Donald Marsden: Appears as a silent revenant, a reminder of violence and the supernatural consequences of the story.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Survival vs. Horror: Jamie’s relief at being alive outweighs his fear of the corpses and leftovers. The chapter contrasts physical safety with ongoing psychological trauma.
- Lies and Secrecy: Jamie deliberately hides the deadlight from his mother and the police. The lie “I’m the only one here” protects his sanity and his family.
- The Dead as Witnesses: Liz, Marsden, and Teddy remain present as leftovers. Their silent observation underscores that Jamie can never fully escape the supernatural world.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 64 is the immediate aftermath of the climax. It transitions from active danger to the beginning of recovery, but also shows the cost of Jamie’s gift: he must continue living with the dead. The call to 911 and the police scene set up the official story, while Jamie’s lie plants a secret that will carry into the final chapters.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jamie decide not to use the panic room’s landline? Jamie refuses to go back upstairs into the panic room, even for a million dollars. He is traumatized by what happened there and cannot face returning to the site of Marsden’s death and the confrontation with Liz.
2. How does Jamie alter the truth when talking to his mother? He tells Tia that Liz tripped while chasing him and broke her neck. He omits any mention of the deadlight, the revenants, or his own supernatural vision. He does this to prevent his mother from experiencing nightmares like his own.
3. What is the significance of Jamie claiming he is “the only one here” to the police? Jamie lies because he can see three dead leftovers (Liz, Marsden, Teddy) standing around him. Admitting he sees the dead would make him seem insane or complicate the investigation. The lie preserves his normal life and protects the secret of his ability.