Leave Me Behind Chapter 5: Kapitel 4 – A Brutal Welcome to Malum

Spoiler Notice

This summary contains full spoilers for Chapter 5 (Kapitel 4) of Leave Me Behind. If you haven’t read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Chapters 1–4 brought Nell to her new assignment after the destruction of her old squad, Riøt. Now she arrives at the Malum base, still reeling from an awkward one-night stand with a man she later learns is Bradshaw—a member of the same unit she’s joining. The chapter opens with Nell fuming in her hotel room, cursing her new code name “Bunny.” She walks onto the base, putting on the cold, unfeeling mask her mentor Jenkins taught her.

Inside the briefing room, the entire Malum squad is waiting: Eren (the Sergeant), Jefferson (Jobs), Pete (Badger), Ian (Colt), Harrison (Wasp), and Bradshaw himself. Eren introduces everyone and assigns code names; Nell’s is “Bunny,” a deliberate humiliation. Worse, Bradshaw is revealed to be “Bones,” the legendary, fearsome soldier whose identity is usually secret. The squad openly mocks Nell, blaming her for the death of their teammate Achilles because Riøt failed to show at a checkpoint. Nell pushes back, threatening them with her skills as a former executioner. Eren announces a month-long training mission in California to test Nell’s fit. Despite the hostility, Nell resolves to stay, to avenge her fallen team and earn Malum’s respect. She begins mentally cataloguing each squad member’s weaknesses and strengths.

Key Events

Nell wakes from a restless sleep, upset about the nickname “Bunny” and the encounter with Bradshaw.
She enters the military base, using the “cold-bitch” expression Jenkins taught her to deflect scrutiny.
The Malum squad assembles; Eren introduces everyone. Nell learns Bradshaw’s code name is Bones.
Nell objects to the code name “Bunny” but is forced to accept it after Eren implies she would reject the team’s choice.
The squad verbally abuses Nell, calling her a survivor of a dead squad and implying she is to blame for Achilles’ death.
Nell physically retaliates, shoving Bradshaw off his chair, but Eren breaks up the fight.
Eren reveals that Nell will undergo a full month of training with the squad in California.
Nell confronts Pete about the hostility; he spells out the squad’s resentment: Riøt’s failure cost them Achilles.
Nell threatens the squad with her expertise in executing traitors, reminding them that Riøt used black bullets to kill even Dark Forces members.
She storms off to the women’s shower alone, questioning how she will survive this assignment.

Character Development

Nell / Bunny – Nell shows resilience and a strategic mind. She refrains from showing weakness, despite her anger and shame. She uses Jenkins’ lessons to mask her emotions and begins analyzing each squad member’s physical traits and potential weaknesses. Her desire to avenge her old squad gives her a concrete goal.

Bradshaw / Bones – Bradshaw remains silent and hostile, refusing even to look at Nell. He is physically intimidating and lives up to the terrifying reputation of Bones. His personal grudge against Nell (because of Achilles) complicates any possible connection from their night together.

Eren – Eren walks a line between authority and passive cruelty. He assigns the demeaning code name, allows the squad to haze Nell, and subtly suggests she might wash out. Yet he also stops the fight and insists on fair training, showing he follows protocol even if he doesn’t welcome her.

The squad (Jefferson, Pete, Ian, Harrison) – They act as a unified front of mockery and contempt. Pete (Badger) shows a flicker of curiosity but quickly falls back on the group’s hostility. Jefferson (Jobs) is the most aggressive, directly blaming Nell for Achilles’ death.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Code Names as Power – The squad forces the degrading name “Bunny” on Nell to strip her of agency and highlight her outsider status. Code names in Dark Forces define identity; Bones’ name carries terror, while Bunny is meant to belittle.
Survivor’s Guilt and Blame – Nell is the sole survivor of Riøt, and Malum treats her as a traitor or liability. The loss of Achilles hangs over the chapter—a fallen soldier whose death the squad attributes to Riøt’s failure.
Institutional Toxicity – The military culture in Dark Forces encourages hazing and emotional brutality as a way to test loyalty. Eren’s statement about “washing out” reveals that the system is designed to break newcomers.
Mental Cataloguing – Nell’s habit of memorizing details about her teammates is both a survival tactic and a way to maintain control in a hostile environment. It hints at her analytical, unyielding nature.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the central conflict of Nell’s new assignment: a team that despises her, a partner who shares an intimate secret, and a mission that remains classified. It deepens the mystery of Achilles’ death and the Patagonia incident mentioned by General Nolan. Nell’s determination to stay and avenge Riøt sets up her character arc for the rest of the book. The training month in California will test both her combat skills and her psychological endurance.

Study Questions

Why does Eren allow the squad to humiliate Nell with the code name “Bunny”? What does this reveal about his leadership style?
Answer: Eren likely uses the hazing as a test—he wants to see if Nell can withstand the pressure. By not intervening, he signals that the squad’s cohesion matters more than Nell’s comfort. His leadership is pragmatic, not compassionate.
How does Nell’s response to the squad’s hostility differ from what her mentor Jenkins would have recommended?
Answer: Jenkins taught Nell to show no emotion and avoid escalating conflict. However, Nell threatens the squad and physically shoves Bradshaw, acting on impulse. This shows she still struggles to fully internalize Jenkins’ lessons when provoked.
What role does Achilles play in the squad’s resentment? How might his death connect to the larger mission in Patagonia?
Answer: Achilles was a beloved Malum member who died because Riøt failed to provide backup at a checkpoint. The squad blames Nell by association. The Patagonia incident likely involves the same mission or organization, making Nell’s inclusion in Malum a way to resolve unfinished business.