Chapter 25: Rune — 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.

Summary {#summary}

The chapter opens with Rune crouched beneath an abandoned card table in the crowded hall, her heart pounding and her face flushed. She has just cast a Ghost Walker spell that renders her invisible, leaving only a crimson moth signature fluttering beside her head as the sole trace of her magic. From her hiding spot, she watches Gideon push through dancers and card players, searching for her. She cannot see the police officers but assumes they are still in the room, and she hopes her spell will hold until the staff clears the tables at the end of the night.

As she waits, Rune's thoughts return to the kiss she and Gideon shared. What began as a way to shore up their facade quickly descended into something more intense, and Rune admits to herself that she lost control, overcome by the sensation of his touch. For a brief moment, she believed Gideon felt the same craving she did. But then something shifted: while Rune softened, Gideon stiffened. She read his reaction as unmistakable revulsion, and she concludes that the moment he remembered what she truly is — a witch — he could not override his disgust. Even if he is attracted to her, she believes she repulses him.

Rune reflects bitterly on the cruel irony that, of all the boys in the world, she has fallen in love with the one who could never love her back. She wishes she could simply shoot these feelings dead, but she cannot.

When Gideon strides out of the hall, Rune breathes easier — until Abbie follows him out. Knowing now that the two old friends were never merely friends, Rune's chest tightens. Watching them, she concludes from their inability to stay apart that one or both of them want to be more than friends again.

Rune closes her eyes and makes a decision: she may not be able to kill her feelings, but she can run from them. Crawling out from beneath the card table, she creeps through the boisterous room, unseen, heading for the boiler rooms to finish what she started — this time without Gideon stopping her.

Key Events {#key-events}

Rune hides beneath an abandoned card table, invisible thanks to her Ghost Walker spell, with only a crimson moth signature marking her presence.
She observes Gideon searching the crowd for her, while she remains hidden.
Rune revisits the memory of their kiss, recalling how it began as a facade but escalated until she lost control.
She interprets Gideon's stiffening and pulling away as disgust triggered by the reminder that she is a witch.
Rune acknowledges her love for Gideon and the impossibility of it being reciprocated.
Gideon leaves the hall, and Abbie follows him out, prompting Rune to conclude that one or both of them want to rekindle their relationship.
Rune decides she cannot kill her feelings but can run from them, and she crawls out to head for the boiler rooms to complete her mission — this time without Gideon's interference.

Character Development {#character-development}

Rune — This chapter is a turning point for Rune's emotional arc. She is forced to confront the depth of her feelings for Gideon and the painful reality that those feelings are, in her view, hopeless. Her interpretation of Gideon's reaction — that he pulled away in disgust because she is a witch — reveals her deep-seated shame about her identity. She does not question that his revulsion is about her witch nature; she accepts it as fact. This internalized shame is a significant part of her character, shaping how she sees herself and how she expects others to see her.

Her decision to run from her feelings rather than confront them is also revealing. She is pragmatic — she knows she cannot simply stop loving him — but she chooses avoidance as her coping mechanism. This is consistent with her broader pattern of prioritizing her mission over her personal desires. The chapter ends with her recommitting to that mission, but now with a heavier emotional burden.

Gideon — Though he appears only briefly in this chapter, his actions drive Rune's emotional crisis. His search for her through the crowd suggests he is concerned about her, but Rune's interpretation of his earlier reaction colors everything. The chapter does not give us his perspective, so we only see him through Rune's wounded lens. His decision to leave the hall, followed by Abbie, reinforces Rune's belief that he is moving toward a reunion with his former love.

Abbie — She appears only in passing, but her presence is significant. By following Gideon out of the hall, she becomes the catalyst for Rune's conclusion that the two old friends want to rekindle their relationship. Abbie's role here is largely symbolic — she represents the obstacle between Rune and Gideon, and the reason Rune believes her love is impossible.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs {#themes-symbols-motifs}

Unrequited Love and Self-Doubt — The central theme of this chapter is Rune's conviction that her love for Gideon is one-sided and doomed. Her certainty that he could never love her back stems not from anything he has said, but from her own belief that her witch identity makes her repulsive to him. This theme is explored through her internal monologue, which oscillates between longing and resignation.

Witch Identity and Shame — Rune's shame about being a witch is the emotional core of the chapter. She interprets Gideon's reaction through this lens, assuming that his disgust is a direct response to her true nature. This theme connects to the broader story's exploration of how witches are perceived and how that perception affects Rune's sense of self-worth.

Hiding and Running — The chapter is built around the motif of hiding. Rune physically hides beneath a table, invisible to everyone, and she metaphorically hides from her feelings by deciding to run from them. The Ghost Walker spell that makes her unseen is a literal manifestation of her desire to disappear — to escape the painful reality of her situation.

The Crimson Moth Signature — The crimson moth that flutters beside Rune's head is the only trace of her spell. It serves as a symbol of her presence — she is there, even when unseen — and of her magic, which is both her power and the source of her shame. The moth is a delicate, fleeting marker, much like her hope that her feelings might be reciprocated.

The Boiler Rooms as a Destination — Rune's decision to head for the boiler rooms represents her recommitment to her mission. It is a place of machinery and heat, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil of the ballroom. Her journey there is a deliberate choice to bury her feelings in action, to channel her pain into purpose.

Why This Chapter Matters {#why-this-chapter-matters}

Chapter 25 is a pivotal emotional turning point in Rebel Witch. It crystallizes Rune's feelings for Gideon and, more importantly, her belief that those feelings are hopeless. This chapter establishes the central romantic conflict of the story: Rune loves someone who, in her mind, can never love her back because of what she is.

The chapter also deepens our understanding of Rune's internal struggle. Her shame about being a witch is not just a plot point — it is a deeply personal wound that shapes her decisions and her self-perception. Her choice to run from her feelings rather than confront them sets up the emotional stakes for the remainder of the story.

Finally, the chapter ends with Rune recommitting to her mission, but now with a heavier heart. This sets the stage for the next chapter, where she will presumably attempt to complete what she started — but the emotional weight she carries may change how she approaches it.

Study Questions and Answers {#study-questions}

1. Why does Rune interpret Gideon's reaction to their kiss as disgust, and what does this reveal about her?

Rune believes Gideon stiffened and pulled away because he remembered she is a witch and was repulsed by that knowledge. This interpretation reveals her deep-seated shame about her identity. She does not consider other explanations — such as confusion, surprise, or internal conflict on Gideon's part — because her self-image is so heavily shaped by the belief that being a witch makes her unlovable. Her assumption is a reflection of her own internalized prejudice, not necessarily of Gideon's true feelings.

2. What role does Abbie play in this chapter, and how does her presence affect Rune's decision?

Abbie's presence is brief but decisive. When she follows Gideon out of the hall, Rune immediately concludes that the two old friends want to rekindle their relationship. This conclusion reinforces Rune's belief that her love for Gideon is impossible and gives her a concrete reason to run from her feelings. Abbie serves as the catalyst that pushes Rune from longing into action — specifically, the action of abandoning her emotional hopes and returning to her mission.

3. How does the Ghost Walker spell and the crimson moth signature function symbolically in this chapter?

The Ghost Walker spell makes Rune invisible, which is a literal representation of her desire to hide — both from the police and from her own feelings. The crimson moth signature is the only trace of her presence, symbolizing that even when she tries to disappear, her magic and her identity remain. The moth is delicate and fleeting, much like her hope that Gideon might love her. Together, the spell and the moth illustrate the tension between Rune's desire to vanish and the inescapable reality of who she is.