Chapter 35: Amelia — Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

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

Chapter 35 Summary

In the immediate aftermath of reading the pamphlet and newspaper clippings about October O'Brien, Amelia is determined to leave. She tells Adam they need to find their dog, Bob, and get out of the chapel. Adam, who seems unable to meet her eyes, puts the documents in a kitchen drawer, as if trying to make them disappear. Amelia is not scared; she is angry, convinced that someone is trying to frighten them, and she refuses to believe in ghosts. Adam cautions against jumping to conclusions, but Amelia is resolute: they will find Bob, pack up, and drive away.

Dressed within five minutes, they search the entire chapel again, but there is nowhere left to look except outside. The snow has stopped, and the landscape is transformed. The sky has shifted from black to grey to pale blue, revealing snow-covered mountains, dense forests, and a vast, glassy loch. The old white chapel shines in the early morning sun. Amelia immediately notices the collapsed bell-tower wall, a reminder of the previous night's danger. She worries that Bob might have gotten into the bell tower and fallen through the damaged wall. Adam's blunt response—that Bob would be lying broken in the snow—does little to comfort her.

They begin searching outside in silence. The beauty of the valley is undeniable, but Amelia cannot wait to leave. The snow is deep, and their trainers are quickly soaked, but her worry for Bob overshadows her physical discomfort. In the daylight, they can truly appreciate the isolation and scale of the valley. They do not find Bob, but they do discover the fate of the missing bathtubs: three claw-foot roll-top baths are hidden around the back, filled with heather in shades of pink and purple.

Their discoveries continue. They stumble upon a small graveyard behind the chapel, with elderly headstones almost completely hidden by snow. More unsettling are the dark wooden sculptures dotted around the property: hand-carved rabbits leaping from the frozen ground, an enormous tortoise, and giant wooden owls perched on tree stumps. All the sculptures have huge, hand-chiselled eyes that seem to stare at them, and even the trees have faces carved into them, making it impossible not to feel watched.

After twenty minutes of calling Bob's name and walking in circles, Amelia is desperate. She wonders if someone has taken him. Adam dismisses the idea, pointing out they are in the middle of nowhere. Amelia suggests checking the little thatched cottage they passed on the track. Adam thinks it looked empty, but Amelia argues they could ask for help, use a phone, or see if anyone has spotted Bob. She knows Adam never really wanted a puppy, haunted by childhood memories, but she also knows he loves Bob as much as she does. Adam agrees, taking her hand as they set off.

The walk takes more than fifteen minutes. The cottage is tiny, with whitewashed walls and a thatched roof, almost like a Hobbit house. A large vehicle, possibly an old Land Rover, is parked outside, half-buried in snow. Amelia knocks on the bright red door, but there is no answer. She is nervous, and she could have sworn she heard voices—a radio, perhaps, or someone talking to a child in a hushed tone. She knocks again, harder, but still there is no response.

Adam points out the smoking chimney, indicating someone is inside. He suggests Amelia stay while he takes a quick look around the back. He is gone so long that she starts to worry. When he returns, he looks paler than before. He describes the back of the cottage as overgrown, with an outside toilet and dirty windows. Through a window, he saw a woman inside, sitting next to a fire. He knocked on the window and scared her. He describes the scene: there were candles everywhere, hundreds of them, and the woman looked like a witch casting a spell. Amelia dismisses his fear, attributing the candles to the power cut. But Adam insists, and then he delivers the final detail: the woman had an animal on her lap. Amelia pictures Bob and feels sick, but Adam reveals it was a white rabbit. When the woman saw him, she stared for a long time, then walked right up to the window, still carrying the fat white rabbit, and pulled the curtains shut.

Key Events

Amelia and Adam finish reading the pamphlet and clippings about October O'Brien; Adam hides them in a drawer. - Amelia insists they find Bob and leave immediately, expressing anger rather than fear. - They search the chapel and then the snowy valley in daylight, noticing the collapsed bell-tower wall. - They discover three claw-foot bathtubs filled with heather, a small graveyard, and numerous hand-carved wooden sculptures with staring eyes. - After twenty minutes of searching, Amelia suggests checking the thatched cottage they passed. - They walk to the cottage, which takes over fifteen minutes, and find a Land Rover half-buried in snow outside. - Amelia knocks on the red door but gets no answer, despite hearing faint voices. - Adam investigates around the back and sees a woman inside, surrounded by candles, holding a white rabbit. - The woman notices Adam, stares at him, and then pulls the curtains shut.

Character Development

Amelia is defined by her pragmatism and anger in this chapter. While Adam is hesitant and fearful, Amelia is the driving force, insisting they find Bob and leave. Her anger is a defense mechanism against fear, and she refuses to entertain supernatural explanations. Her deep love for Bob is evident; she compares losing him to losing a child. She is also observant, noting the eerie silence and the feeling of being watched, but she tries to rationalize these feelings. Her determination to seek help at the cottage, despite Adam's reluctance, shows her proactive nature.

Adam is more cautious and easily spooked. He is visibly affected by the pamphlet, unable to look Amelia in the eye. He tries to downplay the danger, but his fear is palpable. His description of the woman as a witch and his pale appearance after seeing her suggest he is deeply unsettled. His love for Bob is also clear, though he hides it well. The chapter highlights the contrast between Amelia's rational anger and Adam's growing unease.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Isolation and Remoteness: The valley is described as one of the most beautiful and unspoilt corners of the world, but also deeply isolated. The lack of birdsong and the unnatural silence amplify the sense of being cut off from civilization.

Feeling Watched: The hand-carved sculptures with their huge, chiselled eyes, and the trees with carved faces, create a pervasive sense of being observed. This motif is reinforced by the woman in the cottage staring at Adam before pulling the curtains shut.

Hidden Secrets and Past: The pamphlet about October O'Brien, the graveyard, and the mysterious woman in the cottage all point to hidden histories and secrets that the characters are only beginning to uncover.

Supernatural Undertones: Adam's description of the woman as a witch casting a spell, surrounded by candles and holding a white rabbit, introduces a supernatural element. Amelia dismisses it, but the imagery lingers.

Symbolism of Animals: Bob, the missing dog, represents love and vulnerability. The white rabbit, held by the mysterious woman, is a symbol of something unknown and possibly sinister. The carved animals—rabbits, tortoise, owls—add to the eerie atmosphere.

Fear vs. Anger: Amelia's anger is a direct contrast to Adam's fear. Her refusal to believe in ghosts is a way of maintaining control in a situation that is rapidly becoming unsettling.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 35 is a pivotal moment in Rock Paper Scissors. It marks the transition from the couple's initial arrival at the chapel to a deeper engagement with the mysteries of the valley. The discovery of the pamphlet about October O'Brien, combined with the eerie sculptures and the mysterious woman in the cottage, raises the stakes and deepens the sense of unease. The chapter also reveals more about Amelia and Adam's relationship, particularly their differing responses to fear and their shared love for Bob. The final image—the woman staring at Adam before pulling the curtains shut—is a chilling cliffhanger that propels the narrative forward, leaving the reader with more questions than answers.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Amelia's reaction to the pamphlet and the situation differ from Adam's, and what does this reveal about their characters?

Amelia reacts with anger and a determination to leave, refusing to believe in ghosts and insisting someone is trying to frighten them. This shows her pragmatic, action-oriented nature. Adam, on the other hand, is more hesitant and fearful, unable to look Amelia in the eye and cautioning against jumping to conclusions. This contrast reveals Amelia as the more rational and decisive of the two, while Adam is more susceptible to fear and uncertainty.

2. What is the significance of the wooden sculptures and the carved faces on the trees?

The sculptures, with their huge, hand-chiselled eyes, and the trees with carved faces, create a pervasive sense of being watched. This motif reinforces the theme of hidden secrets and the idea that the characters are not alone in the valley. The animals—rabbits, tortoise, owls—add to the eerie, almost supernatural atmosphere, making the environment feel hostile and unsettling.

3. Why does Amelia insist on checking the thatched cottage, and what does the encounter there reveal about the mystery?

Amelia insists on checking the cottage because she is desperate to find Bob and hopes the occupants might have seen him or have a phone. The encounter reveals that the cottage is inhabited by a mysterious woman who seems to be hiding something. The woman's appearance—surrounded by candles, holding a white rabbit, and pulling the curtains shut—suggests she is either reclusive, secretive, or possibly connected to the pamphlet about October O'Brien. This encounter deepens the mystery and raises questions about who else is in the valley and what they might be hiding.