Man, does Nikki have a conflicted relationship with her memories and her past in Everneath. The whole reason she goes to the Everneath as a Forfeit in the first place is that she can't deal with all the emotional pain in her life. What causes all that pain? A sharp contrast between her happy memories—think: her mom, her relationship with Jack—with the terrible present. In the Everneath, Cole feeds on her emotional energy, which to a degree includes her memories.
It's a major surprise for everyone when she finishes the Feed with some memories intact, and the rest return to her as she heals on the Surface. In confronting her memories of the bad things in her life, Nikki has to make sure she doesn't repeat the past and give into temptation to take the easy way out again. It's complicated stuff for sure.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- Why does Nikki lie about her memories to Cole? Why does she lie about her memories to Jack?
- How does Nikki feel about her mom when she remembers her?
- What are some things Nikki remembers about her history with Jack?
- What helped Nikki hang onto her memories in the Everneath?
Chew on This
If Nikki spent more time dealing with the past instead of running from it, her life would be less of a mess.
The fact that Nikki and Jack share a lifetime of memories makes them ideal anchors for one another.