How It All Goes Down
- Thomas runs through the dim light of the forest sprinting after the beetle blade, but he loses it when it scurries up a tree. He hears a twig snap, but can't identify where the sound came from.
- He heads towards the noise, and is led to the graveyard where a dozen or so markers are scattered, some much older than others.
- The newest grave, made hurriedly it seems, bears the name of Stephen. Something tells us this might be important information later in the story.
- The oldest grave belongs to George, overgrown with weeds and brush.
- Then, he sees a short grave with—believe it or not—a window into the ground. Thomas sees the dusty remains of half of a body, and words etched on the glass: Let this half-shank be a warning to all: You can't escape through the Box hole. Message: received.
- When the sound of twigs snapping grows louder and closer, Thomas sees a boy crashing through the woods towards him, and before he can do anything he's attacked by the visitor.
- They struggle, the boy snapping his teeth and using a grave marker as a weapon, and then he bites Thomas on the shoulder.
- Thomas gets away from the boy and realizes that he's crazed: it's the sick boy, Ben.
- (Every chapter ends with a twist or cliffhanger, so let's just picture this guy after every one, shall we?)