12.04

Chapter 12.04 Summary (911 words)

“This is not an exit,” Jack Slash remarks, prompting a tense standoff. Tattletale quips about the reference, earning a brief “I try” from Jack. Skitter assesses their dire situation: running is futile against Siberian’s speed, and fighting is suicide. She considers using bugs and Grue’s darkness as cover, but Cherish detects her “clever idea.”

Cherish reveals Skitter’s newfound self-worth, calling her a “poisonous” worm. Jack warns Skitter that any action will provoke Siberian and himself. Skitter concedes, knowing an escape attempt would be disastrous. Jack addresses the group, questioning their potential recruits, plural. Bonesaw expresses her desire to meet them and design a “fair” test, hinting at her internal conflict about challenging herself and not wanting to repeat past tests.

Cherish criticizes the notion of fairness, but Bonesaw insists, especially since Regent and Bitch are siblings. Bitch’s ominous silence and Siberian’s stare add to Skitter’s unease. Tattletale’s comment about their plotting against the Nine horrifies the group, but Jack admits he was already aware.

Jack explains the Nine’s recruitment process: each member presents a test, some always the same (like Mannequin’s self-alteration or Siberian’s hunt), while he prefers variety and unfairness. Failure doesn’t always mean death, but it’s always “worse.” Regent, curious, asks about Cherish’s tests. Jack reveals she killed Hatchet Face, endured Bonesaw’s power-stripping parasite, survived Siberian’s hunt, and withstood Shatterbird’s psychological torture in a glass shard-filled room. A clue emerges: Shatterbird’s offensive range exceeds Cherish’s.

Burnscar’s failed test remains a secret. Jack orders Cherish to reveal her back, showcasing a gruesome, realistic tattoo of a festering heart, surrounded by images of decay and self-deprecating words. The tattoo is scarred and raised, adding a disturbing depth. Jack notes that this defacement broke something in Cherish, marking her as one of them.

Regent asks about Jack’s test, which involved repeating all six tests. Bonesaw reveals she brought back Hatchet Face for a second round, which Cherish failed. Tattletale’s attempt to manipulate Jack backfires when Cherish exposes her long-term plan to control the Nine with her powers. Jack, disappointed, silently orders Siberian, who slashes Tattletale’s face, spraying blood.

Skitter, blinded momentarily, rushes to help Tattletale, whose wound is severe. Jack, lamenting the ruined plan, dismisses Cherish’s concerns. Skitter tries to stop the bleeding, but Jack claims it’s futile. Bonesaw offers to “fix” Tattletale in a disturbing way. Jack then addresses Regent and Bitch, warning them about an incentive for two hero candidates and advising them to stick to bottled water due to a biological weapon. He also announces Shatterbird’s imminent city-wide “song” in 34 minutes, urging them to avoid glass.

Tattletale, fumbling for a pen, writes “Deal” and “Game.” Skitter, understanding, asks Jack about the outcome if more than one candidate survives. Jack says they’ll fight each other. Skitter relays Tattletale’s proposal: if more than half the candidates survive, the Nine leave with only volunteers. Jack, intrigued, considers the challenge. Bonesaw likes the idea, seeing it as a way to fix her test. Jack agrees to discuss it, hinting at a steep penalty for their potential loss.

Tattletale loses consciousness. Skitter, torn between helping her and warning her father about Shatterbird, receives a silent order from Tattletale: “Go.” Ballistic suggests calling Coil for transport, but Skitter knows it’s too slow. She calls her father, but the number is out of service. With less than 30 minutes left, she starts running, facing a daunting five or six-mile journey through treacherous streets.