Chapter Seven: Something Beautiful and Dangerous
Contains spoilersOverview
Mia and John break into the closed park lot but find no Adam. A playgroup mom’s slip adds unease. Mia realizes the puzzling texts likely came from Detective Janus using Adam’s recovered phone; Janus confirms and ominously answers "No" when asked if Adam is okay. The siblings rush home to a panicked mother as Janus heads over.
Summary
Mia and John arrive at a park lot closed for quarantine. Mia moves the cones, follows the locator app to the exact spot of Adam’s last phone ping, and imagines he may have been taken by ambulance, though John doubts it. They find no one.
Mia surveys a whitewater overlook and notes the danger signs, reasoning Adam would avoid this noisy area because Eugene loves water but hates loud sounds. John brings over Susan, a mom from Eugene’s playgroup, who mentions police left recently and slips about “horrible news,” then deflects. They decide to leave.
Near the car, frantic texts and missed calls from their mother reveal Eugene is in the bath to calm down and she needs help. Mia notices odd timestamps and deduces the confusing “Who is this?” and “Mia?” texts may be delayed and sent by police from Adam’s phone.
Mia calls the station. Detective Morgan Janus confirms she replied from Adam’s locked phone when a text appeared, and that they had recovered the device. When John asks if Adam is okay, Janus answers “No,” then abruptly ends the call, saying she will come explain in ten minutes.
Shaken, John and Mia pull over, hug, and resolve to stay composed for their family. They return home, where their mother is distraught; the three embrace. Mia reflects that the family may be haunted by this uncertainty whenever anyone is late or unreachable.
Who Appears
- Mia
Narrator; trespasses into the closed park, searches for Adam, deduces Janus sent the texts, and comforts her mother.
- John
Drives Mia to the park, remains skeptical, calls their mother, comforts Mia, and insists they stay composed.
- Detective Morgan Janus
Confirms she sent the texts from Adam’s recovered phone; answers “No” to whether Adam is okay and rushes over.
- Mom
Panics while calming Eugene in a bath; floods the siblings with messages; emotional reunion when they return.
- Susan
Playgroup mom who saw police leaving the park; slips about “horrible news” and quickly covers.
- Adam
Missing father; not found at the park. His phone is recovered by police and used to text Mia.
- Eugene
Offstage; in a bath to calm down. His love of water but noise sensitivity informs Mia’s reasoning.