Fallen

Penn wants to take Luce to the library after the study session. She’d told Luce about the library plan in her notes that she passed along through Cam, but Cam held onto them after Luce and Molly got in trouble. Cam presents the notes along with a velvet box containing a serpent pendant. He got it for Luce after their encounter with the snake in the cemetery. He tries to invite Luce to his room later, but Gabbe thwarts the attempt.

One of Penn’s notes is a photocopied list written by Miss Sophia, containing the full names of Gabbe, Cam, Luce, Todd, Arriane, Daniel, and Molly, as well as their locations before attending Sword & Cross and their admission dates. Penn found it in one of the boxes that Miss Sophia carried down. Luce feels like she has nothing in common with those other kids but hopes that the list holds some key to Daniel’s mystery. Penn also found out that there’s a book called The Watchers that appears to have been written by one of Daniel’s ancestors in 1755. Penn and Luce hope that this book will hold some clues to Daniel’s family history. She’s reserved it, so it will be waiting in the stacks when they get to the library.

Luce and Penn talk about Cam. Penn thinks that Cam’s gift indicates that he is romantically interested in Luce. Luce cannot tell if she returns this interest, as her curiosity about Daniel is clouding her judgment.

The only people in the library are Miss Sophia and Todd. Penn and Todd flirt for a moment, and Luce teases Penn. As Penn searches the stacks for The Watchers, Luce notices a shadow forming overhead and stretching toward Penn. Luce worries since she has recently learned that the shadows can touch her. Luce accidentally smacks Penn’s head while trying to clear the shadow away.

When Penn can’t find The Watchers, she goes to ask Miss Sophia at the front desk, leaving Luce alone in the far corner of the library. Luce thinks about Daniel and what his upbringing could’ve been like. She wonders if he was religious or if his family was more like hers, which never emphasized faith.

The fire alarm goes off, instructing people to evacuate the building. Smoke fills the library, and Luce cannot find Penn. She has flashbacks to Trevor’s last moments. She and Todd find each other and search for Penn and Miss Sophia, but they have to escape without the others as the smoke thickens. Shadows fill the hallway. Todd is terrified, and Luce wonders if he can see them. Luce instructs Todd to run, but something seems to carry both of them out of the shadows. Once Luce is outside, she notices a purple light, which distracts her from the shadow that knocks her down the concrete stairs. Luce hits her skull on the pavement and loses consciousness.

Luce dreams about being in Daniel’s arms as he carries her high in the air. He promises to stay with her always. He has a cut on the side of his head, and he has large, beautiful wings. They kiss.

Luce awakens in the hospital with Gabbe watching over her. Her presence makes Luce feel safe. Luce has been in the hospital since last night, and her parents are working on paperwork in the hallway. Luce is excited to see her parents, but she’s preoccupied thinking about the levitating force that rescued her and Todd. Luce asks about him as Arriane enters with coconut drinks. She and Gabbe deliver the news that Todd has succumbed to the injuries that he acquired in the fire. Luce is now certain that Todd must have seen the shadows right before he died.

Penn and Miss Sophia made it out okay. Penn joins the girls at Luce’s bedside, and Penn describes how a burst of light near Miss Sophia’s desk started the fire. Miss Sophia thinks that it was a faulty wire in a lamp. Todd’s body is being shipped to his parents in Florida. Sword & Cross will have a memorial for him on Thursday, organized by Gabbe and Daniel. Gabbe informs Luce that Daniel carried her and Todd away from the fire. Luce thinks about her dream.

Randy, who is there to supervise the Sword & Cross visitors, delivers a bouquet of white peonies, which are Luce’s favorite flower. Luce sees Daniel in the hall behind Randy, waiting for the others. Their gazes meet, and Luce notices that he has a gash like the one in her dream. Randy rounds up the visitors, and Luce reunites with her parents. She speaks to the Sword & Cross attorney about what happened the previous night. Miss Sophia sits in on the questioning to make sure that Luce isn’t blamed for the fire despite her history.

Luce’s parents depart and promise to see her on Saturday for Parents’ Day. Luce admires the white peonies, which she’s certain are from Daniel. It’s a strange choice of flower unless Daniel somehow knew that they’re her favorite.

Luce attends Todd’s memorial, which is held in the cemetery. Most of the student body attends. Luce sees Daniel and thinks about the peonies, which now sit in her dorm room. She feels like the entire memorial is wrong because she believes that most students hardly knew Todd.

At the reception, Cam pulls Luce aside. He’s disappointed that she isn’t wearing the necklace he gave her, but Luce assures him that she likes it. She’d spent the previous evening mulling over both the necklace from Cam and the flowers from Daniel, including the meanings and intentions behind them. Cam has been trying to give Luce space since the fire, but he wants to see her. Luce is emotional from it all, and Cam hugs and comforts her. Cam’s embrace feels good, but he isn’t Daniel.

Gabbe interrupts them, handing Cam a cupcake and telling him to fetch some punch for them. Luce volunteers to fetch the punch instead and slips away from Cam. Daniel sneaks up on Luce and asks if she wants to get away from the reception. She takes his hand and agrees. It’s the first time they’ve touched on purpose. Daniel leads Luce out of the cemetery and says that he doesn’t think Cam is good enough for Luce. She asks who is, but Daniel won’t answer. Luce then asks about his forehead cut, and he still won’t answer.

Daniel leads Luce to the lake. She feels safe with him—a rare feeling for her these days. She feels a familiar yet sudden closeness to Daniel. He has a serious talk with Luce about getting her out of Sword & Cross. He thinks that this place is dangerous for her and that she would do a lot better somewhere else. He’s vague with her, though, seemingly unable to tell her what’s really on his mind.

Luce asks if it has to do with the black shadows she saw on the night before Todd’s death, and Daniel is disturbed. Luce elaborates that she sees shadows nearly once a day now. She admits that she’s seen them for 12 years. Daniel asks questions about the shadows, and Luce explains the shadows’ behavior and their recent aggression with her. She worries that Daniel thinks she’s “crazy,” but Daniel is surprised and says something about this never having happened before. He asks about the shadows again. Luce thinks he’s mocking her, but Daniel looks serious and mournful. Luce thinks that he’s going to kiss her, but when she opens her eyes, he’s abandoned her at the lake again. She can see a path of glowing purple where he left the forest. The violet light fades quickly.