64 pages • 2 hours read
The Ritual
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Part 2, Chapters 59-69Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section includes discussion of death, graphic violence, physical abuse, suicidal ideation, and imprisonment.
Part 2: “South of Heaven”
Part 2, Chapter 59 Summary
After they leave the attic, Loki yells at, hits, and shoves Fenris until he goes outside. Surtr follows Fenris and chastises him. Luke stumbles back into bed and Loki rebinds Luke’s ankles. Loki says the old woman is going to call the creature for them that night, and after that Luke will see his friends again. When Loki leaves the room, Luke can hear the old woman shuffling around, crying, and talking in the attic. Luke cries and prays. Loki and Fenris start playing a CD, drinking moonshine, and singing along to the black metal outside.
Luke thinks about the predictability of evil, and how this place mirrors what he experienced in London. There is violence, ambition, and chaos in both civilization and the forest. Luke feels like he is losing his mind.
Loki comes back into the room. The old woman brings in more stew. Luke insults Loki, and Loki says Luke will die soon and end up mutilated in a tree like his friends. Luke asks for a chance to run or defend himself. Loki says if Luke tries anything, Loki will let Surtr cut him.
