The Survivor Wants to Die at the End

Paz is the novel’s central protagonist and one of its two, alternating first-person narrators. A 19-year-old actor, he is described as tall and physically handsome, with light brown eyes and dark hair that he has dyed blond. Paz has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which makes it difficult for him to regulate his emotional reactions. Further, he exhibits suicidal tendencies and has tried to die by suicide twice. He is continually disappointed when Death-Cast doesn’t call since he wants his End Day to arrive soon. When it doesn’t, he self-harms because he has trouble coping with life’s difficulties. Many of Paz’s emotional problems stem from a troubled childhood in which he was forced to shoot his father to protect his mother.

Paz sees little reason to go on living and blames Death-Cast for ruining his life. The unwanted media attention aimed at Paz and his family after Death-Cast’s infamous system glitch on the first End Day has poisoned his chances of pursuing his dream career as an actor. Even though Paz receives emotional support from his mother and stepfather, he finds their constant anxiety over his mental state to be oppressive rather than nurturing.

Paz feels he has no control over his life and sees death as a welcome alternative.