At Night All Blood Is Black: A Novel

Content Warning: The source material contains graphic depictions of rape and violence, including murder and torture.

With the opening lines, “Where am I? It feels like I’ve returned from somewhere far away. Who am I?,” Chapter 21 announces Mademba’s return (108). Mademba comes to consciousness in a large, unfamiliar wrestler’s body during intercourse with an unknown and beautiful woman. The woman is scratching and beating at him, and a voice from far away whispers in his head, “It’s much better than with your hand!” (109). Mademba detaches himself from the unknown woman, who now appears to be sleeping, and continues to explore his own proportions.

Alfa opens this chapter by repeating the assertion that Mademoiselle François’s eyes conveyed an invitation to him. He explains how he snuck into her bedroom and found her asleep. He muffled her mouth with his hand while she fought him. Eventually, she became still, and he reports that she smiled. He then proceeded to rape her. She does not move or make a sound again.

The narrator opens this chapter in continued confusion, saying “They ask me my name, but I’m waiting for them to reveal it to me.