Monument 14

Everyone reconvenes downstairs and recovers from exposure to the chemical agent, which causes different reactions in different people. Niko develops blisters all over his body, Brayden hallucinates smoke, and Dean turns into “some kind of a monster” (64). Niko suggests that there must be a type of “psychotic agent” in the chemicals (58). Niko’s blisters vanish after he washes and Brayden and Dean return to their normal selves. They all change into pink tracksuits selected by Sahalia and discard their infected clothing.

Alex has welts on his face from Dean’s attacks, and Dean helps him clean up in the Pharmacy section. Alex confesses to Dean that he is truly afraid now.

The students hear noises and realize there is someone at the gate. He asks to be let in, and “there was something very, very off in [his] voice” (67). The students refuse to let him in, and his demands become more urgent. Finally, he resorts to threats, which culminate in, “OPEN THE GATE OR I WILL KILL YOU, I WILL TEAR YOUR LITTLE KIDDO HEADS OFF AND I WILL MAKE A SOUP OUT OF YOUR LITTLE SMART-ASS KIDDO BRAINS AND—” (68). The younger students become very upset, and Astrid tries to distract them with the promise of a puppet show.