The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

The novel begins in a forest early in the morning. The narrator, Aiden, is running through the forest and calling for someone named Anna. However, he has no memories of who he is or how he got there, realizing that “every memory I had a few seconds ago is gone” (1). He does not know what his relationship is to Anna, or why he feels so desperate to find her. Aiden catches a glimpse of a woman being pursued by someone. He tries to run after her and hears a gunshot. Aiden then hears someone sneaking up behind him, and he fears that the killer is coming for him as well. However, the killer simply slips a silver compass into Aiden’s pocket and directs him to head east. Because the killer approaches from behind, Aiden does not see him. Even though he does not trust the killer, Aiden decides to follow his instructions and heads east.

Aiden follows the compass until he comes upon a large and isolated manor house. Aiden knocks on the door, urgently asking for someone to telephone the police. A man with burns on his face opens the door. Another man named Daniel Coleridge recognizes Aiden and refers to him as Sebastian Bell.