Unravel Me

Kenji, Juliette, and Adam move toward Sector 45, where gunshots already sound, as Anderson fires on civilians. Heavy rain makes it difficult to see. Just as Juliette wonders at how abandoned the compound seems, soldiers drag a woman out of a nearby building, saying that the area has been cleared. The Reestablishment is gathering up everyone associated with the protests, including the family members of the inciters, to kill them all. They plan to rescue the civilians; Kenji warns that he’ll have to let Adam and Juliette become visible. He knows Juliette wants to avoid killing, but she must defend herself. Panicked, Juliette agrees.

Juliette, Adam, and Kenji attack a group of six soldiers, who are planning to shoot a large group of civilians, including children. One civilian is killed before they can stop the soldiers. The group runs, searching for any safe place to hide, but only find destroyed civilian houses. They follow the sounds of tanks until something nearby explodes. Adam, Kenji, and Juliette run toward the fire.

Juliette is staring in horror at the many dead bodies of those killed in the explosion. She doesn’t know whether they’re soldiers or Omega Point members. She wonders whether the soldiers are not as culpable as she thought; maybe they were forced into the war.

Just then, a soldier tackles her from behind and points a gun at her. He knows about her abilities and says he will shoot her if she tries to take off her gloves. Juliette tries to come up with a plan, assuming that the soldier isn’t supposed to shoot her since he hasn’t already done so. She grabs at the arm around her neck and crushes his bones. Juliette runs, but other soldiers recognize her from her time as Warner’s captive. She is hit on the head, almost falling unconscious, and taken to a tank.

Juliette, still groggy from her head injury, tries to pay attention without letting the soldiers know she is conscious. She hears wind chimes and realizes she’s been taken to the house they encountered in Chapter 32, the one well-maintained house in the dilapidated residential zone: She has been delivered to Anderson. She expects torture but instead is given a warm bath while fully clothed by a woman with a soothing voice. Overcome by exhaustion, Juliette falls asleep.

Juliette wakes up in a comfortable bed wearing a soft t-shirt and shorts. She is in a simple bedroom, and someone has left water, which she drinks. In the mirror, she sees she is clean and unharmed except for bruises on her neck from the previous day’s attack. She tiptoes downstairs, but Anderson hears her. He is dressed pristinely though a blanket covers his legs. He tells Juliette this is the place he uses to “store” his wife and is surprised Warner didn’t tell Juliette about his mother. Anderson mocks Warner’s request to run Sector 45 in order to stay close to his ailing mother. He asks if Warner ever told Juliette what Anderson made his son do to earn the command, and Juliette is relieved when Anderson doesn’t tell her. Anderson says he’s soon returning to the battle, and Juliette wonders if any of her friends have died.

Using a scolding tone, Anderson reveals that he can’t walk since Juliette shot him, and he wants revenge.

Anderson, who doesn’t know about Kenji’s invisibility, wonders how she managed to kidnap Warner. Juliette doesn’t reveal her friends’ role. They both seem to realize Juliette could overpower him again.

Anderson has spoken to Warner since Warner’s escape from Omega Point; Juliette could give him all the information he needs to wipe out Omega Point, but she refuses. Warner, breathless but immaculate, enters the house. He asks why Juliette is there, and Anderson admits he had Juliette captured but is longer interested in her. He is more interested in Sonya and Sara after seeing how they miraculously healed Warner’s shoulder. They have been captured, and Warner insists to Juliette he didn’t know about Anderson’s plan. Anderson says they have “more important things to focus on” and shoots Juliette directly in the chest (248).

Juliette falls backward and is barely able to focus due to the intense pain. She regrets that she has not accomplished more before now. If she had another chance, she would kill Anderson.

Juliette opens her eyes to find Warner arguing with Sonya and Sara, who say they can’t touch Juliette. Warner, frantic, tries to explain that the twins don’t have to touch Juliette; they only have to touch him. An anguished Warner reassures Juliette and grabs her arms. The twins, though they don’t trust Warner, agree to touch him. Juliette feels grateful she won’t die alone.

Juliette feels the heat of her injury replaced with a hot, healing sensation before passing out.

Juliette wakes up in the upstairs bedroom with Warner asleep next to her. It is impossible that he is here, having saved her life. As Juliette shifts slightly, Warner wakes and tells her that Anderson doesn’t know she’s alive. Juliette is worried about the fate of her friends but feels powerful enough to “do what [she] was meant to do” (394).