The Holt family's unsettling experiences at Baneberry Hall escalate as long-buried secrets begin to surface. A hidden cache of letters and a shocking discovery in the present day propel Maggie Holt into a desperate search for the truth about her family's past and the dark history of the house. As Maggie grapples with conflicting narratives and mounting evidence, she must confront the possibility that the horrors described in her father's book are not just fiction.
Chapter 11: House of Horrors (July 4, Day 9)
Following the snake infestation, Ewan Holt's family deals with the aftermath. With handyman Walt Hibbets' help, they assess the damage to the kitchen ceiling. Petra Ditmer is also present, ostensibly to babysit Maggie but seemingly drawn by morbid curiosity. Hibbets discovers a vintage tin box hidden between the floorboards of the room above—the Indigo Room.
As the family gathers, Jess Holt opens the tin to find four old, yellowed envelopes. Petra excitedly identifies them as love letters addressed to Indigo Garson, the original owner's daughter. Despite his own interest, Ewan reluctantly allows Petra to keep the letters, reminded of his promise to leave the house's past alone. That night, Ewan is awakened by tapping sounds and the song "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" playing from the record player in his study, deepening the theme of The Past Haunting the Present.
Chapter 12: Maggie (Present Day)
Reeling from the discovery of Petra's remains, Maggie Holt flees Baneberry Hall and checks into the Two Pines Motor Lodge, the same motel her family stayed at after their escape twenty-five years ago. Emotionally shattered, she showers fully clothed before breaking down, weeping for Petra, her father, and the conflicting versions of herself. This highlights the theme of Truth vs. Fiction and the Unreliability of Narrative.
Dane Hibbets arrives with bourbon and beer as an apology for breaking the ceiling. Maggie confides in him about her internal conflict, admitting she believes her father was both a good man and a liar. Though tempted, she ultimately sends him away, choosing to face her problems without alcohol or physical distraction.
Chapter 13: House of Horrors (July 5, Day 10)
Ewan confronts Jess, accusing her of moving the record player as a prank, igniting a massive argument. Jess denies it and accuses Ewan of forcing them to move into the house. The fight escalates, with Jess accusing Ewan of being attracted to Petra. Their argument is interrupted by Petra herself, who has clearly overheard them.
Petra insists that Ewan read the letters immediately. In the Indigo Room, the letters from Callum Auguste reveal a secret romance with Indigo Garson and their plan to elope against her father's wishes. The final letter reveals Callum's fear that William Garson intends to stop their marriage "by any means necessary." Petra theorizes that Indigo was murdered by her own father. Ewan, intrigued, agrees to investigate further, violating his promise to Jess.
Chapter 13: Maggie (Present Day)
Maggie returns to Baneberry Hall, facing a gauntlet of reporters. Chief Alcott provides an escort and updates her on the investigation, subtly steering Maggie's suspicions away from other locals and revealing that Dane Hibbets is an ex-convict. This revelation plants a seed of doubt in Maggie's mind about Dane, further isolating her.
Inside the house, Maggie finds the old family portrait and smashes it in a rage. The act dislodges a folded note with the word "WHERE??" written on it. Searching the desk, she discovers twenty-three similar notes, some old and yellowed, others more recent, all containing messages about Petra. The last one reveals the author: "WHERE IS MY SISTER?" The notes are from Hannah Ditmer, a physical manifestation of the theme of Family Secrets and Their Consequences.
Chapter 14: House of Horrors (July 6, Day 11)
Ewan and Petra research the history of Baneberry Hall at the Bartleby library. Ewan discovers newspaper clippings detailing a string of tragedies at the house, including the recent murder-suicide of Curtis Carver and his daughter, Katie. He has an awkward encounter with Marta Carver, Curtis's widow.
Petra finds a key article about Indigo Garson, reporting that her father, William, was "deemed innocent" in her death, despite a maid's testimony that she saw him carrying a bowl of poisonous baneberries to Indigo's room. Petra is enraged by the injustice. As they part ways, Ewan confirms that the sleepover with Petra and her sister Hannah is still scheduled for the following night.
Chapter 14: Maggie (Present Day)
To avoid the reporters, Maggie confronts Hannah Ditmer at her cottage, showing her the notes. Hannah admits she wrote one every year on the anniversary of Petra's disappearance, convinced Ewan was responsible. She reveals that two weeks after the Holts fled Baneberry Hall, she saw Ewan's car return to the property, believing he came back to hide Petra's body.
Hannah explains that Petra had a secret boyfriend and had been sneaking out at night. The night she vanished, her beloved teddy bear, Buster, was also missing. Hannah shows Maggie a photograph of Petra with Buster—the exact same bear Maggie found in her father's study. In a chilling revelation, Maggie asks if the terrifying events of the sleepover, as described in House of Horrors, were fabricated. Hannah insists, "It's all true... Every damn word."
Chapter 15: House of Horrors (July 7, Day 12)
The night of the sleepover arrives. Maggie is agitated, warning her parents that her imaginary friend, "Miss Pennyface," is angry about the guests. Later that night, the house erupts in chaos. Jess and Ewan find the armoire doors wide open with dresses thrown across the floor. Hannah is cowering in her sleeping bag, and Maggie is standing on her bed, shrieking at the open armoire, yelling "Go away!" Petra explains that Maggie claimed someone else—not her—had pulled Hannah's hair.
Maggie screams that "Mister Shadow" is under her bed. Ewan hears a strange, muffled skittering sound from beneath it. As the terror escalates, Hannah screams that something invisible in the corner has touched her. In the midst of the panic, Maggie turns and punches Hannah squarely in the nose, sending blood flying. As Hannah falls to the floor wailing, the armoire and closet doors are suddenly shut. Maggie looks at her father with relief and says, "They're gone." The chapter blends the lines between the Supernatural vs. Psychological Horror.
Chapter 15: Maggie (Present Day)
Disturbed by Hannah's claim that the book is true, Maggie rereads the chapter about the sleepover. As she sits at the dining room table, she hears the faint sound of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." The music grows louder, and she realizes the chandelier is on again. Finding the house locked and secure, she grabs a knife and creeps upstairs to the study.
She throws open the door to find the room empty, except for one thing: Buster, the teddy bear, is sitting on the desk. Terrified, Maggie calls Chief Alcott, who performs a sweep of the house and finds no sign of a break-in. The chief accuses Maggie of fabricating a ghost story to "muddy the waters" of the murder investigation. Furious, frightened, and feeling utterly alone, Maggie takes a sledgehammer and smashes the record player to pieces on the front lawn.
Key Events
- Letters Discovered: Love letters to Indigo Garson are found, sparking an investigation into her death.
- Dane's Revelation: Dane comforts Maggie, but Chief Alcott reveals he is an ex-convict.
- Hannah's Notes: Maggie finds notes revealing Hannah Ditmer suspected her father of killing Petra.
- Ewan's Secret Return: Hannah saw Ewan return to Baneberry Hall after the family fled.
- The Sleepover: A terrifying sleepover ends with Maggie punching Hannah.
- Book's Truth: Hannah confirms the events of the sleepover in the book are "all true."
- Haunting Escalates: The record player and Buster reappear.
- Record Player Smashed: Maggie destroys the record player in a fit of rage and fear.
Character Development
- Maggie Holt: Her skepticism crumbles, transforming her into a terrified participant.
- Ewan Holt: His curiosity evolves into an obsession, alienating him from Jess.
- Dane Hibbets: His violent past adds ambiguity and potential menace.
- Hannah Ditmer: She is revealed to be a key figure who has harbored suspicion for 25 years.
- Chief Alcott: She transitions from helpful officer to antagonist, viewing Maggie as an obstacle.
Themes & Symbols
Themes
Truth vs. Fiction and the Unreliability of Narrative Maggie's reality mirrors the events of House of Horrors, blurring the line between what is real and what is part of her father's narrative.
The Past Haunting the Present The past erupts into the present with the discovery of Petra's body, Indigo's letters, and Hannah's notes.
Supernatural vs. Psychological Horror The narrative walks the line between these two genres, leaving it unclear whether events are paranormal or psychological.
Symbols
Buster the Teddy Bear Buster is a tangible link between Petra's disappearance and Ewan Holt. Its presence in Ewan's study is damning evidence.
The Smashed Family Photograph Maggie's destruction of the photo symbolizes the shattering of her idealized childhood.
The Record Player The record player represents a past that refuses to be silenced.
Key Quotes
"It's all true... Every damn word."
Hannah's insistence that the events in House of Horrors are accurate shatters Maggie's perception of reality. This statement confirms Maggie's fears and sets the stage for the escalating terror she experiences.
"WHERE IS MY SISTER?"
This desperate plea, written on the final note from Hannah, encapsulates the enduring pain and unresolved mystery surrounding Petra's disappearance. It highlights the devastating impact of family secrets and the relentless pursuit of truth.
Significance
This section marks a pivotal turn, transforming the story into a murder mystery. Maggie's goal is to solve a cold case in which her own father is the prime suspect. These chapters dismantle Maggie's defenses and isolate her, leaving her to confront the horrors of Baneberry Hall alone.