Marta Carver stands over a sleeping Maggie Holt, triggering repressed memories. Maggie recalls being five and seeing Marta—"Miss Pennyface"—watching her sleep. Marta, seeing the recognition, begins to confess her dark secret.
Chapter 26: Miss Pennyface
Marta explains that after her daughter Katie's death, she had a "fierce" mother's love with nowhere to direct it. When the Holts moved in, she learned about Maggie and used a secret passage in the armoire to enter Baneberry Hall at night. She insists her intention was only to watch Maggie sleep, feeling it kept her own daughter's memory alive.
As Marta speaks, the full memory of Petra Ditmer's death returns. Maggie remembers Petra discovering Marta in her room one night. Petra screamed and ran to call the police, but Marta followed. They struggled at the top of the stairs, and a terrified five-year-old Maggie grabbed Marta’s arm. Marta swung her arm to shake Maggie off, accidentally striking Maggie in the face with her ring and, in the same motion, causing Petra to lose her balance and tumble down the stairs to her death. Maggie accuses, "You killed Petra," and Marta claims it was an accident. She fled, expecting the police, but they never came. She realized Ewan and Jess Holt believed Maggie was responsible and covered it up to protect her.
Marta reveals she poisoned Maggie with baneberries, stating that with Petra's body found and Maggie asking questions, the truth would come out. She flips Maggie onto her back and tries to smother her with a pillow. Weakened, Maggie rolls off the bed and crawls toward the hallway, but Marta grabs her ankle. Maggie kicks Marta in the face and reaches the top of the stairs as Marta catches her again. Marta lifts Maggie's leg, sending her tumbling down the staircase.
Lying injured, Maggie sees Marta staring down at her. A bright light appears behind Marta, and Maggie thinks she sees Petra Ditmer's ghost, smiling. Then, Marta is shoved from behind, her neck snapping upon impact. Maggie sees Petra’s mother, Elsa Ditmer, her eyes "wild and alert," finally aware of what happened to her daughter twenty-five years ago.
Key Events
- Maggie remembers Marta Carver ("Miss Pennyface") visiting her at night.
- Marta confesses to accidentally killing Petra Ditmer.
- Marta reveals she poisoned Maggie with baneberry pie.
- Marta attempts to murder Maggie.
- Elsa Ditmer pushes Marta down the stairs, saving Maggie.
Character Development
This chapter reveals the true nature of several characters, solidifying their roles in the tragic events at Baneberry Hall.
- Maggie Holt: She finally accesses the complete truth, shattering the supernatural narrative and validating her skepticism. Her fight for survival showcases her resilience.
- Marta Carver: Marta is unmasked as the story's antagonist, her grief twisted into obsession and a willingness to murder. Her "motherly" demeanor is a facade.
- Elsa Ditmer: Elsa is revealed as a real person, not a ghost, who has been secretly living in the house. Her act of pushing Marta is a violent, long-delayed justice for her daughter.
Themes & Symbols
This chapter brings the novel's central themes to a head, exposing the true horrors lurking beneath the surface of Baneberry Hall.
- Truth vs. Fiction and the Unreliability of Narrative: The fantastical story in House of Horrors is replaced by a grim, human tragedy. The "ghosts" are explained, and the narrative Maggie has been fighting against is proven false, but the underlying trauma is real.
- Family Secrets and Their Consequences: Marta’s secret about Petra’s death leads to her attempt on Maggie’s life. The Holt family’s belief that Maggie was responsible allowed Marta to remain free.
- The Past Haunting the Present: The events of 25 years ago are reenacted. The "haunting" of Baneberry Hall is the weight of past actions and unresolved grief, culminating in a deadly confrontation.
- Supernatural vs. Psychological Horror: The novel lands on psychological horror. The vision of Petra's ghost is a red herring, replaced by the reality of Elsa Ditmer. The true horror lies in human desperation, obsession, and violence.
Key Quotes
"You’ve had the pie."
Marta's calm declaration reveals her sinister plan to silence Maggie permanently. The poisoned pie symbolizes the deceptive nature of appearances and the hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface of the seemingly ordinary.
Her eyes "wild and alert"
This description of Elsa Ditmer highlights her transformation from a grieving mother into an avenging angel. After years of living in the shadows, she finally takes action, driven by a primal need for justice.
Significance
This chapter serves as the novel's climax, answering the central mysteries: who Miss Pennyface was, how Petra Ditmer died, and what happened to the Holt family at Baneberry Hall. It resolves the primary conflict by pitting Maggie against the real-world source of her childhood trauma. The chapter's power lies in its subversion of the haunted house genre. By revealing that the "ghosts" were living people driven by grief and desperation, the narrative grounds its horror in human tragedy rather than the supernatural. The final reveal of Elsa Ditmer recontextualizes every strange occurrence Maggie has experienced, setting the stage for the final revelations in the Epilogue.