Mia's world is changing rapidly as she grapples with a difficult pregnancy, financial strain, and the unsettling feeling that her new home holds dark secrets. Meanwhile, Finn's carefully constructed facade begins to crack, revealing a hidden life that threatens to shatter their marriage. As tensions rise, a menacing presence enters their lives, promising to expose the past and endanger the future.
Chapter 6: Mia's Revelation
Mia finds herself amidst the chaos of renovating her new home, a project that brings both excitement and immense financial pressure. The stress leads to canceled vacations and forces Mia to juggle her demanding PR job from the construction site. She avoids her critical mother-in-law, Debbie Hunter, who seems to relish pointing out Mia's career.
Reflecting on her relationship with Finn Hunter, Mia recalls their whirlwind romance, fueled by alcohol and her aggressive pursuit despite Finn having a girlfriend. This memory is now tainted by guilt, especially considering their struggles with infertility. After years of failed IVF treatments and multiple miscarriages, Mia had resigned herself to a childless future. However, a wave of nausea leads her to a startling realization: she might be pregnant. Discovering her period is late, she rushes to the pharmacy, understanding that a pregnancy would be wonderful news at the worst possible time.
Chapter 7: Finn's Secret
From Finn's perspective, Mia's distance is palpable. While his enthusiasm for the house renovation grows, he senses her fading interest. He admits to letting Mia believe she's in charge while he has "bigger fish to fry," hinting at a hidden agenda. He remembers being drawn to Mia's confidence, a stark contrast to his "claustrophobic" relationship with his ex, Emma. He values the independence their marriage affords him, a "life away from my marriage," suggesting a significant secret.
At a tile warehouse, Mia cuts her finger and breaks down, confessing, "I'm pregnant." She reveals she is twelve weeks along, having kept it a secret out of fear. Finn outwardly expresses joy, calling the news "absolutely brilliant," but his internal monologue betrays his true feelings. He admits he never wanted a child as desperately as Mia and worries about the added strain. He resolves to be more careful than ever not to "slip up," confirming he is hiding something major that could destroy his marriage.
Chapter 8: A Grandmother's Hope and a Glimpse of Tragedy
The narrative shifts to Debbie, at a pub with her husband, Dave Hunter, Finn, and Mia. She is trying to connect with Mia at Dave's urging. Debbie struggles with chronic pain and worries about Dave's increasing alcohol consumption. She has also found a hidden bottle of prescription painkillers under a Polish name, deepening her concern about his secrets.
Finn and Mia announce the pregnancy with an ultrasound scan. Debbie is overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a grandmother. However, her happiness is immediately overshadowed by the realization that her unnamed diagnosis means she won't "get to be a grandmother for long." This thought strengthens her resolve to mend her relationship with Mia. The chapter ends with a police interview transcript, where a shopkeeper describes an ambulance and an unconscious person with a bloody face being carried out of the house, foreshadowing a violent event.
Chapter 9: The Intruder
This chapter plunges into terror from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who breaks into the Annexe where Mia and Finn are staying. The intruder moves silently, listening to the sounds of the house before finding the bedroom. The narrator is a seasoned killer, recognizing the sound of a sleeping person's breathing as similar to a "death rattle" they have "instigated" before.
Standing over the sleeping, pregnant Mia, the intruder contemplates strangling her and then considers a more gruesome act: cutting the baby from her womb, noting, "I have never taken an unborn before, but for her, I am willing to make an exception." The narrator's goal is to protect "the innocent." In a final, violating act, the intruder lets saliva drip onto Mia's lips, whispering, "I'll come by again soon, Mia," promising a future return.
Chapter 10: The Message on the Wall
The story jumps forward to Mia at thirty weeks pregnant. The pregnancy is stressful, with high blood pressure requiring constant monitoring. Financial strain is at an all-time high, as Finn works long hours and Mia's income is the only one. Debbie is making an effort to be kind, though Mia remains suspicious. Mia also reflects on her distant relationship with her parents, who are sailing around the world, making her envy Finn's close family ties despite her issues with Debbie.
As the renovation nears completion, Mia feels a sense of hope. She enters the nursery and notices torn wallpaper. Peeling it back, she discovers something etched into the skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. The chilling message links her new home and her unborn child to a dark, hidden past.
Key Events
- Mia's Pregnancy: Mia discovers she is pregnant after years of infertility.
- Finn's Deception: Finn's internal monologue reveals he is hiding a major secret.
- Debbie's Motivation: Debbie's terminal illness is revealed, explaining her desire to connect with her grandchild.
- Flash-Forward: A witness interview foreshadows a violent incident at the house.
- The Intruder: An unknown killer breaks into the house and threatens Mia.
- The Hidden Message: Mia discovers a child's message, confirming the house's sinister history.
Character Development
- Mia: Her focus shifts from infertility and financial stress to the joys and vulnerabilities of pregnancy. The message on the wall directly entangles her with the house's past.
- Finn Hunter: The devoted husband facade crumbles, revealing a duplicitous side and immense hidden pressure.
- Debbie Hunter: Her character gains depth as her antagonistic behavior is revealed to be rooted in her fear of death and love for her family.
- The Unnamed Narrator: Introduced as a terrifying antagonist, posing a physical threat to Mia and her baby with a twisted sense of morality.
Themes & Symbols
- Family Secrets and Lies: This theme intensifies as Finn, Dave, and the house itself conceal life-altering secrets.
- The Past Haunting the Present: Mia's guilt and the discovery of the message highlight how the past residents are communicating with the present.
- The House: The house transforms into a malevolent entity, a container of past trauma that threatens its new inhabitants.
Key Quotes
"I have never taken an unborn before, but for her, I am willing to make an exception."
This chilling line, spoken by the intruder, underscores the depths of their depravity and their willingness to commit unspeakable acts to achieve their twisted goals. It highlights the extreme danger Mia and her unborn child face, transforming the narrative into a high-stakes thriller.
"I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC."
This desperate message, etched into the skirting board, serves as a direct warning from the past, revealing the house's dark history and the potential danger lurking within its walls. It confirms that the house is not just haunted but actively trying to communicate its secrets, drawing Mia deeper into its sinister web.
Significance
These chapters mark a turning point in the novel, with Mia's pregnancy raising the stakes and shifting the narrative from domestic drama to psychological thriller. The introduction of the killer and the discovery of the message confirm the immediate and physical danger. Finn's duplicity adds internal threat, leaving Mia uncertain of who to trust.
John Marrs masterfully uses shifting perspectives to build suspense. Access to Finn's and Debbie's thoughts creates dramatic irony, while the flash-forward transcript foreshadows violence. The anonymous killer's introduction pivots the story into horror, highlighting the theme that unimaginable horror can exist beneath everyday life. The message on the skirting board grounds the external threat within the house, making it a witness whose secrets are beginning to bleed through.