Summary

Joan attends to her dying brother, placing worms on his forehead. She recalls looking after a group of orphaned children when she was 15. She kept them safe from CIEL forces by digging “graves” for them, with plastic tubes inside they could use to breathe (151). One day, CIEL discovered the ruse and pumped methane gas through the tubes, killing the children. Placing her hands into the dirt, Joan resurrected the children, but they died again 24 hours later.

In Chapter 17, Joan resurrects the now dead Peter by cutting into his flesh and touching his heart. Peter tells Joan that after her execution, the resistance army went underground, where they were approached one day by a child. The child was Miles and he brought Joan's finger, lock of hair, and letter. Peter gives Joan a spider.

As Chapter 18 opens, Peter explains that the spider is a...