Summary

Chapter 10 enters Darlington’s point of view on a Halloween night. Darlington is reflecting on his childhood, as he recalls the moment that lead to his fascination with magic. As a child, Darlington plays with his friends at New Haven Harbor. One boy suggests that they ride the rollercoaster across the water, but Darlington and the others do not see a rollercoaster. Embarrassed, the boy pretends he was playing a joke. Later, Darlington sees a newspaper headline about the anniversary of a hurricane, which had destroyed a rollercoaster in the very spot that boy claimed to have seen one. Darlington realizes he really did see it, and obsesses over finding the kid again. He never finds him, setting off Darlington’s obsession with magic and unseen worlds.

Back in the present, Darlington puts on a vampire costume and picks up Alex, who is...