Summary

Chapter 23 begins with Erica describing Hydra in bleak terms. Her dreary perception of the island contrasts the impression she has of Marianne, whom Erica observes happily tending to Leonard and Axel. At the end of the chapter, Erica goes to the theater alone. Bobby barges in and takes Erica out to tell her Jimmy has been beaten up; it becomes apparent that he has been cheating on Erica.

In Chapter 24, Erica meets Charmian’s friend, Didy, who makes Erica laugh and feel happy for the first time in recent chapters. Jimmy has left Hydra and Didy helps Erica try to rid the memory of him from her mind. They sit at a café and Didy prompts Erica to find faults of Jimmy to ridicule. As Erica does this, she observes Marianne sitting happily with Leonard and Axel.

Erica continues to have a...