Summary

In Chapter 27 Miranda shows up to the theater soaking wet and covered in seaweed, her shin bleeding, the pockets of her poppy dress filled with shells and the sludgy remnants of Ellie’s herbal bath. Later, Miranda watches from behind the curtain as the theater fills to capacity and is summoned to assist an usher with finding seats for a crowd of odd-looking people with their own unique tickets unlike the ones being used for the play. Miranda admits them all and then must attend to Brianna, who has collapsed minutes before the opening curtain. Miranda chalks the strange occurrences up to coincidence, but Ellie is convinced otherwise, given the apparent miraculous effect of her healing baths on Miranda, and promises to fix everything onstage.

Chapter 28 continues as the curtain goes up with Miranda investigating the source of orchestral music only she...