Chapter 36 of All the Colors of the Dark takes readers through an unsettling experience as Saint navigates through a space that feels both suffocating and ominous. The room she enters is filled with photographs of girls, including Misty, hung from chicken wire, each one seemingly frozen in moments of normalcy meant for their families. However, the photos bear unsettling markings—each has a rough circle above the subject’s head, resembling a halo, which sends a chill through Saint. As she walks through this disturbing gallery, she becomes increasingly aware of the surveillance around her, evidenced by a bank of monitors showing grainy footage of different locations inside the house and the surrounding woods. The final image reveals a figure in a bunker, amplifying the feeling that she is being watched, trapped, and perhaps even manipulated. The weight of this realization settles on her as she begins to question whether escape is even possible, surrounded by such vigilant observation.

As the tension builds, the lights suddenly go out, and the room is plunged into darkness. Saint, now enveloped in a heavy silence, whispers her fears aloud, her voice barely audible as she expresses the deep sense of danger that surrounds her. The chemical scent in the air intensifies, making it harder to breathe, and she struggles to maintain her composure. In a desperate attempt to find a sense of control, Saint lights a match, but before she can take any action, a gunshot rings out, followed by eerie laughter that indicates she is being hunted. The feeling of being pursued grows unbearable as every sound around her becomes magnified. In a rush of panic, she crashes into shelves, the match falling from her hand, but she instinctively runs toward a set of stairs leading into a tunnel, hoping it will lead her to safety. Upon reaching the living room, she hesitates at another door, contemplating whether to take the risk of opening it. She debates whether Patch might be able to help or whether she’s walking into a trap, but the uncertainty only adds to the mounting pressure.

The stakes rise even further as Saint takes a bold step into the unknown, descending deeper into the darkness. The smell of damp earth fills her nostrils, amplifying the sense of isolation and danger that surrounds her. When she stumbles upon a light switch, her heart races, hoping it will provide a moment of clarity. The light flickers on, briefly illuminating a disturbing sight—dozens of tanks containing wild snakes, including venomous copperheads and massasauga rattlesnakes. The brief glimpse of these dangerous creatures sets her nerves on edge, and before she can fully process the sight, the light cuts out, plunging her back into pitch-black darkness. In the total absence of light, her fear intensifies, knowing that Eli Aaron is somewhere close by, still hunting her. Each sound she hears echoes in the darkness, and when a second gunshot rings out, she is forced to the ground, her body wracked with panic. Crawling through the suffocating dark, she feels as if the weight of the world is pressing down on her. With each labored breath, she closes her eyes, hoping for a moment of peace, but instead, she is consumed by fear, praying silently for the nightmare to end.

This chapter expertly builds suspense, using darkness and silence as tools to heighten the feeling of dread and danger. As Saint faces this overwhelming situation, she experiences a cocktail of emotions—fear, panic, and the desperation to escape. Her surroundings, filled with threats both visible and unseen, push her to the brink of exhaustion and despair. As she struggles to find safety, the looming presence of Eli Aaron becomes an ever-present reminder that she is not in control of her fate. Yet, despite the overwhelming terror, there is a flicker of resilience within Saint. Even in her darkest moments, she keeps moving forward, guided by the slim hope that she can survive this and find her way out. This chapter sets the stage for a greater conflict, with Saint’s fight for survival becoming more desperate and urgent. Her internal struggle, combined with the physical dangers she faces, creates an emotionally charged atmosphere, one that leaves the reader on edge, eagerly anticipating the next turn in the story.