Gods & Monsters
A Game of Questions
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Reid and Lou in a tense, intimate moment as she seductively touches him in a dim sanctuary. Despite their history of passion, Reid feels an unsettling dread rather than desire, confused by his own aversion to her touch. He makes excuses about their early departure the next day, masking his discomfort, while Lou remains persistent in her advances. Their interaction is charged with unspoken tension as Reid grapples with conflicting emotions—love for Lou and an inexplicable revulsion.
As Lou continues her attempts at intimacy, Reid reflects on their past attraction, recalling how he once craved her presence. Now, however, her touch feels wrong, and he struggles to understand his own feelings. He watches their sleeping companions, hoping for an interruption, but remains trapped in his internal conflict. Lou’s behavior seems off—her movements clumsy, her kisses overly aggressive—deepening Reid’s unease. He questions whether his reaction stems from grief or something more sinister.
The tension escalates as Lou misinterprets Reid’s resistance, growing more insistent. When he finally stops her to talk, she reacts with insecurity before masking it with playful defiance. Reid’s guilt intensifies as he realizes his emotional withdrawal is hurting her, yet he cannot ignore his instincts. He tries to steer the conversation toward a serious discussion, but Lou deflects with teasing remarks, avoiding vulnerability. Her unnatural behavior—flushed cheeks, dilated pupils—hints that something is amiss beyond their relationship struggles.
The chapter reaches a pivotal moment when Reid brings up Ansel’s name, causing Lou to freeze and withdraw. The mention of her late brother shatters the charged atmosphere, replacing it with heavy silence. Reid’s attempt to address their grief and unresolved emotions exposes a deeper rift between them. The chapter ends on an unresolved note, leaving readers questioning whether Lou’s strange behavior is a manifestation of mourning or something more dangerous lurking beneath the surface.
FAQs
1. How does Reid’s physical reaction to Lou’s touch reveal his internal conflict in this chapter?
Answer:
Reid’s physical reactions—his rigid posture, pounding heart, and eventual revulsion—reveal a profound internal conflict between his remembered love for Lou and his current aversion. While he recalls craving her touch intensely in the past (“I’d craved her like an addict”), he now experiences a “knot in his stomach” and finds her kisses repulsive (“too many teeth, too much tongue”). This dichotomy highlights his emotional turmoil: he intellectually knows he loves Lou (“I loved Lou. I knew that”) but cannot reconcile this with his visceral disgust, suggesting deeper psychological or supernatural disturbances at play (pages 43-46).2. Analyze how Lou’s behavior in this chapter deviates from her established character traits. What might these deviations signify?
Answer:
Lou’s behavior shows several uncharacteristic traits: her seduction lacks her usual finesse (“the movement lacked her usual finesse”), she displays insecurity (a rare emotion for her), and her physicality seems exaggerated (“clumsy, eager”). Most notably, she ignores Reid’s clear discomfort—a stark contrast to their previously established dynamic where she was highly attuned to his reactions. These deviations, combined with her “overbright eyes” and minimal blinking, suggest she may not be fully herself, possibly due to supernatural influence, unresolved grief over Ansel, or physical transformation (pages 44-47).3. What role does the concept of “monsters” play in the tension between Reid and Lou in this scene?
Answer:
The monster motif underscores their shifting relationship dynamics. Lou provocatively labels herself a “monster” (“You’ve developed quite an affinity for us… Monsters”), teasing Reid about his growing acceptance of non-human beings. However, Reid’s visceral reaction to her touch implies he may now perceive her as monstrous in a literal sense. This tension between metaphorical and literal monstrosity reflects their broader conflict: Reid’s love for Lou’s rebellious, “monstrous” nature now clashes with his potential fear of her actual transformation (pages 44-45).4. How does Reid’s attempt to discuss Ansel serve as a turning point in the scene?
Answer:
Mentioning Ansel acts as an emotional circuit breaker. When Reid introduces Ansel’s name (“it fell between them like a carcass”), Lou’s seductive demeanor collapses into detachment—her pupils fluctuate, and she stares blankly. This shift confirms that unresolved grief underlies their strained interactions. Reid’s choice to broach this painful topic demonstrates his attempt to address their real issues rather than continue the physical charade, marking his transition from passive discomfort to active confrontation (page 47).5. Evaluate how the chapter uses sensory details to convey Reid’s emotional state. Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The chapter employs visceral sensory imagery to mirror Reid’s distress: the “wind whistling through cracks” parallels his inner turmoil; Lou’s “icy fingers” contrast with his remembered heat for her; her “foreign” scent replaces familiar intimacy. Most powerfully, tactile details like her “nibbling” his ear with “too much tongue” evoke disgust rather than desire. These sensory cues—especially the juxtaposition of past warmth (“almost fevered when we touched”) and present revulsion—create a physical manifestation of his psychological conflict (pages 43-46).
Quotes
1. “A foreign emotion congealed in my blood as I stared at her hand beneath mine. I should’ve ached, should’ve tightened with that familiar hunger, that heat, that left me almost fevered when we touched. But this knot in my stomach … it wasn’t need. It was something else. Something wrong.”
This quote captures the protagonist’s internal conflict and emotional dissonance, marking a pivotal shift in his relationship with Lou. The visceral language (“congealed,” “knot”) underscores his growing unease and foreshadows deeper issues.
2. “I loved Lou. I knew that. Felt it in my bones. I also couldn’t stand the sight of her. What was wrong with me?”
This stark contradiction reveals the protagonist’s psychological turmoil and moral crisis. The juxtaposition of love and revulsion highlights the chapter’s central tension—questioning identity, attraction, and the nature of relationships.
3. “His name fell between us like a carcass. Heavy. Dead.”
The introduction of Ansel’s memory serves as a turning point in the conversation, laden with emotional weight. The carcass metaphor emphasizes unresolved grief and the unspoken tensions between the characters.
4. “From the very start, Lou had woken me up. Her presence had been infectious. Even infuriated, exasperated, I’d never stopped wanting to be near her.”
This reflection contrasts sharply with the protagonist’s current feelings, emphasizing how drastically their dynamic has shifted. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of change and loss in relationships.
5. “She blinked in surprise, and what looked like … insecurity flickered in her pale eyes. I hated myself for it.”
This moment reveals Lou’s vulnerability and the protagonist’s guilt, humanizing both characters amid their strained interaction. It highlights the emotional stakes and mutual pain underlying their disconnect.