Our Bright & Zippy Kellan, the chapter begins with the protagonist arriving in Thunder Bay, where they are greeted by an overwhelming feeling of hunger. Drawn to a lively market by the shimmering waters of a lake, they begin to scan the food stalls, tempted by the scent of grilled chicken wafting through the air. However, when they try to pay for the meal using U.S. dollars, they are quickly reminded that they are now in Canada, and a currency exchange is required. Faced with this unexpected challenge, the protagonist grows increasingly anxious, realizing they only have U.S. funds and no way to get Canadian money. After some frantic thinking, they remember that their amplifier, which they had kept on board their boat, could be sold to solve this problem. Eager to resolve the situation, the protagonist heads to a local pawnshop, where they meet a skeptical broker who doubts the amplifier’s value. Just as the narrator begins to lose hope, the broker surprises them by pulling out an Epiphone hollow-body guitar, offering them a glimpse of a possible solution. Intrigued by the guitar’s craftsmanship and the broker’s musical ability, the protagonist agrees to trade their amplifier, securing enough Canadian currency to return to the market and finally enjoy the chicken.

With the chicken devoured and additional provisions in hand, the narrator feels a temporary relief, but the sense of unease lingers. The weather begins to change as ominous clouds gather on the horizon, signaling a storm that threatens to disrupt their calm. As they move through the town, the protagonist reflects on a past encounter with a woman at a service station, whose cryptic words about a town called Gold have stayed with them. She had mentioned the mysterious disappearance of the town, and the narrator wonders if the town’s vanishing was related to something far more sinister. While navigating the town, they stumble upon a bulletin board filled with missing persons reports, and their heart sinks when they see Kellan’s name displayed on one of the posters. The poster, reading “Our Bright & Zippy Kellan,” brings an unsettling realization to the forefront, leaving the protagonist conflicted and anxious about what this means for their journey. The discovery fills them with a sense of dread, unsure whether Kellan is truly lost or if something darker is at play.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the protagonist, now filled with a sense of urgency, buys a phone and dials the number listed on the missing persons poster. The call connects them to Werryck, a man from Kellan’s past, and the conversation quickly turns tense. Werryck tries to justify his actions surrounding Kellan’s disappearance, but the protagonist cannot shake the feeling that something is off. Werryck speaks in a way that attempts to downplay the gravity of Kellan’s involvement in troubling circumstances, and his words only add to the ambiguity of the situation. The tension heightens when Werryck reveals that Kellan was involved with a substance called Willow, which is supposed to have therapeutic benefits but carries dangerous undertones. The protagonist’s feelings towards Kellan become increasingly complex, caught between loyalty and doubt. Werryck’s offer to provide more information about Kellan in exchange for help only deepens the mystery and sets the protagonist on a path filled with difficult choices. The chapter concludes with the protagonist caught in a web of moral conflict, wondering if they can trust Werryck and whether they can navigate this dangerous situation while still trying to protect Kellan. The uncertain future looms large as the protagonist grapples with what comes next in the tangled narrative surrounding Kellan’s fate.