Legend (Legend #1)
Chapter 20: Part One: June 10
by Marie, Lu,The chapter opens with the narrator convincing Day to flee after revealing that authorities are targeting his family. Day, despite his initial shock and confusion, immediately trusts the narrator and rushes toward his family’s location without questioning the information. The narrator feels a pang of guilt for exploiting Day’s trust, reflecting on how rare such unwavering belief is, even comparing it to relationships in their past. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the approaching sirens, heightening the tension as Day dashes into the streets.
Tess, alarmed by Day’s sudden departure, urges the narrator to follow and help him. However, the narrator insists Tess stay behind, prioritizing her safety while secretly planning to track Day alone. The narrator’s internal conflict is evident as they grapple with their mission to capture Day and the guilt over deceiving him. Tess’s frightened reaction highlights her loyalty to Day, contrasting with the narrator’s calculated detachment. The scene sets up a moral dilemma, pitting duty against empathy.
The narrator contacts Thomas, their ally, to coordinate the arrest of Day, emphasizing the need to avoid harm. The communication is abruptly cut off, leaving the narrator’s instructions incomplete and adding to the suspense. As the narrator pursues Day through the streets, their physical pain mirrors their emotional turmoil. They spot Day in the crowd, torn between their anger and fleeting memories of his kindness, particularly when he helped heal their injury. The chase becomes a metaphor for their conflicting emotions.
Despite their resolve to see Day as a criminal, the narrator struggles with their growing sympathy for him. They chastise themselves for being swayed by his actions, reinforcing their determination to fulfill their mission. The chapter ends with the narrator’s internal battle—between vengeance and compassion—intensifying as they close in on Day. The tension between duty and humanity remains unresolved, leaving readers anticipating the consequences of their choices.
FAQs
1. What tactic does the narrator use to convince Day to act quickly, and why is it effective?
Answer:
The narrator exploits Day’s greatest weakness—his concern for his family—by claiming that guards are coming for them during a sweep, specifically mentioning the house marked with a three-lined X. This is effective because Day’s protective instincts override his usual caution; he doesn’t question the narrator’s credibility or delay action. The chapter highlights his immediate trust in the narrator, noting that “no one has ever taken [their] word so readily before.” This manipulation works precisely because Day prioritizes family over personal safety, a vulnerability the narrator acknowledges with guilt.
2. Analyze the narrator’s internal conflict regarding Day. How does their perspective shift throughout the chapter?
Answer:
The narrator oscillates between resentment and guilt. Initially, they draw on anger from a prior encounter to justify deceiving Day, calling him a “stupid boy” and reminding themselves he’s a criminal. However, they also recall Day’s kindness—saving them from a Skiz fight and gently tending their wound—which creates cognitive dissonance. The line “I want to hate him for confusing me so much” reveals this tension. Their guilt over exploiting Day’s trust (“a surprising pang”) suggests moral ambiguity, complicating their mission-driven mindset.
3. Why does the narrator insist Tess stay behind, and what does this reveal about their priorities?
Answer:
The narrator orders Tess to remain in the alley to minimize collateral damage, stating, “Best to keep her out of this.” This decision reflects their focus on apprehending Day efficiently while avoiding unnecessary complications. However, their fleeting concern for Tess’s fate (“If we arrest Day today, what will happen to her?”) hints at underlying empathy, though it’s quickly overridden by duty. The abrupt dismissal of Tess’s plea to help (“I don’t bother to wait for a reply”) underscores the narrator’s pragmatic, if conflicted, allegiance to their mission over personal connections.
4. How does the chapter build suspense around the impending confrontation between Day and the authorities?
Answer:
Suspense mounts through urgent pacing and fragmented communication. The medic truck sirens and Thomas’s abrupt radio exchange (“Wait for my word—no one’s to be harmed—”) create a sense of impending chaos. Day’s frantic sprint and the narrator’s pursuit (“my wound throbbing in protest”) heighten tension physically, while the unresolved static cutoff leaves their plan ambiguous. The narrator’s internal monologue (“I want to scream at him”) mirrors the reader’s anxiety, culminating in the visual of Day’s cap “peeking out” in the crowd—a fleeting target that underscores the chase’s unpredictability.
5. Evaluate the significance of trust as a theme in this chapter. Provide textual evidence.
Answer:
Trust is both a weapon and a vulnerability. The narrator manipulates Day’s blind trust (“he doesn’t hesitate… doesn’t even wonder why I didn’t tell him right away”), which contrasts sharply with their own cynical view (“stupidly, wholeheartedly trusts me”). This asymmetry drives the plot: Day’s trust stems from familial love, while the narrator’s guilt suggests they recognize its value but subordinate it to duty. Even Tess’s trust is exploited—her “wide eyes” reflect fear, yet she obeys. The chapter critiques trust as a double-edged sword, capable of uniting or betraying characters.
Quotes
1. “He trusts me—truly, stupidly, wholeheartedly trusts me. In fact, I don’t know if anyone has ever taken my word so readily before. Maybe not even Metias.”
This quote highlights the protagonist’s internal conflict as they manipulate Day’s trust. It reveals both the depth of Day’s vulnerability and the narrator’s surprising guilt, adding complexity to their relationship and the moral ambiguity of the situation.
2. “All my anger and fear and anxiety now zero in on the back of his head. I have to force myself to keep enough distance between us so that he doesn’t know I’m following him.”
This passage captures the narrator’s intense emotional turmoil and the tension of the chase sequence. It shows their conflicting feelings of resentment toward Day while still maintaining their mission focus, illustrating the story’s central tension.
3. “I have no sympathy for a criminal, I remind myself harshly. Just a score to settle.”
This concluding thought reveals the narrator’s attempt to justify their actions through black-and-white thinking. The quote is significant as it demonstrates their internal struggle between duty and growing empathy, while foreshadowing potential moral development.