Plot Recaps

**General setting location: Pennsylvania, USA**

**The starting date is September 28th.**

Tobias Curtis Schneien is introduced as a 15-year-old boy living in an isolated church (though it isn't mentioned, the church is called St. Dabamoth) in the woods with his parents and 23 other siblings (11 brothers, 12 sisters [Tobias among a set of octuplets]) who faces strict and abusive treatment from his father, Lucas N. Schneien. He's released from the "punishment closet" he starts the story inside of by one of his brothers is Mattias Abel Schneien (one of Tobias's fellow octuplets) and is known for his narcolepsy and sickly physique. Mattias attempts to help and console Tobias as he's plagued with unfortunate and self-loathing thoughts but Tobias rejects him, insisting he doesn't need his help and that his brother wouldn't understand.

Narrating, Tobias describes that something happened to him when he was younger that made his family fear him, but he doesn't remember what it was. He's unfortunately haunted by a "demon eater" by the name of Mr. Edburt, a strange and tall creature who seems to enjoy psychologically tormenting the teen, though Tobias doesn't fight back against him.

Tobias's mother Suzie decides that Tobias should attend a public school to be social in light of his behavior and convinces Lucas to allow him to do so with the help of Tobias's other relatives. Tobias isn't terribly eager about it, but he has no choice.

**September 29th**

It's on his first day that he encounters Rudolph Richardson or "Rudy", a 16-year-old high school junior who had moved from Denmark to America the previous year. He notices that Rudy shows obvious signs of self-harm, though chooses to ignore it, deciding it isn't any of his business. As Rudy's about to guide him to his new classes, the pair runs into Carmelo DeMonte in the hallway, an aggressive blue-haired guy in Rudy's grade that seems to bully Rudy for no apparent reason beyond toxic masculinity. He reminds Rudy of a "date" they have after school, though is referring to beating him up. While Tobias is unfazed by Carmelo's attempts to be threatening, Rudy's recovery is a bit shaky before inevitably putting a smile back on and continuing the tour.

Tobias is guided to his first class where he's shaken by the odd stare of a classmate, causing him to flee anxiously to the bathroom. He attempts to calm himself upon vomiting a substance into the sink, however, he's attacked by Mr. Edburt who temporarily possesses him.

*We briefly see Tobias's more positive childhood relationship with his brother Mattias, Tobias spending time in the woods where Mattias has to come find him but Mattias's narcolepsy forces Tobias to have to bring him home.*

He awakens around the back of the school to find that he's killed what appears to be a black cat with a brick but is more concerned as to whether or not someone witnessed it. As he hears Carmelo and his friends arrive, he ducks to hide behind a tree but realizes the "cat" had vanished, blood and all, which inexplicably upsets Mr. Edburt.

Tobias watches as Carmelo and his friends drag Rudy out and assault him, holding onto him while Carmelo punches him. Tobias is initially compelled to attempt to assist but is easily deferred by Mr. Edburt telling him that "this is what happens to those who are weak". Upon seeing Rudy cry, Carmelo suddenly takes that moment to stop and as Carmelo addresses his companions, Tobias learns that the boy that had unsettled him with his stare is Emilio Murkmere. Carmelo and his friends leave Rudy to his suffering and Rudy starts to slip into a breakdown, pushing up his sleeve to perform further self-harm but is stopped by a phone call from his loving mother. Tobias's sudden appearance in his personal space startles Rudy incredibly and Tobias attempt to express some kind of concern, but Rudy rejects it, replacing the whisper of compassion with resentment.

Rudy informs Tobias of the strange behavior he'd displayed during the school day under Mr. Edburt's influence and it's revealed (not via Rudy) that Tobias had encountered a potential bully of his own named Daniel Dorian. Unfortunately for Daniel, it wasn't exactly a normal kid he was facing as it was Mr. Edburt who was at the helm. Daniel was not seen again.

Tobias's uncle Luther F. Schneien picks him up from school, coming off as a bit crude and immature which Tobias is a bit embarrassed by yet is able to confide in him a little, briefly describing the oddity of his first day. After an awkward exchange, Luther tells Tobias about a high school sweetheart Tobias's father Lucas once had named Charlotte Vanditto who he "couldn't handle" emotionally being with. The 14-year-old girl was found dead and while the case was cold, Luther believes that Lucas was the cause of her death though had no proof beyond Lucas being in possession of a lock of her hair and thus can't officially condemn. As the two discuss the discomfort and dangers of school, Luther opts to give Tobias his "lucky switch", a pocketknife he hopes Tobias can defend himself with though tells him it must only be used in self-defense.

Unsure where his things are due to being possessed by Mr. Edburt for the better part of the day, Tobias returns home empty-handed and is punished by his father for losing his supplies. Tobias pleads and promises to be better as Lucas essentially threatens to kill him if he continues to misbehave and Tobias complies with the punishments to stay on his father's better side.

*We catch another glimpse of Tobias's childhood with the other octuplets, the group getting along as a team with the eldest Wolfe in the lead. The group arrives to a fallen log over a creek and wants to cross, but Mattias is uncertain about it. Tobias supports him, insisting that he has Mattias's back.*

**October 25th**

Tobias kills a wild animal early in the rainy morning in attempt to console himself but realizes Emilio had spied on him, deciding this may be trouble. Rudy greets Tobias at the end of the school day and sarcastically raves about the inevitable shortcomings of Halloween between his younger brother's misbehavior and Carmelo's mean pranks. Brushing it aside, he encourages Tobias to audition for the winter play "The Innocence of Evelyn Ivy". Tobias agrees reluctantly and they find Carmelo there, too, auditioning for the role of the princely character Robert. Tobias agrees to audition for the lead of Evelyn as Rudy tells him that men can play women's roles since they used to in history. Both Tobias and Carmelo prove to be terrible actors but Rudy decides they need a change of costume to properly fit into their roles. In the bathroom, Rudy witnesses the scars on Tobias's body, spotting a large cross burned into his back, but Tobias dismisses it and inquires instead about Rudy's self-harm. Rudy explains that the harm gives him a feeling of control if he can give himself suffering by choice instead of others inflicting it for him and Tobias considers it, making the choice to put more effort into his audition.

A line in the script triggers Tobias's insecurities regarding his relationship with his father and taking advantage of his weakness, Mr. Edburt takes control to mess with Carmelo. As Carmelo is enraged and scared off, Tobias returns to his senses and is horrified to have misbehaved in front of the acting teacher Mr. Abi who has suspicions about Tobias's behavior but doesn't actively address it. Rudy tries to ease Tobias's anxiety by taking Carmelo's role with him but Mr. Abi cuts it short.

As Tobias leaves to retrieve his things from his classroom, he finds Emilio sitting alone in the room. Emilio asks him to "teach him how to kill" in a strange way with a sign and makes it known how much he's already gleaned about Tobias from height to birthday. He calls Tobias "perfect" which overwhelms Tobias and results in him fainting.

*We see that when Tobias was very young, he witnessed Lucas and Luther arguing over something with a strange woman in the room with them. The woman takes a liking to Tobias and insists on holding him, Lucas reluctant at best but unable to do anything to stop her. Things are very off about the woman and Lucas tells Tobias not to cry or show her his weakness.*

Tobias awakens in the woods where Emilio had taken him and initially, Tobias feels Emilio's goal is to attack him. Drawing Emilio closer, he takes the knife from his pocket and attempts to stab Emilio but Emilio's notebook in his coat protects him from it. Instead of being frightened by the assault, it only fascinates Emilio as Emilio encourages him to continue as he feels he needs to. This causes Tobias to feel he may have been hasty in his attack and decide that Emilio is entitled to punish him in return for it. Emilio's behavior becomes increasingly erratic as he's given permission to do this, and he accepts the knife Tobias offers him.

Emilio takes advantage of the moment, pinning Tobias down and stabbing his shoulder. Tobias accepts it, trying to endure, but is taken off guard when Emilio takes it a step further and licks the blood from the blade then promptly kissing Tobias with it which becomes a step too far for Tobias. Tobias kicks him off and runs home, crying into Mattias's arms.

We get our first glimpse of King and the part ends.