Hello, Universe

Kaori, Gen, and Valencia continue their search for Virgil. Valencia picks up the pillowcase that Chet discarded, not wanting to litter the woods with it. Kaori admires the way Valencia handled the snakebite problem and proposes that they go into business together. She says, “I know about the spiritual world and you know about the natural world. It’s the perfect partnership. That’s probably why fate brought us together as friends” (262). Valencia is secretly pleased to think that Kaori would regard her as a friend.

Kaori now knows that Just Renee is really Valencia Somerset. She thinks, “Renee had straightened her back when she announced her real name, like she was proud of it. Kaori was fond of her own name as well. It was critical to feel empowered by your name—Kaori believed that with all her heart” (265). Kaori also feels something vaguely familiar about the initials “V.S.” but can’t remember what.

At that moment, Valencia’s mother texts to tell her to come home. Kaori’s mother also texts, asking if her daughter has seen Virgil. This means that he’s officially gone missing if parents are searching for him. Gen jokes that maybe Virgil ran away with the mysterious girl whose initials are V.S. Kaori finally puts all the clues together and realizes that Valencia is Virgil’s secret crush. As a further test, Kaori asks if Valencia is a Scorpio, which she confirms to be true. Kaori doesn’t share her conclusions with Valencia but promises she will reveal everything once they find Virgil.

Virgil is overcome with sleepiness in his underground prison, “[but] he didn’t want to fall asleep thinking about all the ways he’d failed in life, so he decided to imagine what he would do differently if he was ever rescued” (274). He would insist that his mother stop calling him Turtle. He would refuse to let Chet bully him. He would be brave enough to speak to Valencia, even if only to say the word “Hello.” He recalls that Lola told him the world looks different through eyes that have just been opened. Maybe when he woke up, everything would change. Virgil then drifts off to sleep.

The girls prepare to perform their locator ritual in a clearing in the woods. Kaori has inscribed a circle in the dirt while Valencia drops the venom-stained pillowcase in the middle as a substitute for a rock with scales. Gen tries to light the ceremonial candle but manages to set some dry leaves on fire instead. Valencia says, “Kaori and I stomp out the fire, and I decide right away that I like the idea of being friends with someone who isn’t afraid to step on flames” (278-79). Smelling smoke, Sacred comes rushing over to check if Valencia is OK.

Valencia receives a text from Lola asking if she’s seen Virgil. The message nudges her to piece together the chain of events that day. She thinks about Virgil crossing the woods, Chet’s snake hunt, the uncovered well, and the pile of stones. Valencia says, “My breath catches in my throat. I turn to Kaori slowly, with Lola’s message in front of me. Sacred nudges my hand. ‘I know where he is’” (282).

Virgil drowsily awakens from his stupor. At first, he thinks he’s imagining things, but light seems to be streaming down from above. He vaguely hears people calling his name, and Ruby compels him to shout back. Virgil is relieved to learn that Kaori, Gen, and Valencia are there to rescue him. He explains that the ladder is too far above the bottom of the well for him to reach it. Gen sends Valencia down with her jump rope. Valencia then secures it to the bottom rung of the ladder so that Virgil can pull himself up. 

Despite her insistence that everything that happened that day was sheer coincidence, Valencia admits to herself, “It’s hard not to believe in fate when you watch a boy climb out of a well using a jump rope” (289). Once he reaches the surface, Virgil immediately checks on Gulliver. Valencia says she once had a guinea pig named Lilliput. Kaori and Gen are struck by the connection to Gulliver’s Travels.

Virgil can barely speak in Valencia’s presence. Kaori shoves him forward to offer his thanks, but he says nothing. Valencia seems to understand and thinks, “I know what it’s like to have people waiting on you to say the right thing, even if you don’t know what the right thing is” (294). The children then split up to head toward their separate homes.

Kaori is furious with Virgil for botching his first real chance to talk to Valencia: “It was almost too much for Kaori to handle. The universe—the big, mysterious, fickle universe—had plotted everything out to the littlest detail (with her influence, of that she had no doubt), and Virgil barely mustered two words” (295). Kaori continues to berate Virgil all the way out of the woods. She points out every connection the universe tried to make on his behalf and concludes that there’s no hope for him if he won’t assert himself.

Virgil continues to walk the rest of the way to his house alone, accompanied only by Sacred. He sees Chet sitting in his driveway and expects a confrontation. For once, Virgil isn’t scared. He thinks, “Being face-to-face with death made Chet seem so . . . ordinary. Boring, even” (300). Chet starts to harass Virgil, but the latter says he won’t take it anymore. Since Chet is afraid of big dogs, the combination of Virgil and Sacred is too much for him, so he backs down.

Back at home, Sacred follows the boy into the house, and Virgil and Lola agree that the dog should stay. When Virgil’s mother calls him Turtle, he insists that she use his proper name. His mother registers this request: “She stopped her panicked movements and stared at him. He’d never seen this look before. He didn’t recognize it. Anger? Sadness? Shock? ‘She’s seeing you for the first time, Bayani. That’s all’” (305).

Valencia is going through the last of her seventy-three text messages from Kaori that evening. It’s midnight, and the two have been working out their business plan. Valencia is amazed at how much her life has changed in a single day. She thinks, “I close my eyes and rewind the day. I’ve never helped a snakebite victim, saved a boy from a well, and met a psychic all in one day, so there’s a lot to rewind. Life is funny sometimes” (308-09). As Valencia is just about to drift off to sleep, her phone alerts her to one more new text. It’s from Virgil, and the message simply reads, “Hello” (310).