Shatter Me

Castle explains to Juliette that there are many others like her. He tells her that he had looked for others like himself because he was tired “of believing [he] was inhuman; a monster” (310). And then he tried to turn his abnormality into an advantage and to use it for supporting the resistance. Juliette is stunned to find out that there are others like her. To demonstrate his gift, Castle moves a key with his mind, explaining that he has “an impossibly advanced level of psychokinesis” (310).

Castle then offers Juliette to meet others like her. They hear someone rushing toward them, and Castle turns around to face the runner. Juliette hears a male voice “thick with a British accent” tell Castle that their cameras are registering more tanks in the vicinity than usual and they might be getting closer (311). Castle calmly responds that The Reestablishment is especially likely to attack now that Juliette is here because they are looking for her.

He then introduces Juliette to Brendan, his companion, who looks very unusual: his skin is very pale, his hair is white, and his eyes are “the lightest shade of blue” (312). When Brendan reaches to shake Juliette’s hand, a couple of sparks fly out of his fingers, and he quickly pulls back his hand. Seeing Juliette’s surprised eyes, he explains that he can accidentally electrocute people. Hearing this, Juliette feels “suddenly understood.” Brendan then makes a joke that it’s very confusing because girls like to talk about a spark in a relationship, but none of them actually want to be electrocuted.

After meeting Brendan, Juliette believes that maybe Adam was right and perhaps she does have a choice. Castle then leads her to Adam’s hospital ward and asks her if she’d like to say hello.

When Castle opens the door to the hospital ward, he explains that healing is “a delicate process” and that they are lucky to have two healers (315): One of them heals physical problems and the other one mental. Once they are inside, Castle leaves Juliette alone with Adam. She sits next to him and, unable to resist the urge to make sure he’s okay, touches his hand. At this moment Castle storms back into the room, stunned that Adam is immune to Juliette’s touch. He tells Juliette that there are many theories about her condition and promises her to share them later.

Castle leaves the room again and Adam opens his eyes. He tells Juliette how happy he is to see her. Juliette notices that two girls in matching silver bodysuits are now standing behind her. They introduce themselves as Sonya and Sara, the twin healers. Adam asks about James and the twins respond that he is playing with other children and rush to fetch him. When James comes into the ward, he seems “almost happier than seeing Adam for the first time” (320). He talks non-stop about how excited he is to be in this place. He admits that he doesn’t remember what happened on their way here because he fell asleep.

After James leaves, Adam tries to sit up and Juliette notices that his skin is completely healed. She is stunned and Adam explains that “they’re not very traditional in their medical practices around here” (321). He admits that he has heard rumors about this place but never believed it actually existed, while it turns out that Kenji has been working undercover for them for a long time. Adam also tells Juliette that Warner discovered Juliette before Castle did and that’s why Warner feels like he has a right to have her on his side. But while Castle wants to use Juliette’s ability to fight The Reestablishment, Warner only wants to take advantage of her in order to become more powerful. Juliette confesses to Adam that he doesn’t think that Warner is dead.

Kenji walks into the room and confirms that Warner is alive. Adam is still mad at him for lying to them and for giving James sedatives. Nevertheless, Kenji thinks that he did everyone a favor and announces that from now on, Adam and James will be his roommates. He also tells them that they have just seen Warner and his soldiers patrol this area. For some time, everyone thought that Warner was dead and there was a shift in power, and this confusion is what allowed Adam, Juliette, Kenji, and James to escape. Kenji assures them that Omega Point is safe from attack and that their security is “just about impenetrable” (324). Yet it is clear that The Reestablishment wants to attack, and Kenji is sure that the underground forces are ready to fight back.

When Juliette asks Kenji if he, too, has some kind of gift, he disappears, demonstrating that he can make himself invisible. Kenji explains that he can blend well into the background and match his surroundings. He also confesses that he has been spying on Adam, per Castle’s orders, and that’s how he knew where he lived. Since Warner was the first to find Juliette, Kenji had to enlist to keep an eye on Warner’s plan to get her. When Kenji heard about Adam being involved in this project, Castle told him to watch over Adam, so he spied on him. But no one expected Adam and Juliette to run away together, so when it happened, it ruined their plans.

Adam is annoyed that all this time Kenji has been spying on him. He asks him to bring a pair of pants just to give Kenji a reason to leave the room. Once they are alone, Adam pulls Juliette close to him and kisses her. At this moment, Kenji storms back into the room and reminds them that the wall to the ward is made of glass. He then asks Adam to “do everyone a favor and keep [his] pants on” (328). Yet neither Juliette nor Adam wants to wait until the morning to see each other again.

Sonya and Sara, who share the room with Juliette, are still asleep when Winston knocks on the door. He takes Juliette to another room where she can try on her new outfit—the uniform made just for her. As they walk along quiet corridors, Winston unwillingly reveals that he too has an ability—he is very flexible. To demonstrate this, he twice loops his arm around his waist. Although Winston doesn’t find his ability useful, Juliette assures him that it’s incredible and “nothing to be ashamed of” (332).

Winston brings Juliette to the same room where she saw him for the first time. Kenji and Adam are already there, and Juliette notices that Adam looks perfectly healthy. Before Winston has a chance to give Juliette her suit, Adam asks him and Kenji to give him and Juliette a moment alone. Winston reluctantly agrees but asks Juliette to put on the suit while they are gone.

Once they are alone, Adam pulls Juliette close and thanks her for saving his life. He then asks her to put on her suit while he turns away. With his back turned, Juliette takes off her oversized clothes and puts on her new purple outfit. Although it seems small, she is surprised at how well it fits her. When she asks Adam to help her zip it up, he tells her that she looks “like a superhero” (336).

When Kenji and Winston come back into the room and see Juliette, they are both stunned. Winston explains that the suit is built to help Juliette avoid unintentionally touching someone while regulating her temperature. Winston also gives Juliette the rest of her outfit: “a pair of flat-heeled black ankle boots and a pair of black gloves that stop right before the elbow” (337). When Juliette puts them on, she feels invincible. As they leave the room, Adam slips off one of Juliette’s gloves and takes her hand. He smiles at her, and Juliette feels safe and confident.