The Barren Grounds Chapter 7

Summary

In Chapter 7, Morgan, overwhelmed by emotional turmoil, sprints up to the attic seeking solace. She contemplates running away, a pattern from her past in foster care, but reconsiders due to her bond with her current foster family. In the attic, she encounters Eli, who presents her with a drawing that triggers a supernatural event. The drawing, once a depiction of a beast in a snowstorm, becomes a portal, unleashing a blizzard into their space. They manage to close the portal, leaving them to ponder the mysterious power behind the drawing.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♀️ Morgan, overwhelmed by emotions, sprints up to the attic to escape a tense situation at home.
• 😢 Morgan is distraught, crying intensely, and considers leaving her foster home due to past experiences of abandonment.
• 👟 She reflects on her foster parents, Katie and James, who have been kind to her, unlike her previous foster experiences.
• 🤔 Morgan contemplates her actions and the possibility of not being at fault, showing a moment of self-reflection.
• 🧍‍♂️ Eli, another foster child, plays a significant role as a calm presence and a friend to Morgan.
• 🎨 Eli creates a drawing that becomes a pivotal element in the story, symbolizing a connection to a mysterious world.
• 🛠️ Morgan and Eli attempt to make the attic a secret place, using a box cutter and a staple gun to hang the drawing.
• 🌪️ The drawing comes to life, bringing a blizzard into their world, indicating a supernatural or magical element.
• ❄️ The blizzard and the Fisher, a creature from Eli's drawing, become real, causing chaos and fear.
• 🏠 The attic becomes a shared sanctuary for Morgan and Eli, representing a place of refuge and camaraderie.

Q & A

What is the main setting of Chapter 7?

Chapter 7 is set in a house, specifically on the second floor and later in the attic.

Why is Morgan sprinting up the stairs at the beginning of the chapter?

Morgan is sprinting up the stairs because she is overwhelmed with emotion, not from physical exertion, as she is crying very hard.

What is Morgan's emotional state when she reaches the top of the stairs?

Morgan is extremely upset and out of breath due to intense crying, not from the physical act of climbing the stairs.

Why does Morgan initially plan to pack her clothes and leave?

Morgan plans to leave because she feels she will be kicked out of the house, as she has been removed from and run away from houses before.

How does Morgan feel about her current foster parents, Katie and James?

Morgan acknowledges that Katie and James are good foster parents, unlike any she has had before, and she feels conflicted about leaving them.

What triggers Morgan's breakdown in the hallway?

Morgan's breakdown is triggered by a combination of her past experiences in foster care and a recent argument that led her to believe she would be kicked out again.

What does Morgan discover about the attic door?

Morgan discovers that the attic door is difficult to open and seems to have been sealed shut by layers of paint.

How does Eli find Morgan in the attic?

Eli finds Morgan in the attic because she is not very quiet, and he knows she is there due to the noise she is making.

What is the significance of the drawing that Eli gives to Morgan?

The drawing represents a safe and comforting space for Morgan, symbolizing a place where she feels wanted and can escape her troubles.

What unusual event occurs when they staple the drawing to the wall?

When they staple the drawing to the wall, it comes to life, creating a blizzard in the attic and transforming the drawing into a window to another world.

How does the chapter end, and what does it imply for Morgan and Eli?

The chapter ends with the blizzard drawing coming to life, and Eli pulling it down to stop the snowstorm, suggesting that their bond and the magic of the drawing are strong and that they have a unique connection.