A Flicker in the Dark

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes depictions of prescription drug addiction, domestic violence, miscarriage, and depression.

Chapter 6 begins in June 2019 on the morning after Chloe and Daniel’s engagement party. Chloe awakens with a hangover. Daniel brings Chloe breakfast and reminds her of his business trip to New Orleans. He works as a pharmaceutical representative and often travels for work. When Daniel asks about her conversation with Cooper, Chloe confesses Cooper’s doubts about Daniel’s intentions and comforts him. After Daniel reminds Chloe about their upcoming nuptials next month, Chloe remembers choosing the wedding venue and date, which falls almost exactly 20 years after the disappearance of the young girls. Although this realization makes Chloe pause to book the wedding date, she pushes away her concerns and agrees.

Chloe waves goodbye to Daniel and begins to clean up the mess from last night’s party. Hungover, she resists the urge to take more Xanax or go to her office for painkillers. She reminisces on her choice to become a psychologist, which was born out of her own desire to heal in the aftermath of her childhood trauma. Noting how she is more emotional than Cooper, Chloe remarks on the differences between their coping methods.