Characters
This character is Will's older brother and the person whose death sets the events of the novel in motion.
Who is Shawn?
This word means to deceive or frighten someone by pretending to have greater strength, confidence, or better cards than you actually possess.
What is 'bluff?'
This 15-year-old boy is the narrator of the story.
Who is Will?
To join the Dark Suns, Frick's initiation task was to rob Buck, but it ultimately results in Frick doing this to Buck.
What is killing Buck?
Who is Dani?
This word describes something that is shaky, unstable, or poorly constructed—like an old elevator that doesn't seem completely reliable.
What is 'rickety?'
When someone is killed, these three rules are followed: no crying, no snitching, and this.
What is get revenge?
This character gave Shawn the gun that was eventually taken by Will.
Who is Buck?
When Shawn finally gets on the elevator at Floor 2, he breaks Rule #1 by doing this instead of speaking to Will.
What is crying?
This character was Shawn's friend and appears on the elevator to check on his gun. This character was an older brother to Shawn and Will.
Who is Buck?
This word means a lasting mark, image, or effect left on something or someone, such as an image that remains in Will's memory.
What is 'imprint?'
Uncle Mark turned to selling drugs on the corner to afford this item.
What is a new camera?
Dani challenges Will's plan by asking him this critical question about the gun and his target.
What is "What if you miss?"
Will's father did this to Will, taking him completely by surprise after an emotional hug.
What is putting a gun to Will's head?
This character appears on the elevator and shares a story that helps Will understand how the cycle of revenge has affected his family. His dream was to make a movie.
Who is Uncle Mark?
This word describes the dark outline or shape of a person or object that can be seen against a lighter background.
What is 'silhouette?'
When Will's dad joined him on the elevator, he revealed that his attempt at revenge went wrong because he did this.
What is killed the wrong guy?
What entire main narrative of the novel--including all seven elevator floor stops--takes place over this exact span of time.
What is 67 seconds?
Buck taught Shawn how to use a gun and gave him the weapon. When Will took the gun, there were 15 bullets inside, but there should be been this many bullets.
What is sixteen?
This character is the person responsible for shooting Buck, though his task was only to rob him as a part of his initiation into the Dark Suns.
Who is Frick?
This type of expression uses words that often mean the opposite of what the speaker actually intends, sometimes to mock or make a point.
What is 'sarcasm?'
After a gun was held to Will's head on the elevators, Will had this embarrassing physical reaction.
What is peeing his pants?
This person killed Frick in revenge for Buck's death.
Who is Shawn?
These two words were the final question Shawn asked Will as the elevator doors opened to the ground floor.
What is "You coming?"