The Mother and Jilly in “The Gathering”

You must feel terrible.

Jilly

No, I'm fine.

No, I mean you really must. That's what The Blessing does to you the closer you get. You're scared, am I right? Your skin's a little too tight. There's something just out of the corner of your eye you can't quite see, hmm?

Jilly

Yes.

You never get used to it. Come this way, Miss Kitzinger.

Jilly

It's Miss Meredith.

I don't really care. The men enjoy those sorts of games. But the feeling, it started as soon as we dug deep enough. I think it's The Blessing's attempt to communicate.

Jilly

Then it's a living thing?

Oh, we have no idea. But certainly The Blessing sends some sort of impact back at the onlooker. [Jilly is led to a warehouse and into a goods lift] We have a theory. We say The Blessing shows you to yourself. I've seen people look upon The Blessing and end their lives. There's a brilliant truth about that, because each and every time that person was hiding something vile. Isn't that wonderful? It's exhilarating, the damage it does. I wonder what you'll see.