Hunted in the Shadows after thoughts and theories
@kendsleyauthor @marydublinauthor @bittykimmy13 My other “Shot in the Dark” memes by part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / predictions / Pirates AU⬇️ // “Shards” & other memes // “Hunted in the Shadows” (Book) Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
Alright, we are going to get into possible spoilers and my theories, based on my understanding of the previous and current canons of the Shot in the Dark story.
So if you don't want the possibly of being spoiled for the next books, then end here and I'll see you for the next set of memes. 😘👋
Still here? Okay, let's put on our Tinfoil hats and bear with me...
Cliff is the secret protagonist of this story!
Okay, maybe not the protagonist, but Cliff is definitely the catalyst.
A lot of the major plot points have happened because of his actions: Sylvia getting shot. Hitting Jon with a car. Saving Jon from his burning house. To name a few.
Cliff is also the constant of the story, even though it switches POV between Sylvia and Jon, we always see him from an outsider’s perspective and are not privy to his inner thoughts. (Except for that one bonus chapter.)
My main theory is that very soon, Cliff will have to make a choice that will alter the course of the story. A choice that will save or doom an entire species. They will either die or live with his decision.
In the latest book Hunted in the Shadows, the whole thing with Cliff and Rhett is very important.
(180-181) When reading these pages, I was wondering why Rhett was so intrested in Cliff and trying get on his good side, saying he’s “valuable,” calling Cliff by his last name, then Rhett mentioned his rich employer, and the E note… Oh god.
The literal panic I felt when I put two and two together. I screamed and ran around the room freaking out. 🫨🫠😫😭
(Super big spoiler) Cliff Everett’s father is Rhett’s employer. Mr. Everett is funding the capture/selling/research of supernatural creatures. Including Fairies.
Rhett thinks Cliff is important because his father, Mr. Everett, thinks he’s important. Cliff’s dad needs him. Most likely to take over the family business/fortune. Also, Cliff has a decade’s worth of experience dealing waith and killing monsters which might be invaluable.
This realization brought me to…
Originally, I thought this story was going in the direction of the Dark future AU and NOT the Tyrant!Cliff AU. I almost had a heart attack when I saw the signs. (I’ll talk more about these AUs in depth and why they are important later.)
Also when Rhett was talking about 'taming' the fairies, aka capturing, trafficking, and torturing them, I freaked out. I didn’t think that would happen so soon in the story. I thought that was gonna start in the last book. I don’t like where this is going 😭😭😭🫠
When Hannah has her visions, she looks at Jon and says: “Her love WILL ruin you” (269). Most likely referring to Sylvia. What I find interesting about this is the finality of her statement.
Later on, Hannah said that destiny is like a wheel, so for Jon, her prophecy is a warning. She is warning him that he can choose to listen and change the outcome of his fate. Or stay on course and her love WILL ruin him.
But at this point, Jon has chosen to love Sylvia and DNGAF if it does 'ruin' him.
I think this meme best represents Jon:
Let's talk about Cliff’s prophecy…
(269) “You’re Cliff Everett, aren’t you? The one from the legends. Are you going to save us?”
“Are you going to save us?” A question.
Asking if Cliff will choose to save them.
A choice. Cliff will have a choice.
A choice that might determine the fate of the world.
Another thing that is interesting is when Hannah asks, “You’re Cliff Everett, aren’t you?” If she was fully herself, she would have known it was Cliff. She knows him, so it makes sense if it’s something or someone speaking through Hannah that isn’t sure he is the Cliff of legend.
Now, to address the “legends” and the “us” part of Hannah’s prophecy. This is a little harder to pin down, but I think Hannah was possessed by the will and fear of future supernatural creatures. Especially the fairies. (I’ll talk more about why this is important in the next section.)
Sure, he is a legend among other hunters, but that is for a different reason. Sylvia believed the tales of her adventures with ‘warriors’ or heroes would be sung for generations. Every time the hunters meet new fairies, the legend only grows.
I'm gonna talk about non-canon AUs. (Spoilers for the AUs!) If you are unfamiliar with the Dark Future AU or the Tyrant!Cliff AU, I’d highly recommend checking it out.
The Dark Future AU begins when fairies are discovered by the world. Now fairies and other supernatural creatures are being captured and sold off, leading to an all out war. Sylvia was put in some kind of research facility with other fairies. Jon and Cliff try to break her out, but Jon is killed. Sylvia casts a dangerous spell. With her final breath, Sylvia begs Cliff to “save as many [fairies] as [he] can,” before her magic consumes her and freezes the entire facility. She dies.
Cliff honors her wishes and takes the imprisoned fairies to a safe house. There he meets other fairies, who at first don’t trust him, but one named Zia encourages him to follow through with Sylvia’s wish and continue to help as many fairies as he can.
Cliff most likely had the opportunity to join his family in hunting down supernatural creatures and making lots of money, but he chooses to honor Sylvia’s wishes and save them.
Cliff seems like the kind of person who needs to be pointed in a direction or he gets lost. A reason to keep fighting. Sylvia’s wish and Zia’s encouragement gave him a compass to guide him through his darkest moment. (Though I’m not saying he’s blindly following them, just choosing to listen.)
This AU does eventually end in a semi-good place for Cliff. (Yay?)
With the Tyrant!Cliff AU, I’m not really sure how it started, but what we do know is that Jon is not present. I always assumed he died because there is no way in hell Jon would let Cliff keep Sylvia in chains. I believe Jon’s (probable) death is what kicked off this AU.
Cliff’s best friend (was most likely) dead and Cliff isn’t given a guiding star like in the other AU. When presented with the opportunity to reunite with his family, he jumps on it.
Cliff starts capturing and selling fairies, but he keeps Sylvia imprisoned. She is attached to iron chains, preventing her from using magic. He claims he is ‘protecting’ her in his own way and wants them to be friends again, but she won’t listen. She grows to hate him for everything he has done and is doing.
Something very important to note about both AUs: Jon is dead or absent. No matter the outcome or choices made, he’s gone. I think Hannah’s prophecy helps confirms this: “Her love WILL ruin you.” From the start of the story, I’ve had the feeling that Jon is going to die by the end of the series.
The key difference in the AUs is Sylvia.
If she dies, Cliff becomes the faries’ savior.
If she lives, Cliff is the faries’ destroyer.
Now this is not the end all be all.
I’m not saying Cliff’s choices will be made for him based solely on Sylvia and Jon’s living status, the choice can happen while they are very much alive. But I feel that Jon and Sylvia will have an impact and influence on the choices made depending on if they are present.
With all of that info dump out of the way, here is my theory on what choice Cliff will have to make: “Are you going to save us?”
No. When presented with the opportunity to reunite with his family, Cliff will choose to rejoin his father, see his sister again, not have to live in squalor, no more motels, the life of luxury once again. But he will participate in the hunting, trapping, trafficking, and selling of supernatural creatures, including fairies. Dooming them to a fate worse than death. Possibly losing his humanity and sense of self in the process.
Yes. Cliff will choose Jon and Sylvia. His found family. He will chose to protect the things and people they loved and cared for. Keeping his morals and protecting the most vulnerable, especially the fairies. Taking initiative to “save us” and becoming more of a legend. A hero. A warrior.
I think Cliff’s choice will be the catalyst for which of these two dark AUs we might enter.
TLDR: Cliff is the secret main character/catalyst of the story. Cliff will be the one who decides the fate of the fairies. They will either die or survive with his choice.
Again, this is all speculation and my own theories for the story.
I won’t be disappointed if I’m proven right or wrong about these theories. I had brain rot and just needed to rant and get my ideas out there. (Honestly this might have ended up as an incoherent jumble of words lol.)
I just love this story so much!
If y’all ever need another beta reader I’d be happy to volunteer 👀👀👀
My other “Shot in the Dark” posts by marydublinauthor and kendsleyauthor part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / predictions / Pirates AU⬇️ / “Shards” & other memes (book/online) / “Hunted in the Shadows” (Book) Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
