The elbow hits nothing but the lingering of static, because Ava's quick to disappear in the disorientation. She knows she isn't thinking at all clearly, overwhelmed with the fear that something has come along and replaced her best friend. Or that she just attacked her best friend and she's the one out of her own skull. She needs to contact Maximilien, warn him of what's happened.

In her haste to retreat to safety, a crumpled photograph is left forgotten on the floor next to Skulduggery, of a small pigtailed girl smiling with her parents.