Late at night, Luke Ellis returned to the Mr. Griffin computer site and almost navigated to the Star Tribune to check on his parents, but backed out, calling himself a coward and wondering what good confirmation would do. He redirected himself to re-researching Vermont debt lawyers as a way to pass time and maintain control.

After about twenty minutes, Luke was hit by another episode of colored spots that swirled in his vision, making him feel as if he were drifting away like a departing train. He managed the episode by breathing slowly with his head on the laptop until it passed, noting with relief that he could still swallow.

In the bathroom, while brushing his teeth, Luke reflected on the TP card test. He remembered specific images from the second and fourth cards—a boy on a bike and a black dog with a red ball—realizing he had in fact perceived them, meaning he now had telepathy.

Back in the dark, Luke considered that the Stasi Lights had changed him. He believed the staff anticipated this possibility but were uncertain of outcomes. He reasoned that low-level “pinks” received extra tests because they were less valuable or more expendable, and that the doctors thought his TP card test had failed, which was to his advantage.

Luke further guessed the lights served purposes beyond enhancing weaker talents, since stronger TPs and TKs like Kalisha Benson and George also received them. He could not determine the other purpose, but felt sure the Institute was experimenting on all the children, with special focus on the pinks.

He closed by contrasting the return of the colored spots with Iris Stanhope’s transfer, accepting that while the spots might come back, Iris would not; she had gone to Back Half, and they would not see her again.