While Tim Jamieson briefed Sheriff John Ashworth in DuPray and a pursuing Gold team approached I-95 to double back toward the town, Nick Wilholm gathered the Institute’s remaining Back Half children from the screening room into the lounge. The post-movie “bounce” failed for Iris Stanhope, who appeared vacant and unresponsive as Helen Simms tried to comfort her. Donna, Hal, and Jimmy were dazed but coherent, while Len fixated on the blank television.

Avery Dixon’s telepathic voice sounded stronger than ever in Kalisha Benson’s mind, convincing Kalisha their powers amplified together. Nicky taunted Avery, drawing weak smiles, but Avery warned they had little time before staff—likely Corinne—returned to escort them to their rooms. When George Iles asked what to do, Avery hesitated, then told them to make a circle and hold hands.

Helen guided the unresponsive Iris into the circle. Kalisha linked with Len and Nicky, encouraging the others that they had nothing to lose. As soon as Iris completed the circle between Jimmy Cullum and Helen, Iris regained awareness, asked where she was, and reported her headache lifting. The group soothed her, repeating “hush,” and felt a building charge, which Kalisha likened to air before a thunderstorm. Len, suddenly clear-headed, panicked and begged Kalisha not to let go; Kalisha reassured him mentally.

Kalisha recognized that what had to happen next was both dangerous and intoxicating, likening them to children with high explosives. Avery, calm and directive, told them to think together. One by one—Avery, Nicky, Katie, George, Helen, Kalisha, and then the rest—they synchronized their thoughts, chanting and visualizing: “Think of the sparkler.”

As the group focused, the familiar dots, hum, and spitting brilliance of the “sparkler” intensified beyond prior experiences. Their collective perception abruptly expanded; the group felt they were no longer just eleven people but twenty-eight, indicating a sudden linkage with others and a powerful escalation of their combined psychic field. Kalisha experienced terror and exultation, recognizing this moment as ignition.