That afternoon, Luke Ellis researched debt law and considered whether the Institute monitored his browsing, deciding not to provoke them. Caretaker Priscilla arrived to escort him for an eye-related procedure, offering curt, hostile answers during the trip to C-Level.

In Room C-17, Luke met tech Brandon and two suited doctors: Dr. Hendricks, Chief of Medical Operations, and Dr. Evans, head of ophthalmology. Hendricks administered an injection that caused Luke’s throat to seize, leaving him unable to swallow or breathe until it abruptly passed, while Evans prepared to intubate if needed. Despite Luke’s alarm, the doctors dismissed his distress and proceeded.

Evans conducted an eye exam with a screen and dimmed lights, warning Luke to keep his gaze fixed or face slaps and shocks. Classical music played as colored dots appeared on the screen—blue, then red and green—multiplying into hundreds and beginning to pulse and flash in complex patterns.

The lights intensified and swirled, forming spirals, flocks, and circles as the music sped up. When Luke tried to look away, Brandon struck him hard across the face, causing his nose to bleed. The visual stimuli escalated further, overwhelming Luke with three-dimensional, immersive patterns that seemed to fill the room.

As the dots appeared to surround and invade him, Luke experienced severe disorientation, believed he was having a seizure, and heard distant voices encouraging him to keep looking. He thrashed in the chair, managed only a gargling sound when trying to speak, and then blacked out, falling into darkness with a sense of relief.