That night, Luke Ellis and Avery Dixon shared Luke’s bed as the Institute settled for the night. Avery whispered a detailed recap of Maureen Alvorson’s instructions, confirming she had understood Luke’s hidden note and provided a step-by-step list for an escape attempt. Luke judged Avery’s signaling to Maureen a bit conspicuous but accepted that it had worked.

As they lay in the dark, Avery playfully sent the phrase “Yes, Mrs. Sigsby” into Luke’s mind, escalating it into a crude, louder mental shout. Luke hushed him, but the exchange underscored that their telepathic communication worked and boosted their hope. Luke admitted the odds were against them but recognized that the day had brought real progress.

They discussed the plan’s first step, which Luke considered extremely simple and uncertain, yet consistent with what he had observed about the Institute’s laxity. Avery asked if Luke could truly follow through, and Luke said he would try, then warned Avery to stop broadcasting mentally.

Avery wished Luke could take him along. Luke agreed but said it was not possible now. Avery asked Luke to return with police quickly, before Avery was moved to Back Half, and to save Kalisha (“Sha”) if possible. Luke promised to do what he could.

They regretted Luke’s limited telepathy and the pain it caused him to send, which made coordination harder. After Avery fell asleep, Luke reviewed Maureen’s first step, acknowledging it was crude but aligned with signs of the Institute’s neglect: dusty camera housings, chipped baseboards, and a carelessly abandoned elevator card. He compared the Institute to a rocket with engines off, drifting on inertia—an opening he hoped to exploit.