With Kalisha Benson and Wendy Gullickson gone, Tim Jamieson asks Luke Ellis if he wants to play chess. Luke declines and says he feels empty, planning to sit under the big tree out back. He asks Tim if any of the group will need to use their keys, which would open a Charleston safety deposit box containing what Maureen Alvorson gave Luke in case anything happens to the kids or to Luke, Wendy, or Tim.

Luke wonders if anyone would believe the contents of the flash drive. Tim says Annie Ledoux would, joking about her belief in the paranormal. Luke notes Annie is “woo-woo” but more grounded lately because she is seeing Mr. Denton often, and he reveals they are dating. Tim is surprised and asks if Luke read this telepathically; Luke says no, Annie told him, and he thinks it is fine to share.

Tim compares the flash drive to a loose thread that could unravel a sweater, saying the recognizable kids on it would trigger an investigation and ruin the organization’s hopes of restarting the program. Luke doubts the organization can restart anyway, calling it magical thinking and noting the world has changed since the 1950s.

Luke starts to leave, trudging with his head down. Tim initially lets him go, then follows, takes Luke by the shoulder, and hugs him. Tim thinks of telling Luke he is brave, strong, and that his parents would be proud, and that he loves him, but decides words are unnecessary. The chapter closes with the idea that sometimes a hug is its own kind of telepathy.