Luke Ellis had no tests and not even vital checks for the second day in a row. He helped Connie the janitor move mattresses in the East Wing and received a single token. On his way back, he met Maureen Alvorson at the ice machine. Maureen reported seeing Dr. Hendricks and Zeke conferring by the flagpole and confirmed Luke had not been tested for two days, warning that since it was Friday he might have only until the weekend before being moved. She advised acting that night and told him to look under his mattress at bedtime.

Luke asked quietly about Maureen’s illness, and Maureen said staff believed it was sciatica; Hendricks might suspect more but did not care as long as she kept working. She promised to turn his room during lunch and again wished him luck, saying she wished she could hug him. Luke left quickly to hide his emotion and resolved that the escape would be that night.

Luke ate a large lunch despite not being hungry and planned to do the same at supper, anticipating he would need energy if the plan worked. At dinner, he sat with Avery Dixon and Frieda Brown, who seemed attached to Luke. Afterward, they went to the playground, where Luke declined basketball with Frieda and watched Avery on the trampoline while he silently confirmed with Maureen’s cue to go that night.

Avery telepathically asked if the escape was happening that night. Luke told Avery aloud to sleep in his own room, pretending he wanted a full night’s sleep, but Avery challenged the pretense and forced Luke to acknowledge the truth via TP. Luke warned Avery not to jeopardize the chance. Avery asked Luke to come back for him if possible, and Luke promised he would, even as the returning “dots” and the memory of the immersion tank suggested the mental effort was straining him.

To maintain cover, Avery invited Frieda to play HORSE. Frieda teased him and accepted, and they played as daylight faded. Luke crossed the playground, looked back at Avery missing a hook shot, and noted that Avery did not come to Luke’s room later to retrieve his toothbrush, suggesting Avery followed Luke’s instruction to stay in his own room to avoid suspicion.