Alex awoke in a hospital, disoriented by pain and memories of the attack at Il Bastone. A nurse named Jean—likely Jean Gatdula tied to Skull and Bones’ victimae care—checked on her, heightening Alex’s sense that the societies were already moving to contain the incident. Alex left her room and climbed into bed beside Pamela Dawes, confirming both had survived and that Dean Sandow was stabilized with a shattered leg set in a cast. They anticipated the societies’ cover-up and reckoning to follow Blake Keely’s death.

Turner soon wheeled in Dean Sandow. Turner reported the murder charge against Lance Gressang would be vacated, though drug charges remained. From Blake’s phone, they learned Tara Hutchins had discovered Merity’s power and Blake’s abuses and was threatening exposure; Blake had displayed escalating, erratic behavior. The group inferred Blake likely killed Tara, potentially under Merity’s influence or compulsion, which might explain his denial to Alex. They also discussed the gluma that attacked Alex and the hellbeast that consumed Darlington, with Sandow suspecting the same adversaries behind both to halt Lethe’s investigation.

Sandow said Colin Khatri and Tara had been conducting dangerous experiments with portal magic and money spells for Scroll and Key, with Tara pushing for deeper involvement and leveraging her value for more “assistance,” effectively extorting Colin and the society. Sandow admitted failing to protect Alex and praised Alex and Dawes for preserving Lethe’s mission, promising favorable reports to the board. Turner rejected any political spin, likening the privileged students to reckless drivers and cautioning Alex to avoid further harm.

Sandow then offered to help ensure Alex passed her classes—prompted by Dawes suggesting a 3.5 GPA—signaling quid pro quo. When Alex pressed for consequences, Sandow detailed that trusts for Manuscript and Scroll and Key would meet in Manhattan, with likely disciplinary action and fines. He confessed Lethe’s dependence on the Houses and their powerful alumni made severe penalties, like stripping tombs, unlikely despite grave breaches: distributing Merity, exposing portal magic to outsiders, and attacking a Lethe delegate.

Alex and Dawes concluded the societies would mostly get away with their actions. A nurse announced Dawes’s sister had arrived to take her to Westport; Dawes, shaken, planned to step away for normalcy. Alex, overwhelmed by pain and distrust, quietly removed her IV, donned a lab coat, and left the hospital, unable to face further polite cover stories or meet Dawes’s sister.

Outside, Alex passed Dawes’s polished-looking sister and exited into the cold. She briefly encountered the Bridegroom, North, and, feeling abandoned and angry, rebuffed him with “Unwept, unhonored, and unsung,” sending him away. Avoiding Il Bastone, she took a car to York and Elm, ascended to the Hutch, and resolved to “go to ground,” retreating to safety behind the wards while the powerful moved to contain the fallout.