Time seemed to slow as Roe Redden shot Betima in the head on the roof; Wren fled past Anson, alerted Matt Hadley, and was ordered back to the bunks. In the women’s lavatory, Wren vomited and told Lyddie, Ivy, Bryce, and Kess what happened; Kess defended Roe’s judgment, while Lyddie struggled to believe Betima was Aberrant. Numb, Wren sat with Lyddie and later spoke with Kaine Sutler, who outwardly rationalized Betima’s death as inevitable under Prime law but privately showed pain.

Lights out brought isolation and grief. Seeking comfort, Wren accepted Kaine’s invitation into his bunk; they shared an intimate kiss and touching before Kaine stopped, saying it was the wrong time. Wren returned to her bed.

At morning formation, Hadley announced that a recruit had been revealed as an enemy and dealt with, and Tyler Struck ordered everyone to resume normal activities. Outraged, Wren sought Captain Cross Redden to request dismissal but overheard Cross arguing with General Merrick Redden in his office. Cross condemned Roe’s killing of Betima as unjustified and dangerous to recruits; Merrick defended Roe, asserted belief in his son, and overruled Cross, insisting Roe remain in the Program.

Realizing Roe would stay and that she was unsafe, Wren determined to leave Silver Block. Distracted and missing shots at the range, she spent the day plotting an exit that would force Cross’s hand without signaling premeditation. Recalling advice about escape, she chose to injure herself to create an immediate removal from training.

During sparring, Ford paired Wren with Kess Farren. Wren deliberately fought below capacity and then manipulated a ground position so Kess’s weight pinned her forearm. She twisted her wrist to an unnatural angle, intentionally breaking it. Ford stopped the match, declared Kess the winner, and ordered Hadley to take Wren to Medical as Lyddie rushed to her side.