Back at the Institute, one of the janitors finds Maureen dead. Before hanging herself, she wrote in lipstick on the wall, “HELL IS WAITING. I’LL BE HERE TO MEET YOU” (288).

Recalling Maureen’s encounter with Luke and Avery, Mrs. Sigsby orders that the children’s locations be checked and is relieved to see all of them accounted for. She returns to her office and reflects on the Institute being her life.

Mrs. Sigsby and Stackhouse deliver Maureen’s body to Back Half for cremation, the atmosphere disorienting. Mrs. Sigsby feels a constant buzz, and bizarre thoughts keep filling her head. The doctors of Back Half exhibit strange mannerisms, nearly insane from the effects of being around the children, especially the ones reduced to mindless drones in Ward A.

Avery asks another child to help fill in Luke’s gap under the fence—but Gladys catches them and calls Stackhouse. Stackhouse and Mrs. Sigsby examine the trench, and eventually find Luke’s tracker, still attached to his earlobe.

Realizing that Maureen likely helped Luke escape, Mrs. Sigsby recalls their conversation—the one where Avery kept pulling his nose—and surmises that a telepathic conversation took place. She has Avery brought to her and tortures him until he tells her that Luke took a boat downriver to Presque Isle.