In the later timeline, Malorie wakes up and slowly remembers where she is. Questioning the children, who are rowing, she learns that she was unconscious for a short time, and that they managed to free the boat when it got stuck. Aloud, she admits, “I’m hurt,” and then cries with relief at the children’s survival. She begins to row and tells the children to listen.

In the earlier timeline, two weeks after Gary’s arrival, Malorie overhears Cheryl telling Felix about her experience feeding the birds. As she made her way to the bird cage, she heard a sound like a footstep; she noticed that the birds sounded anxious. Moments later, as she fed them, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Cheryl screamed and waved her arms but felt nothing. Concluding her story, Cheryl suggests that the thing she felt on her shoulder might have been nothing more than a falling leaf.

Malorie worries about Don, who has grown close to Gary. They spend long hours together discussing what Gary refers to as Frank’s theories, including the idea that certain intelligent people can be immune to the creatures’ effects.