Rohan studies a clue at the western point of the island: a platinum padlock fixed to a chain around a flagpole, engraved with the opening of John Donne’s “No man is an island.” He considers the poem’s themes of connection and its famous ending, then hears another player approaching and hides so he can observe rather than fight over the clue.

Savannah Grayson arrives, quickly notices the lock, and acts without hesitation. Instead of only interpreting the quote, Savannah loops the chain over her shoulder and climbs the fifty-foot flagpole to remove it. Rohan is intrigued by Savannah’s decisiveness and fury, so he joins the climb to test and read Savannah more closely.

Rohan catches up and deliberately matches Savannah’s pace without passing Savannah, turning the climb into a contest and introduction. At the top, Rohan flirts and offers help, but Savannah remains cool and self-possessed as she removes the chain from the pole. Rohan recognizes that Savannah has revealed something important about herself: she is determined, fearless, and unwilling to let others control the game.

When Rohan and Savannah return to the ground, Grayson Hawthorne is waiting. Grayson immediately notices Savannah favoring her right leg and warns that Savannah recently had knee surgery and is not fully recovered. Savannah resents the reminder and insists that Savannah can take care of herself, while Rohan observes the tension between Grayson’s protectiveness and Savannah’s refusal to be protected.

Rohan needles Grayson by joking about having broken Jameson Hawthorne’s ribs at the Devil’s Mercy and by flirting with Savannah in front of Grayson. Savannah declares that Savannah does not do eighty percent and runs off into the forest despite the injury. Grayson warns Rohan to stay away from Savannah, but Rohan deliberately tests Grayson by saying that avoiding both of Grayson’s sisters would leave Rohan free to focus on Lyra Kane.