At school, Oren assigns Eli to stay beside Avery through every class. Eli’s presence makes Avery feel even more conspicuous, and Avery wonders whether Oren is reacting only to the locker vandalism or also to Ricky being in town and causing trouble.

In Physics, Thea Calligaris joins Avery at the lab table and comments on Eli before Avery asks what Thea wants. Once class begins and the lab assignment starts, Thea reveals that she and Rebecca were present when Xander sank his letter in the bathtub and that they know about the new game.

Thea explains that the puzzle has awakened Rebecca after a long period of withdrawal following Emily’s death. Thea says that because Rebecca wants to help Xander, Thea will help Rebecca, and Thea makes clear that they know about Toby but will not tell anyone.

Avery is wary because Thea is connected to Zara and because Xander has shared sensitive information despite not liking Thea. Avery turns her attention back to the items found in Toby’s room: the cipher disk and William Blake’s poem A Poison Tree. When Thea’s tablet shows the same search Xander ran, Avery realizes Xander told Thea and Rebecca everything.

Avery is frustrated with Xander, but one search result catches Avery’s attention: the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine. The phrase suggests a new possible direction for interpreting the poem and the clues from Toby’s sealed wing.