6:45 p.m. EST

The scene opens mid-flight as a college student’s whistle triggers applause for Allie and Van’s staged “elopement.” Van kisses Allie, playing to the crowd, while a flight attendant delivers champagne, urging them to sit. The spectacle consolidates the seat switch Van engineered and keeps attention off their true purpose.

Leaning in, Allie hisses that Donna must have told Van about her plan; Van says Donna acted out of love and that he came because he loves Allie and won’t let her face this alone. Allie, burdened by guilt over past betrayals and dangers, feels she doesn’t deserve his loyalty.

As the safety announcement begins, Allie panics about King Sorrow and the presence of Horation Matthews on the flight. Van counters that King Sorrow swore to protect them, preventing harm to the plane while they are aboard. He adds a critical reveal: he checked the manifest through the flight attendant and confirms Horation Matthews never boarded.

Allie’s immediate dread eases with Van’s assurance and the manifest news, but the absence of Matthews introduces a new uncertainty about their enemies’ timing and intentions, even as the plane departs under the supposed shelter of Sorrow’s oath.