Rey walks across campus toward the Assembly Hall, shaken by a vision in Aric’s room of them kissing as ice formed around them. She realizes visions are not part of her Aethercall and suspects the episode was a manifestation of Aric’s dormant Giant abilities that hijacked her mind. It felt real—she recalls the cold of his lips and his teeth at her neck.

She nearly collides with Reeve, who offers her tea. Ziva intercepts the cup and warns Rey not to take anything from Reeve, noting he smiles even as he cuts. The comment renders Reeve speechless, startling Rey. She sees buried hurt in Ziva’s expression and reflexively reaches for a knife she forgot is under her bed. Ziva pulls Rey toward the Assembly Hall.

Inside, Sigurd adjusts a microphone onstage. Rey gauges him, concluding his cheerful demeanor masks a dangerous core. When his knowing gaze locks with hers, she feels exposed. Aric joins Sigurd and sits. When Rey and Aric make eye contact across the hall, erotic images from the vision flood her mind until his smirk breaks the spell. Ziva warns Rey not to fall for Aric or “mistake obsession for intimacy” (132). Rey realizes she is already being pulled under.