Middle of the Night

In the present, Ethan once again bolts awake in the middle of the night, startled by the scratching sound in his recurring nightmare. Although his nightmare has never revealed new details about the night Billy disappeared, tonight, Ethan is convinced he has seen something different. He couldn’t quite make out what it was, but he believes that he’s getting closer to remembering what he heard that night and what really happened to Billy.

He reaches for his dream journal to record this new sensation and makes a startling discovery: On the page, in a handwriting that is not his own, Billy’s last words are written: HAKUNA MATATA, DUDE.

Early the next morning, Ethan rushes over to the Chen’s house to ask if they noticed anything suspicious or encountered an intruder the night before. Russ’s wife Jennifer asserts that she and Russ had an unremarkable evening; they’re not aware of anything amiss in the neighborhood. This is supported by Detective Cassandra Palmer, who is making her way through neighborhood interviews and has stopped by to speak with the Chens.

Ethan discusses his new theories about Billy’s case with Cassandra, and she agrees that the employees of the Hawthorne institute are unlikely suspects.