In the middle of the night Nicolás sneaks into the pantry. This is his third night of work on his escape plan, and he thinks he is close to getting through to the other side. He has his crowbar, Swiss army knife and a large spoon. The house is so quiet that it spooks him. He works with the light off, using his hands to feel along the wall and make an opening in the plaster. Suddenly he hears footsteps in the kitchen. He hides himself against the wall inside the pantry, prepared to use his crowbar as a weapon if necessary. He realizes it must be Vidal stopping by the kitchen on his nightly visit to the latrine. Once the footsteps fade away, he slumps to a seated position in the dark.

Nicolás awakens later that night. The beams of light from La Virgen surround him, and he hears her voice. In a dream state he feels that he is in a hot cave like version of the pantry. she tells him not to be afraid and warns him that at noon he must be strong. She says he will see her at noon, and he must follow her to safety.