Episode 3 of *Wayward* opens with Laura immersed in a dream, wandering through the woods hand-in-hand with Alex. Alex ponders aloud whether they would have forged a friendship if they'd met at the tender age of 15. Laura, with a mischievous glint in her eye, jokes that she likely would have just led him astray. Alex, ever curious, yearns to unravel every layer of her being, and Laura, with unwavering sincerity, reassures him of her genuine affection. Suddenly, the dream takes a dark turn as Laura's parents materialize out of nowhere, forcibly yanking her into their car.
At Tall Pines Academy, Evelyn engages in a tense conversation with Leila's mother, broaching the subject of Leila's enrollment. Leila's mother, financially strapped, expresses her inability to afford the tuition. Evelyn, with a steely resolve, persuades her to mortgage her house to cover the fees. Should she refuse, Evelyn threatens to involve the police. Leila, defiant, warns Evelyn that she'll rue the day she forced her to stay, but Evelyn remains unfazed, believing Leila should reserve judgment until she meets her new self.
Leila seeks out Abbie, attempting to sway her into a daring escape. Abbie, however, advises caution, noting that Tall Pines is no ordinary school. She proposes that they adhere to the school's regulations, bide their time until they reach the Break phase, and earn more privileges before hatching an escape plan. Reluctantly, Leila agrees.
Meanwhile, Alex strives to fit in at the police force, albeit in a mundane desk job that entails inputting data into a computer. Andrew, observing his boredom, remarks that digitizing files is a crucial aspect of police work. While Andrew is momentarily distracted, Alex stumbles upon some files pertaining to Tall Pines Academy. Seizing the opportunity, he sends Terry away on a pretext of fetching stationery and quickly skims through the documents.
In class, Rory strikes up a conversation with Leila, marveling at her newfound fame since transferring to Tall Pines. Rory, boasting about his famous musician, semi-pro skateboarder, and renowned actor father, withholds further details, citing the prohibition on discussing life outside the academy's walls. Leila finds Rory intriguing yet suspects he may be stretching the truth. Abbie shares with Leila the tale of Riley, a former student who managed to escape. Leila's eyes light up at the prospect of freedom, but Abbie tempers her enthusiasm, reminding her that they'd need money and provisions to survive on the outside. Abbie reveals that she's been bartering oatmeal for essentials with Beth.
Back at the police station, Alex presents Andrew with the files, which contain a treasure trove of information on all the missing children from Tall Pines Academy, dating back to 1993. Dwayne, a seasoned officer, informs Alex that students have been fleeing Tall Pines for as long as he can recall, and more often than not, they return. If they don't, they simply vanish into thin air.
Alex sought clarification from Dwyane about what he meant by "evaporating," and Dwyane explained that the kids didn't want to be found. He showed Alex a file on a kid who had fled to Portland. Upon turning 18, the kid wasn't technically missing but had no intention of being tracked down. Alex offered an apology to Dwayne, who reassured him not to fret, noting that it demonstrated Alex's concern.
Leila's roommate caught wind of her plan to barter oatmeal for supplies with Beth and dismissed it as foolish. Ello voiced her skepticism about Beth, arguing that her decision to remain at the academy even after turning 18 made her untrustworthy. Nevertheless, she guided Leila to a hiding spot for the oatmeal packets, warning that both would face consequences if the stash was discovered.
Evelyn assembled the students for the "hot seat" session. Rory remarked that they should all pray no one had any compromising information on them. When Evelyn inquired if anyone wanted to vent their frustrations, Stacey raised her hand, but Evelyn chose Daniel to go first. Daniel accused Marty of breaking the respectable roommate agreement by crying in his sleep. Marty fired back, mocking Daniel for allegedly still wearing diapers and then targeting Stacey by saying she smelled like cat urine. Stacey, in turn, accused Ello of self-harming. Evelyn then turned to Ello, asking if she had any feedback for her new roommate, Leila.
At the police station, Alex was delving into research about Tall Pine Academy when he received a call from Rabbit, who was looking for Dwayne. Rabbit informed Alex that Riley's personal belongings were ready for collection and that Evelyn was expecting him.
Back at the hot seat, Ello lashed out at Leila, calling her obsession with Abbie repulsive. The others joined in, derisively referring to Abbie as a "little dog" and mimicking barking sounds. Rory shouted for them to cease, prompting Evelyn to summon him to the center of the room. Daniel taunted Rory, claiming Abbie would never perform oral sex on him, to which Rory retorted that his feelings for Abbie weren't romantic.
Daniel's relentless barrage of insults toward Rory finally pushes him over the edge. With a voice heavy with despair, Rory confesses that they might be right—his dad did send him to this institution because he couldn't bear to look at him anymore. Evelyn, sensing the escalating tension, urges the students to unite, and one by one, they envelop Rory in a group hug. The embrace quickly becomes suffocating, prompting both Leila and Abby to attempt to break free. A guard whispers something urgently to Evelyn, who promptly concludes the session.
Meanwhile, Alex arrives at Tall Pines and takes a seat outside, lost in thought over Riley's candid remarks about the school. From his window, Rabbit observes Alex, having been sent by Dwayne. With a mischievous grin, Rabbit offers to give Alex a tour of the school if he's curious about what goes on behind closed doors.
Elsewhere, Leila and Abbie are determined to avoid being the next targets and devise a plan to escape. They seek out Oatmeal Beth, hoping to procure supplies for their getaway. Rabbit takes Alex on a guided tour of the dormitories, leading him to Laura's old room, which she used to share. When Alex inquires about their closeness, Rabbit swiftly changes the subject, claiming it was ancient history.
Back at home, Laura is on edge as she assembles a crib, the sound of a toad croaking sending her into a panic. Beth ushers Abbie and Leila into a storage room, hinting at the existence of an escape route. While Alex is engaged in conversation with Evelyn, Abbie and Leila stumble upon a concealed door. They slip inside just as Rabbit arrives, searching for them. Descending into the basement, they find themselves in the CCTV room. Spotting Alex on his way out, they dash through the door, pleading for his assistance.
Evelyn is promptly alerted to their escape attempt, and guards converge just as Leila and Abbie reach out to Alex. He instructs them to create a diversion and, under the guise of chaos, slips Abbie a phone. Evelyn arrives on the scene, taking charge. Abbie is escorted back to the dormitory, dismissed from the fray.
Laura is plagued by nightmares where Alex stands idly by as her parents drag her away. The eerie voice that Evelyn heard, echoing with references to a door and toad sounds, mirrors the unsettling visions Abbie and Leila encountered in the basement. Meanwhile, Leila is led to the mirror room for introspection. Evelyn informs her that the only exit lies through a door. As Leila hears Evelyn's voice, she is overcome with flashbacks of her sister's drowning.
As the episode draws to a close, Abbie seeks refuge in a bathroom and dials Alex's number, her voice trembling with urgency.
