Elwood’s decision to leave the bar is motivated by the fact that Chickie is still alive even though Elwood’s “friend” is not. This suggests that Turner is indeed dead, though Whitehead still doesn’t clarify what, exactly, happened. Nevertheless, it’s obvious that Elwood feels as if his friend’s death was deeply unfair. Worse, he has just learned that his own escape didn’t even do anything to inspire his fellow Nickel Boys, since it apparently never reached the student body. Once more, then, Nickel Academy triumphs over him through its secretive ways, getting the best of his anger and ruining his night even decades after he escaped.