In Stephen King’s novel The Institute, the gifted boy abducted from his home is named Luke.
Luke Ellis is a highly intelligent twelve-year-old whose parents are murdered before he is taken to a secret facility in rural Maine. The institution holds children with telepathic or telekinetic abilities and subjects them to experiments.
The novel follows Luke’s attempt to understand the facility, protect the other children, and escape. Its title refers to the clandestine organization that gathers children believed to possess useful powers.
A common mix-up is confusing Luke with Tim Jamieson, an adult former police officer whose journey eventually intersects with the children’s story. Luke is the central child protagonist, while Tim provides a second viewpoint.