Outside, the tempest from the climactic scene of 'Evil' Season 4, Episode 9, rages with unbridled fury. New York City is in the throes of a Category 3 hurricane, Lucy, its majestic fury aimed straight at the heart of the metropolis. Amidst this chaos, the girls seize the moment, huddled around a screen as an influencer regales them with tales of demonic antics amidst the storm. The CGI spectacle captivates Kristen's young charges, eliciting screams of delight and fear in equal measure.
Convinced of the need for protection, they embark on crafting a salt circle, a makeshift barrier against the unknown. Meanwhile, Kristen finds herself navigating the grocery store, transformed into a chaotic scene reminiscent of an apocalyptic aftermath. The hurricane, a once-in-a-century event, looms large in their midst.
As she speaks on the phone, Kristen's eyes catch sight of Sheryl, disguised and armed with a sackful of stun guns, a clear indication of impending danger. Sheryl's revelation that Leland and his forces are hot on their trail sends a chill down Kristen's spine. Amidst the revelations, Sheryl confesses that Kristen and her children hold the utmost importance in her world, her voice laced with sincerity.
When Sheryl divulges her affiliation with a company helmed by demons masquerading as humans, Kristen attempts to dismiss it as mere paranoia fueled by the storm's chaos. Undeterred by Kristen's skepticism, Sheryl bristles at the implication of being patronized, prompting Kristen to inquire about her medication, a desperate attempt to find a rational explanation.
As she reaches for the phone to summon Dr. Boggs, Sheryl issues a final dire warning before darting off into the storm's maw. Back at the house, the girls, armed with crates of toilet paper and a liberal sprinkling of tequila salt in the kitchen, believe they've fortified their defenses. Kristen, however, gently disabuses them of the notion, explaining that salt holds no sway over demons. The tension mounts, and the storm outside mirrors the turmoil brewing within.
Baby Timothy arrives in the company of Leslie, and the girls conspire to keep their encounter with the little one a secret from Kristen. Leslie harbors a secret aspiration: she yearns for Kristen's assistance in wresting custody from Leland's grasp, envisioning a future where they raise Timothy as a united front. With renewed determination, Leslie ventures back to Leland's lair, only to find Kristen's resolve as unyielding as ever.
Meanwhile, David finds himself lost in contemplation, staring blankly at a sheet of paper, his mind wandering to distant realms. Amidst this mental odyssey, his gaze falls upon Leland's enigmatic "Feliz Navidad" animal, instantly illuminating the identity behind the mysterious figure.
Leland's ascendancy over The Sixty has not gone unnoticed by The Church, stirring up a flurry of concern. Father Dominic cautions David against meddling, yet as the tempest escalates to a Category 4 fury, David's instincts urge him to shutter the church's doors. Paradoxically, Dominic insists that he continue his remote viewing endeavors amidst the chaos.
Kristen, immersed in her laptop's glow within the confines of a steamy bath, is startled by the arrival of yet more toilet paper, accompanied by AstrologyGirl's eerie prophecies about The Gray Man—a shadowy suited figure, akin to a Mothman reborn, who heralds the advent of misfortune.
Suddenly, the lights flicker and die, plunging the house into darkness. Laura and Lexis, ears pressed to the vents, hear a faint plea for aid, their hearts racing with trepidation. They quickly gather their courage and, armed with the real estate code, slip into the neighboring, vacant abode with ease.
Upstairs, a phone echoes with the boy's voice, a cruel deception that sends shivers down their spines. They've always been attuned to Leland's approach, but this time, their senses betray them. Lexis, terror etched across her face, flees to the bathroom, only to glimpse a shadowy figure lurking within the shower's misty veil.
It's a demonic presence, though her eyes refuse to fully comprehend its horror. Desperate, her sisters hurl a speaker from the window, blasting music as a distraction, and they flee in a panic. Emerging from the haunted house unscathed, they're met with a frightful surprise—Kristen, standing in the doorway of their own home, a scream echoing between them.
David, immersed in his remote viewing, witnesses an unexpected scene: Kristen, armed with a confetti-adorned cake, stands at the threshold of her neighbor's abode. As Leland, her unsuspecting recipient, opens the door, his gratitude for the sweet gesture echoes warmly. However, the credits fail to conceal a mischievous message this time, leaving a sense of disappointment lingering.
But hold! The truth reveals itself as a mere projection within David's mind. For Kristen is indeed at his own doorstep, where she unleashes her surprise—not in the form of celebration but as a cake assault, smearing his face with sugary chaos. Undeterred by his attempts at conversation, she escalates, raining slaps upon his bewildered features. Yet, this too, is merely a vision.
The question lingers: How could Kristen procure a cake amidst a world devoid of electricity? Her subsequent warning to the girls, to shun the house and resume their surveillance duties, hints at a deeper knowledge. She distributes stun guns and air horns, preparing for the unknown.
A knock at the door interrupts the tense atmosphere, revealing David and Ben, the latter having been informed of Kristen's new neighbor by David's precognition. A recent deed transfer, a mere week old, fuels their curiosity and suspicion.
David contemplates going beyond mere observation, pondering the morality of preemptive action against a potential threat. He seeks guidance from Father Ignatius, his conscience grappling with the weight of a life-altering decision. The priest's solemn words echo like a damning judgment: To take a life in anticipation of evil is to forfeit one's soul to an eternity of unforgiveness.
Meanwhile, the storm outside rages on, escalating to a Category 5 fury, its impending landfall a mere dozen hours away, adding urgency to their already complex situation.
Father Ignatius profounds that blind faith encompasses depths far greater than anyone dares fathom. Often, he himself wonders if he truly believes, yet one verse from John 15:13 holds steadfast in his heart: "No greater love exists than laying down one's life for one's friends." Given the chance to halt the Monsignor's murderer, he would have, even at the cost of his own life, seeing it as an act of divine service.
David, meanwhile, usurps Leland's consciousness, leaving Leland to utter a haunting "Forgive me, father," before reaching for a glass of bleach. Finding no knives in the house, David cunningly guides Leland's hand towards a fireplace poker. As Leland confronts his reflection, David's control falters, a chilling realization that Leland has now seized the reins.
"Hello, David," echoes in the air, a sinister reversal of power. Leland, now master of his own fate, appears more cognizant than before, his eyes betraying a palpable fear as he grasps a butcher's knife, its sharp edge poised to rend his own flesh. But fate intervenes, as Leland's bathroom suddenly betrays him in a twist of irony.
Sheryl storms into the office building, only to be met with the news that it's closed due to the raging storm. "I am the storm, Oscar," she declares defiantly. Seated at a desk, she types a message about Leland's impending fate, only to be interrupted by a phone call from Leland himself, dispatching Dr. Boggs to her location.
As Dr. Boggs arrives, Sheryl scrutinizes him, asking him to lower his collar, searching for a clue—a velcro-like seam perhaps, where their skins might intertwine. She probes his beliefs on demons, and he contemplates psychological demons rooted in neurological complexities. This, he believes, is his own tale. The sound of another elevator's arrival prompts Sheryl to slam the door shut, sealing them both in a tense standoff.
At the threshold, a man stands, his voice urgent, insisting she affix her signature to the expense report. As Boggs delves into the psychological intricacies of the situation, the man abruptly sheds his skin-like garment, revealing a shocking transformation that leaves Boggs utterly bewildered. Yet, amidst the confusion, he finds himself escaping the scene with Sheryl by his side.
Father Dominic arrives at David's chamber, where a strange dance of possession has taken place. David has become the vessel for Leland, who in turn, had once inhabited David's mind. It transpires that Leland was not merely an acquaintance but a protégé of the Vatican, a budding priest in training for a decade, his talents honed under Father Dominic's tutelage. The mystery behind Father Dominic's reluctance to let David meddle with Leland now unfolds, yet Sister Andrea's mind is consumed by a single, pressing query: How do we eradicate this entity?
Dr. Boggs finds solace in the realization that this is not a case of shared delusional disorder, though it simplifies his comprehension. Encouraged, he notes that this encounter adds depth to his writings; he requires merely six more narratives to compile his collection. Today, he anticipates a fruitful yield of two such tales.
Sheryl stealthily retrieves medication from Boggs' cabinet, pouring them into drinks as they clink glasses in a moment of camaraderie. She entrusts him with two letters, one addressed to Kristen, the other to Andy, before disappearing into the night.
Kristen and Ben attempt to divert Leland's remote viewing abilities with a poignant strategy: old yearbook photographs of Leland's former self, Jake Perry, a graduate of the DeMoine, Iowa class of 1978. As David, now a prisoner of Leland's control, begs Kristen to take his hand, the entity within him tightens its grip on hers, a sinister demand echoing through the air. "F*ck me now, Kristen." Ben, quick-witted, interrupts with a burst of band music, a nostalgic tune that stirs memories of Leland's high school days, momentarily loosening the hold of the possessor.
As they reenter the house, they're met with a sight that sends shivers down their spines—the entire dwelling draped in toilet paper, a grim symbol of chaos. The freshly built room lies in ruins, crumbled like a delicate dream. Fear flickers across their faces, but they're her children, resilient in the face of adversity.
Lynn's gaze sharpens, spotting Sister Andrea in the backyard, the same spot where demons once congregated. The Gray Man looms large beside her, and a demon lunges, its intent clear—to terrify. They taunt her, claiming age as their weapon, boasting control over the tempestuous skies.
They rush to Sister Andrea's side, hauling her indoors where she regains her bearings, momentarily disoriented. Ben attempts to rationalize the tornado's origins, but Sister Andrea's voice is firm: it's the devil's doing, pure evil that demands prayer.
Lynn nestles beside Sister Andrea, and one by one, her sisters gather around, forming a circle of strength. Ben adjusts his tinfoil hat, a makeshift shield against the unseen.
Meanwhile, Sheryl sneaks into Leland's lair, her movements precise. She grinds the medication Dr. Boggs prescribed into a fine powder, mixing it into a concoction that resembles more a viscous bodily essence than blood.
The storm subsides, leaving behind a sense of unease. David jests, wondering if Kristen's atheism faltered in the face of prayer, eliciting a chuckle from her. There's no room for doubt in the foxhole.
Leland's mind is a cacophony of marching band tunes, relentless and unyielding. He reaches for his fix, but something's amiss. Foam gathers at his lips as the band's rhythm echoes within, driving him to crawl towards the living room where Sheryl awaits.
Her hand hovers, poised to strike, searching for the perfect quip to accompany her action. But before she can speak, a demon slithers from the shadows, its target clear. It speaks to Leland, its words a cold ultimatum: "I can't keep bailing you out. This one's on you to clean up."
Kristen's heart skipped a beat as the phone, echoing Sheryl's familiar ringtone, disrupted the stillness. The news it bore was chilling – Sheryl lay in the ER, a canvas of distress, her life ebbing away amidst a deluge of crimson. Her condition was dire, her form a grim testament to the violence inflicted.
Removing her suit, a testament to security now a barrier to urgency, proved a daunting task; its bulletproof fabric stubbornly resisting every attempt to ease her discomfort. The horror of Leland's act – throwing her from a window – hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over every moment.
As the girls gathered around, a chorus of pleading voices rose, imploring Sheryl not to abandon them, their love and desperation mingling in a tender cacophony. Kristen, her heart breaking, reached out, taking Sheryl's hand in a grasp that spoke volumes of unspoken emotion.
Sheryl, her eyes glazing over with the weight of her fate, sought forgiveness from Kristen, a request whispered through lips barely parting. In response, Kristen offered a subtle nod, tears streaming down her cheeks, and whispered words of unwavering love to her mother.
David, a solemn figure amidst the chaos, stepped forward, his voice carrying the weight of centuries-old traditions as he administered the last rites, absolving Sheryl of her sins and offering her soul solace. With a final breath, Sheryl slipped away, leaving behind a void that echoed with the love she had known and the lives she had touched.
