As Boyd prepared his provisions for the woods, Kenny implored him to first address the town, as the former Colony House residents had now settled there. However, Boyd insisted that Kenny take the lead, and he himself sought out Sara, inviting her for a stroll through the woods.
Recollections surfaced of the day Boyd, Abby, and Ellis had ventured into the town. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Khatri beckoned them to exit their vehicle and follow him. After a piercing shriek echoed, they complied, descending underground where they joined others, including Donna, to wait out the night.
Julie recounted to her family the events of the previous evening, her voice faltering as Jade abruptly entered their home, seeking Julie's counsel on Victor. Jade dragged him outside, and their discussion centered on the radio tower. Jim postulated that they might be able to establish a signal if they constructed it above the tree line.
Jim and Jade traveled to the Colony House, requesting Donna's permission to build the tower atop her abode. She granted them her consent. Boyd left Sara in a rustic shelter in the woods, vowing to return for her, as he journeyed back to the town to settle affairs.
In retrospective accounts, Khatri had revealed that the townsfolk merely sought to survive each night. Boyd desired for everyone to start supporting each other, and over time, the systems we witness today had evolved.
Tabitha confessed to Julie that a piece of her heart had been broken on the day Thomas perished. She still grappled with her relationship with Jim, uncertain if their divorce was imminent.
Fearful of the Colony House residents' presence in the town, some locals attempted to ransack the diner. Boyd intervened, yet he realized he could not depart amidst such turmoil. Nonetheless, Kenny persisted in urging him to leave.
Memories flashed of Boyd discovering wildlife in the woods, revealing that he had spent considerable time scavenging in the forest. When Ellis urged him to desist as Abby struggled, Boyd promised they would talk come evening.
Upon spotting a dog in the woods, Boyd pursued it, only to become lost. He stumbled upon a stone enclosure, where monsters descended but then vanished. Inside, Boyd discovered the talisman, wrapping it carefully to bring back to the town the following day. As he approached the town, gunshots rang out.
In the town, Abby was firing at people, convinced they were in a dream and that everyone would awaken if they perished. When Abby aimed the gun at Ellis, Boyd intervened, fatally shooting her.
Boyd informed Ellis of his intention to leave. Later, Fatima urged Ellis to reconcile with his father before it was too late. Ellis trailed Boyd into the woods, apologizing to his father, declaring it was not his fault. Ellis caught sight of Sara in the shack, but Boyd cautioned him to keep her presence a secret.
Kenny addressed the town, declaring that they were now a unified community. Jim rallied their support for the construction of the tower. Boyd and Sara embarked on a journey into the woods.
