Before the shrill ring of the phone broke the silence at home, Kenny and Tian Chen were engrossed in a deep conversation. Kenny reached for the receiver, the faint melody of a song barely audible before he hung up abruptly. A strange buzzing sound drew his attention to the pot of water boiling on the stove, revealing a startling sight of a swarm of cicadas. One of them clung tenaciously to his forearm, only to be dispelled by the jolt of his mother's voice, revealing the entire encounter to be a mere dream. Yet, oddly, a burn mark lingered on his arm.
Jim and Randall, their minds focused on the experiment, tested the drone with the antenna affixed. Their discussion centered around the significance of their endeavor, with Randall pondering over the people within the experiment and even speculating whether those who had passed away were somehow still a part of it.
Sara's eyes were filled with determination as she confided in Boyd her desire to return to the woods. She felt unwanted in the town and longed to contribute in some way. Boyd noticed the change in her and promised to support her.
Tabitha led Jade into the tunnel, unaware of the turmoil that awaited. Jade's composure shattered when he realized Victor had kept silent about the mysterious symbol he had encountered. His anger boiled over, and he chased Victor outside, demanding answers for his betrayal.
Victor sought solace in Ethan's company, offering him a jacket that had once belonged to his youth. In return, Ethan presented Victor with a drawing of himself, a token of their friendship. The trio, along with Julie, ventured to the diner, intent on aiding Tian Chen.
Boyd visited Ellis at Colony House, their bond slowly mending. Ellis was poised to share his news, but Donna's untimely intervention halted him. Boyd requested that Donna offer Sara a job and then disclosed Elgin's near-fatal experience while sleeping. Elgin reluctantly recounted his dream from the previous episode, ending with him waking up, water spilling from his mouth. He vehemently denied sharing the details of his clinic experience, but Boyd presented the bile they had retrieved as evidence. Elgin suggested crafting a silver bullet as a means to penetrate the monsters' defenses.
At the diner, Ethan stumbled upon a toy in the pocket of the jacket Victor had given him. He promptly returned it to Victor, who was soon joined by an enraged Jade and a concerned Tabitha. Jade's accusations flew as he confronted Victor, enraged for keeping the symbol in the tunnels a secret.
Jim and Randall's curiosity led them to Sara at the church. They grilled her about her intentions when she arrived in the town and Randall's inquiry about Nathan's well-being left her stunned. Their interrogation was cut short by Donna, who brought clothes for Sara to mend and ushered Jim and Randall out.
Alone with Sara, Jim confessed to Randall his intention to observe the monsters' behavior when they believed they were unwatched. He proposed sneaking to the RV during the night to spy on them, a plan that Randall reluctantly agreed to.
Jim disclosed to Julie and Ethan that he intended to stay in the RV that evening, urging them to relay the message to Tabitha. Meanwhile, Donna confronted Jim, accusing him of tormenting Sara and aligning himself with Randall. However, he deceitfully denied informing Randall about the radio voice, claiming instead that he was merely searching for the truth.
Tabitha ventured into Victor's room, where he warned her that those who quest for answers often fail to return. He attempted to recount what his mother had said the night of the tragedy, but his memory faltered. He recalled hiding pictures that held the key to unlocking the past.
Boyd approached Kenny with Elgin's suggestion regarding the silver bullet, and they journeyed to the clinic in search of more bile. Inside, they encountered a distraught Marielle, who recounted hearing strange noises emanating from the boiler room, where the monster had been imprisoned since the harrowing events of the previous season.
Boyd and Kenny ventured into the boiler room, their ears ringing with a persistent buzzing. Upon removing the sheet covering the monster, they were greeted by a swarm of cicadas infesting the creature's body. Upon reuniting with Kristi and Marielle, Kenny recounted his dream, only to be interrupted by Donna's arrival.
Victor guided Tabitha to the car cemetery, where within the trunk of a rusted vehicle, they stumbled upon drawings. However, they were not Victor's; they belonged to his sister, Eloise, causing him to break down in sorrow. Flashbacks revealed Victor's mother leaving them in the cellar, instructing them to stay put before departing. Eloise chased after their mother, while Victor remained alone in the cellar, through the long, dark night.
Boyd informed Donna about the monster, but upon returning to show her the body, the bugs had vanished. They concurred on burning the monster, unaware that Randall was lurking in the woods, watching them intently.
Later, Randall approached Donna outside Colony House, offering an apology. He pleaded with her to talk, and she reluctantly agreed.
Boyd and Kenny set the monster ablaze, while Victor and Tabitha delved deeper into Eloise's drawings. Tabitha stumbled upon a depiction of a tower, prompting Victor to reveal that his mother had mentioned saving the children there the night of the tragedy.
Back in town, Kenny heard the buzzing again, this time accompanied by a bloodied man emerging from a house, screaming for help.
Jim arrived at the RV, expecting to meet Randall, but instead found him lurking in the woods, with Donna tied to a tree.
