Episode 5 of "Grotesquerie" kicks off with Lois and Sister Megan back on the open road, their journey now intertwined with the fate of Andrea, the blood-soaked woman from the previous episode. Andrea, desperate for refuge, insists they drop her off at a nearby motel. Lois, driven by concern, attempts to engage her in conversation, seeking to uncover the identity of her assailant. However, Andrea hastily exits the vehicle, bolting into the motel's restroom without a word.
Sister Megan, perceptive as ever, detects an eerie anomaly in the smoke swirling around the fire pit, pondering whether it's laced with hallucinogenic substances. The pool, an unusual shade of purple, stands as a testament to the presence of copper, yet Lois finds no hesitation in agreeing to stay the night with Megan.
At the motel's reception desk, a receptionist with a poorly concealed black eye greets them, her attempt at covering it up utterly inadequate. Lois, sharp-eyed, points out the telltale sign of violence, and after a private discussion with Megan, they realize that there are two abused women within their vicinity, yet they are powerless to intervene unless invited to help.
Left alone, Andrea sheds her ragged attire and, leaving bloody footprints in her wake, dashes through another house, disappearing into the unknown. Megan, her nerves frayed, finds solace only in prayer, an act of faith that Lois, grounded in reality, cannot fathom.
The television blares with grim news, compounding Megan's unease. Meanwhile, Lois receives a call from Redd, concerning her husband, further complicating their already tumultuous night. Just when it seems like the evening couldn't take a darker turn, a series of car crashes resound outside. Megan, driven by a sense of duty, rushes to assist, witnessing Nick, a known abuser at the motel, drowning the receptionist in the copper-tainted pool.
Gunshots suddenly ring out, shattering the night's tranquility. Grotesquerie, masked and menacing, emerges from the shadows, snatching Andrea, now clad only in her underwear, from the clutches of danger. In the chaos, Megan is struck by a bullet, her injuries fatal. As she bleeds out, her fate is sealed.
Transported to the hospital, Megan lies dying, her presence soon joined by Father Charlie, who arrives with a bouquet of wildflowers, a token of hope in the midst of despair.
Lois attempts to pose inquiries, yet Charlie swiftly deflects her efforts, accusing her of using Megan as bait and alerting their pursuers. He scolds her harshly until he ultimately pushes her out of the room. Coincidentally, Detective Hanover awaits outside, promptly presenting a lengthy roster of individuals who might harbor resentment towards Lois. One standout name is Glorious, a former pimp who was freed from prison just two months prior. The timing aligns suspiciously, prompting Hanover to merely utter, "These are strange days indeed."
The following day, another murder strikes, drawing Lois to the grim scene—a maternity house affiliated with Saint Agnes Church, where expectant mothers deliberate on whether to surrender their infants for adoption. The crime scene is profoundly disturbing, adorned with graffiti and three deceased women, each having undergone a precise C-section with their babies eerily absent, presumably still alive. The perpetrator displayed an unsettling proficiency in their grim deeds. Though the detectives are overwhelmed and officially sidelined from the case, Lois remains steadfast, refusing to abandon her pursuit.
A vital clue emerges through a pair of children who might hold vital information. Their mother was pregnant with a baby named Clancy, sparking Lois's suspicion that he could be the next intended victim. The daughter, trembling with fear, attempts to recount her story, but Lois gently halts her, recognizing that she already possesses sufficient leads to proceed.
Lois drives off, eventually discovering her car abandoned up ahead, nestled beside a cornfield, with bloody rags scattered everywhere. In a distant orange field, a frantic woman clutches a newborn baby, her eyes wide with terror as she warns Lois, "He's coming."
