The second episode of Season 2 of "School Spirits" opens with Xavier narrowly escaping the jaws of death and returning to the land of the living. Meanwhile, Janet is plagued by a haunting vision of Mr. Martin looming over her hypothetical grave. Jolted awake, she returns to her abode, where she begins to prepare a meal, her thoughts drifting back to a tumultuous past. She recalls how her father, a staunch opponent of her college aspirations, blamed Mr. Martin for filling her head with unrealistic dreams. Her father's expectations were clear: find a husband and produce grandchildren. His misogyny, masked by his position as a reverend, manifested in violent and toxic behavior.
Back at school, Rhonda's depression deepens, and an eerie tension grips the entire student body. Maddie attempts to rally her peers, urging them to stay focused as they devise a new strategy to uncover the whereabouts of Mr. Martin. Their ranks are bolstered by the arrival of a new ghostly member from the marching band, who readily agrees to aid in the hunt despite lacking fresh information. The group concludes that they might need to question Yuri, the Russian student, for further insights.
In the hospital, Xavier's condition gradually improves. Simon visits and learns that Nicole and Claire are contemplating involving the police. Xavier is astounded to discover that Maddie is still alive but trapped in limbo at school, her body inhabited by Janet. Claire and Nicole are skeptical, wondering if Simon is either under the influence or losing his grip on reality. However, Xavier, with his recent brush with death, finds himself inclined to believe Simon's tale. Upon his release, Xavier embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery of his near-death experience.
Elsewhere, Wally, Maddie, Rhonda, and Charley confront Yuri, who pretends not to understand them, ignoring their inquiries. Charley persists, however, and earns Yuri's reluctant attention. Yuri shows Charley Janet's creations, among which Charley discovers a book concealed within a wooden artifact. The book, written in shorthand, poses a challenge, but Quinn, the newly joined girl, offers her assistance. As they decipher the text, they uncover questions surrounding the relationship between Janet and Mr. Martin, hinting at a plot to flee "ghostville" together.
In a separate scenario, Nicole urges Simon to abandon his theories about body possession and focus on his recovery. He asks her to accompany him to Birmingham during lunch. Their journey includes a stop at a bus station, where they uncover that Janet once visited a local convenience store and purchased a map. Simon rushes back to school to update Maddie, concerned that even in her lifetime, Maddie might have been hearing the whispers of a deceased girl. Maddie speculates that her condition might have stemmed from shared pain, much like Simon's current plight allows him to see and converse with her.
As Simon and Nicole investigate further, Xavier and Claire grapple with their own demons. Xavier feels that Maddie had just cause to attack him for his past actions, prompting Claire to reflect on her own mistreatment of Maddie. Xavier rejects the idea of resting at home and insists on returning to school, where he actively seeks answers through online forums and queries.
Back at the creaky, familiar confines of the old house, Janet narrowly escapes detection, maneuvering deftly into concealment. Flashing back to another pivotal moment, she revisits the day Mr. Martin first ferried her home and encountered her father. Her dad's ominous warning to Mr. Martin was unequivocal: Janet's college dreams were to remain unfulfilled.
Elsewhere, Maddie and her companions delve deeper into Mr. Martin's and Janet's meticulously kept notes, their impatience growing with each revelation. Wally's confrontation with Yuri intensifies, his frustration spilling over into a threat of violence. In a moment of carelessness, he shatters the pottery piece meticulously crafted by Janet, and to their astonishment, it fails to reset as expected. Maddie intervenes, urging calm, while Wally confesses his envy over his inability to assist Maddie adequately and his jealousy concerning her bond with Simon. Maddie reassures him that Simon is merely a friend. Yuri, on the other hand, reveals a startling fact: Janet had confided in him not at all.
Rhonda, still mired in self-pity and anger, finds herself a target of Quinn's comforting attempts. Amidst a heartfelt conversation between Wally and Maddie, Maddie's eyes light up with a breakthrough clue about Janet's whereabouts, her excitement leading to an impulsive kiss from Wally. She later confides in Simon, and together, they embark on a quest to retrace Janet's former abode.
After a grueling day, Charley returns to the green room, seeking forgiveness from Yuri. The ice between them melts, and they forge a connection. Meanwhile, Nicole stumbles upon Xavier's anonymous post in an online forum, sparking an anonymous digital exchange between them. Their cyber conversation is abruptly halted when Claire arrives at Nicole's doorstep, requesting refuge. She atones for her hurtful actions towards Maddie, explaining that her parents' divorce has left her household tense and volatile.
Back at school, Wally catches a glimpse of Mr. Martin, who flees yet again. Maddie and her team continue parsing Janet's notebook, uncovering a startling revelation: Janet had been the silent collector of their macabre memorabilia. Wally bursts in, interrupting their analysis, to relate his sighting of Mr. Martin darting away from a red light, his demeanor unmistakably one of terror. The episode concludes on a dramatic note as Janet sets her old house ablaze. By the time Xavier and Simon arrive at the address, flames engulf the structure, and a policeman stands vigilantly awaiting the arrival of the fire trucks.
