Episode 8 of THEM: The Scare opens with the urgent arrival of the police outside Edmund's apartment. As tears stream down his face, Edmund's gaze falls upon the man with red hair, who introduces himself as The Scare. He promises Edmund that he will reunite him with his sister, but only if Edmund submits himself to The Scare's will. Suddenly, the police burst into the apartment, but it's too late. Edmund takes his own life, transforming into The Scare in a chilling instant.
Meanwhile, Dawn receives a visit from her ex-lover, Corey, who comes to offer his support to her and Kel. Diaz also arrives, sharing his theory that all the victims had siblings and suggesting that Edmund is somehow trying to convey a message to Dawn. Determined to pursue the truth, Dawn decides to return to Mott's place, unaware that Diaz is secretly tailing her, convinced that she is the killer.
As Dawn explores Mott's abandoned home, she notices that the broken clock and shattered glass are missing. Furthermore, the scratched floor in the closet is concealed beneath a fresh layer of carpeting. It dawns on her that these missing items represent memories from her time at the foster home, erased as if they never existed.
Back at Dawn's home, Kel attempts to recount the events of the day to Corey, but his father finds it difficult to believe. However, his skepticism is quickly shattered when Edmund's ghostly visage appears in the mirror. As they stand in the kitchen, Edmund silently lures Corey into the bedroom, where he brutally throws him down the stairs, leaving them both stunned and terrified.
Meanwhile, Diaz beckoned Dawn to his abode, promising to reveal the remaining case files pertaining to Edmund. Together, they viewed Edmund's final tape, where he angrily lashed out at Dawn for failing to recall Mott's abuse, which haunted him relentlessly. Realizing that Edmund intended to harm Kel, Dawn attempted to flee, only to be halted by McKinney's menacing presence.
McKinney aimed his gun at her, spewing racist insults as he accused her of being the killer. Despite surrendering, she suffered his violent blows. Diaz, enraged, drew his weapon to confront McKinney, but the latter fired first, striking Diaz. Chaos erupted as Dawn, seized with desperation, lunged forward and shot McKinney with his own gun.
Relieved that Diaz would survive, Dawn raced home to find Corey injured and Kel vanished. The television suddenly flickered to life, revealing Edmund's ominous face as he informed her that he had Kel. Frantically, she made her way to Mott's abode, where Edmund drew her into their shared memories.
It transpired that their mother was none other than Ruby Lee Emory, the eldest daughter from Season 1. Desiring a better life for her children, she had left them in Mott's care, accompanied by the Raggedy twin dolls. However, as they grew, Mott's abuse became unbearable. Edmund and Dawn sought refuge beneath the sink, the exact spot where Mott's corpse was later discovered. The broken clock and shattered glass were remnants of Mott's violent outbursts, while the scratches in the closet attested to the times she locked them away.
In the present, Edmund approached Dawn, urging her to join him. As she pleaded for Kel's safety, he twisted her body, revealing the Scare version of her looming behind. Dawn apologized for forgetting him and professed her love. This caused The Scare to abandon Edmund, who began to fade away. Dawn's Scare vanished as well, and she comforted him in his final moments.
Finally, she discovered Kel locked in the same closet, and they embraced tightly. Dawn's involvement in McKinney's death prompted another investigation, but she had been cleverly recording their conversation. The evidence was sufficient to clear her of all charges, including Benito's murder. She hinted that the killer resembled McKinney and that the killings had ceased with his demise. Lt. Schiff offered her a desk job, but she declined and resigned from the force.
Returning home, she found that Corey had been visiting frequently. After a heartwarming lunch, she finally examined the box left by her mother. Among the photographs, she stumbled upon a picture of Ruby's family and was startled to see that she resembled Lucky Emory eerily. Suddenly, Hiram Epps appeared in the guise of the Tap Dance man, whistling the same tune from Season 1. Dawn's face paled as the episode of THEM: The Scare drew to a chilling close.
