As the eighth chapter of Yellowjackets' second season unfolds, Lottie lingers in the throes of Shauna's brutal assault, her recovery a slow and arduous process. Misty and Mari, devoted nurses, tend to her while the other girls teeter on the brink of collapse. Their resilience, never intended to withstand such horrors, is dwindling rapidly. Hunger gnaws at their very essence, a pang beyond comprehension.
Akilah, too, finds herself in a surreal realm, haunted by visions. Her beloved pet mouse, Nugget, lies lifeless, its decayed form a grim reminder of the passage of time. Tai, struggling to shake off the specter of her alter ego, finds herself beset once more, but with Van's guidance, she had momentarily regained her footing.
Shauna, regaining her senses, lends a helping hand to Lottie. Nat, filled with empathy, broaches a somber topic with Coach Scott: to alleviate Lottie's unrelenting torment, they must consider letting her go. She underscores Lottie's undue influence over the group, manipulating them to perform unspeakable acts. Scott, intrigued, delves into Javi's possessions, uncovering drawings of the enigmatic tree symbol, as Nat had alluded to.
Mari, too, experiences a chilling incident, her mind conjuring up visions of blood seeping through the walls, accompanied by the relentless sound of dripping water.
Travis seeks Nat's forgiveness for his recent, harsh words, but his intentions seem tinged with ulterior motives. Lottie, in a somber tone, whispers to Misty her final wish: should she pass, her body must not be wasted—a euphemism for cannibalism. That night, Coach Scott, cloaked in secrecy, embarks on a journey to the tree etched in Javi's drawings.
Misty, burdened with heavy news, breaks it to the rest of the group and Travis. Realizing that Lottie's demise would plunge them into an abyss of despair, they devise a grim plan: to offer up one of their own as a sacrifice, ensuring Lottie's survival.
In a solemn circle, they draw cards, the fate of each hanging in the balance. The queen of hearts, a cruel harbinger, falls into Nat's hands, marking her as the chosen one. Shauna prepares to carry out the unthinkable, but Nat, turning to face her, dares her to look into her eyes as she does so. The moment is disrupted as Travis tackles Shauna to the ground, granting Nat a fleeting moment of escape. The girls, in a primal fury, unleash a chorus of eerie chants as they give chase, their humanity fraying at the seams.
Coach Scott stumbles upon the enigmatic tree, unearthing a hidden passage that beckons him downward into a realm where the whispers of witchcraft linger. Concurrently, Javi leads Natalie towards the very same forbidden ground, their steps echoing in unison with those of the alternate Tai, who guides her hunters relentlessly towards their quarry.
Their journey necessitates traversing a frozen lake, its surface shimmering like a mirror of deceit. As Javi ventures forth, the fragile ice shatters beneath his weight, its sudden embrace dragging him into the frigid depths. Natalie, consumed by instinct to rescue him, lunges forward, only to be firmly restrained by Misty's grip. In that instant, Javi's fate is sealed, consumed by the lake's unyielding grasp.
Misty, solemn and resolute, retrieves Javi's lifeless form from the water's edge, her actions mirrored by Van's haunting declaration, "The wilderness has spoken its choice." And amidst the sorrowful scene, Lottie's eyes betray a fleeting glimpse of prophecy, her vision aligned with the grim reality of what the unforgiving wilderness has wrought upon them all. The girls, gathered in a solemn circle around Javi's still form, can only stare in awestruck horror at the hand that the wilderness has dealt them.
