Across the Vanishing Sky

Dex is enraged over Braedyn’s bruises, but she calms him down and explains that Vincent confronted her after work. She also reveals Vincent’s bid to gain custody of Owen. Dex comforts Braedyn, carries her to her bedroom, and agrees to stay with her. After she falls asleep, he initiates a group chat with his brothers, explaining the situation. United, they all vow to help Dex ruin Vincent. Orion volunteers to find a lawyer for her within a day.

The following day at The Boot, a lawyer named Maren Robinson arrives, looking for Braedyn. Owen has hired her to handle the custody issue with Vincent on Braedyn’s behalf. Wylder verifies Maren’s credentials, which include a clerkship for a Supreme Court justice. Maren explains that Orion has already paid her retainer; she specializes in family law and despises manipulative men. She assures Braedyn that she will handle everything and plans to “bury him” (315).

After staying up all night investigating Vincent, Dex uncovers evidence of the abusive man’s involvement with escorts and potentially illegal business activities. When Braedyn returns home, she insists on thanking Orion in person for hiring Maren. They drop Owen off with Kol and Skylar before driving to Orion’s heavily booby-trapped, secluded house on the Archer family’s expansive property. During the drive, Dex reveals to Braedyn that he and his brothers operate an anonymous vigilante group that solves missing-persons cases across the country. He explains that they started this work started because of their anguish over the fact that his father left his victims’ families in purgatory, not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Dex and his brothers wanted to end that purgatory by giving such people closure. Arriving outside Orion’s house, Braedyn gives the silent man her homemade cookies. He communicates with sign language that Dex translates, asking Braedyn for details about the day Nova disappeared. When her memory proves fuzzy, Orion suggests that she speak with Aster about memory recall techniques.

A group of friends and allies gathers at The Boot to strategize about Nova’s case. As they review the details, Aster suggests that returning to the trail where Nova vanished might help Braedyn to recover her suppressed memories. Braedyn agrees to go that Saturday. Later, during her shift, both Travis and Sheriff Miller stop by separately to check on her. Shortly after they leave, Vincent ambushes Braedyn in a hallway, furious that the podcast exposed his absence in Owen’s life and made his family even more vividly aware of Owen’s existence. As Wylder steps in to protect Braedyn, Dex arrives and witnesses the confrontation, his expression turning thunderous.

Consumed by rage over Vincent’s threats, Dex punches him, knocking him to the ground. Wylder instructs Braedyn to take Dex to his office, and she guides Dex there. Inside, Dex has an emotional breakdown, terrified that his violent impulse just now proves that he is like his monstrous father. Braedyn forcefully reassures him that he is a good man who uses his strength to protect people. The intense emotional confrontation escalates, and they have passionate sex on the office desk as Braedyn encourages Dex to release all his pent-up anger and fear.

Two days later, Dex drives Braedyn back to the hiking trail where Nova disappeared. They meet Kol, Cora, and Aster, who are there for support. Aster guides Braedyn through a memory recall exercise, encouraging her to relive the day step by step. As they walk the path, Braedyn’s memory is jarred by the sound of Nova’s voice calling Braedyn’s name, seemingly coming from the surrounding woods.

Braedyn frantically runs toward the sound of Nova’s voice, only to find a hidden speaker playing a recording of her friend. As Dex and the others follow her, she discovers a lifelike mannequin dressed in what appear to be Nova’s bloody clothes. The sight sends Braedyn into a screaming panic. Kol finds and deactivates the speaker. 

Back at the cabin, the trauma leaves Braedyn in a state of shock, shivering uncontrollably. Dex calls Anson, who theorizes that the killer gets pleasure from torturing his victims’ loved ones. To calm Braedyn and warm her up, Dex carries her into a hot shower.

In the shower, Dex gently washes Braedyn, tending to her scrapes in an intimate, comforting manner. Overwhelmed by pain and cold, Braedyn begs him to make her feel something else. They make love, an experience that Braedyn finds healing and tender. Afterward, Dex confesses that he loves her, and Braedyn reciprocates. He then carefully dries her hair, demonstrating his deep affection and commitment.

Two weeks pass with a sense of fragile peace. Dex and Braedyn tell Owen that they are officially a couple, and the boy easily accepts this reality, enthused by the promise of more video game tournaments and pizza-making competitions with Dex. He then pointedly asks if Dex might become his dad one day, a question that touches both adults. 

Later, while Braedyn is working a busy shift at The Boot, Vincent attacks her in a back hallway, holding a knife to her side. He reveals that his family has disowned him because of her restraining order and demands that she sign away her rights to Owen. When Maverick discovers them, Vincent uses Braedyn as a human shield. Recalling lessons from a self-defense class, Braedyn stomps on Vincent’s foot. Ignoring the blade that slices her side during the struggle, she and strikes his nose, incapacitating him. As Maverick restrains Vincent, Braedyn fully feels the pain of her wound for the first time.