Hunting Adeline

Zade debates whether Adeline can handle sexual activity, then he sits in a chair and tells Adeline to crawl for him. Adeline bites the rose, crawls to Zade, and takes off his pants. She performs oral sex on Zade, using their mutual arousal to distract herself from her memories of abuse. Zade declares that Adeline is a survivor, but he says that she belongs to him in the same way he belongs to her. They orgasm together, and Adeline notices the carved image of a rose over Zade’s heart. He explains that Adeline’s kidnapping was his failure, and the rose reminds him never to let down his guard. Zade says he should be the only danger that Adeline faces, and Adeline asserts that she wants to be strong enough to save herself.

On June 2, 2022, Adeline recalls how she felt when Zade was stalking her, and she wishes that she could return to that time. She used to love herself and her body, but now she feels unsafe and anxious.

Sibby threatens Francesca, Rocco, and Xavier. Adeline is impressed with Sibby’s ability to torture them physically and psychologically. Rocco blames Francesca for getting them caught, noting that she should have killed Sydney. Francesca reveals that Sydney knew Francesca was allowing other men to come and pay to have sex with the girls in the house, which would have upset Claire. Francesca adds that Sydney escaped a cult, and this fact startles Sibby. When Adeline describes Sydney, Sibby recognizes Sydney as a sister from the cult, and she blames herself for what Sydney did to Adeline. The narrative reveals that in order to escape the cult, Sibby killed her father, who ran the cult, and as a result, her siblings lost their home. Adeline forgives Sibby, reassuring her that her father was a demon. Sibby adds that Sydney was a demon, too. Sibby leaves, and Adeline announces that it is time for a new Culling, with Francesca, Rocco, and Xavier as prey.

Adeline, Zade, and Sibby organize Francesca, Rocco, and Xavier in a line. The only rule is that they cannot run to Adeline’s driveway; this forces them to run through the woods. Francesca runs and falls, and Rocco and Xavier sprint into the forest. Sibby hunts Francesca, quickly taking her down, and Zade catches Rocco moments later. Adeline corners Xavier behind a tree, shooting him in the calf and the back. Zade drags Rocco to Adeline, who taunts Xavier. Zade touches Adeline, making her moan, which upsets Xavier. Xavier tries to stab Adeline with an arrow, but Zade catches it. Sibby brings Francesca, and Adeline shoves a broken heel down Francesca’s throat before letting Sibby kill her. Zade stabs Rocco and takes out his eyes. Adeline pins Xavier to the ground, stabs his genitals, then slashes his throat.

On June 4, 2022, Adeline remembers Xavier beating her when she moaned Zade’s name. She feels that Zade has corrupted her, but it also feels good to be able to defend herself.

Sibby scatters Francesca’s body parts, forcing Zade to collect them for burial. On the way to Adeline’s room, Zade finds her in the bathroom, looking at her body with disgust. She points to the scars on her stomach from Xavier’s abuse and laments that they force her to remember him. Zade breaks the mirror, takes a shard of glass, and places it on the scar. He suggests reclaiming the scars, and Adeline agrees, becoming aroused as Zade cuts into each scar. When Zade finishes cutting Adeline, he carries her into the shower, using the detachable showerhead to wash her wounds and bring Adeline to an orgasm, after which she says that her scars only make her think of Zade. Zade weighs his desire to hurt Adeline against his desire to protect her. Adeline grinds on Zade’s genitals, but Zade is unwilling to cross the boundary that Adeline previously set against having intercourse. Adeline flips around, telling Zade that she is in control, and she allows a portion of Zade’s penis to enter her. Zade tells her that he is proud of her, and they have an orgasm together. Afterward, they talk about the first time they killed someone, with Adeline describing how Phoebe hindered Adeline, then saved her, only for Adeline to kill her after the Culling.

Over the phone, Daya tells Adeline that Xavier’s disappearance is on the news. Daya fears that Claire will use her influence to fabricate evidence against Adeline and arrest her, which Adeline suspects would mean getting trafficked again. Zade massages Adeline’s shoulders, and Adeline hangs up the phone. Zade assures Adeline that she is safe and tells her to watch the news at eight o’clock in the evening.

At eight o’clock, Adeline turns on the news and sees an anchor discussing Xavier’s disappearance. Suddenly, the screen glitches and shows Zade, wearing a hood and mask. Zade announces that Xavier was involved in human trafficking, through which he tortured, assaulted, and killed women. Zade displays some of these women’s names and faces, urging viewers to remember them. He then takes credit for killing Xavier before returning the feed to the anchor, who is slack with shock. Adeline is aroused and grateful, understanding that Zade’s decision to take credit for Xavier’s death ensures that Claire cannot come after Adeline for the crime. No one would believe that a small city girl killed one of the richest men in the world. Sibby complains that Adeline and Zade will probably have loud sex later, but they do not let Sibby do the same.

On June 5, 2022, Adeline debates how to tell Zade that she loves him, noting that she has never told a partner she loved them before. She decides to tell him randomly and run away.

Adeline waits for Zade in black lingerie. He comes in covered in blood and says that he killed Jillian’s former stepfather, who abused her as a child. Zade knows where Rio is, and he asks Adeline if she wants him to kill Rio. Adeline debates Rio’s life, acknowledging that even though he helped her, he never did anything to stop the abuse. Adeline resolves to have Zade spare Rio, and Zade pulls away to shower. When he returns, Adeline accuses Zade of not accepting her decision. Zade says that Adeline only pretends to be helpless, adding that she has all the power in their relationship. When he is near Adeline, Zade cannot control himself, and he would do anything for her. Adeline realizes that Zade’s power is useless if he cannot control it, and she orders him onto the bed. Zade takes out handcuffs, which Adeline uses to fasten him to the bed. She inserts part of Zade’s penis into herself, telling Zade that his love helped her to survive her trauma. She says that she loves him, too. Zade demands to be released, and Adeline knows that he will attack her if she complies. She enjoys her control over the situation for another moment, then unlocks the handcuffs.

Zade pounces on Adeline, and they have sex. Adeline tells Zade that she wants him to carve a rose over her heart, just like Zade did to himself when Adeline was kidnapped. They have sex while Zade carves into Adeline’s chest. Afterward, Zade tells Adeline that he loves her, and Adeline muses that she wants to feel as she does in this moment forever.