Our Last Resort

In a flashback, Frida recalls how she and Gabriel continued to sneak into town. One day, they inquire at a bar if the bartender, Joan, will give them a glass of water. She does, and she also tells them that they are welcome to return any time. Frida is initially fearful that Joan will ask if they are from the cult and is relieved when she does not. Years later, she will realize that Joan must have known all along. She was kind to them, and often, when Frida and Gabriel showed up asking for water, she gave them free soda and food. She even tried to give them clothing, although they could not take it.

In the present timeline, Frida and Gabriel are on the guided hike with the hotel group. Frida finds the hike excruciating. It is hot, the guide keeps excitedly talking about how much better hikes will be when AI takes over for human guides, and she finds the rest of the guests irritating. Seeing the wounded coyote, she tells Gabriel that she will catch up. As she is wondering how she can get food to the animal, she notices Sabrina’s phone lying in the dirt. Frida wants to look through it, but as she bends down to grab it, the coyote becomes agitated. She realizes it must have babies nearby. She lunges for the phone, and the coyote lunges for her. It nips her ankle, but she manages to get the phone. When she makes it back to the group, everyone is arguing. Gabriel explains that they are bickering about their alibis and whereabouts on the night of the murder.

The other children in the cult are aware that Frida and Gabriel sneak out, but no one would dare tell on them. They learn of other secrets in the cult: a stash of stale bread, a hidden library full of steamy romance novels. There are darker rumors too: Some of the teenage boys allege that Émile abuses the cult’s women.

Frida finally confronts Gabriel about his lies to the police, and a massive argument ensues. He interprets her questions as an accusation and even wonders aloud if she has always thought him guilty of Annie’s murder. Frida tries desperately to diffuse the situation, but it only escalates. Gabriel begins yelling and even throws part of his electric toothbrush across the room. Undercurrents of resentment that Frida had long intuited but had no confirmation of rise to the surface. It is clear that Gabriel resents her career success and feels that she abandoned him after Annie died. She was sure he was the one who pulled away, but she cannot quite get the words out to tell him this during their argument. It even seems at one moment that he regrets leaving the cult. Without resolution, he storms out of the hotel room telling Frida not to follow.

Frida sits alone after Gabriel leaves, trying to remain calm.

In a flashback, Frida recalls her 18th birthday. Edwina wakes her up and leads her to a bedroom she’s never been in before. Émile is waiting for her. While Edwina holds her down, he sexually assaults Frida. Frida realizes then that he must do this to all the girls. One of the boys confirms it, noting that Émile always waits until they turn 18. Everyone in the cult is aware of it. Frida is angry and disgusted, even more so when Émile snips off her white bracelet and ties on the blue bracelet that all adults get. She feels soiled by it and knows she must leave the cult. She asks Gabriel to go with her, and at first he does not want to. However, he, too, is aware of what Émile does to the girls, and he soon agrees. He argues that they need to do something other than just leave to prevent Émile from harming anyone else.

In the present timeline, Gabriel is still gone, and Frida worries. She does not know why he is lying to the police or even if he did so on purpose. Nervously, she begins to tidy their room. Gabriel is messy, but she values order. It helps soothe her anxiety. Although she knows she shouldn’t, she sorts through his things. She finds nothing suspicious until the very end of her search: For some reason, Gabriel has Sabrina’s hair clip in his backpack.

In a flashback, Émile gathers everyone around a campfire to tell stories and shares a tale about a young girl who saves the day. He tells everyone that girls are special and will all become powerful. Looking back, Frida can see how manipulative this was, since he was telling his victims that they are actually empowered. He becomes so animated while speaking to the group that he doesn’t notice when part of his shirt catches on fire. The mothers quickly put it out, but it gives Gabriel an idea. On the night they plan to make their escape, they burn down the building that houses Émile’s office and bedroom. The fire kills a person, and they assume it is Émile. However, the novel later reveals that it is Edwina who dies in the blaze.