Several weeks later, Immanuelle and Martha travel toward the Holy Grounds for the Prophet’s gathering, passing dried cisterns and livestock carcasses. Martha detours through the Outskirts, where Immanuelle sees residents laying offerings to the Dark Mother at the edge of the Darkwood. Immanuelle is surprised by the humanity of the Outskirt Church’s depiction of the Dark Mother, who is seen as a monster in Bethel. A desperate woman begs them for water, but Martha ignores her.

They reach the crowded cathedral, where Ezra serves milk to the congregation. Apostle Isaac delivers a sermon declaring the plague a curse awakened by a blood sacrifice to the Dark Mother. The last remaining wife of the first Prophet asks how such evil could awaken now. Apostle Isaac ignores her and demands that the sinner confess or be purged by fire.

After the meeting, the cathedral hums with speculation. Immanuelle finds her friend Leah, now one of the Prophet’s wives. As they speak, Immanuelle begins to suspect that her first period, which began in the witches’ pond, may be the blood sacrifice that triggered the plague. She suspects the witches used the journal to lure her there in order to initiate the ritual that brought on the plague. Worried that confession will lead to her execution, Immanuelle decides to end the curse herself with another blood ritual.

Immanuelle asks Ezra to help her sneak into the Prophet’s Library in order to search for information on how to stop the plague. He agrees, despite the fact that women are not allowed into the Library. They arrange to meet at the Prophet’s residence, known as the Haven, at noon the next day.

The next day, Ezra leads Immanuelle into the Prophet’s Haven. They encounter his mother, Esther Chambers, who has fresh bruises. Ezra implies that the bruises are the result of his father. Esther recognizes Immanuelle as Miriam’s daughter, and encourages them not to be seen by others. In a restricted section of the library, Immanuelle finds a volume titled The Unholy Four: A Compendium. It describes a ritual demanding a blood offering at a pond called the Mother’s Belly, confirming Immanuelle’s theory that she initiated the Plague. They search maps but cannot locate the pond. Ezra offers to guide her into the Darkwood, explaining that he explored the area as a child.

The conversation is interrupted when the prophet enters suddenly. Immanuelle hides while the Prophet orders Ezra to compile a census of all women in Bethel. He then confronts Ezra about his dagger, found in Judith’s quarters. Ezra denies any relationship with Judith. As punishment, the Prophet forces Ezra to close his hand around the blade until it slices deep into his palm.

Immanuelle slips out through the Haven’s cellars and into a main hallway. Judith confronts her and accuses her of spying. Immanuelle realizes Judith does not know the Prophet has discovered the affair and warns her of the danger.

A member of the Prophet’s Guard arrives and delivers a summons for Judith. The guard escorts a terrified Judith away to face her husband.

Outside, Immanuelle meets Ezra, who insists on accompanying her home. They argue about his affair with Judith, and he admits it was a reckless attempt to escape the constraints of his life as the Prophet’s son. As they ride toward the Moore farm, Immanuelle bandages his wounded hand. Ezra shares that he longs to see the world beyond Bethel but feels bound by duty.

When Immanuelle tells him she plans to return to the Darkwood at first light, he insists on going with her. A rabid hound charges their cart; Ezra shoots it. He explains the Prophet ordered the census because he believes a witch’s curse started the plague. Considering the treatment of women in Bethel, Immanuelle replies that the plague may be a punishment.

Before sunrise, Immanuelle gathers supplies, including a rope and a knife. Ezra arrives with his rifle. Together they enter the Darkwood, noting its unnatural lushness compared to Bethel’s blighted farmlands, as if the woods are feeding off the blood. They reach the pond, now filled with blood.

Immanuelle removes her dress, ties the rope around her waist, and hands the other end to Ezra, who promises to pull her up if something goes wrong. She wades into the water, offers a prayer, and cuts her forearm as a second offering to end the plague. A sudden wind rises, and a cold hand grips her ankle, dragging her down.

Underwater, Immanuelle sees Delilah and the floating corpses of murdered women and girls, some still toddlers. The first prophet, David Ford, appears in her vision and burns the spirits with holy fire. Immanuelle is horrified by the vision. Suddenly, the rope attached to her waist yanks violently, and she wakes on the shore at twilight.

Immanuelle discovers Ezra unconscious on the shore, pinned into place by tree roots and vines, his rifle twisted into a knot. She cuts him free. He jerks awake and lashes out at her. She fights him off until he recognizes her, then he collapses into a seizure and recites scripture in his First Vision. Immanuelle helps him stagger to the edge of the Darkwood, where they collapse as a farmhand runs to help.