NOW

Abbi doesn’t sleep through the night because of Shiloh’s crying, but she checks on Kate once during the night, finding her curled up on the floor instead of the bed or even the rug. The next morning, she asks her dad for a cup of coffee, and though he never usually lets her have any, today he says yes. 

Abbi is disappointed that Kate’s return seems to be changing everything in their lives, and she wonders how she and Scott will handle it. Many of their routines involve recognizing, remembering, and celebrating Kate. 

FBI agent Dean arrives with Camille, the specialist for Kate, and her team, John, Hernando, and Carl. Dean promises Abbi ice cream, referencing their first meeting when Abbi was a child, and Scott introduces Dean to Kate. Camille sets up in the living room with Kate and takes out a tape recorder.

NOW

After getting Kate’s consent to record, Camille makes everyone leave except Scott, whom Kate insists on keeping in the room. Meredith takes a nap, and Scott wakes her up three hours later. He tells her that Camille didn’t get any new information from Kate, who still jumps at any sound and cannot answer any questions. 

Sometimes Kate mumbles to herself like there is another person present, but Scott and Meredith ignore it to avoid embarrassing her. Scott worries for their safety, but Meredith tries to comfort him. Even though Kate’s friend Christina abandoned Scott, suspecting that he had something to do with Kate’s disappearance, Meredith suggests reaching out now that Kate is back.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. At the end of her fifth retreat with Love International, she notices that her roommate Melissa, who was flirting with another member the night before, didn’t return to their room. Kate fasted for 24 hours before the retreat, though she did not tell Scott, and she enjoyed it, just as her mentor, Margo, said she would. People danced naked around a fire the night before, and Kate hopes to be that free next time. 

Ray gave a speech about dying for your beliefs, and when Kevin, a new member, said he would die for Love International; Ray challenged him with a bottle of poison. Kevin retreated, and Ray talked about the power of a faith strong enough to get people to die for it. Many people left, but Kate remained with some other members, encouraged by Ray’s devotion. 

Ray emphasized the strength of faith, and Kate wishes she could become a disciple with Love International, devoting her life to God. However, no one knows how the disciples live or how they ascend to the position. Even Margo says Love International does not want new disciples, but Kate feels like she has awoken and wants to go further with the organization.

NOW

Abbi is nervous when Camille calls everyone for a “debriefing.” Camille confirms that Kate was with Love International for the past 11 years, which shocks Scott. He remembers how helpful Love International and Ray were in the search for Kate, and the police suspected the critics of Love International after Kate’s favorable article about the group. 

Camille explains that Kate mutters to herself as a coping mechanism, and they analyzed the recordings, finding repetitions of “Love International,” “Ray,” and “Abner.” Scott does not know who Abner is. Camille calls in a cult specialist, confirming that Love International is a cult.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. She sits with Scott on the couch watching a movie. Like every Saturday, Kate knows Scott will sit closer to her, rub her thigh, and they will have sex. She excuses herself to get water and reminds herself that Ray told her she would struggle to tell Scott the truth. She is sweating and nervous, but she remembers Ray’s story of finding his “calling.” She calms down, comforted by the warmth of the peace she found with Love International. When Scott puts his hand on her thigh, Kate lies and says she has a headache.

NOW

Scott cannot stop talking about Kate, but Meredith is tired. She asks him to take a break from the Kate situation to relax, and he mutters that Meredith would react the same way if James, her first husband, came back to life. Meredith says nothing, but she realizes Scott is her dream husband, not James. 

Meredith has always dealt with Scott’s overwhelming love for Kate, but she is not sure how this situation will play out. She tries to comfort him as he says Kate’s disappearance is his fault, hinting at something Meredith does not know. Scott worries that Kate is a different person now.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. She shops for groceries, thrilled with the news that she is becoming a disciple. She worries how Abbi and Scott will react, but she cannot wait to meet Ray later that day. She assumes there will be a transitional period to try to convince Abbi and Scott to join Love International as well, since disciples are supposed to live on campus. She will also need to quit her job. 

When Kate gets in her car, she remembers Ray quoting scripture regarding leaving people behind. The scripture triggers more scripture in her mind regarding leaving everything behind. She sets down her purse, gets out of the car, and sprints to Love International. She bursts into Ray’s office and tells him she left her life.

NOW

Brian O’Donnell, the exit counselor, explains that Kate is disoriented, having effectively traveled forward in time after being sequestered in the cult. In addition, in the cult, Kate could not think for herself without punishment. He emphasizes that they cannot criticize Love International around Kate because it will only reinforce her indoctrination. He tells them that deprogramming could take two years, but they cannot rush the process. 

Scott asks how the cult took Kate, but Brian says cults rarely kidnap anyone. He says that Kate likely left of her own volition, but Scott refuses to accept this possibility, ordering Brian to interview Kate again. Brian says they may find out that no one knew Kate as well as they thought.

Meredith goes shopping for milk, resenting how everyone stares at her in the store. At home, she finds Kate and Scott sitting together on the couch. Scott asks Kate if she left willingly, and she confirms that she did. Scott asks why, but Kate says she waited for him, asking him why he never came.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. Ray and Margo congratulate Kate for leaving her life. Margo is married to Will, one of Ray’s friends whom he helped overcome addiction. Ray and Margo lead Kate to a black, windowless van, and Ray helps her get in the back. The van is lined with blankets, and he drives for hours. 

They park at a cabin in the woods, and Kate helps Ray clear off the basement entrance. She goes into the basement, lit by a single bulb, but she is shocked when Ray closes the doors behind her. The basement is dirty, containing only a mattress that smells of urine. Kate hopes Scott answers Ray’s call and comes to join her.

Kate does not know how much time passes, as the single bulb never turns off. She pees in a bucket and is grateful for fasting since it will delay her need to go to the bathroom. Ray opens the door but holds Kate back from leaving. She bursts into tears, and he reveals it has been two days. 

Ray compares Kate’s imprisonment to Jesus’s 40 days in the desert, but he gives her the chance to leave. He is disappointed, though, saying he thought she was a true disciple. She decides to stay, and Ray gives her two bottles of water, saying this is when Kate will “meet God for real” (117).

NOW

Once Kate puts Shiloh to bed, everyone pretends to be tired and goes to their rooms. Abbi lays awake reading the news on her phone, seeing that everyone still thinks Scott had something to do with Kate’s disappearance. 

Abbi decides to visit Kate, who welcomes her into the guest room. Kate still sleeps on the floor and says it is because “we” are not allowed to sleep in beds. Abbi convinces Kate to sit on the bed with her, and Kate lets Abbi hold Shiloh until the baby whimpers, prompting Kate to breastfeed. Kate thinks Abbi hates her, but Abbi assures Kate that she loves her. Kate reminisces about Abbi as a baby, which makes Abbi cry, but she is happy to sit with her mother.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. Kate begs to hug Ray, saying the starvation from human touch is worse than the lack of food. Ray reminds Kate of Jesus’s temptations in the desert, and Kate recounts how Satan left after offering Jesus all the souls of humanity. She is happy that he seems pleased.

Ray confirms that Kate is facing her final trial. He orders her to take off her clothes, hitting her with his belt when she hesitates to take off her underwear. Telling Kate to face away from him, Ray hits her with his belt and tells her to renounce wickedness. Kate struggles to endure the blows, begging Ray to stop, then she passes out.