NOW

Abbi walks in and finds Meredith and Scott debating about whether to tell her something. Abbi confronts them, and Scott struggles to explain that Kate left them voluntarily. She is shocked, and she questions Scott, saying he always swore Kate would never leave willingly. 

Abbi wonders what else they are keeping from her, but she decides she cannot trust anyone. Meredith tries to comfort Abbi, and Scott cries, apologizing to Abbi. Abbi feels suffocated, and she tries to leave the room, but Meredith and Scott follow her. Abbi leaves the house and starts running.

NOW

Scott chases after Abbi but does not catch up to her. Meredith calls Meaghan, but she has not heard from Abbi. Scott is furious and panicked, and Kate comes downstairs asking what is wrong. Meredith tries to avoid answering, which upsets Scott. Scott nervously tells Kate what happened, and Kate bursts into tears. Scott comforts her, and Meredith feels uncomfortable. Meredith leaves the room, noticing that Scott does not seem to care, which makes Meredith cry.

NOW

Abbi sits in the park, knowing Scott is probably worried sick. Dean approaches and says that he understands that she is upset, but she should not hang out in parks after dark. Abbi used to come to the park with Kate, and it is one of Abbi’s only memories of Kate before she disappeared. Dean is the only other person who knows that memory. 

Abbi explains why she is upset, and Dean says it seems like Abbi is mostly upset to be left out of key moments in the investigation. Abbi struggles with the idea that Kate left willingly, and Dean confesses that Kate’s consent means there may not be a crime to investigate. Abbi reflects that she is glad to get to know Kate, even if she is a different person than she was before disappearing.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. After another period of isolation, Margo bathes Kate. This time, Kate is with another new disciple, Willow, and they have two caretakers to allow them to focus on spiritual growth. Kate is supposed to see Scott today to explain why she left, and she worries that he will think she is too skinny now that she’s lost weight. 

Margo gently cleans the lashes on Kate’s back from Ray’s punishments. She surprises Kate with a red dress, even though it breaks the modesty guidelines. Kate leaves the bathroom but only finds Ray, who says Scott refused to come. Ray claims that Scott is furious, thinks Kate is an unfit mother, and wants nothing to do with her. Kate is crushed and swats away Ray’s hand when he moves to hug her. Ray compares Kate’s sacrifice to God’s.

At night, Kate cries, and Willow tries to comfort her. Willow says Kate is losing more than most disciples, but that means she will also gain more later. Kate does not see Scott and Abbi as worldly attachments to shed, comparing them to her heart and soul outside her body. She wishes she could give her physical life instead.

NOW

Abbi returns, and Kate embraces her, scolding her for worrying them before apologizing for disappearing. Kate is angry that Scott didn’t talk to Ray after her disappearance, but Scott says he talked to Ray constantly, and Ray, Margo, and Bekah all helped with the search. Kate does not understand why Ray would not tell Scott where Kate was.

Meredith wants to go to bed, but Scott wants to go talk to Kate. Meredith feels like an outsider, even more so than she did when she first started dating Scott. She tries to stop Scott, but he says Kate is his wife, which makes her realize that he cares more about Kate than her. Scott apologizes, expecting that Meredith would feel the same about James, but Meredith confesses that she wanted a divorce before James got cancer. Scott is stunned, and he agrees to go to bed with her.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. She leaves with 23 members of Love International to go to a remote location. She feels relieved to be separated from Scott and Abbi, and she and the other members work hard to set up a camp and farm. The farm takes time, and food is running out, but Ray shows up with two rabbits. Most members, including Ray, are vegetarians, and one member, Phil, questions how Ray killed the rabbits. Ray takes out a gun, which shocks everyone. 

Another member, Will, questions Ray’s judgment, but Kate sees that Margo is not shocked at all. Ray claims he found the gun above the tire of the van, and he offers to let the vegetarians eat his portion of beans if they do not want the meat. Ray assures everyone that he only wants to protect them, and Kate follows Margo’s lead by remaining unaffected.

NOW

Abbi visits her mother, and Shiloh smiles at her. Abbi notes that Kate’s laugh is different than Scott described. She asks about Ray and Love International, and Kate says it was great. Abbi stops Kate from reciting scripture because it makes her uncomfortable. Abbi debates telling Kate what she has read on social media. A lot of Ray’s followers have pledged their support for Ray, saying he could never hurt anyone in Love International. When Abbi shows Kate a picture of Ray, Kate tightens and panics. Kate refuses to give Abbi the phone, but Abbi calms Kate down by handing Shiloh to her.

NOW

Meredith meets her son Caleb for dinner. He says she looks tired, and she explains that the FBI will be out of the house soon. Kate was not kidnapped, so they are scaling back their investigation. Meredith watched a television program on Love International in which multiple successful members defended Ray. The investigators found an abandoned RV campground where they think Kate had been living for the past few years, but they have not found Ray. Caleb wants to meet Kate, but Meredith says Kate is not part of their family, worrying that she is losing Scott.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. Crops still will not grow, and the group waits for Ray to return from another 30-day sojourn. They have been fasting as long as Ray has been gone. Willow confides in Kate that she fears Ray will not return. Bekah, who started seeing Sam, is pregnant. Most members eat meat to avoid starvation. 

Ray returns, and the group collectively laughs and dances around him. He announces that the failure of their crops is a failure in their souls. On his journey, Ray killed “Ray” and heard the voice of God. Ray now wants to be called “Abner” and promises to guide the group to greater growth, even if it makes people uncomfortable. He tells anyone who is not ready to go to the next “level” to leave before dawn.

The group quickly adjusts to calling Ray “Abner,” and no one leaves. Abner announces that everyone must be reborn the same way he was, and Will is the first person who will undergo the process. Will undresses, and Abner and Keith wrap him tightly in sheets, covering everything but his feet. Abner starts pressing Will with his arms, calling them “labor pains,” and he tells everyone to join in. Will screams that he cannot breathe as the members beat him in the sheet. Finally, Will rips through the sheet, covered in vomit, and Abner welcomes him to the “kingdom.”

NOW

Abbi brings her violin to Kate’s room and plays as an homage to Kate, who was a talented musician in high school and college. Abbi has watched and rewatched Kate’s recitals all her life. Kate is excited that Abbi plays, but she will not play. Abbi touches her locket, which has a picture of Kate, and plays all the songs she knows. 

Kate cries, but Abbi does not comfort her. Her mother says she has not heard music in 11 years, nor has she taken a hot shower. Abbi is shocked, but Kate explains how she and the other members did daily penance to remind themselves of their wickedness and prove their worthiness to God. Abbi sees a darkness come over Kate while she is speaking.

THEN

The chapter switches to Kate’s perspective. She prepares for her rebirth, suppressing nausea and anxiety. She strips on command, and Abner wraps her in the sheets. Kate panics, and everyone starts putting pressure on her. It hurts, and she cannot breathe. Her mind leaves her body, and she sees Abner telling her not to fight. She calms down and writhes more slowly, freeing an arm to use to make a hole. Kate bursts out of the sheet laughing, and Abner welcomes her to the kingdom.

Willow is nervous about her rebirth, and Kate tells her it is horrible but achievable. Willow gets in the sheets, and Abner begins the ceremony. Willow screams and begs to be let out, but Abner orders everyone to press her. Willow screams for help, and Kate stops, trying to push people off of Willow. Daniel pins Kate to the ground, and Abner urges everyone to keep going until Willow stops screaming or moving. 

They unwrap her, and Ekon confirms Willow is dead. Everyone panics, and Kate cries. Abner says Willow’s death is just part of the process, and he warns that anyone who cannot move forward could face Willow’s fate.