When the Wolf Comes Home

In Carson City, Nevada, Emmaline Santos is disturbed by the sense that something has just changed, though she cannot tell what it is. The notion of Mickey is erased from her mind, causing her to scream uncontrollably for the rest of her life.

The boy is horrified by what he has done. He blames Jess for forcing him to erase Santos, though Jess can barely process what has happened herself as Santos disappears from her memory. She worries that nothing can be done to protect the world from the boy.

The boy throws a tantrum, accusing Jess of being “bad.” Despite her attempts to calm him down, Jess is seized by intense pain, signaling her transformation into a monster. She desperately apologizes for her actions, causing the boy to stop her transformation. The boy affirms his father’s claim that he is the bad one. He retreats from the cabin, making himself invisible to Jess.

The boy runs through the forest, wishing that he had never existed. This thought causes him to stumble. He feels himself being emptied out in a sensation akin to vomiting. He associates this with the care that comes after being sick, which makes him miss his father.