After the explosion, Alex and Dawes are shaken but alive. Anselm is furious and left dealing with the fallout. While waiting to talk to him, Dawes reveals she placed security cameras in Black Elm and got a notification after the ritual from Darlington. Alex promises to investigate further once they deal with Anselm. She creates a cover story, claiming that she destroyed the table in Scroll and Key to make them pay for their role in the previous year’s events. Anselm is not convinced. He suspects they were trying to reach Darlington in hell. Despite her efforts to deflect, he insists they accept Darlington’s absence and warns there are no more chances. Alex agrees to stay out of trouble, but secretly plans to continue her quest.

After apologizing to the Lethe board and Scroll and Key alums, Alex and Dawes head to Black Elm in Darlington’s Mercedes. They spot a light in a window, which leads them to the ballroom, where they had previously tried to reach Darlington. Inside, they find a glowing circle with a horned, naked figure resembling Darlington. Dawes accidentally touches the circle and gets burned. They retreat, discussing the possibility that it might be Darlington in a transformed state.