In the aftermath of Haddock’s death, Gloria sees the bloodhound emerge from the creek covered in blood and trembling, then retreat into the woods in apparent shame. She resists shooting the dog because it has saved them. Percy Crutcher, badly wounded but alive, explains that he let Haddock think he was dead so he could survive. Realizing more trackers and dogs are close behind, Crutcher urges Gloria and Robert to flee through the creek and says Robert should keep the evidence and take it to the NAACP or the governor instead of trusting the sheriff.

Gloria returns to Robert, who is fixed on Haddock’s mutilated body and unnerved by what he has seen. Robert says he wants to be sure Haddock is really dead, revealing how deeply the violence has changed him. Gloria takes his hand and leads him away, determined to get him to Chicago and reunite him with their father. As they run through the shallows, Robert recognizes that Blue is gone for good and reflects on what he has learned about haints, including that they are dangerous as well as helpful.

While fleeing, Robert thanks Gloria for coming for him, and the siblings briefly share their belief that their dead mother has been guiding and protecting them. Gloria also senses that only two trackers remain on their trail. Ahead, they spot the railroad trestle and leave the creek to climb toward it, but the ascent is steep and exhausting. When a tracker shouts from behind, Gloria drops her gun and cannot stop to retrieve it, forcing them to keep climbing with only the rope she left as help.

As Robert struggles for breath and the trackers close in, two German shepherds race toward the slope. Gloria reaches the top first and discovers that Miz Lottie is there with the truck, though the engine must be started. Robert nearly falls when his foot slips, but he keeps hold of both the rope and the envelope of evidence hidden in his clothes. As one dog lunges close enough to attack, Robert kicks it in the face, buying himself the moment he needs to scramble the rest of the way up. Gloria pulls him onto level ground.

The siblings run after Miz Lottie’s slowly moving truck. Gloria climbs in first and reaches back for Robert while the last dog gains on him. Robert misses her hand once when the truck jolts, then throws himself forward again, and Gloria catches him and hauls him aboard just before the dog can reach him. Miz Lottie speeds away, the trackers appear too late to stop them, and rifle shots fail to matter. Safe for the moment, Robert breaks down crying for Redbone and from the accumulated horror of the Reformatory. Gloria reveals that they are heading for a train to Chicago to find their father, and Robert and Gloria hide under a tarp as Miz Lottie drives them toward Tallahassee.