Saint reaches Eli Aaron's isolated house alone and pretends she has come because of his modeling advertisement. Eli Aaron immediately tests how vulnerable she is by asking whether anyone knows where she is and by warning her about snakes in the fields. As Saint studies his size, manner, and empty-eyed smile, her instincts tell her he is dangerous, but she enters the house anyway because she wants answers about the attacks and disappearances.

Inside, Eli Aaron tries to appear ordinary. He talks about inheriting a camera from his grandmother, taking school jobs for money, and loving woodland photography. While he makes small talk, Saint notices unsettling details: blocked windows, a rough kitchen, a large wooden crucifix, and a bedroom with a stained mattress. The house feels improvised and secretive, which deepens Saint's fear and confirms that something is wrong.

Saint begins probing him about Misty Meyer and the day of the attack, trying to sound casual despite her fear. Eli Aaron says he saw the news and claims he was at Brooks Falls photographing bears, camping rather than staying in a motel. When Saint asks whether he lives alone, Eli Aaron does not answer directly and instead watches her with a confidence that suggests he understands her suspicions and is staying in control of the conversation.

As Eli Aaron gathers supplies and leads Saint toward the red barn he uses as a darkroom, Saint notices his irritation when she mentions the photo store in Alice Springs. She imagines Patch buried somewhere on the property, which hardens her resolve, but she also wishes desperately for help to arrive. Once inside the barn, the red light, chemical smell, machinery, and generator make Saint realize she has crossed into life-threatening danger, the kind no one simply walks away from.