After Ethan opens the hidden compartment beneath the floorboards in Dr. Hale’s office, Tricia is overwhelmed by what she sees and runs to the kitchen to vomit. Ethan says they now know what happened to Dr. Hale, and Tricia forces herself to process the sight of a rotting, partially preserved corpse still wearing scraps of clothing. The body’s condition makes the discovery feel horrifyingly real and immediate to Tricia.

Desperate to escape the image, Tricia rushes outside into the snow without proper shoes or warm clothing. Ethan follows with her coat and tries to steady and help her, but Tricia recoils from his touch and admits she is not okay. They briefly discuss their situation: Ethan considers walking down the road for help, but Tricia cannot bear being left alone in the house with the corpse, so they decide they have little choice but to stay until morning.

Back inside, Ethan notices that Tricia’s feet are numb and red from the cold and calmly takes care of her by removing her wet socks and bringing warm water for her feet. Tricia is unsettled by how composed Ethan remains after such a gruesome discovery, although she also feels grateful for his steadiness in a crisis. As Tricia begins to calm down and lets Ethan comfort her, the contrast between her panic and Ethan’s control becomes more apparent.

The moment of recovery ends abruptly when both Tricia and Ethan hear a loud crash coming from Dr. Hale’s office. The noise confirms Tricia’s fear that they are not alone in the house. The chapter ends with the corpse no longer being the only threat, as the sound suggests that another living person may be nearby.