On the beach at Lake Michigan, Bela sees that Lois came prepared with blankets, pillows, and an umbrella, showing that Lois expected the family to carry out a serious plan there. Russ and Ursula sleep deeply under the umbrella while Bela stands with Lois at the waterline. Lois tells Bela that the adults will soon explain disturbing truths all at once because they believe doing so may help drive Other Mommy away for good.

Lois frames the coming conversation as a kind of ritual and says that learning these truths may make Other Mommy less interested in Bela. Bela agrees but admits she feels sad, because Bela had thought of Other Mommy as a friend. Lois responds by emphasizing how much Ursula and Russ have suffered and how hard they have been trying to protect Bela.

Lois then begins questioning Bela about Bela's history with Other Mommy. Bela says Bela was not scared when Other Mommy first appeared and admits Bela told Other Mommy personal things about Bela's likes and feelings. When Lois asks what Bela knows in return, Bela realizes Bela knows much less: only that Other Mommy comes from somewhere beyond the closet, that Other Mommy's face changes, and that Other Mommy wants to get into Bela's heart.

Lois presses further about what Other Mommy said would happen if Bela agreed. Bela explains that Other Mommy said Bela's consent would let Other Mommy come back to life through reincarnation, and that entering Bela would be "as easy for her as slipping into a dress." Lois is visibly disturbed. Bela does not confess that Bela found that image appealing and instead only says it sounded pretty.

Lois ends the conversation for the moment and says they should appreciate being far away until Bela's parents wake up and the heavier talk begins. Then Bela and Lois both notice a distant sound and see something far up the beach on all fours. It looks like a large, skinny, dark dog crawling toward them, yet it never seems to get closer no matter how long they watch.

After that, Ursula wakes and calls Bela over. Bela says that nothing happened. Ursula, realizing she has woken without being interrupted by some new horror for the first time in a long while, briefly notes the relief of that before acknowledging that the family is still trapped inside the larger ordeal.