By: Jennifer Vintzileos
After finding Portia (Michelle Nolden) has been claimed as the next victim, Ruby (Brynn Godenir) is in shock. When she finally does react, the remaining guests are quick to accuse her of the crime. Though she pleads that she had nothing to do with Portia’s demise, the bloody heart in her hand makes the group skeptical. And though Paige (Paula Brancati) believes her, when Crow (Shaun Benson) finds the weapon next to the bed….he is quick to act. Ruby is dragged back to hers and Portia’s room by Crow and Blake (Atticus Mitchell), then tied down until the group can determine what really happened. As everyone leaves, Ruby is now alone with Portia’s body.
Floyd (Gray Powell) and Shirley (Yanna McIntosh) begin to speculate about who could have possibly taken out Portia and wants to encroach on their hard work. Meanwhile, Andy (Jim Watson) brings Crow a cup of coffee and goes to chat with him. However, it is clear that after what has happened with Ruby….Crow’s demeanor has changed completely. Andyreminds Crow that he has responsibility as a leader to help the group navigate through this.
In a flashback from ten years prior, it shows that Crow visited the Cold River Motel to conduct a séance. During this ceremony, Caitlyn Ridgeley (Lauren Lee Smith) comes through and advises Crow that the gateway is still open. Unfortunately, Caitlyn’s clues are very vague and Crow is confused by who needs to go in order to close the gateway. He takes the information to the Officer Dickson (Patrick Garrow) and tries to re-open the cold case, but Dickson is hesitant. However, a clue that Crow provides pushes the officer to recall a photographer that was there during the investigation: Davin Renee (Salvatore Antonio). Taking Crow’s tip, Renee is brought back in for questioning.
When she is finally able to break free of her restraints, Ruby makes a run for it. Unfortunately, the windows and doors are guarded….leading her to open a vent and crawl through the ducts to safety. While crawling through the vents, one of the panels gives way and Ruby falls into the basement. With the guests hearing all the racket, Ruby tries to hide as they come to investigate. However, Ruby is caught and this time the guests are a little more wary. Paige tries to bring reason but that is immediately dashed when Ruby tries to grab her as leverage. Adriana (Genevieve DeGraves) immediately intervenes and her, Crow, and Blake add Ruby to the growing body count.
As Paige, Andy and Kawayan (Emmanuel Kabongo) are against what had transpired, the rest of the group minus Blake are more invigorated by getting their hands dirty. Instead, Blake firmly believes that Ruby was truly innocent and questions what they just did. However, Adriana feels that they made the right decision and feels empowered by taking out Ruby. Floyd and Shirley praise Adriana for her leadership, which pushes Crow to intervene and want to take credit.
Back in their room, Floyd and Shirley continue to try and figure out who is committing these acts before they can. But now a bigger issue remains: the storm has subsided and the group will be free to leave come morning. Floyd takes the opportunity to get back in the game and continue their sacrifices to summon Baphomet. For the next target: Andy. Yet when Floyd puts on the mask and goes to complete his mission, he runs into another person dressed just like him. The two fight and head off into the woods, only stopped by Shirley coming to her husband’s rescue. In the scuffle, Floyd is badly hurt.
Crow starts to hear voices and a flashback reveals that Dicksonbrings Renee back in for questioning. Adamant of his innocence, Renee argues and talks about how working on this case has ruined his life. Just when the officer starts to tell Crow that there is no path forward, Crow pushes him to start interrogating Renee to see if he believes Baphomet is proud of him. Unfortunately, this level of questioning only spurs Renee on to keep proclaiming his innocence….even as he takes his own life to prove it. With blood on the hands of the department, Dickson is horrified and regrets listening to Crow in the first place.
In present time, Crow eventually finds himself lured into the basement….where he is knocked out. Waking up on the floor, he hears Caitlyn’s voice once more. This time, she tells him he has failed and he will become the next victim. The figure then comes back into the basement and turns their sights on Crow, hammering nails into his head one at a time. Hearing a noise, Paige comes out of her room to investigates….as does everyone else. When they hear a noise come from the basement, they find Crow on the floor near death. The only name he keeps repeating: Baphomet.