They make their way to a nearby home to prepare food in the kitchen. Jess suggests that they stick around in this town, where it’s relatively safe as the military and militia groups have already passed through. As they cook, Storey suddenly realizes that Collie is missing. He and Jess run out into the street to try to find her.

They find Collie over the dead body of her dog, Crystal. Collie pulls on the dog’s scruff, asking her to stop sleeping. Storey breaks into sobs and wraps the girl in a bear hug.

Needing to leave, Storey tears Collie away from Crystal as the girl screams and cries. After a while, Collie falls asleep, and the friends decide to leave the village. They decide to head west, further into the wilderness, reasoning that either army would have less reason to seek them out there. They leave just after three o’clock, and by five o’clock, they reach the next town, Randall, and the highway beyond.