It is July 1995, and April Carter and her husband, Eddie, are on their honeymoon, driving to a small lake resort in rural Michigan. April is 26, and Eddie is 27, and they have saved up for this trip while working in Ann Arbor—she as a server in a bowling alley and he as a mechanic. Even though it is late at night, Eddie, who is driving, is not tired—after his time in the military, Eddie can sleep whenever he wants.

When they see a girl stumbling down the side of the road, they stop to help her, and she reluctantly accepts a ride. Her name is Rhonda Jean, and she is going to a town called Coldlake Falls, which they have never heard of. April notices that Rhonda Jean is holding her stomach and discovers that her shirt is soaked in blood. Rhonda Jean apologizes and says, “He’s coming.”

Eddie speeds towards Coldlake Falls, hoping the town has a hospital. April questions Rhonda, who will only say that a man is following them. Headlights appear in their rearview mirror, and as Eddie speeds up, so does the truck behind them. When Eddie sees a sign for Coldlake Falls, he turns rapidly.