As the survivors flee the base, the Humvee rattles and groans, and Parks fears damage to the rear axle. About 10 miles out and with no sign of pursuit, he pulls into an empty field to assess their situation. For the first time since leaving the base, he realizes Melanie is crouching in the back seat, naked and bald with eyes like a cornered animal. He draws his sidearm and points it at her, but Justineau comes between them. Melanie is not a danger at the moment, she argues, so just let her wander free. He agrees, and Melanie leaps from the vehicle, desperate to escape the temptation of the flesh around her. Caldwell, however, wants Melanie—her last hope of salvaging four years of research—restrained and brought with them. While Justineau and Caldwell debate, Parks goes out to examine the Humvee’s axle. 

Huddled amid a field of wildflowers, Melanie tries to calm the residual hunger she feels as well as reconcile the horror of her own feeding frenzy. She also recalls that when she was strapped to the exam table, a hungry loomed over her for a terrifying moment but moved on without attacking.