The Occurrence in River Oaks · Nikki Durbin

Episode Two: Manifestation

January 31, 2024·19 min·1 clip

Paul finds Mr. Miller's cat skinned alive and still breathing, with no clear explanation for what caused such brutality.

Paul and Paula enter Miss McKay's house and describe a scene of violent destruction: furniture shredded, sticky and foul-smelling residue covering the walls and floor, and no trace of the occupant. Olivia coordinates from dispatch while Eric and Alan have returned from a brief errand. When Buster's barking is heard from the woods, Paul decides to follow it despite the risk. Paula stays behind at the house, uneasy about her brother going in alone but unwilling to stop him. Maria arrives at the scene shortly after. Paul makes slow progress through the woods, noting that his GPS is out and the sounds he heard earlier seem to be tracking his movement. Back at dispatch, Alan uses dry humor to try to calm the team down, suggesting it is probably just a raccoon or a bear. Maria and Paula quarrel briefly about the risks Paul is taking, and the tension surfaces a significant detail: Maria discloses her own brother disappeared when they were children and was never found. Paul finds Buster, who is distressed and has blood on him. Following the blood trail, Paul discovers Mr. Miller's large cat has been mutilated in a way that suggests neither a dog nor a human was responsible. After consulting with the team, Paul shoots the animal to end its suffering. He begins photographing the scene when Buster reacts and Paul draws his weapon. Miss McKay appears, rifle raised, equally startled. She is found alive but disoriented, unable to explain how she ended up in the woods. Her last clear memory is answering a knock at her door after her radio call to Olivia. As Paul and Miss McKay prepare to leave the woods, Buster reacts to a new sound and everyone scrambles.

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