Nick knows that obtaining Mary’s help will be tricky because she will refuse to endanger any Afterlights. He makes his way from Rockaway Point to Manhattan without seeing any other Afterlights, and he pauses to watch the living move around him and finds the living world more vibrant than Everlost. Back at the Twin Towers, Mary hugs Nick in greeting, realizing how much she loves him, and shocks him by kissing him and asking him to forgive her for not rescuing him from the Haunter. When Nick announces that Allie has found a way to defeat the McGill, Mary criticizes Allie for her carelessness. Nick then asks Mary to bring her Afterlights to Atlantic City, but Mary immediately refuses. When Nick threatens to go without her, she capitulates. Mary, Nick, and Vari take a ghost train halfway to Atlantic City. They then find Speedo, and Mary asks to borrow his zeppelin, the Hindenburg. Speedo agrees but insists that he drive.

The Sulphur Queen arrives in Atlantic City in dense fog. The McGill docks the ship between the Steeplechase Pier and the Steel Pier, both of which are invisible to the living world. The McGill orders Pinhead to lower the gangway and takes the rest of his crew to the chiming chamber.