While Roscoe stayed quiet, Nicole's gaze at Jarrod was pleading.

Jarrod raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Didn't you hear? He doesn't want help."

Nicole, growing frustrated with the delay, couldn't hide her irritation.

Nicole was incredulous at their interaction, which seemed childish given the dire circumstances.

"If you're not going to carry him, then I will," Nicole declared, beginning to bend down despite her injuries. But she doubted her strength to even lift Austin, much less Roscoe.

Jarrod, with a frosty look, begrudgingly bent down. "Fine, I'll do it.”

Roscoe, however, continued to sulk and was uncooperative.

Nicole had no option but to manually place Roscoe's arm over Jarrod's shoulders to ensure compliance.

Roscoe reluctantly looped his arm around Jarrod's neck.

Observing Roscoe's reluctance, Nicole chided, “Stop acting like a child."

Roscoe quietly responded, "I'm not." This resistance wasn't about being uncooperative. He simply didn't want to be further indebted to Jarrod, which he felt undermined his position when facing Nicole.

Jarrod, hearing Nicole's reprimand, felt his anger lessen and agreed.

“You are being difficult."

Exasperated, Roscoe's face darkened even more.

Nicole hastily said, “Can we please just get moving?"

At last, Jarrod stopped piquing and signaled to Alec and his team.

“Let's move out."

Just then, Nicole noticed the senior man's body was overrun by parasites, a ghastly and pitiful sight. It was clear there was no saving him now.

Nicole realized that refusing to stay in the tree any longer was the senior man's choice, a choice made after fulfilling his need for vengeance, leaving him with no desire to continue Living.

As dawn began to break, Alec and the others approached Jarrod.