Wilbur works in an old carnival and shows some gruesome things to the public. He covers his face because he had a sadistic father who burned his face as a child. Everybody makes jokes about his scars and when the new boss fires him, he goes to an old swamp-witch who gives him a peace of wood from a hanging tree. Wilbur makes a mask from this piece of wood and puts all his anger in this mask. When he puts the mask on, everybody who looks at him commits suicide.

Josh visits Thomas and occupies his home. Josh assumes Thomas' identity and usurps Thomas' acquaintances descending into a total hell only the most hapless can create- finding that one cannot "float" through life on "hot air" alone.

Upon the return of Charlie Puckett to the small town of Pakoe, a series of teenage beheadings begin. Intent on finding the culprit, Sherrif Carl Carson soon begins to suspect that Charlie's return may be more than meets the eye.