Man gives hitchhiker a lift home-and is shocked by the news the next day

 Carter's thoughts raced as the seriousness of the situation hit him. "It's not just Avery anymore," he said quietly. Finally, the truth hit him. "They know I'm involved, too."Anchor's solemn nod spoke a harsh truth. "We're in this together," he replied. The gravity of their shared predicament was clear in his eyes. They were now bound by the same danger, and the weight of their collective responsibility weighed heavily on them, binding them together in a fragile yet crucial alliance.