The plane shook violently as the descent began again.
But this time, Ethan didn't panic.
He didn't grab the seat in fear or look around in confusion.
He had already lived this moment.
And now, he was watching it.
The screams started right on cue.
Passengers shouting, crying, praying—just like before.
But to Ethan, it felt distant now.
Muted.
Like he was slightly outside of it.
Daniel leaned closer, gripping the armrest tightly.
"…This is exactly the same," he said.
Ethan shook his head slowly.
"…No."
"It's not."
Daniel frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ethan's eyes scanned the cabin carefully.
"…Look closer."
The same passengers.
The same panic.
The same shaking plane.
But small things were different.
A woman who had been crying earlier now sat frozen.
A man who had shouted before was completely silent.
And near the back—
That same man.
Watching.
"…He's still here," Ethan whispered.
Daniel followed his gaze.
"…Yeah."
The man stood up slowly, unaffected by the chaos around him.
That alone broke every rule.
Passengers were being thrown in their seats.
The plane was shaking violently.
But he stood steady.
Like gravity didn't apply to him.
"…We need to talk to him," Ethan said.
"Are you crazy?" Daniel replied.
"Maybe," Ethan said.
"But he knows something."
Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt.
The moment he stood—
The turbulence hit harder.
The plane dropped suddenly.
Gasps filled the cabin.
But Ethan pushed forward anyway.
Step by step.
Fighting against the shaking.
Daniel followed reluctantly.
"…If we die doing this—"
"We already did," Ethan said.
That shut him up.
They reached the man.
Up close—
He looked normal.
Too normal.
Like he didn't belong in this chaos.
"…Who are you?" Ethan asked.
The man looked at him calmly.
"…You're early this time," he said.
Ethan frowned.
"…What does that mean?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…You usually figure it out later."
A chill ran down Ethan's spine.
"…Figure what out?"
The man smiled faintly.
"…That you're not alive."
The words hit harder than the turbulence.
Daniel froze completely.
"…What…?"
Ethan's mind raced.
"…No," he said.
"We landed."
"We survived."
The man's smile didn't fade.
"…Did you?"
The plane shook violently again.
Lights flickering.
Passengers screaming.
But Ethan couldn't look away.
"…Then what is this?" he demanded.
The man looked around the cabin slowly.
"…This is what's left."
Ethan's chest tightened.
"…Left of what?"
The man's eyes returned to him.
"…The moment you should've died."
Silence.
Heavy.
Impossible.
Daniel shook his head.
"…No."
"That's not real."
The man didn't argue.
He just spoke calmly.
"…The plane crashed."
"…There was no landing."
Ethan's vision blurred slightly.
"…That's not true."
"…Then why does it keep repeating?" the man asked.
No answer.
"…Why do people disappear?" he continued.
"…Why do you forget them?"
Ethan clenched his fists.
"…I don't know."
"…Because they're leaving," the man said.
"Leaving where?" Daniel asked.
The man paused.
Then said quietly—
"…Where they're supposed to go."
A cold silence filled the space between them.
"…And us?" Ethan asked.
The man looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
"…You're not ready."
The words felt heavier than anything else.
"…Ready for what?"
The man stepped back slightly.
"…To accept it."
The plane dropped again.
Hard.
Passengers screamed louder now.
Everything was collapsing again.
"…Then how do we get out?" Ethan demanded.
The man smiled faintly again.
"…You don't 'get out.'"
Ethan's heart pounded.
"…Then what do we do?"
The man's expression changed slightly.
More serious now.
"…You choose."
"Choose what?" Daniel asked.
The man looked at Ethan.
Directly.
"…To hold on."
"…Or let go."
Before Ethan could respond—
The lights went out.
Total darkness.
Then—
Impact.
A loud, violent crash.
Everything went black.
✈️ Silence
Ethan opened his eyes slowly.
No plane.
No passengers.
Just the runway.
Again.
But this time—
He was alone.
"…Daniel?" he called.
No response.
The cold air surrounded him.
Heavier than ever.
Then—
Footsteps.
Ethan turned.
The man stood behind him.
"…This is the part where it changes," he said quietly.
Ethan stared at him.
"…What happens now?"
The man didn't smile this time.
"…Now you decide."
(End of Chapter 12)