Ethan stood alone on the runway.
The silence felt heavier than anything before.
Not just quiet—but complete absence.
No wind, no distant hum, no signs of life.
Just him… and the endless darkness stretching in every direction.
He turned slowly, scanning his surroundings.
The plane was gone.
The passengers were gone.
Even the faint lights from before had disappeared.
"…Daniel?" he called out.
His voice echoed slightly, then faded.
No answer came back.
For the first time since this began—
Ethan felt truly alone.
And that terrified him more than anything else so far.
His breathing grew uneven as he took a few steps forward.
The ground still felt real beneath his feet.
Too real.
"…This isn't real," he muttered.
"…It can't be."
But even as he said it—
He wasn't sure anymore.
A faint sound reached his ears.
Footsteps.
Ethan froze instantly.
Slowly, he turned.
Someone was there.
Standing in the distance.
A silhouette.
"…Daniel?" Ethan called again.
The figure didn't respond.
Instead—
It stepped closer.
One step at a time.
Ethan's heart pounded harder with each movement.
As the figure came closer—
The shape became clearer.
Not Daniel.
Someone else.
Someone familiar.
"…No way," Ethan whispered.
It was his father.
Standing just a few feet away now.
Looking exactly as he remembered.
"…Ethan," his father said softly.
Ethan staggered back slightly.
"…This isn't real."
His father smiled gently.
"…You always say that when you're scared."
Ethan's chest tightened.
That was something he used to say.
Years ago.
"…You're not here," Ethan said.
"…You died."
The word felt heavy as it left his mouth.
His father didn't deny it.
"…And now you understand," he said quietly.
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
"This is a trick."
"…Is it?" his father asked calmly.
The silence between them stretched.
Ethan's mind raced.
This wasn't possible.
But it felt real.
Too real.
"…Why are you here?" Ethan asked.
His father stepped closer.
"…Because you're not ready."
Those words again.
Ethan clenched his fists.
"…Ready for what?!"
His father looked at him carefully.
"…To let go."
The air grew colder.
Ethan's breath became visible now.
"…I don't want to die," he said.
The words came out quieter than he expected.
More honest.
His father nodded slowly.
"…No one does."
"But holding on doesn't change what already happened."
Ethan's chest tightened painfully.
"…Then why am I here?" he asked.
"…Why am I still thinking? Still moving?"
His father looked around the empty runway.
"…Because part of you hasn't accepted it."
"And until you do…"
"…you stay here."
Ethan's breathing became heavier.
"…And the others?" he asked.
"…The ones disappearing?"
"They're letting go," his father replied.
"…One by one."
A chill ran through Ethan.
"…And if I don't?"
His father didn't answer immediately.
That silence was enough.
"…I'll be stuck here," Ethan said slowly.
His father nodded.
"…Yes."
The truth settled in.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
✈️ The Memory
The environment shifted suddenly.
The runway faded.
The darkness dissolved.
Ethan blinked.
He was back in his apartment.
Morning light filtered through the window.
His suitcase sat near the door.
Everything looked normal.
Peaceful.
"…What is this?" Ethan whispered.
His father stood beside him.
"…Your last morning."
Ethan's heart pounded.
He watched himself.
Another version of him.
Moving through the apartment.
Getting ready.
Completely unaware.
"…I remember this," Ethan said.
"Then watch carefully," his father replied.
Ethan followed the memory.
Every movement.
Every small detail.
Then—
Something caught his attention.
His phone.
It rang.
His past self ignored it.
"…Wait," Ethan said.
"That call…"
His father didn't respond.
The phone stopped ringing.
Ethan stepped closer.
Trying to see the screen.
The name flashed briefly.
Daniel
Ethan froze.
"…That was him," he whispered.
"I ignored him."
His father nodded slightly.
"…Some choices seem small at the time."
"But they change everything."
The memory shifted again.
Now—
The plane.
The turbulence.
The panic.
Then—
Impact.
A violent crash.
Flames.
Screams—
Then nothing.
Ethan stumbled back.
"…That's what really happened," he said quietly.
His father looked at him.
"…Yes."
The illusion faded.
They were back on the runway.
Ethan stood there.
Silent.
Everything made sense now.
Too much sense.
"…So this is it," he said slowly.
"…I either accept it…"
"…or stay here."
His father nodded.
"…Yes."
✈️ The Beginning of the Choice
Ethan looked around one last time.
The empty runway.
The endless darkness.
The place where people vanished.
Where time didn't move.
Where nothing was real—
But everything felt real.
"…I'm not ready," he said.
His father didn't argue.
"…Then you'll stay."
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment.
His mind racing.
Heart heavy.
Then he opened them again.
"…But I will be."
His father smiled faintly.
"…Then this isn't over."
(End of Chapter 13)