or - in - chief's door was suddenly shoved open . Andrew stood there . He wore sunglasses , his stubble unshaven , the gray - black jacket on him crumpled like it had been picked off the floor . The entire office fell into a brief silence . He never showed up like this . Andrew scanned the room , his voice low . " Who locked the balcony door ? " The editor - in - chief froze . " Mr. Williams , you mean that sealed - off office ? " " I told them to leave it ventilated . " " But the security system updated recently . The locks auto - engage now . " He didn't respond , just stepped back into the hallway with a cold expression . That balcony office - their shared editing suite before Emerie left . Its floor - to - ceiling windows faced Heritage Coast , her favorite angle for the dying light . She'd said , " Don't seal this window shut after I'm gone . " Andrew sat motionless on the office sofa , clutching the old camcorder she'd used . Her script lay on the desk , pages worn fuzzy at the edges , the cover text faded beyond recognition . He suddenly stood , hurling the camcorder to the ground . Lens shards scattered , plastic casing flew . He dropped to his knees , gathering pieces as he whispered , " I'm sorry . Please stop hiding . " " Emerie , punish me if you want . " " Just don't stay this silent . " " Come back . Yell at me . Hit me . Why won't you say anything ? " His fingertip split open , blood smearing the lens . Outside the door , she watched , tears streaming , powerless to act . She couldn't rush in . Couldn't stop his bleeding . Couldn't hold him . Couldn't even make a sound , She stood at the threshold , biting her lip white , crushing her employee badge in her fist , voice trapped in her throat , 0.0 % 00:06 Chapter 11 288 Vouchers Until he suddenly knelt , shouting at empty air : " Are you here ?! " " Are you watching me ? " " Please . Give me a sign . " She couldn't bear it anymore . Throwing herself against the door , she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed into noth- ingness with all her strength : " I'm here ! " " Andrew , I'm here . Please stop this . " But his expression remained unchanged . He heard nothing . She realized he couldn't hear her voice at all . She was just a wisp of shadow . No voice . No form . No right to embrace him . No place to stand before him . She collapsed to her knees , sobbing uncontrollably . " I'm begging you . Stop this . " Kneeling on the floor , she covered her face with both hands . A breeze lifted the curtain edge , spilling moonlight over her shoulders . The first night of the Rebirth Cycle . She sat in the hallway outside the abandoned editing suite , keeping watch until he finally fell into deep sleep . Moonlight washed over his still - pale face , but his breathing steadied at last . And she - she finally made her decision . If he was willing to endure these seven days … She would walk this path with him . Even if she truly faded in the end , she wouldn't let him walk the ending alone . 58.6 % 00:06 Chapter 12 Chapter 12