As the Spanish Civil War nears, Julián Carax slips across the French border days before fighting erupts, just after The Shadow of the Wind finally appears in print. In Barcelona, Miquel Moliner’s tuberculosis worsens; he can barely write, loses most of his newspaper work to missed deadlines and intimidation, and keeps only a single column under the pseudonym Adrián Maltés.

The uprising explodes into street violence and terror. After brief fighting, General Goded’s troops surrender, but the city soon falls under anarchist union control. Rumors spread of the executed rebel generals at Montjuïc, and everyday life fills with suspicion, silence, and bloodshed.

News arrives from Irene Marceau: in Paris, Julián killed Jorge Aldaya in a duel at Père Lachaise, then fled because police—tipped off by an anonymous caller—pursued him for murder. Nuria Monfort and Miquel immediately suspect Inspector Fumero orchestrated the tip and fear Julián has returned to Barcelona seeking Penélope, unaware of the truth about her fate.

Nuria and Miquel search the few likely leads. The Aldaya mansion on Avenida del Tibidabo is deserted; a flower vendor reports only a limping, nasty older man visiting. At San Gabriel’s School, priest-teacher Fernando Ramos says Julián has not come, warns that Fumero already threatened him, and agrees to stall Julián if he appears. At the Fortuny hat shop, the terrified hatter refuses to open up and insists Julián is dead.

Two weeks pass with no trace of Julián, and Miquel grows more desperate as his last column is canceled for safety. After sharing a bottle of port, Nuria wakes alone to a note: Miquel has gone out to find Julián and will bring him home, ending with an “I love you.” Seeing Miquel’s belongings cleared from the desk, Nuria realizes Miquel has left for good and believes she will never see him again.