Cassie snaps out of a terrifying shared memory in Bryant Park, reeling from what she has seen of Drummond Fox’s past. Drummond explains that the attacker from ten years ago likely wielded the Book of Despair, and he believes she killed a St. Petersburg family to steal it. Cassie comforts Drummond by insisting Lily chose to die rather than endanger him, but Cassie is shaken by images of the woman’s cruelty and Yasmin’s death.

Drummond argues that the same woman is still hunting Doors books and asking for him and the Fox Library, which is why he wants to keep the library hidden and even destroy Cassie’s Book of Doors to prevent the woman from getting it. Cassie pushes back, urging Drummond to fight rather than hide, but Drummond admits he is not built for violence and fears the woman’s power. Overwhelmed, Cassie insists they return to their own time so she can check on Izzy.

Cassie and Drummond use a quiet doorway in an underground parking garage to open into Cassie’s apartment. Immediately, they find blood near the front door and signs of a struggle: broken furniture and stains that suggest Izzy was hurt there. Cassie rushes inside calling for Izzy, only to realize someone is hiding behind the door.

Hugo Barbary lunges at Cassie, chokes her, and takes a book from her pocket. Drummond appears, hesitating under Barbary’s taunts, and Cassie buys them a moment by kicking Barbary hard enough to make him release her. As Cassie and Drummond back toward Cassie’s bedroom doorway—their escape route—Barbary claims he may have killed Izzy, while Drummond calls him a liar.

Barbary then reveals he has his own powered book (Cassie realizes the one in his hand is not the Book of Doors) and uses it to hurl Cassie through the open doorway. Cassie tumbles onto the concrete of the parking garage in the past as Barbary steps through, coldly says goodbye, and shuts the door. Cassie is left stranded in the past, alone and without the Book of Doors, while Drummond remains on the other side with Barbary and Izzy’s fate unknown.