Nelson Wright (Haibane Renmei AU)

Medical student Nelson Wright convinces classmates Joe Hurley, David Labraccio, Rachel Manus, and Randy Steckle to explore what lies beyond death. Nelson flatlines for one minute, and his friends revive him. During his "death," he encounters Billy Mahoney, a boy he bullied as a child. Nelson claims he can’t describe his vision but insists something exists beyond. The others replicate his experiment. Joe next flatlines, experiencing erotic visions tied to his promiscuous lifestyle. After arguing with Rachel over the duration they’d stay "dead," David flatlines on Halloween and sees Winnie Hicks, a girl he bullied in school. All three begin hallucinating: Nelson is assaulted by Billy, Joe is haunted by women he secretly filmed during affairs, and David faces a taunting Winnie on a train.

Rachel attempts flatlining but nearly dies when a power outage delays her revival. She survives but is tormented by memories of her father’s suicide. The group shares their experiences. David seeks to stop his visions. Joe’s fiancée, Anne, discovers his videos and breaks up with him, ending his hallucinations. David visits adult Winnie to apologize; she forgives him, lifting his guilt. Meanwhile, Nelson, plagued by Billy’s apparitions, takes Joe and Randy to a cemetery, confessing he accidentally killed Billy as a child by throwing rocks. Rachel confronts Nelson for withholding the supernatural truth, then leaves. David urges Joe and Randy to help Nelson find Billy.

Rachel, alone, encounters her father’s ghost, who reveals his suicide stemmed from morphine addiction and PTSD from Vietnam, easing her guilt. Nelson calls David, pleading to flatline again for redemption. The friends rush to stop him, finding him dead for nine minutes. They revive him as Billy forgives Nelson in the afterlife. David shocks Nelson back to life, ending their dangerous experiments.

Haibane may not pass beyond the Walls of town. Haibane are not allowed to touch the walls.

Nobody knows what the haibane are (if they are human or not). The haibane are not allowed to leave town, it is their most sacred law. Even if their family were somewhere in the world, neither would recognize the other. Just as the haibane cannot remember where they came from, no one remembers them. It is the world they live in. Haibane may only live in places that have been abandoned after prolonged use. Haibane are obligated to work in the town that hosts them. Haibane are forbidden from handling actual money; only their notebooks. Haibane may only wear used clothing.

New Feather The other members of a nest care for and teach the newborn haibane of their new existence. New feathers are given a name based on their cocoon dream, provided with a halo, and allowed to rest. Shortly after hatching, a high fever will set in and wings (which have been developing sub-dermally) violently break through the skin. During this time, the haibane must be watched carefully, as they are subject to the fever and trauma, and may inadvertently injure themselves or pass out. After the wings breach the skin, they must be cleaned of blood or their light charcoal feathers may become stained. After this time, the Haibane Renmei will provide them with a name plaque and notebook.

Sin-bound Haibane differ from normal Haibane, who are born without defects and retain clear memories of their dreams. A common origin theory suggests Haibane originate from souls who died outside Glie’s walls or in another world. Normal Haibane, like Kana or Hikari, are believed to have died unexpectedly, granting them a “second chance” to grow within Glie and fulfill their intended purpose. Sin-bound Haibane, however, display distinct traits. Their feathers are either spotted or entirely black, and their condition may manifest at birth or later due to unresolved emotions. Unlike normal Haibane, they grapple with intense emotions—regret, depression, fear, and claustrophobia—possibly stemming from past traumas. Some feel an overwhelming urge to escape Glie’s confines, experiencing panic at being trapped. Despite this, they are not beyond redemption; the Haibane Renmei aids them in breaking free of their curse, though this requires collaboration and is extremely difficult to achieve alone. If a sin-bound Haibane cannot overcome their curse, they cannot experience the Day of Flight—the moment a Haibane leaves Glie permanently. Instead, they lose their wings and halo, forced into solitary existence, unable to interact with others. Their lives end within Glie’s walls, forever isolated. It is implied such Haibane may join the Haibane Renmei or become part of the enigmatic Toga caravan, which supplies the town.