Evelin ran toward the sound, dragging Mitch with her.
Urano lay on the floor, unconscious, glass everywhere, the ribbon still tight around his neck.
"Brother! Wake up!" Mitch screamed.
Laughter echoed through the maze.
"Qui, qui, qui…"
A warped voice sang:
"One, two… laugh again…Three, four… you won't run…"
Mitch covered his ears—and shut his eyes.
Evelin understood instantly.
CUCU wanted him blind.
"Mitch! Open your eyes!" she shouted.
"No! I'm scared!"
Glass flew.
Pain ripped through Evelin's arm and leg.
She couldn't blink.
She saw it—CUCU, knife in hand, jumping between reflections.
CUCU lunged for Urano.
Evelin struck.
The sword pierced CUCU's chest—but he didn't die.
Metal meant nothing.
She dropped beside Urano.
"Wake up! If you don't, we're dead!"
Urano gasped, coughing air into his lungs.
He saw Evelin bleeding.
Mitch shaking.
CUCU rising.
Urano grabbed Mitch's face.
"Look at me. Breathe with me. You're not alone."
Mitch obeyed—slowly.
CUCU attacked.
The knife fell—
And pierced Mitch's hand.
Blood splashed.
CUCU froze.
He had broken his only rule.
"I protect him… I PROTECT HIM!"
Cracks spread across his body.
Black smoke leaked from the seams.
POP.
CUCU collapsed.
Inert.
🔔 Ding, ding, ding…
"Congratulations. The authors have survived the story."
Urano woke on the Hub couch.
His real body.
Evelin beside him. Alive.
The angelic cat sipped tea.
"Beautiful performance."
A box appeared.
"With love, from Nyx and Morpheus."
Inside—
A white rabbit plush.
Red eyes.
Watching.
"A new best friend," the cat purred.
The silence grew heavy.
The eyes never blinked.