As something began turning the handle from the other side of the door, every star in existence dimmed.
Not permanently.
Not destroyed.
Just—
Afraid.
Inside the Archive, millions of monuments cracked simultaneously.
The Creator knelt on the ground.
The Architect collapsed onto one knee.
The First Failure's giant eye snapped shut with such force that blood flowed from his nose.
The Auditor's geometric body became unstable.
And the young man—the former Silence—stood frozen.
Terrified.
Not angry.
Terrified.
His sister's voice came again.
"Brother?"
He couldn't answer.
Because behind her—
That laughter continued.
Warm.
Gentle.
Motherly.
Wrong.
Very wrong.
The young man's face became deathly pale.
"No."
Sarya had never heard that tone from him before.
Not grief.
Not despair.
Trauma.
Ancient trauma.
"Big sister."
His voice shook.
"Move away from the door."
Her voice sounded confused.
"But she's lonely."
"No!"
The scream shook worlds.
"Move away!"
