Avery squinted, trying to acclimate to the faint light as the wave of blackness receded. The chilly silence was broken only by the subtle hum of something beyond her expertise, a low, vibrating presence that raised the hairs on her palms. She felt Lucas' hand slip into hers, anchoring her in the weird silence.
"Are you alright?" Lucas' voice became hoarse, and his eyes scanned the surroundings warily, looking to see something unusual.
Avery nodded, despite the fact that her thoughts had shifted from love to a thousand different directions in her mind. They stood in what appeared to be the heart of the Puppet Master's world, surrounded by a shimmering barrier that seemed to separate them from all else. Shadows danced across the edges, moving as if alive and looking.
As they entered the unusual setting, a deep voice, both familiar and distant, echoed around them. "Avery…"
