The Loop Shop

The Blood We Share

The heavy iron axe cut through the air, aiming straight for Julian's neck.

Julian did not dodge. A bright flash of purple light burst from his hands, forming a solid shield of pure magic just in time. The heavy axe slammed into the shield with a loud crash that shook the stone walls. Sparks flew in every direction, blinding the eyes. Old Man Marrow grunted, putting all his weight behind the weapon, trying to crush Julian through the barrier.

You cannot beat me, old man, Julian said. His voice was deep, cold, and heavy with power he had forgotten he possessed.

With a sharp flick of his wrist, Julian pushed back hard. The magical shield exploded outward, sending Marrow flying backward. The old shopkeeper crashed heavily into the stone wall, dropping his axe and sliding down to the floor.

Commander Eleanor Vance did not wait. She lunged forward, her glowing silver sword cutting a clean arc through the air toward Julian's chest.

Julian twisted to the side. The sharp edge of the blade sliced through the sleeve of his jacket, drawing a thin line of blood across his arm. He did not feel pain. He only felt a hot, burning drive to end this fight once and for all. He reached out and grabbed Eleanor's wrist with one hand, twisting it hard until the silver sword clattered against the stone floor.

Eleanor gritted her teeth, trying to pull away, but Julian pulled her close, staring right into her cold eyes.

You locked me in this loop for centuries, Julian said, his breathing hard and fast. You wiped my mind and made me live a lie.

We had to, Eleanor said, her voice tight with strain. If you kept your full power, New Oxford would have burned down to the ground. You are not a hero, Malakor. You are a destroyer.

Before Julian could answer, a bright flash of red light blinded the entire hallway.

Maya stood a few feet away, holding a small, glowing stone carved from black glass. The air around her twisted and warped, bending the light and sound in strange ways. The core stone from Marrow's pawnshop. She had it right in her hands.

Sorry to break up this family reunion, Maya said, her voice sweet and mocking. But the show is over.

She smashed the black glass stone against the floor.

A deafening crack echoed through the underground corridor. The stone floor broke apart into jagged pieces, and a massive wave of white light rushed forward like a tidal wave, swallowing Eleanor, Marrow, and the stone walls whole.

Julian reached out toward Maya, shouting her name, but the bright light hit him like a physical blow.

Then, silence.

The smell of old books and rain filled the air.

Julian blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. He stood on wooden floorboards. The metal bell above the front door gave a dry, familiar click.

He looked down at his hands. They were shaking. His black jacket was clean, and the scratch on his arm was completely gone.

The door opened, and a younger version of himself walked into the pawnshop, kicking the door shut against the rain and carrying a heavy canvas sack over his shoulder.

You are late, Julian, Marrow said from behind the counter, sounding exactly the same as he always did.

Julian did not wait for the old man to finish. He did not wait for the front window to explode. He did not wait for Eleanor to step through the smoke.

He turned around, walked straight to the counter, and slammed his fist down onto the old wood so hard the boards cracked.

Marrow jumped back in surprise, his cloudy eyes widening in shock. What are you doing, boy? You just got here.

Shut up, Marrow, Julian said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. He leaned across the counter until his face was inches from the old shopkeeper's nose. I am done playing this game. Tell me where Maya hid the real core.

Marrow stared at him, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What? You... you are not supposed to remember yet. The loop just started.

"The loop is over, Julian said, a dark smile touching his lips as the purple magic flickered in his eyes. "Now, tell me where my sister is, or I will burn this entire city to the ground right now.

Before Marrow could answer, the door behind Julian swung open again.

A tall figure stepped inside, shaking the rain from a dark grey coat. It was Commander Eleanor Vance. But she was not holding a sword. She was holding a heavy iron chain, and her face was paler than Julian had ever seen it before.

Marrow, Eleanor said, her voice shaking slightly as she looked right past the younger Julian standing near the door, staring straight at the older Julian. The core in the train tunnels is gone. Maya just took it.

Julian turned to look at Eleanor. A cold realization hit his chest.

She didn't steal it to power her army, Julian whispered. She is trying to open the prison gate.

Before anyone else could speak, the floor beneath their feet dropped away entirely.

There was no explosion. There was no warning. The entire pawnshop simply vanished into thin air, dropping Julian, Eleanor, Marrow, and the younger version of himself into a vast, empty space filled with floating clocks and red neon lights.

In the center of the void, Maya floated higher than the rest, her arms spread wide as a giant golden door slowly opened behind her in the dark sky.

She looked down at Julian, her smile bright and cruel.

Welcome home, big brother, Maya called out across the empty space. Let's see who survives the real world.