The Loop Shop

The Broken Past

The sound of ticking filled Julian's ears until it felt like his head would split open.

He fell through the sky of spinning golden gears, tumbling past massive clock hands that cut through the air like swords. The bright white fire blinded him, but he kept his eyes open, searching for Maya. He could not let her slip away this time. He finally knew the truth. He was not just a tired boy running errands in the rain; he was Malakor, an ancient king trapped in a prison of endless time by his own family.

And Maya was the one holding the keys to the cell.

With a hard thud, Julian hit the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of his chest, but he forced himself back up onto his feet instantly.

He was not in the sky anymore. He stood in a wide, high-ceilinged stone hallway lit by flickering wall torches. The air smelled of old dust and cold rain. Heavy iron doors lined both sides of the corridor, each one marked with a different number carved into the rock.

Julian looked down at his hands. The purple glow was gone, but his skin felt hot, as if a fire burned just beneath the surface. His mind buzzed with memories that did not belong to a twenty-four-year-old human. He remembered building this very prison alongside his fellow kings before the Vance family turned on him.

Looking for me, big brother?

Julian spun around.

Maya stood a few yards away, leaning against one of the heavy iron doors. She wore her clean black leather jacket, and her dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders. She did not look like a sick girl who needed soup. She looked calm, dangerous, and completely in control.

Julian took a step forward, his fists clenched tight at his sides. It ends here, Maya. No more loops. No more games. Tell me how to break the seal.

Maya tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. You think you can just break the seal because you finally remember your past name? Malakor, please. You have tried this exact same move four hundred and twelve times.

Julian stopped in his tracks. What?

Every single time you remember who you are, you get angry, Maya said, pushing off the door and taking a slow step toward him. Her voice was smooth and conversational, like she was talking about the weather. You try to fight me. You try to smash the gears. And every single time, I have to kill you or let the loop reset so you can go back to being my sweet, stupid brother who bleeds in the train tunnels for me.

You used me, Julian said, his voice shaking with a deep, heavy rage. I spent five years getting hurt for you. I thought you were dying.

And you were very good at it, Maya replied smoothly. She did not look sorry at all. Her eyes were bright and cold. If I told you the truth from the start, you would have panicked and run away. I needed a loyal shield to clear out the shadow hounds, steal the magic artifacts from Marrow's shop, and keep the Vance family busy while I built my army.

You are my sister, Julian said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

We are not siblings, Malakor, Maya said, her smile fading into something sharp and hard. We were two of the seven kings. But when you tried to take all the power for yourself, I sided with the Vance family to lock you away. Only, they tricked me too. They put me inside the loop with you as my punishment. So I decided to use you to burn down their entire empire from the inside.

Julian stared at her. The last pieces of his old life shattered completely. The sick sister in the small apartment, the warm soup, the quiet nights, all of it was a lie built to keep him working for her.

Before he could answer, heavy footsteps echoed down the stone hallway.

Commander Eleanor Vance stepped into the light from around the corner. She held a long, glowing silver sword in her right hand. Her dark grey coat was torn at the shoulder, and blood stained the sleeve, but her face remained as cold and calm as carved stone.

There you are, Eleanor said, pointing the tip of her sword straight at Maya's chest. The loop is collapsing, Maya. The anchor stone in the pawnshop is broken. You cannot reset time anymore.

Maya did not look scared. She just glanced at Eleanor with a bored expression. You think breaking Marrow's pawnshop stops me, Aunt Eleanor? I already moved the core to the underground station hours ago.

Shut her down, a deep voice boomed from the shadows behind Eleanor.

Old Man Marrow stepped out into the torchlight. He no longer looked like a tired old pawnshop keeper. He wore a heavy chainmail vest over a dark tunic, and a massive iron battle-axe rested easily on his shoulder. His cloudy eyes burned with an old, fierce anger as he looked at Julian.

We do not have time to talk, Marrow said, his voice rumbling like thunder in the stone hall. "If Malakor gets his full power back before we lock the gates, New Oxford will burn to ash along with this entire timeline.

Julian looked between Eleanor, Marrow, and Maya. They were all enemies. They had all played a part in trapping him here, wiping his mind, and using him like a tool for centuries.

A hot wave of power rushed through Julian's veins, much stronger than before. The stone floor beneath his boots began to crack, and dust fell from the high ceiling as the magic inside him woke up fully.

Maya took a step back, her eyes widening just a fraction. For the first time, she looked uncertain.

Kill him, Eleanor commanded, raising her silver sword.

Marrow charged forward with a loud roar, swinging his heavy iron axe straight at Julian's head.