COLD STEEL, BLEEDING HEARTS
> “To save the world from the ink, Maya must go back into the locket. But the locket can only hold one soul. Julian must stay behind in the broken world, or the story will never end.”
Maya looked at Julian. The clock showed only thirty minutes left.
“No,” Maya whispered. “I won’t leave you. I’d rather let the world burn.”
“Maya, look outside,” Julian said softly.
He guided her to a window. Cracks fractured the sky everywhere. London was being deleted. Big Ben was half gone, replaced by white emptiness. People ran and screamed while ground vanished under their feet.
“If you don’t go back into the locket and finish the story, everyone dies,” Julian said, holding her hands. His touch was warm,