Urano opened his eyes slowly. His body rested on something soft, but a sharp, persistent pain in his head made it hard to move. He felt the throbbing in his temples, and his vision—blurry—refused to clear, as if wrapped in a dense, stubborn fog.
He tried to piece together what had happened: just moments ago, he had been fighting Aurelio... and then, everything went black.
Now, a blinding light surrounded him. Too bright. Overwhelming. When his eyes finally adjusted, the first thing he saw was a young woman with fiery red hair, soft freckles across her cheeks, and striking hazel eyes. She wore blue athletic gear and a hoodie with a Donatello print on it.
Looking around, he realized he was in a vast, white room—immense, completely empty, and glowing. The light seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Then, a female voice broke the silence. It was soft and sweet, yet carried a sensual undertone that reminded him of those old ASMR recordings he used to listen to on sleepless nights.
"Finally awake. I was starting to worry," said the girl, frowning, her tone a mix of relief and scolding. "What the hell were you thinking, throwing yourself at the protagonist like that? Do you think you're the hero of some cheap movie?"
Urano rubbed his head, still disoriented. Her expression reflected anger, but also vulnerability. There was something deeper hidden in her voice: an old, unspoken fear... She didn't want to be alone again. She didn't want to relive those memories.
Evelin watched him closely. Urano was, without doubt, attractive: lightly tanned skin, eyes as black as obsidian, a strong jawline, and masculine features far from the artificial looks of celebrities. She remembered seeing his face on a magazine years ago, dubbed "one of the most handsome writers on this side of the world."
But now he looked different. Heavy dark circles under his eyes, lifeless hair, and a scruffy beard dulled his once magnetic presence. His essence was still there... just worn by time.
"What happened to you all this time?" Evelin wondered silently, her eyes clouded with sadness.
Urano looked at her, confused.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Evelin's heart skipped a beat. Just a few hours ago, they had fought for their lives together... and now he didn't remember?
"Come on, don't joke. Is this payback for scolding you?"
"I don't know who you are. A moment ago, I was fighting with a sword in some fantasy world and... I woke up here."
"You don't remember being with someone else?" Evelin pressed, hiding her disappointment.
"Yes... a girl named Evelin. Where is she?" he asked, frowning at her. "Is that you?"
"Yes, idiot. Who else would it be?"
Urano blinked, trying to sort through his thoughts. Before him stood a girl with a round face, large eyes, and windblown red hair. She didn't match the image in his mind… and yet, something about her challenged his self-control.
He had a secret he'd never admit: a weakness for adorable things. And Evelin was dangerously adorable. Like a giant French poodle you couldn't help but want to cuddle. The temptation to touch that curly hair was overwhelming.
"Hello? Are you even listening to me?" Evelin snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it..." he sighed. Though his tone was serious, it softened when he saw the pout forming on her lips. "Sorry. I'm glad you're okay."
At that moment, a robotic voice echoed through the air:
"Ding-ding-ding! Congratulations on surviving your first story together! The audience loved it! Those dramatic moments... spectacular! That scene where Urano kisses Anora and Evelin screams 'I'll be back'? Goosebumps!"
A blue orb floated around them, pulsing with excitement, glowing as if alive.
"Who... are you?" Urano asked, completely bewildered.
"Oh! My deepest apologies for not introducing myself. My name is—" the voice distorted into an unintelligible screech, "—but you can call me Ruby… or Rubén, whichever you prefer. I'm your loyal editor, producer, and representative."
"Editor?" Evelin repeated, even more unsettled by the strange creature.
"Of course! I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but this setting isn't ideal. One moment, please."
The white space began to dissolve. Objects appeared out of nowhere: first a chair, then a rug, then walls. Urano and Evelin floated gently until they landed on a leather sofa. Within seconds, the void transformed into an elegant, professional office.
Two large armchairs, a coffee table between them, bookshelves filled with books, a steaming coffee machine atop a cluttered side table... and a massive window showcasing a golden sunset.
The glowing orb morphed into a tuxedo-wearing cat with round glasses.
"Much better, don't you think? Looks more professional now," it said with a grin.
Urano and Evelin exchanged glances, both amazed and horrified by how casually this creature warped reality.
"Not a fan of the decor? Or maybe my form?" the cat tilted its head. "According to surveys, humans love cute things... and cats are at the top. Maybe I need to update my data."
It snapped its fingers.
"How about a beach?"—and suddenly, they were on a pristine shoreline, waves gently lapping, the heat warming their skin. Only Evelin's chair, the table, and Ruby's seat remained.
"Prefer colder climates?"—now they were in a snow-covered forest.
"A little swim?"—they floated in the middle of the sea.
"Or maybe something more thrilling?"—and they began falling from an impossible height. Evelin and Urano clutched their seats as gravity pulled them downward.
"How's this?" asked the cat, sipping coffee calmly.
"AAAAAAH!" was all they could scream as the ground rushed toward them.
"Seems we can't talk like this," the cat clicked its tongue and grinned.
With another snap, the office returned. Their hearts were racing.
"But that's not the point. Welcome... to the Stories of Creation."
From somewhere, party horns and applause erupted. They barely noticed.
"The... Story?" Evelin frowned.
"Yes. You're probably wondering why you're here. Let's get to it. Technically... you're dead. Or close to it," it said casually. "But don't worry. You've been chosen to participate in the most important event of the century. HURRAH!"
"What event? And why us?" Urano asked, still skeptical.
"It's called The Neverending Story. Happens every hundred years. Let me show you..."
The cat pointed to the window, which transformed into a massive screen. Images floated around the room like soap bubbles. Its voice deepened into that of an ancient storyteller:
"Long ago, there was only one God. Lonely and bored, He fragmented Himself to create others. These beings loved Him, and He loved them. They played, laughed... until repeating the same story became unbearable.
So He created countless worlds and beings, letting them grow freely. For a while, it was thrilling. He assigned His first children as guardians. But eventually, the pattern repeated.
So He fragmented again, creating beings like Him, though not the same. He gave them freedom... and thus, the first stories were born."
Urano and Evelin listened, surrounded by breathtaking visions.
"Over time, the Great Being saw that His creations imagined Him in countless forms. Fascinated, He made those visions real. But with each fragment, He grew smaller... weaker. Still, He couldn't stop. He loved the stories too much. Sometimes, He infused His energy into them… and from that spark, new beings were born."
"So... gods and myths were created by mankind?" Evelin asked, shivering.
"Exactly. Sparks create a fire, right? Even the infinite can fade if it gives too much too fast. The Great Being can't die, but He fell into a deep sleep. And while He slept, new gods and creatures emerged... continuing His will."
"And what does this have to do with us?" Urano asked, arms crossed.
The cat snapped its fingers. Screens now displayed moments from their adventure: Urano fleeing a brothel, Evelin in the shadows, the kiss with the priestess... all with comments and reactions, like a live broadcast.
"Every 500 years, we host this event to gather energy to awaken Him. A massive crossover—gods, beasts, and ancient entities watch new protagonists reshape stories."
"But why us? We're not gods or mythical beings," Urano protested.
"You'll learn in time," the cat replied with a sly smile.
"How long do we have to stay here?" Evelin touched one of the screens, unsure.
"Hard to say. Once you earn enough points, you'll be free. That's all I can reveal for now."
Urano saw Evelin's tension. It wasn't easy for either of them. But one thing was clear: they were technically dead. Still, something inside him stirred… a spark he couldn't name. Hope? Fear? He looked at Evelin, and without a word, chose to move forward.
"What happens now?"
"This will be your home between stories. Every five days, you'll be sent into a new world. In the meantime, you'll be protected by your Blessing. You'll also have five hours daily to return to your original world, where time won't pass."
The cat snapped its fingers. The office faded.
Now before them stretched a dreamlike landscape: snowy mountains, green fields, a giant oak tree beside a vegetable patch, and a cozy two-story wooden house glowing with light. The air smelled of fresh herbs.
"This is your sanctuary. Think of it as your dressing room. Only the main characters and I can enter. If you want, I can redesign it."
"This is fine," Evelin cut in, remembering the free-fall from earlier.
The cat sighed, disappointed.
"Inside the house, you'll find a manual to spend your points from the last story. It'll help improve your chances in the next one."
A glowing table appeared. Flaming letters etched themselves across its surface:
Next Story
Title: My Great Friends
Genre: Horror - Suspense
Difficulty: C (Cruelty, ghosts, modern fanaticism)
Synopsis: A 14-year-old boy and his friends visit an old toy shop, famous for the legend of a puppet master who could create any toy imaginable. Mitch, the protagonist, is taken there by his mother, along with his older brother and a friend. In his loneliness, the puppet master offers to create a friend for him. Mitch happily accepts—and brings home a wooden clown, unaware of the horror he's about to unleash.
Assigned Roles:
Urano → Marco, Mitch's older brother
Evelin → Linda, the sheriff investigating the strange events in town
Narrative Role: Sacrifices for the Entity
Original Fates:
Marco dies mysteriously after mocking Mitch.
Linda dies sealing the cursed toy to stop the cycle from repeating.
Main Objective: Survive until the next full moon.
"Everything is ready, so I'll take my leave," the cat announced.
"Hey, you... flying kitty," Urano muttered, irritated. He wanted to yell at him, but didn't have the strength.
"Byeeee!" the cat sang, vanishing in a flash of light.
Silence returned.
They didn't need to say it aloud. They both knew—
Their lives would never be the same again.