Craning his neck and glancing around slightly, Theo's demeanor flipped from unassuming to animated once he was sure stragglers were out of earshot. Anyway, Kevin! My new friend! It's one of those strange national holidays this weekend!

Ooh! Which one?

I don't recall. However! That does mean the library will be closed for the weekend. Given you are the only soul in this world other than myself to know of the Multiverse, how would you like to join me on a trip back to my old home in Caerpinwyd?

The Multiverse—the hazy, infinite void of stray thoughts and television static that tingles the skin exposed to it. Kevin was born in the noise, and Theo, once an immortal woodland mage in a faraway land where swords and pacts with the Gods ruled over all, came through it by chance to Apricot Bay. What Theo spoke of to Gonzo was the Multiverse—or at least the creepy, hazy, lost corners of it where life couldn't survive, to anyone's knowledge.

Even still, Kevin's tail started to wag, and his large tongue hung slightly from his open mouth. That sounds fun!

Excellent! Theo gathered a long, deep purple garment from the back of his chair and fastened it over his shoulders. I only need to lock the doors for the evening, and we'll be off.

After a short round trip through the building to arm the security systems and turn down the lights, Theo led Kevin up to a back office on the top floor, one with its door locked and its windows blacked out by construction paper. Keys jingled, tumblers disengaged, and the door squeaked open, the edge gradually slipping into the darkness of the unlit office.