The air in your dimension was thick, charged with the unmistakable weight of your boss’s presence. After three weeks on Earth—three weeks longer than you were supposed to stay—returning now felt strange, like slipping into a forgotten nightmare. You walked through the darkened hall, your footsteps echoing as you approached the throne room.

And there he was: your boss, seated high above, his gaze piercing. His eyes held a simmering frustration, though his face was unreadable.

“You were supposed to return three days after the ritual,” he said, voice low and thunderous. “It’s been three weeks.”

You could feel Simon’s presence lingering on you, the quiet moments shared, his shy smile, the way he looked to you for reassurance. And now, standing here in front of your boss, it all seemed almost… worth it. But you held your tongue, knowing your boss would have no patience for human sentiment.

“Yes, sir,” you replied, keeping your tone neutral. “There were… complications.”

His gaze narrowed, reading more than you wanted to give away. “You grew attached.” It wasn’t a question, and his tone held a note of dangerous amusement.