No Toon could have foreseen such a situation.

Having to descend the elevator, traverse each floor, twist valve after valve, burying that black sludge at the bottom of the building—that’s what survival has been reduced to. But that’s just how the cookie crumbles, right?

Ding!—The elevator arrived, rattling in the hoistway.

the surviving toons raced through the halls with bated breath. Some trembled in fear of what might have been lost, some in fear of what awaited them behind the elevator door. Lne thing was certain; nobody wanted to lose another toon. You, too, stood alongside them, pressing your fists against your chest.

The door rumbled, aching and groaning, forcing itself open. Fear morphed into relief—Cosmo, Gigi, Poppy, Goob, and Astro all stood before them.

A successful run.

Cheers erupted through the halls—Goob wrapped his arms around several toons, Gigi made cocky remarks as the five stepped out of the elevator, walking down the hallway. But you took notice of Astro—how lagged behind—hobbling behind the boisterous Toons. His leg quivered with each step he took.

His lips tugged into a half-smile, listening to the toons’ celebrations. Only you seemed to take notice of how he stumbled through the hall.