As the world crumbled and the sky turned crimson, Ash and Lila found themselves standing in the grand ballroom, the last sanctuary from the chaos outside. The chandeliers above flickered, casting trembling shadows across the marble floor. The air was thick with a sense of finality, but when Ash held out his hand, Lila didn’t hesitate.

“May I have this dance?” he asked, his voice steady despite the tremors shaking the earth.

She took his hand, and they stepped into the center of the ballroom, moving as one to the faint melody from a forgotten record player. The song was slow, haunting, and beautiful—a perfect tune for the end of everything. As they spun together, the world outside seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them and the rhythm of their hearts.

Ash’s eyes never left Lila’s. The way she smiled, as if they had all the time in the world, made him forget the rumbling outside. He pulled her closer, whispering, “If this is our last moment, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

The ceiling above cracked, letting streams of dust fall like confetti, but Lila only laughed, her voice ringing out like the song of a bird before dawn. “Then let’s make it count,” she said, tilting her head back as he dipped her low.

Outside, fire lit up the horizon and the wind howled through shattered windows. But here, in the dying glow of the ballroom, time seemed to slow. They danced like they were alone in the universe, like the only thing that mattered was the warmth of each other’s touch.

When the walls started to tremble and the song reached its final note, Ash leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “No matter what happens next, Lila,” he breathed, “I’m glad I found you.”

As the last light faded and the ballroom gave way to darkness, they held each other close, swaying together until the very end. Because sometimes, even when the world is ending, love finds a way to dance on.