text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, fantasy]
  
  One day, Eugene and Harlow go out to do their act at a young girl's Bat Mitzvah celebration. You and Wilky amuse yourselves by exploring the apartment. While Wilky is in the kitchen, you notice a folded piece of paper tucked between two couch cushions in the living room. You pull it out and read it:
  
  Wilky (Entrothi),
  
  I've wanted to talk to you in private since you first came here. I realize that your memory of the other universe is not very good, but there are some things I need to appraise you of. You and I were a lot closer than you think. Coming from similar social backgrounds, you and I had a connection that you and your husband could never have. Mary Beth Brown (Rath) did not die of the plague like I'd originally said. I had made it appear that way and the court surgeon was none the wiser when he examined the body. I wouldn't have been able to administer the poison if you hadn't helped me. We had both agreed that this was the only solution-- not just so that we could be together, but also so the kingdom could survive. Rath was a reckless and careless young monarch and it was his short-sited policies that allowed the plague to get so out of control in the kingdom. I'd been shattered when your despair over Rath's death caused you to take your own life. I took mine soon after. It bespeaks of the mysteries of space and time that I arrived in this universe thirty years before the two of you. All that time, I've never forgotten you. I want to arrange a time when Mary Beth Brown (Rath) will be out of the apartment so we can talk. My experience with Doctor Rozier's dolls has made it clear to me that telepathy is almost like an FM radio signal. The closer we are and the fewer the obstructions, the easier we can hear each other's thoughts. If I can get Rath out of the apartment, you and I can talk. Please let me know if you're willing to hear me out.
  
  Eugene (Sevo)
  
  You fold the letter in a state of shock and quickly replace it between the couch cushions. What should you do? There's a possibility that Wilky has yet to read it, but then there's a good chance he already has. Should you confront him about this? Or should you remain silent? Eugene has yet to send you off somewhere so he can talk with Wilky. If Wilky doesn't remember anything, he may not want to plot against you. And even if he does remember, his suicide as the Princess Entrothi shows a new-found loyalty to you. Perhaps Eugene's letter is peppered with lies. Whatever the case may be, you must make a decision.
  
  > feign Ignorance but keep a Close Eye on Wilky and Eugene
  It drives you crazy to not say a word about the note, but that's what you do. Eugene, upon returning with Harlow from the gig, seems like his usually genial self. As the day progresses, you wander if there will be any sign that he's planning something against you. But the day passes on like normal. As does the next. And then Eugene suggests to Harlow that he take you out to get a new set of doll cloths.
  
  > Shopping Day
  "Eugene says you'd look good in a pretty dress," says Harlow. "I know a woman who makes doll cloths with a shop in a neighboring town. She's been making Eugene's outfits for years. Would you like that, Little Miss?"
  
  You don't really want to waste your time shopping for a stupid outfit, but if you can get away from Harlow when he's taking you to the woman's shop, you might be able to make your way back to the apartment just as Eugene is talking to Wilky about the contents of the note.
  
  You nod to Harlow enthusiastically, all the while planning your escape.
  
  Harlow takes you to his car, an old beat-up station wagon, and places you on a cushion in one of the back seats. He asks if you'd like him to roll the window down so you can feel the breeze and you nod ascent. He then gets in the driver's seat and begins keying the ignition. The car is so old that it takes away to get the engine to turn over, but it finally does and Harlow precedes to back out of the parking space in front of the apartment building. You figure that since the car can cover large distances in a short time that now is the time to act. Jumping up and down on the cushion like you and Wilky did on Uncle Shrevnetz's bed, you bound out the open window while Harlow is still near the building. You are lucky to have you fall broken a wadded up Hamburger joint bag that's lying on the sidewalk in front of the building. You look at the station wagon as it rumbles away. Quickly, you work your way up the front steps and then scurry through causeway till you get to the door of Harlow's apartment. What you hadn't taken into account was that the door would be closed. But you listen with your mind and "hear" the conversation within.
  
  But I DON'T remember much about when I was in the other universe, says Wilky.
  
  Try to remember, says Eugene. You and I became lovers back then. You had agreed with me that Mary Beth Brown was becoming too reckless as a ruler. So many of his subjects were dying of the plague, but he had done little to stop the pestilence from spreading. That's why you agreed with me that you should be the one to administer the poison to him. Just concentrate, Wilky! It'll come to you in time.
  
  No, I don't believe I would have betrayed her...him...like that. If what you say is true, why don't any of the memories come back to me?
  
  I can make arrangements to send Mary Beth away from here. Then you and I can be together. If only I could jog your memory.
  
  Not wanting to "hear" anymore of this, you place your wooden hands together and start rapping on the door. You were hoping for a dramatic loud banging sound, but it comes out as a pathetic tapping.
  
  What was that? asks Wilky.
  
  I'll check, Eugene replies.
  
  You hear his toy wagon rolling across the floor. Then there is a ratcheting sound. To your shock the door creaks inward. Eugene is sitting up in his red wagon, a long wooden stick protruding from his mouth. You notice there's a carved wooden claw on the end in the air.
  
  Well, well! says Eugene. I didn't expect you to be here. I take it you know what's going on...
  
  I know everything. I read the note. Wilky, we should just leave this place.
  
  Yes, says Wilky. I think that would be the best option.
  
  You step into the living-room and run up to where Wilky is standing. Eugene just wants you to himself, Wilky. He's not going to want me around.
  
  You hear Eugene punting the wagon with his wooden spoon and turn around too late as he slams the wooden utensil into your face. You're knocked to the floor and quickly try to get back up, but Eugene hits you again with the spoon.
  
  Eugene, leave Mary Beth alone!
  
  No, Wilky. If Mary Beth chooses to interfere then my hands are tied. Eugene drops the spoon in the wagon and dips his head into his lap and then sits up with a match sticking out of his mouth. Bobbing his head, he flicks the match against the inside barrier of the wagon. The match immediately sparks up with a small flame at its tip. Eugene swings his head and releases the flaming stick from his mouth. Seeing it flying in your direction, you bolt out of the way. Then the carpet you were just lying on catches fire. Seeing his mistake, Eugene quickly grabs the spoon in his mouth and starts punting the wagon across the room. I need to get into the kitchen so I can get the fire extinguisher! he cries. The flames start crawling along the carpet, burning tendrils to a crisp as they spread.
  
  You and Wilky run for the kitchen. You've seen the fire extinguisher and it's mounted on a wall above the sink. When the two of you make it to the kitchen, you see Eugene trying reach it, but to no avail. He's too far down and his limbs are useless. You and Wilky quickly head for the wooden cabinet doors just below the sink. Working your ways up with your jointed limbs, the two you make it up onto the metal basin of the sink.
  
  Wilky runs to the tiles of the countertop just below the fire extinguisher and looks back at you. It's too high up, he says. I don't think I can reach it.
  
  You run to his side and regard the red metal tank. Wilky, if I can climb up on your shoulders, maybe I can reach it.
  
  Hurry up, up there! screams Eugene from his red wagon on the floor. The flames are spreading!
  
  You look across the kitchen to the doorway leading to the living-room and see that the dummy is correct. Already, dancing yellow flames are rising up the wooden doorjamb and beginning to burn across the pink paint of the kitchen walls.
  
  Give me a lift! you yell at Wilky.
  
  Wilky complies and you climb up his shoulders and reach for the fire extinguisher. You wooden hands tap at it but it doesn't seem to budge. In desperation, you head-butt it and the metal tank jerks a little. You repeat your move and the extinguisher loosens even more. Now it's hanging at an angle, its nozzled top slanting away from the wall. You head-butt it a third time and it flies off and down in an arc. You and and Wilky look down and see the tank tumbling towards Eugene's wagon. Eugene shifts his head in a vain attempt to catch the extinguisher. Then you hear a loud CRUNCH! Too your horror, you see that the extinguisher has hit Eugene in his head and has torn off the side of this face. He lays in the bottom of the red wagon, his shattered head pinned down by the metal tank.
  
  What have you done? What have you done? he screams.
  
  You hop of off Wilky's shoulders and regard the dummy from where you stand on the counter tiles.
  
  Wilky looks to you. We have to save him. I know a way you and I can get out of the apartment, but Eugene is too big to fit, himself.
  
  > try and Save Eugene
  Let me at least get the fire extinguisher off of him, you say. He may know I way out of here for himself. Once I do that, you can lead me through our escape route. You hop off of the countertop and run up to the red wagon and climb in. Eugene is struggling under the weight of the heavy red tank which is crushing his head. You notice that were part of his face was is a skull-like wooden framework with a painted eye rolling in all directions in its exposed socket. Eugene, I'm going to try to get this thing off of your head so you can get out.
  
  I'll kill you for this! screams Eugene. Even if I should die here, my mind will wonder about the infinite universes 'till I find you again and then I'll kill you, just like I did in the last universe. There will be no end to this! You'll see.
  
  Ignoring his threats, you push on the fire extinguisher until it slides loose from Eugene's head and it rolls off into the wagon...and onto your arm. You're now pinned to the floor of the red wagon. Eugene sits up and regards you with his mangled face.
  
  There's no way out for me now, he says. The fire has spread too far now.
  
  You look and see flames consuming half the kitchen . Hes right.
  
  Run, Wilky! you cry.
  
  No, Mary Beth Brown, says Wilky from where he still stands atop the kitchen countertop. I don't want to leave you!
  
  Go! you insist. If you love me, you'll save yourself for me.
  
  Wilky drops off the countertop and scuttles across the floor to a large hole in the wall by the sink and runs through. A moment later, he peers out of the hole. Goodby, Mary Beth Brown. I'll always love you.
  
  I love you too, Wilky. Now go!
  
  Wilky disappears into the hole.
  
  Eugene, having witnessed this parting, angrily heaves himself on top of you and laughs. I'm going to make sure you can't escape this, my Prince. Imagine...an entire Eternity of me killing you over and over and over...
  
  The flames rumble from all directions now. Black smoke is billowing in thick clouds around the toy wagon. You know this is the end for you in this world. Eugene's mangled face grins down at you...
  
  > The Star Palace (Epilogue)
  Darkness. Silence.
  
  Then, a voice...
  
  "Rath! Rath, can you hear me?" says a woman you swear you know.
  
  "Entrothi...?" You ask. Your throat burns with the effort.
  
  "Yes! Oh, praise be to the Nine Gods, you're alive!"
  
  It takes some effort before you can open your eyes, but somehow you find the strength to. Before you stands your beautiful dark princess in her silver robes and crown. She's looking down on you were you lay in bed. Around her are the trappings of one of your royal apartments.
  
  Entrothi takes your hand in hers."I was so afraid you had died, Rath. But by some miraculous potion the court physician gave you, you have returned to me from the Shadow Seas."
  
  "How long was I gone?" You ask, and you remember that other life in that other world and wonder how that could possibly have been a fever dream.
  
  "Not long. Less than half a day. I thought you'd succumbed to the plague." She pulls your hand off the bed and kisses it.
  
  "No, Wilky. No, I didn't have the plague."
  
  Entrothi's eyes widen. "What...what did you call me?"
  
  "Is that why you looked surprised just now? Because of that name? Not any other reason?"
  
  "I...don't know what you mean. Why did you call me Wi..."
  
  "Wilky. Wilky William." You sigh. "I guess it's not important. Just a pet name, I suppose."
  
  Entrothi beams at you. "I should tell the Minister of State. He was so sure you were done for."
  
  "Oh, I'm sure he was..."
  
  You wonder about what Eugene had said about the mysteries of space and time...
  
  That night, there is a great celebration at the palace and you make arrangements for provisions to be sent throughout the kingdom to aid those with the plague. You also send your Minister of State, Sevo, to a neighboring kingdom to open up tried relations. Before he leaves, you talk to the captain of the gard, who you've assigned as leader of his escort.
  
  "Under no condition," you tell him, "Should you allow Sevo come back to this kingdom alive."
  
  The End