Lavagirl laughed, and the whole sky turned the color of a sunrise that had never been late to anything in its life.

Sharkboy stepped forward, placing himself between Lavagirl and the oncoming gray tide. His fin caught the last sliver of sunset.

“Something’s wrong,” he growled, his voice a low rumble like waves against a dock. “The dreams are leaking out.”

Before the Auditor could answer, Lavagirl touched Sharkboy’s shoulder. Her heat bled into him—not burning, but transforming. Steam rose from his skin. He grinned, revealing teeth like broken glass.

He was right. All around them, half-formed thoughts drifted like jellyfish: a flying bicycle with square wheels, a talking sandwich arguing with a spoon, a mountain made entirely of unmailed birthday cards. They were fading. Dying.