Quaid, who has managed to get Star back on her feet—covered in blood though she is—has just turned around. For a moment I’m sure he’s going to start spilling insults, but he must see the look in Aric’s eyes.
It would be hard to miss, because Aric is staring right at him and slowly raising that golden knife up like he’s about to use it again.
Star steps out in front of Quaid, her arms wide. “Stop,” she says. “Stop right now, Aric. The fight is over. You’re with us and we’re with you. And I told you that you would not have to do this alone ever again so whatever leftover rage you have inside you right now, you had better get it in check, mister! Because Paradise is right over there and Quaid is coming with us!”
This girl, I swear. First she dives into the middle of Aric’s fight to help him defeat the monster, and then she’s stepping in front of Quaid to save him from Aric’s residual rage.
Aric lets out a long exhale and his crazy seems to exit with it. Because his shoulders drop, the hand holding the knife lowers, and he closes his eyes. “Is it over now?”
Aw, fuck. Even I’m touched by his pathetic relief. “Come on,” I say, crossing the room towards Aric. “Bring it in for a hug. You deserve it.”
To my surprise, he doesn’t resist when I take him in my arms and give him a squeeze.
Just as I’m pulling back, he side-eyes me. “Thanks.”
But I point to Star. “Thank her. I think she might’ve saved your life.”
Probably not. It’s more likely Star’s little act of selfless bravery made things worse, but there’s no point in hashing out the details now.
“We won,” Quaid says.
And that’s when a woman in a long black dress materializes out of the night sky above us and lowers to the ground. She claps her hands in slow, mocking applause. Looking each of us in the eye as she turns in a leisurely circle. “Congratulations. You beat the maze.” She pauses here to smile. “Would you like to claim your prize?”
