The End of Space – Chapter 5: The Derrare

This is not the start of the story, you may want to read at the beginning through these links:

• Link for Chapter 1: Family’s happiness
• Link for Chapter 2: Headed to the darkness
• Link for Chapter 3:The Hole of Nowhere
• Link for Chapter 4: The new world

“The story contains elements that may not be suitable for children or sensitive readers. Please consider carefully before reading.”

The Derrare Maze is cloaked in darkness. Fog veils the sunlight, casting everything in a shroud of mystery. Their footsteps echo on the damp stone paths. Mia, Emma, Gilbert, and Axel feel danger lingering—hidden somewhere in the twisted, vine-choked corridors.

“Has anyone ever made it to the center?” Emma asks, her voice barely a whisper.

“No,” Axel replies quietly.

“Then… where are they?”

“Most of them died. Their bodies were claimed by the spirits of Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind. Whenever someone dies in Derrare, a star streaks across the sky.”

“Oh…” Emma’s eyes widen. She glances at Axel. “You seem… sad. What happened?”

Axel takes a shaky breath. “My mother… she was from the Galactic Bulge. She didn’t know about Derrare at first. She married my father, and ten years after I was born, she found out. She promised she’d come back once she made it through. Two weeks later, a shooting star landed right in our garden and vanished. That’s how I knew…” His voice breaks into sobs.

“Don’t worry, Axel,” Emma says gently, pointing toward the dark, foggy sky. “Your mother’s still up there—watching over you.”

“What’s this?” Mia asks, crouching. She’s found a strange stone with a simple, swirling symbol etched into it.

“There are lots of stones with symbols around here,” Axel says. “Probably just ordinary rocks.”

Still, Mia tucks the stone into her bag and they continue deeper into the maze. Tensions rise as they argue over directions.

“Where do we go now?” Emma asks at the fourteenth crossroad.

“Let’s just go straight,” Mia suggests.

“But we’ve gone straight thirteen times already,” Axel points out.

“Exactly. That’s why we haven’t run into any monsters!” Mia argues.

“Fine, just this once,” Axel agrees.

They press on—and find themselves at the only cemetery in the maze.

“My mother must be here somewhere,” Axel mutters, beginning to search.

They spread out, weaving between the graves. Something catches Mia’s eye: the smallest, oldest, dirtiest grave in the entire lot. It bears the same symbol as the stone she found—what she’d started calling “Kitty.”

She brushes off the dust. Orionus Aetherblade.

“Axel…” she calls out. No answer. She turns to see the others huddled together. She approaches.

“What is—” She stops, reading the name on the gravestone. Sarah Maria Ingalls.

She places a hand on Axel’s shoulder like her sister Daisy always did. The weight of family floods her heart, aching.

Suddenly, Mia freezes. “What’s that?”

“It’s Sarah’s grave…” Gilbert starts.

“No. That sound!” she interrupts.

In the silence, the roars become clear. Louder. Closer.

A werewolf charges into view—blood-red eyes glowing, fur matted with grime, mouth snarling, limbs twitching with monstrous energy.

The friends close ranks.

It lunges at Mia. She screams.

“MIA, GET DOWN!” – Axel shouted right before his body rushed into the monster.

The crash resounded.

The wolf’s teeth caught Axel’s shoulder. Blood spurted, crimsoning the white mist.

Axel struggles, punching and kicking, holding the monster back long enough for Mia to retreat. Gilbert and Emma rush forward, but too late—a final swipe from the wolf sent Axel crashing to the ground, motionless.

The monster glares at them all, then turns and walks away, as if it had gotten what it wanted.

Mia crawled to Axel, screaming, “Axel!”

But he didn’t answer. Blood splattered beneath him, mixing with the cold soil of the graveyard.

Emma and Gilbert knelt, tears streaming down their faces.

They bury Axel beside his mother, so they can be together at last.

A star swoop by.

“It’s Axel’s soul” Emma says

“It’s my fault,” Mia thinks through tears. “If I hadn’t suggested going straight…”

They leave the cemetery behind—leaving bad memories buried with it.

“I’ll never forget this!” Emma cries.

“Look! A house!” Gilbert shouts.

They run and knock. The door creaks open.

“What do you young folks want?” an old man asks as they step inside, finally safe.

“We’re trying to reach the Center,” Emma explains.

“A dangerous journey,” the man nods. “Anyway, I’m Alberto Ford. And you are?”

“I’m Emma. This is Mia and Gilbert.”

“Many young people have come through here,” Ford says. “But they all disappeared—lost to the harsh climate, starvation… or certain creatures…”

“Werewolves,” Emma finishes.

Mia isn’t listening. Her eyes are fixed on the symbol on Ford’s shirt.

“Excuse me?” she says. “Can you tell me about that symbol—Kitty, I mean?”

“Oh, this?” Ford chuckles. “It’s the symbol of the Immortal Soul. It comes from The Immortal Journey. That tale’s thousands of years old—only a few know it now. Have you heard of it?”

“No,” Mia says.

“No,” Gilbert echoes.

“Yes,” Emma answers softly.

Mia and Gilbert stare.

Emma pulls a book from her bag—The Story of the Story.

“Oh! That’s the newer version! Might be a little different, but no matter.” Ford’s eyes sparkle. “Can you read it aloud while we talk?”

“Of course,” Emma says, opening the book. “I’d love to.”

• Oh, they’ve met a new character—an old man named Alberto Ford in the maze. And Mia has found out that he’s connected to Kitty—the symbols. Emma is about to tell us the story of Kitty. What is it? Could it belong to a robot from outer space? Or is it a secret key to travel through time—into the past and the future?
• Let’s read Chapter 6 to find out!