The Thirteenth Floor Wizards vs Aliens

'Congratulations, you've reached Level 13.'

-Alicia? What are you doing?

-Sorry, Mrs Hatcher.

I was just waiting for my dad to pick me up.

You were playing one of your own games again, weren't you?

Give me the memory stick.

-I wasn't doing any harm.

-Oh?

And what if your grubby game-code infected our systems with a virus?

You're a receptionist.

"Hello." Pick up the phone and leave the game designs to me.

Now please go home. Some of us have proper work to do.

Night.

Oh! Sorry!

I didn't mean to frighten you, miss.

Course not, Mervyn. Good night.

Taking the stairs? It's a long, long walk down, miss.

-'Doors opening.'

-No, thanks. I don't like lifts.

-But 20 floors, miss.

-I know.

I should've asked what floor it was before I took the job.

Good night, Mervyn.

'Doors closing.'

-Good night.

-Night.

ZAP!

The building seems deserted.

According to my scans the magical energy source is 18.6 metres

above your position. It registers like no form of magic seen before.

I shall investigate.

'Doors opening.'

Not only primitive but innumerate.

They have neglected to add a 13th floor - they are pathetic.

My examination of their culture reveals humans believe

the number 13 to be unlucky.

I find them so amusing.

I find them irritating.

'Doors closing.'

HE CHUCKLES

LIFT MUSIC PLAYS

What? What is this inferior human technology?

Varg, come in. Do you read me, Varg?

Hail the might of Nekron!

How does Varg's mission proceed?

I regret I have lost him. Varg, are you there?

CRASH!

-'Floor 13.'

-What?

'Doors opening.'

VARG SCREAMS

'Doors opening.'

HE CACKLES

This place is so cool.

-Hi, we're from King's Park School on work experience.

-Yeah.

-Tom Clarke, Benny Sherwood.

-Yeah, got you here.

Benny Sherwood, you're at Psyke Games on the 20th floor.

Tom Clarke, you're on the 12th, at Gabrielle Hair Products.

What?

Hang on, no. We're both supposed to be at Psyke Games.

Not what it says here.

YOU were supposed to hack into the school's work experience lists

and get us both into Psyke Games.

They've obviously messed them up this end.

I said we should've used magic.

Anyway, it makes no difference.

There've been bursts of magical energy in this building, OK?

They could be from the 12th floor or the 20th.

It doesn't matter. We just had to get on the inside.

Easy for you to say -

you're not stuck at Gabrielle Hair Products all week, are you?

'Doors opening.'

Look, just keep in touch, yeah?

If you see anything freaky, text me.

'Doors closing.'

Well, that's freaky for a start. There's no 13th floor.

Superstition, I guess.

Triskaidekaphobia.

What?

Triskaidekaphobia. Fear of the number 13.

Look, some streets don't have a number 13

and some airlines don't have a row 13.

But you're telling me there's not a magical reason for it?

No. Course there isn't.

'Doors opening. Floor 12.'

They're just the facts, Tom. Hope work isn't too hair-raising for you.

'Doors closing.'

'Doors opening. Floor 20.'

Psyke Games.

'Doors closing.'

Is that a tooth?

Oh, I found it on the floor.

It's weird. Never seen one like this before.

What's it doing round here?

It looks like...

I don't know, a boar's tooth?

Doesn't look like the sort of place you keep boars.

There's a lab on the tenth floor. They work with the museum.

Maybe it's something to do with them. Hold this.

Carnivore. Look at the serration on the edge.

Not a boar, then. They forage, they're pigs.

No, they're omnivores, they'll eat anything.

But I still don't see how it ended up here.

It's a mystery.

And who are you, anyway?

Oh, I'm Benny Sherwood. I'm on work experience. Psyke Games.

Better get a move on, then - my coffee break's over

and if you think a boar's vicious, wait till you meet Mrs Hatcher.

This place is cool!

Wow!

So you work here?

Good morning, sir. My name's Alicia. How can I help you?

How comes you know about carnivore teeth?

The same reason you walk around with a magnifying glass.

I'm a geek.

-Are you the boy from King's Park?

-Yes, I'm Benny Sherwood.

Oh, Elizabeth Hatcher. Welcome to Psyke Games.

Now I suppose your idea of a work placement here means you'll be

playing Buck Warren and the Maltese Rabbit all day long.

Well, that won't be happening, young man.

You're here for work experience and work you shall do.

Actually, that's fine by me.

Excuse me. You've got a fault in your parser code.

-Look. Close the loop and the program will work.

-Excuse me...

-I promise. Try it.

-What are you trying to do, ruin me?

No, I know what I'm doing.

My dad runs his own software company.

Sherwood...

Richard Sherwood of Sherwood Intelligence?

Yeah, that's right.

Benny! I'm on my way to a meeting across town.

Why don't you come with me?

And on the way we can have a nice little chat about - I don't know -

the software business?

Be back later.

So, Benny my darling, tell me,

how many programmers does your daddy employ?

Oh. I'd say... twice as many as you have.

-Oh.

-At least.

-Really? That's a lot.

Mervyn! Will you watch what you're doing? Ouch!

Sorry, Mrs Hatcher, miss.

Please, miss, please...

Let me...

'Doors opening.'

Well, at least he's good for something.

Oh, my phone! I've left it on my desk.

-Be a darling, Benny, and get it for me.

-Course.

-I'll be downstairs in reception.

-OK.

-Excuse me.

-'Doors closing.'

Going down.

BANG!

This is ridiculous.

'Floor 13.'

This is stupid. There is no...

'Doors opening.'

This makes no sense!

Varg cannot disappear without trace.

Daughter, you have failed me.

I apologise, Father.

The wizards have captured him! I feel it in my molecules!

You will go to Earth and find him, Lexi!

But the work period of that Earth sector will have begun.

It will be teeming with humans.

Then use the form filter.

Walk among them as one of their own.

Search, and locate your brother!

As the King commands, so it is done.

So have you got that, Tom, yeah?

On ciabatta, got it.

Hey, Tom! What's big in hair this week?

They've got me running errands to the sandwich shop for lunch.

You get to play computer games

while I'm buying coronation chicken with mixed salad on onion bread.

Mine's a chicken salad sub, thanks.

Yeah, you're so funny. Meanwhile, we've got a job to do.

Something or someone here is pumping out bursts of magic and if we

don't shut it down, the Nekross are going to be stopping by for a snack.

-And not coronation chicken.

-Keep your eyes open.

Excuse me, do you know where Mrs Hatcher went?

-She was supposed to come here.

-I haven't seen her.

But she got into the lift.

Then she got off on another floor. She hasn't been down here.

Thanks.

Exquisite Excellency, all is prepared for your departure.

Thank you, Technician 15.

Forgive my indelicacy, I find this appearance distinctly...

nauseating.

It can be disconcerting. The humans are indeed repulsive.

But I must rescue my brother

and it is but a technological illusion.

I shall always be Nekross inside.

Indeed. Hail the might of Nekron.

Beam me to Earth.

As my Excellency commands.

Do not forget to wash your hands.

They say her car's still in the car park.

She hasn't gone anywhere.

-This is weird.

-Weirder than you think.

Why? What do you mean?

There's strange stuff going on here.

I mean, we're talking Gates Of Eternity level six strange.

-I've never played Gates Of Eternity.

-And you call yourself a geek?

Well, take it from me, it's brain-scrambling weird.

This office block has got a reputation for people going missing.

It's all in here - Wyvern House.

It was built ten years ago

and people have been going missing ever since.

People would come in for work and then at some point...

it's like they just vanished.

Their cars were just left in the car park. Like Mrs Hatcher's.

The CCTV cameras never even showed them leaving the building.

And it isn't just this building. Look...

Before they built Wyvern House there was a hotel here.

"Family disappears from Ambassador Hotel."

And it says they all disappeared from room 13.

There's something taking people, Benny.

-That's why I came to work here.

-Why?

Where was I going to work, somewhere boring and normal?

Or somewhere where there's a mad mystery to solve?

Mad mysteries are cool.

I knew you'd see it like me. Geeks united!

-Have you still got that tooth?

-Yeah, of course.

Thanks.

And, you know, there could be a connection.

Like, between the Hand of Multekh and the missing children

of Buck Warren and the Last Hutch on the Left.

Yeah, that's what I was just thinking.

Apart from the hand thing. I need to make a phone call.

Look, Benny, don't do anything, not till I get back.

It's all right, Tom.

We don't need magic right now, we need science.

There's a research lab on the tenth floor.

I need to get in there.

-What, in the middle of the day?

-I've got a plan.

When you get back, find a back door. And don't worry, there's no fire.

Benny, what are you talking about? What fire?

-Benny! What are you doing?

-Come on.

-Let's go, come on!

-Benny?!

ALARM WAILS

You can't just go setting fire alarms off!

Look, if people are missing, then it's not safe here.

I need to evacuate this building until I find out what's going on.

You mean until we find out. This is my investigation, remember?

'Please evacuate the building.'

'Please evacuate the building.'

'Please evacuate the building.'

'Please evacuate the building.'

'Please evacuate the building.'

It's all right. No-one's here.

That's a dissecting microscope.

Yeah, that's right. I need to take a closer look at this.

-What are you looking for?

-Proof...

that this tooth has a connection with what's going on here.

And? What do you see?

This cellular composition...

I've never seen anything like it before.

-DOOR CLOSES

-Someone's coming! Hide!

-Quick, run!

A magical molar.

How mirthful.

Do you want to come out now?

Or shall I just disintegrate where you hide like rodents?

OK.

Don't shoot!

Who are you?

An old friend of Benjamin Sherwood's.

I don't believe we've met.

-I'm...

-Irrelevant.

If he doesn't tell me what he has done with my brother,

in five seconds you'll be nothing more than a momentary flash

of hydrogen and carbon particles.

Leave her alone! I haven't done anything with your brother!

Is he with Tom Clarke?

I think I'd notice a yellow, snake-headed big guy in blue armour.

Hello again, Lucy. Long time no see.

Don't play games with me.

Varg came to this building

when we detected traces of strong magic here.

Magic? She said magic!

And then we lost all contact with him.

This is the work of wizards!

Wizards?! She said wizards!

Lexi, I swear I don't know what you're talking about.

We don't go around kidnapping aliens!

-Aliens?! He said aliens!

-Just go with it.

Lexi, it wasn't us that took your brother.

It was this building.

People have been disappearing for decades.

Mrs Hatcher, Alicia's boss, she vanished today.

I think there's something that they fall through, and maybe

that's what happened to Varg - only that tooth has magic in it.

So maybe that something is a threshold of enchantment.

Can I have a look at that?

Does anybody want to tell me what they're talking about?

Please?

I agree with the Earth girl. Explain. Quickly.

It's not a threshold of enchantment.

It's a Never-way. A magical gateway. This is from the Neverside.

I can feel it.

And you can't go there, Lexi.

I will rescue my brother wherever he is.

You are a wizard - you will take me there!

No. I can't.

You will take me there or they will be obliterated.

Moh-shah-dah!

Run, Benny!

Is this amazing, or what?!

'Doors closing.'

'Doors opening.'

Not so fast. I intend to find my brother

and YOU will help me.

'Doors closing.'

LIFT MUSIC PLAYS

BANG!

-Is this your doing?

-No! No way!

'Floor 13.'

But there isn't a 13th floor.

'Doors opening.'

This is impossible.

This is just a crude transportation device.

We can't have been teleported.

We haven't.

We've come through a Never-way.

Out there...

that's the Neverside.

A realm of raw magic, of chaos.

A place of dreams and nightmares.

And things that go bump in the night.

I have studied the tales your kind tell your children.

To scare them at bedtime. And you call the Nekross cruel.

People told kids those stories to protect them.

And most of those stories started here.

Then we shall look for this "bogeyman".

He may be able to find my brother!

No, no, no! We have to go back inside.

Not until we find Varg!

-'Doors closing.'

-No!

Spectacular!

MERVYN CHUCKLES

'Doors opening.'

Ah...nectar of the Neverside!

Lexi, listen to me, please. This is crazy.

You don't know where Varg is.

And the Neverside - it's huge.

There are all sorts of different realms here -

different worlds, almost.

-You've got no idea what you've got us into.

-Are you scared?

I know what this place is, what sort of things live here.

You don't.

ROARING

Things like that.

My weapon's failed.

But that can't happen! This isn't right.

Run!

I told you this place was dangerous.

And your gun, it won't work here. No technology will.

-It's magic only.

-Well, that's not right, is it?

Or I wouldn't still look like Lucy, would I?

Are you all right? You sound...

-different.

-I don't know what you're talking about, I'm fine.

I think my form filter's jammed.

-Lexi...

-No! What's happened? What's happened to me?

You've become human. It's the Neverside.

Somehow it's turned you into what the form filter was

pretending you were.

-It's like it made your wish come true.

-I don't wish to be human!

I know, all right? I know. I don't understand it.

I don't know anything like enough about the Neverside.

But the whole place is raw magic.

Anything can happen here.

This skin, it's soft, warm...

-and this...

-It's hair.

It's pointless. But it doesn't matter.

I'm Nekross inside, and I still have a mission - to save my brother.

I presume the unfortunate effects of this magic will reverse

-once we leave.

-Yes. I think so...

It had better!

Then we must find Varg and find a way out of this wretched world.

I can't get hold of Tom's phone.

It's saying it's out of range, but it can't be.

You don't think - you know - that they've gone...

-like Mrs Hatcher, and the others?

-I don't know.

Mervyn, Mervyn, we're looking for someone.

A really tall blonde woman and a boy about 16 with dark hair.

-Have you seen them?

-Friends of yours?

One of them is. Have you seen him? It's really important.

Maybe they'll have gone missing like the others.

-Is that what you're thinking?

-You know about the missing people?

None of them ever comes back. Not one.

Not ever.

Well, I'm getting Tom back. Wherever he is.

Come on.

To survive in a hostile environment information is essential.

Tell me what you know about the Neverside.

I suppose you would call it another dimension.

My gran taught me a bit about it, and I bet she'll come and find us.

How comforting.

It's like a twin to our world, only back there magic is rare

and here it's...

It's in everything.

Including the life forms?

Yeah.

Wraiths, banshees, goblins, Neverside witches.

Who are you, hag?

Wait! Are you a witch?

I never thought I'd see another human.

All these years I've been here, and nobody else came.

You mean you came through the Never-way? From Wyvern House?

How long have you been here? Who are you?

My name? My name....

My name...

My name is...

Elizabeth Hatcher.

Elizabeth Hatcher!

No. You can't be.

You're the boss of Psyke Games.

Yes. I was...

a long time ago.

Benny said he saw you get in the lift. That was only...

a couple of hours ago.

-I've been here over 30 years!

-That's impossible.

I counted every single day, waiting for someone to come.

-Waiting for the lift to come back.

-What's going on?

It's the Neverside.

Look, my gran might be able to find us.

And it might only take her a couple of hours

but this side of the elevator - time works differently.

Lexi...

we could be here for decades.

TWIG SNAPS

GROWLING

HE ROARS

He's gone.

OK, I think we should go back to where the lift appeared,

wait for Gran.

For how long? We've got to find Varg.

Nekross intellect will find a way out of this.

Maybe.

But that woman, she was here for a couple of hours our time.

That was over 30 years here.

Varg got here last night. That's what, 15 hours?

How long is that on the Neverside?

You obviously have not got a clue how tough we Nekross are.

HE ROARS

Tom! It's coming. Quick!

Faa - shan - dah!

You stopped it, Tom!

Technology might not work here.

But this is the home of magic.

Perhaps it's Varg's camp. Come on.

This can't be Varg's. We've evolved beyond this crude nutrition.

-Yeah, you trap wizards and drain our magic.

-Don't judge me.

I was born needing magic, like a baby needs its mother's milk.

-Yeah, well, I'm hungry now too.

-And what are you going to say

when whoever lives here finds you've been eating all their dinner?

We need friends here, Tom.

Look, chances are Mrs Hatcher lived here

and she's not coming back and we need to eat.

Nekross don't eat meat.

Yeah, but you're human now, Lexi.

-Is it good?

-Mmm, so good.

Better than a bacon and sausage sandwich with brown sauce.

Looks like the Nekross have a taste for crude nutrition after all.

We'll do whatever we have to to survive.

Hello, Benny.

Mr Clarke,

-you've got to come.

-Where's Tom?

When I was a kid, my gran told me that when wizards passed on

they turned into stars, keeping watch on those they'd left behind.

No.

Stars are luminous spheres of thermonuclear plasma.

It was her way of making me feel better about my mum.

Not got the hang of being human yet, have you?

Not even sure I had the hang of being Nekross.

It's hard being 17.

Hang on, you're 17?

In Nekross years.

That's practically the same age as me.

I thought you were older. I mean, because you're so tall.

All children of the Royal line of Nekron are tall.

Tomorrow I'll carry on looking for Varg...

what's left of him.

Yeah, of course. Then I'll help you.

But I'm your enemy.

Not any more.

HE ROARS

Every Never-way has a troll as a Gatekeeper.

They live off its magical energy. Sometimes for hundreds of years.

They're nasty, tricky little beggars,

always pretending to be human.

The building's closed now. Can I help you?

Actually young man, you can.

Look...

pretty, isn't it?

That's it. Keep watching.

You shall not know we're here.

You hypnotised him.

Worked rather well, didn't it?

Meanwhile we need to find this troll.

Did you say troll?

Oh, dear. I should've hypnotised the whole building.

No, Mrs Crowe! Alicia's my friend.

-Oh.

-Benny's told me everything.

Tom used a spell to save us from the Nekross.

I think that blew all the secrets. Plus she can help us.

She knows this building.

So do you know any good troll holes?

They like it dark and damp.

Well, there's the basement.

Tom?

Tom!

Faa - shan - dah!

I didn't know where you were.

I was reinforcing the border, like every sunrise.

Takes up most of my magic.

Are you hunting already?

I thought you might be in danger.

I can look after myself.

-No, you'd starve without me.

-Oh, you think?

Who's caught the most three-legged birds since we've been here?

-I've caught more fish.

-Fishing's for old men and boys.

I've got something to show you.

-What do you think?

-What is it?

It's an apple tree.

Apples? And how long will it take for them to grow?

Er...a couple of years maybe.

Years? Tom, are you crazy? I don't want to be here years!

I want to go home!

Look at me.

A Nekross in a human body eating berries

and apples like something that lives up a tree.

It's survival, Lexi.

I thought that was the Nekross thing to do.

Varg didn't survive.

We've searched and searched and not even found his bones.

I've let him down. I've let my father down.

I've let my whole planet down.

You haven't let anyone down, Lexi.

You just miss him.

I miss everyone too. My gran, my dad and Benny.

But they'll find us one day, I know it.

Don't you think I tell myself that every day?

And I'm leaking water.

You're crying, Lexi.

It's OK to cry.

I've cried.

When you've not been around, when I've felt alone and scared.

Why are you kind to me?

The Nekross, we, me...

I've done terrible things to wizards...

to you.

That wasn't you, not the Lexi I know now,

not the Lexi I always knew was in there.

Whoa!

Sorry.

Isn't that what humans do when they like someone?

Well, yes.

And if I'm trapped here with a human, as a human...

..I'm glad it's you, Tom.

You know, for a Nekross, you make a great human.

It smells like a troll hole.

-But no troll.

-There's been one here all right.

In Dragon Vault, trolls live in caves of blood ice, not office basements.

Not in the real world.

The Ambassador Hotel, 1862.

Hang on, that's Mervyn the janitor!

I think we've found our troll.

Thirsty, Tom?

You should be taking it easy.

Don't worry.

It might be a human body, but I'm Nekross inside.

You're the one that's 30.

On Nekron, you'd be a grandfather!

Sit down, anyway.

There'll be plenty of apples this year. You make a good farmer.

I just hope I make a half-decent dad.

You'll teach them to play football, I'll teach them to hunt.

Oh, is that what kids do on Nekron, learn how to hunt?

I haven't really thought about Nekron for years.

I'll tell you what we haven't seen for years.

Remember the big boy with the horns?

I wonder what happened to him.

I don't care, as long as it means our baby can grow up safely.

Who'd have thought this place would have turned into paradise?

BABY CRIES

We are going to take such good care of you and keep you safe.

Because anything that wants to hurt you out there...

..it's got to come through me first, and I'm not going to let that happen.

Because one day you're coming home with us.

BABY CRIES

Trolls have no respect for wizardry.

I'm afraid we'll have to be unpleasant.

Flay - mash - dah!

That should turn the heat up.

You'll get nothing from me by singeing my breeches, wizard!

We want my son back from the Neverside.

-You might not want him back now.

-What's that supposed to mean?

Time moves differently where he's gone. Some age, some change.

The Neverside does strange things to them that don't belong there.

I know that you don't belong here

and that you rely on the magic from the Never-way to stay alive.

You sick gnome!

I'm a troll! I'm not a gnome!

I've feasted well with them that took the lift

and got off at the 13th floor.

The 13th floor. That must be the Never-way!

Then that's where we're going.

Oh, so be it, but you'll never return.

For coming back, you'll have to make a bargain with the Gatekeeper.

And what can you offer a troll for his services?

What about your freedom?

Open the Never-way for me to bring back my grandson and

I will take your place as Gatekeeper.

Come on! You can score.

Nearly!

Remember what I taught you!

Maah - gann - dah!

-Yeah!

-Yes! Benny!

That's my boy!

-Dad!

-A chip off the old block!

-Can I go and hunt now?

-And your mother's son too.

Don't go too far.

And if you see anything that frightens you,

cast the protection spell your father taught you

and run straight home.

Mum, the forest is my friend. There's nothing scary there.

Bye!

He's right, you know. The forest is his friend.

This is his home.

Are you hungry, Benny Junior?

Ursula, you can't do this, there has to be another deal.

The bargain is agreed.

The question is, can I trust a wizard?

I'll have that back for starters. I've been looking for this!

Go on, get to the Gateway if you're going. But I'll need some surety.

What? Let us go, pig chops!

It's all right, my dear. Michael, keep her safe.

Benny, come with me, we're going to find Tom.

Have you seen Benny Junior?

-Isn't he back yet?

-No, and it's going to be dark soon.

OK. I'll find him.

Don't worry, we haven't seen anything dangerous

out there in years.

But I never lost the feeling there was something there. Watching us.

Come on.

'Doors opening. Floor 13.'

Looks like my floor.

-PING!

-Mrs Crowe!

-'Doors closing.'

Maah - vash - dah!

I'll hold the doors as long as I can, Benny,

but you have to find Tom!

-'Doors closing.'

-Quickly! Quickly!

The wizard is fighting, but she won't win.

No?

I reckon you've been trolled.

Come on!

TROLL SCREAMS

-Benny!

-Benny! Come to your mother!

-Benny!

-Benny!

-Benny!

-Benny, come to your mother!

-Your parents search for you.

Come with me. They shouldn't be scared of you.

That cannot be. They think me a monster.

Now, you must go.

Benny?

-Benny!

-Dad, no!

Drax - shah - zah - dah!

-He's my friend!

-What?

Your magic is more potent in this world...

Tom Clarke.

What once nourished me here destroys me.

Varg?

It's you, Varg, my poor lost brother.

Greetings, Sister.

All these years, it was you.

My form shamed me,

as I know yours must you.

Do you think in this form my spirit will be allowed to

hunt in the Valley of Forever with our Nekross ancestors?

Oh, Varg...

your spirit will always be Nekross.

I'm so sorry,

but how did THIS happen?

The instant I stepped from the elevator, I was transformed.

For 100 years, I was a beast in this world,

nothing but a fearsome beast.

But as I watched and remembered you, Sister,

I found a purpose - to protect you.

And then...

your son found me

and he did not fear me.

His friendship gave me back so much that I had lost.

Thanks to him...

at least I will not end my life as a beast.

Tom!

-Benny!

-Tom!

-Benny!

-Tom!

Tom! It's you!

How long has it been? How long have we been away?

Six hours.

It's been 20 years for us, Benny. And look!

Look!

This is our son, Benny Junior.

Oh, Tom! This is amazing!

And this is Varg, but he's dying.

If we can get him back to the lift, to our world, maybe we can save him.

Tell me we can get back home!

Gran is holding the Never-way open.

Quickly, we haven't got much time! Come on!

You cannot escape.

Just as wizards shall never overcome the Never-way!

Come on, quickly!

-Tom! Is it you?!

-Gran! You came for us!

Quickly! Quickly!

I've held the Never-way open too long - the realm is collapsing!

-Who's that?

-That's your great-grandma.

-'Doors closing.'

And there are going to be so many other big surprises where

we're going, mates to play with.

You're going to have an amazing time, I promise.

-Will we play football?

-That's my boy!

-Tom! Come on!

Quickly!

'Doors closing.'

Come on!

They've escaped!

The Never-way is no more!

-Benny Junior...

-But he was right behind us.

-He's just vanished.

-Open the door!

-It will do no good.

-Out of my way, hag!

The enchantment is broken. The realm is gone.

Along with everything that happened there.

No, no, no. We had a child!

I'm sorry, Tom.

I know it's hard to understand but in this world...

he never existed.

No, you lie! I bore a child.

-I did not imagine that!

-You've left the Neverside, and everything

has gone back to the way it was.

The wizard has the truth of it.

Perhaps this way is best.

'Doors closing.'

'Doors opening, Floor Zero.'

-Tom!

-Dad!

I've missed you so much!

-What happened to Mervyn?

-He just vanished.

The Never-way has collapsed and taken its Gatekeeper with it.

Then it's over.

No, it'll never be over.

Tom...

what happened over there?

What happened in that place, what we lost...

what we all lost is best left there.

The Neverside is like a dream world...

..and like a dream, it fades.

I will not forget him,

whatever the hag says.

You're Nekross again, Lexi.

I can hear it in your voice, you're forgetting already.

No, I shall never forget.

What colour were his eyes?

I'm not sure, either.

I've lost him and now I'm going to lose you.

I lived a lifetime in human skin with you, Tom Clarke...

..a life that no-one else could truly understand.

I am Nekross again...

and that life is gone.

Goodbye, Tom.

Goodbye, Lexi.

Brother.

ZAP!

Will he be all right?

One morning, tomorrow, or a week from now,

he'll wake up and what happened on the Neverside

will be like fragments of a dream.

Sister.

Wizards tell their children that the loved ones

that they lose become stars.

It is an unscientific concept based on emotion...

..but not without beauty.

There is a new star in the sky tonight.

It burns so brightly.

Perhaps there is sometimes more to the universe than science.

Are you OK?

Yeah, I will be.

It's like a dream.

Soon you'll remember it all better than me.

You and your girlfriend, Alicia.

-She's not my girlfriend.

-Nerdfriend, then.

Thanks for coming for me.

I'm sorry it took a while.

Tom...

I'm really sorry about Benny Junior.

He was part of the Neverside, Benny.

That's where he belonged.

Maybe he's up there...

with Mum.

The Passing of the Moon, it will be almost upon us!

Totality. That is impossible.

Fire! Trust us!

The Moon, it's going to hit us!

Let there be darkness!