The dream world shattered like cheap glass. Atlas blinked hard as the last fragments dissolved, dumping him and Elara back into the safehouse.
Before either could speak, the entire building lurched sideways. Wood groaned. A window exploded inward.
A massive golden ladder had slammed into the wall right outside, its rungs stretching from the lower realms straight into Middle Heaven. More ladders followed, slamming down across the skyline like divine scaffolding.
"Get up," Atlas said, grabbing his coat. "We have company."
Gravity glitched. A street food cart from below shot upward past their window, still steaming with grilled meat.
A confused cow followed, mooing in panic as it drifted toward the clouds. Then came people—dozens of them—climbing the ladders with wild enthusiasm.
Atlas and Elara burst onto the tilting rooftop. Skritch clung to Atlas's shoulder, tail lashing.
"Boss! This is not in the tax code!" the imp yelled.
