Yeah, you're probably right. Hell, maybe she has something to say to you too. Or maybe all that's going to happen is you two finally getting to meet each other. I'd be okay with that too. [ Alan smiles a little tiredly, but it's still a smile. ] None of the usual things apply to this place. It- well, it kind of tricks you into thinking you recognize patterns, but it's never the same.

But, in this case, yeah. Polaris is another name for the North Star, but she's not literally the North Star... a guiding star, sure. A helpful beacon, I guess. I wonder if you could sense her too. Sorry, I know that's a lot of wondering, Tim.

[ He pauses for a second. ]

About that... Sure, there's not much light around here, but- I don't know how to explain it. When Polaris is nearby, she- resonates with something inside me. Light, I think. Don't ask how that makes sense, but she can kind of connect with the ambient light inside me, if you want to call it that, and make it brighter.

Honestly? I'd take anything at this point. Anything that'll get the story to an ending. [ Because I want to go home. ]

I wish it was as simple as writing myself using a powerful weapon to destroy the Dark Presence, which ends the loops and lets everyone who's been dragged in go free. Including you. But I tried something like that once, I think, or maybe more than once, and it failed. I just don't know what to write, or how that ending has to look.

[ He scrubs his face with one hand, with a little force behind it, pointing to his frustration. ]

If you were the writer, what would you do, Tim?