An all-consuming flash; unexpected, but gentle.

Our leading lady blinked, shook her head, everything she could think of to convince herself that she wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating.

Stood in a perfectly white void with no discernible edges, she turned to see the others, some of whom she knew to be dead.

“What happened? Are we all dead?” she asked.

“In a sense,” replied her love interest. “The story ended, so the author placed us here until we’re needed again, if we’re needed.”

“What do you mean, ‘if’?”

“Well, we should get a sequel at least. It was a pretty good story,” he explained.

She was incredulous. “So until then, we just wait indefinitely, maybe forever? What are we supposed to do?”

He remained impassive. “We need nothing, want nothing. Watch.” He waved his hand through her head as though they were both holograms. “Even the emotions you feel right now will fade shortly.”

She lowered her eyes, anger and disbelief subsiding just as he’d said they would. He waited patiently for her to contemplate her new existence.

After a moment, with a frown, she looked at him again. “That’s… a terrible way to end.”