Bedtime in the Pixel World

Harper snatches a pillow from the bed. “Test flight,” Harper whispers.

Whoomp. The pillow sails through the air and disappears into the portal. For a heartbeat, nothing. Then—fwip!—it pops back out, drifting gently down onto the glowing path of blocks. No burn marks. No slime. Just a perfectly normal, slightly stunned pillow.

Harper laughs under their breath. “Okay. Safe enough.” The portal shimmers quietly, colors pulsing like a slow heartbeat. The bedroom lamp, the posters, the blanket fort on the chair—all still there, calm and solid. Only the pixel path and the portal feel… awake.

Harper tucks the pillow under one arm, toes curling on the warm cube beneath. “Alright, Pixel World,” Harper says softly. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” And Harper steps toward the light.