. . .

“You’re the heart of it, aren’t you?” says Linus. “You’re the reason. You’re why there’s nothing left that is good in the world? But haha. The joke’s on you, Mr. Devil. Oh, yes. Swoosh! The bad man will clean you away.”

“Please,” says the Devil dismissively. “I invented creepy children.”

His tail twitches, twice, behind his back.

Linus just giggles more. Then the humor fades from him. He begins to cry.

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