It had been an instinctive reaction, shoving the book back into place. That it had worked gave the man a small moment of relief, but it was shattered with the sound of pounding coming from the panel.

And then the books started melting. The Once-ler yanked his hand away from the bookshelf as it disappeared. Eyes wide in panic, the man stared around the room as it shifted into a familiar landscape, dotted with stumps and reeking of pollution.

Some areas were not right, though. Were those... stars? And there was another stink, even more revolting than that of the smog, he realized, though he couldn't identify it.

The man limped back over to Soma as she turned, only to freeze in shock as he saw what had cut her words off. No door. They weren't in a room any more.

"This can't be happening," the Once-ler said softly, barely restrained fear tinging his voice. "This cannot be happening."