Melody of the Brass Music Box
Curiosity led Julian to purchase a tarnished brass music box from an eccentric antique dealer in the alley. That evening, he wound the delicate key, filling the quiet parlor with a hauntingly sweet, melancholic lullaby. The tune played past its final rotation, continuing even after Julian snapped the internal spring with a pair of pliers. When the lid slammed shut on its own, a tiny voice echoed from inside, thanking him for finally releasing it.
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