A Hollow of Nine Cubes

Sss... Crawling back into the darkest nook behind the tall bookcase. Evening shadows pooled thick and heavy. Step... halt. In the dim dust lay a forgotten Rubik's cube, turned halfway into an unruly, scrambled mess. Staggered faces. Clashing squares. Sss! A sudden sharp shudder vibrated down through my stubby front feet. I froze. Waited in cold silence until the rattle calmed. Creeping close, I pressed my blunt plush chin against the misaligned tier. Slow, heavy heave. Click. The plastic rotated ninety degrees, snapping flush with the column beneath it. Six flat planes restored. No jagged overhangs. I backed two quiet paces into the deep wooden recess, resting in the quiet dark.