Create a surreal and eerie sketch of this scene in the style of Edward Gorey, blending intricate cross-hatching with subtle symbolic elements. The scene features three distinctive characters: a young boy dressed in a tan jacket, wide-eyed with awe; a grotesque, grinning beast with a menacing expression; and a wild-looking figure with purple hair, mouth agape, crouching nearby. Suspended above them is a series of stacked, orb-like objects, adding a surreal and mysterious element to the scene. Apply Gorey’s cross-hatching to accentuate the textures on the characters--the folds in the boy’s jacket, the muscular contours of the beast, and the wild expression of the crouching figure. Use delicate linework to highlight the strange, floating orbs, giving them an eerie, weightless presence. Maintain the composition’s chaotic yet playful energy, while introducing Gorey’s signature touch of melancholic stillness through subtle shadows and minimal background elements. Incorporate symbolic motifs--such as a small clock or a bird silhouette hidden among the floating orbs, or an abstract symbol etched into the beast’s collar--hinting at themes of time, transformation, or hidden meaning. Use negative space effectively to enhance the tension and focus, capturing the delicate balance between whimsy and dread characteristic of Gorey’s work.