24

THE BELL RINGS ABOVE the door of Darkest Night. A young mother and her small toddler come in, walking straight to the kids' section. I'm organizing a new shipment of board games by the checkout counter.

"Ophelia, are you feeling okay?"

I glance up at Priya, who's leaning over the counter.

"Yeah, why?"

"You just seem… distant. I'm not upset that you missed work yesterday. But it's not like you. And usually, I'd dismiss it, but you're acting…"

"Not like myself?" I supplement.

"Exactly."

I sigh. My reasons for being absent wouldn't make sense to her. They don't fully make sense to me yet. Obviously, I can't tell Priya that I'm disappointed I didn't get sent to a nightmare realm where I'd see Atlas. I haven't even told her I'm reconnecting with Atlas at all, in the here and now, never mind in our dreams.

After all the history between me and Atlas, she'd be shocked, and probably worried, if I told her I was beginning to be friends with him again. But even though she knows none of this, I know she's worried for me.

"I'm okay. I just haven't been sleeping well lately." This isn't a lie. Sleep has been a struggle, and the only time I woke up feeling okay was when I found myself in Atlas's bed after almost dying in the ocean of his nightmares.

And that certainly isn't something I'm about to tell the only maternal figure in my life.

"If you need some time off, I could arrange it," Priya offers. "You work hard and I think you deserve it. Besides, I have more help around here."

I follow Priya's glance over to her formerly estranged husband, Matthew. When I saw him come in earlier, I didn't know how to greet him. It's a bit unsettling to have him here again after so long. He's much taller than I remember him being; his hair is still that dusty shade of blond. He's stocking books in the young adult section, whistling a tune I don't recognize.

Priya seems happy about his return. And as far as I can tell, he's been really helpful around the bookstore.

Regardless, taking time off isn't something I generally do. I'm always wanting to work to keep distracted.

My instinct is to say no, to insist I can work and make it happen. But right now, some time off sounds almost blissful. Maybe I could visit Atlas. Or at least relax a little.

"I might take you up on that," I say, relenting. "It might be nice to take a break."

Priya smiles. "You have been working very hard, and I think the rest would do you some good. I know whatever is bothering you, you'll figure it out. And just know you can come to me when you feel safe."

Safe.

It's a feeling I've chased for most of my life, but I never truly felt it until I was in Atlas's arms the other day. He felt like home.

So much change in such a small amount of time. If anyone could understand that feeling, it's Priya. But I'm not ready to talk about it.

"Maybe I could take the next couple of days?"

"Of course. Take tomorrow and the weekend. You can come back on Tuesday. That will give me time to really observe Matthew. See if he's serious about working here again."

That seems fair enough to me. A few days of rest couldn't hurt.

I finish my shift without much happening. Outside, as I leave the store, I inhale the soft autumn air. I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching me. I look around, but there's nothing. I sense it must be Rook. I wonder if he's invisible in the daylight. Or maybe he's only able to communicate through dreams.

I glance over at Every Brew, where Reya is finishing up her shift. I need to talk to someone about what's going on. I don't know if Reya will believe me or even understand. But I need to feel less alone.

I enter the café, Reya's back turned to me. "Sorry, we're closed for the night."

"I don't want coffee."

Reya turns around, a small smile forming on her face. "Oh, Ophelia. I'm surprised to see you."

"I need some help."

Reya walks over to the doors, locking them. She's the assistant manager, so it's her night to close. "I sent everyone home. It was a slow night, so I'm just closing by myself," she explains.

She motions for me to have a seat at the bar, so I do. "Your usual?"

"Yes, please."

She gets to work on a hot chocolate with extra whip cream. She sets two steaming mugs down, one for herself and one for me.

"All right. Spill."

I think of all the ways I could try to explain what's been going on in my life right now. But I'm worried that it won't seem real.

So I start with the easier, more believable part of the story. "I've started talking to Atlas again."

"Is there a reason? Did you run into each other while he was in town?"

I shake my head. "I know what I'm going to tell you is going to seem crazy, but I need someone to talk to about this. And you've been by my side for so long. I know you'll listen to me."

Taking a deep breath, I tell her everything. I tell her about the dreams, the butterflies, and Rook. I leave out the more intimate details of Atlas's nightmare. I also don't tell her I woke up in his bed. Something about that moment feels private, between me and Atlas.

Reya takes in every word I say, her eyes crinkling at the edges as she listens. I can't tell whether she thinks I'm crazy or if she believes what I'm saying.

When I finish, the coffee shop is quieter than it was when I walked in. I hold my mug of hot chocolate; all warmth having fled from my body.

Reya stands up straight and says, "I believe you."

"Really?"

"I believe you because I know about the Shadow Realm. I know about Umbra. I never thought one would find itself here. They don't usually haunt places like this."

"Wait, you know about the creature that's haunting me and Atlas?"

"Yes. I can't really talk about why right now. But I hope you'll trust me."

I trust her more than ever now. "So how do we get rid of him?"

Reya sighs. "Well, you made a deal. Umbra are big on promises and deals. Unfortunately, you'll have to see it through. And hopefully you'll come out on top."

"So if they don't usually haunt places like this, where do they go?"

Reya begins to walk back and forth behind the coffee bar. "Umbra crave specific energy. That energy is usually found in places with high activity. That's not to say small towns are all safe, or big cities have a high population of Umbra. It's just about the energy a place has. And we've never had that here, for as long as I've lived her, anyway. But there's a first time for everything."

I wonder what it means for Rook to be here. I wonder what made him choose me. Or what made him choose Atlas.

The sun has long since set. Reya finishes cleaning and then we walk home together. We don't talk much, walking in comfortable silence. My mind is reeling with all the things Reya knows, with her understanding of what I'm going through.

When we stop at the corner that separates my street from hers, she puts a hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you do, don't make any more deals with him. The Umbra. Stay strong. And if you get sucked into a dream, do whatever it takes to get out. Because you don't want to become one of them."

WHEN I GET HOME, I lock the doors, check the locks on the windows, and keep the curtains drawn shut. Yet the feeling that something is watching me never goes away.

I suppose a shadow figure isn't kept away by simple locks and doors. He did manage to enter my head when my house was locked tight.

I rest on the couch for a few minutes; figuring out what to make for dinner is up to me. Dad won't be home for a few more hours. Sometimes I wish he was home more. I'd feel safer in times like this. But trying to explain to him what's going on would be nearly impossible. Besides, his work is his method of coping.

Every noise startles me. I'm constantly checking over my shoulder, inspecting every shadow that moves in the house.

The unsettled feeling doesn't leave. I consider calling Atlas, but I decide against it. Whoever is out there, I have a feeling I will meet them soon, in my dreams.