"We need to talk." I'm chasing Olivia down the hall.

"Sorry, I need to go. I have a date this afternoon, and I've gotta pick up a cute outfit before then," she shouts over her shoulder.

I sigh heavily in frustration, determined to track her down. "It's urgent! Olivia, please!"

Finally, she comes to a stop, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. "Sorry, Luce. I guess I have a moment to talk. What is it? You look flustered! Are you sick—"

"I need you to talk to Oriel for me." My words come out in short breaths.

Olivia's face fills with pity. "Are you two doing okay?"

"Now's not the time to discuss it," I snap. "I need you to talk to him and it needs to be now."

She must finally sense the urgency in my voice because she directs all her attention to me. "Okay then, shoot."

"Tell him that he needs to find out what his dad's nocturnal job is, and then call me the moment he does. You need to stress that I need him to contact me about it before tonight. Got it?"

Olivia nods. "Will do. And I hope you can explain what's going on to me later."

My face relaxes and I place a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks, Olivia. And I'll explain when this is all over. I promise."

We part directions, but the smile never leaves my face. Now all that's left to do is hope that Oriel will do this for me. There's still a sinking feeling in my chest—what if he doesn't? What if I never even see Omar in my dreams again? What if Oriel's dad is only some ordinary government spy? What if it has nothing to do with dreaming?

I become more terrified with every step I take, every new 'what if' that comes to mind. I force myself to shove my monstrous thoughts down the drain for now. If I'm lucky, everything will go as planned.

But luckiness hasn't been one of my best virtues lately.

* * *

It's already 6:00 pm, and I haven't received a single notification on my phone. Not a word from Olivia, and much less from Oriel. Terrified thoughts keep running through my head, like a broken record. It reminds me of the recurring dream...

* * *

Now it's 8:00 pm. By this time, I've lost pretty much all hope of Oriel contacting me. Surely he still hates me. He won't do this for me, will he?

Just when I start to fear for my very sanity, my phone rings. Shaking violently, I bring it to my ear. "Oriel! Did you—"

"It's Olivia."

"Oh." My heart sinks for the millionth time today. She's probably going to break the news that Oriel wouldn't even listen to what she had to say. It's all over, isn't it?

"I know what Dr. Grantley's nocturnal job is," Olivia states, almost matter-of-factly.

I'm so shocked that I don't react for a full five seconds. Then I whisper, "Huh?"

"I, um, may or may not have snuck into their house...don't tell anyone, but my dad does work for the police. He's taught me his ways since I was pretty much a baby. Anyway, I snuck into the Grantley's house and found an underground room."

"Like a basement?"

"Yeah. Well, not really. There was a crazy machine in there, Lucinda. I thought maybe it was a time machine. It gave off a lot of Doctor Who vibes. I wasn't going to touch it, but curiosity won over me. I got inside and pressed the one button in sight. And yes, I'm aware that I'm going to get like a million years in jail because of—"

"Just get to the point!" I prompt impatiently. "What happened when you pressed it?"

"I was...I was teleported," Olivia stammers. "It wasn't Earth. I'm certain of it. It was like another dimension. There were really modern, high buildings everywhere. There were people all over the place. Then I went to the biggest building because it drew my curious eye, you know? It said in big letters all across it, 'Dream Factory.' And as a subtitle, it had, 'Grantley and Co.' Can you believe it, Luce? I just uncovered this whole mystery on my own! Dad will be so... Lucinda? You still there?"

The truth is, I'm really not paying attention anymore. Ever since she mentioned the Dream Factory, I've been desperately trying to put the pieces together in my head.

"Y...yeah," I mutter. "I'll thank you later, but I have to go—"

"I understand," Olivia says quickly. "See you." Click.

I'm entranced, unable to even lower the phone from my ear.

Oriel's father has the key—and method of transportation—to get to Omar.