Logan and Sky are fighting again. Well, this time it's an argument – not a physical fight. They're sitting at the café across from the river, and for once, I can hear every word.

"Why are you doing this?" Sky asks.

"It's the only way the memory stealers can win," Logan hisses. I've never heard his voice like this before, cold and furious. "Her powers have gotten too strong. If she leads the rest of the memory catchers through this competition, we'll lose now and forever."

"You disgust me. You and the rest of your memory stealers."

"How quickly you forget our past."

"Our past? We were friends before I knew what you were, Logan. Before you took everything away from me."

"What do you want now?" Logan snaps.

"I want you to stop. Leave her alone, stop draining her strength. And tell her the truth."

"Never." Logan's eyes flash, and then all of a sudden, I'm awake with sun glaring into my eyes. A middle of the afternoon nap on a lazy Saturday. But I'm not feeling lazy right now. I'm in a panic and racing out the door even though my mind is scolding me for falling into what probably is lunacy.

I grab my scooter and practically fly downtown. When my tires screech to a halt and I see Logan and Sky sitting at the very spot they'd occupied in my dream, my heart takes off once again. I pinch myself but don't wake up. This is all very real. I drop my scooter, crouch under the hedge lining one side of the terrace where they're sitting, and strain to hear their voices.

The same conversation I'd heard in my dream unfolds. At the very last word – "Never" from Logan – I peer through the leaves.

"You'll pay for this," Sky is saying. And then he throws a few bills onto the table and takes off.

This is real. Sky had been warning me about Logan for weeks, through those dreams because he knew I'd never believe him otherwise. I'm torn among many options: A. Rounding the corner and dumping the rest of Logan's Perrier over his head. B. Going home and crying for hours. C. Following Sky to find out more. I choose C.

**

On my scooter, I'm able to catch up with Sky. At a certain point, he stops at a crosswalk, so I slow down and call out to him. When he sees me, I immediately understand that he knows I know. I lock up my scooter as he approaches. We're at the foot of an apartment building, and Sky's pulled keys out of his pocket.

"Wanna come up?" he asks.

I nod.

A few minutes later, we're sitting on his balcony, overlooking the river from another direction less familiar to me. But I like it. It's calming, in spite of this chaotic situation that's left tears burning behind my eyes. I will not break down, I tell myself. Not here in front of Sky.

"So you heard. You know."

"Well, you led me there."

"I tried." He shoots me a half grin, which I halfheartedly return.

"What do I do now?" I ask.

"Why are you asking me? I'm not an expert. I'm just someone who knew the truth and wanted you to know it too."

The glinting sunlight in the water reminds me of something. The memory. The memory my father was hoping I would transmit back to Nol. I see them splashing around at the beach. Now that I know Logan is the one chipping away at my powers, my problem is solved. I can directly block his actions and in a few hours my powers will be back to where they were before. Before this whole nightmare began. But maybe all that had happened isn't a nightmare after all. Maybe it is more like a bumpy road to better days.

"You're ready, aren't you?" Sky asks. "You can do it."

I smile at him, and this time, it's genuine.