Aaron could see the light starting to come over the tops of the buildings. He turned his gaze away from the window and looked down at his pocket watch that had remained clutched in his hand all night. The mysterious mechanical part was in his pocket. Looking at it only made him more confused so he thought it best to hide it away until he had more time to think. Using his thumb he clicked open the pocket watch and saw that it was now six o’clock. He had been awoken from his dream two hours previously and after his unsettling encounter with Jamie had decided to stay up to make sure nothing else happened. For the last two hours, he had laid in bed obsessing about what his bunkmate had told him.

“They’re there, aren't they? She told me they would be.”

Sitting straight up, looking more awake than ever, Jamie had uttered those words clear as day and then immediately laid back down to sleep. Neither of Aaron’s other roommates had woken up. Even though Aaron knew that something this strange happening should warrant a larger reaction, he had simply climbed back into his bunk and laid back down. Hiding the mysterious mechanical part away as not to think of it was how Aaron seemed to deal with most of his problems. Out of sight, out of mind. Now that the sun was starting to come up Aaron’s fear of what had happened snuck up on him, and he realized that Jamie would soon be waking up as well. This fear only paralyzed him more and he lay rigid in his bunk swirling his thumb over the surface of the pocket watch. His finger traced along with the inscription, A-R-T. Soon he heard the stirring of Billy and Forest starting to arise. He quickly shut his eyes so he wouldn’t raise any suspicion, as if Billy and Forest actually cared at all why he was awake laying in bed. He waited until he heard them finish getting ready and eventually one after the other leave the room. There was still no movement from Jamie. Aaron finally mustered up the courage to get out of bed, and he quickly climbed down from the top bunk and get dressed. Without even glancing in the direction of Jamie’s bed he slipped the watch into his pocket, along with the mechanical part, and swiftly walked out of the room. Alone in the hallway, he could finally breathe. Aaron made his way to the dining hall to eat a quick breakfast. He sat at a table next to Marcus, Mr. Patty’s assistant since he knew Marcus would usually leave him alone and let him eat in peace. Unfortunately today Marcus seemed extra chatty and immediately started talking about Mr. Patty’s visit the previous night.

“It’s so exciting, isn’t it? Mr. Patty is doing an excellent job with the new program and bringing the scholarships into play will definitely boost the morale of all the boys. He’s practically a genius don’t you think?” Marcus a big crunchy bite of his toast “you see,” he started with his mouth full “I already have an advantage being Mr. Patty’s assistant and all.” He finally swallowed “so I’ll probably be able to get into C.U with lots of scholarships already and with Mr. Patty’s letter of recommendation. He’s actually going to start applying today in fact. Even though it’s his daughter’s birthday, he thinks that education and the future of Cadonia’s young men is more important. We have a reputation to keep up after all. You know Westpoint is going to be the new wealthiest district, even over Cadonia City!”

Aaron nodded enthusiastically at Marcus. He didn’t care one bit about Marcus getting into C.U or the state of finances in Westpoint, but it was nice to fully know now that Mr. Patty would be busy all day during Elle’s birthday. Aaron continued to eat his oatmeal while listing to Marcus drone on. He only looked up when Marcus suddenly stopped talking.

“Isn’t that your roommate standing next to the Melville’s?” Marcus asked.

Aaron looked up and saw Jamie standing between the two leaders of the orphanage. Mr. and Mrs. Melville, we’re both scarily tall and made Jamie look like a little shrimp in between them. Mrs. Melville was scanning the room like a hawk. Her eyes finally landed on Aaron and the three of them started walking in his direction. Marcus slowly scooted further away.

“Hello, Aaron.” Mr. Melville said when they had finally made it to the table.

“We know that today is your day off and you and Jamie have the same day off since you’re both working for Mr. Nyx.” Mr. Melville glared in Jamie’s direction.

“Last day off Jamie behaved very… poorly. So today me and my wife have decided that he is to follow you wherever you go today.”

Aarons’s mouth dropped.

“But sir, I have plans to go out today.” He started. Mrs. Melville waved her hand in front of him.

“And you can take him with you.” She snapped. “He’s your bunkmate. And if I find out that you ditched him once you leave this building you will be in serious trouble!”

Mr. Melville nodded his head.

“Keep an eye on him, Aaron, he’s your responsibility.” He pushed Jamie towards Aaron and then the two giants turned and slowly walked away. Aaron scooped the rest of the oatmeal into his mouth and stood up.

“Well come on, I have a busy day today.” He said walking out of the dining hall as Jamie trailed behind him. Even though he didn’t say anything, Aaron was fuming. What could Jamie have done to make the Melville’s not trust him to be by himself? He was almost an adult! And why on earth would they make him in charge of Jamie, and on today of all days. He would have to try to ditch Jamie for he couldn’t let anybody find out about his secret with Elle. A creeping feeling came over him when he remembered the thing that he had been trying to push out of his thoughts. Jamie had known what happened in his dream. His dreams had somehow seeped out of his brain and into the real world. Aaron hoped that what had happened with Jamie was just part of the dream, but the slight weight of the watch in his pocket reminded him that it was indeed real.

“So, are we going to talk about what happened last night?” Jamie asked.

Aarons’s heart stopped. He continued walking looking straight ahead.

“What are you talking about?” He asked without even glancing at the boy.

“Well, as I remember it, I had a strange dream where a woman had told me to tell you something very important. She said that it was a matter of life or death. Except, it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt like real life like she was really sitting on my bed.”

Aaron finally made it to the door and pushed it open. Jamie ran after him out onto the sidewalk.

“I remember being half asleep and telling you to check something because she told me it would be there. She kept saying it over and over again it was like it was seared into my brain. When I laid back down I realized how crazy it sounded but then as I started to fall back asleep I saw you get out of bed and look through your clothes like you knew what I had been talking about.”

Aaron rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. He continued to walk swiftly while Jamie kept pace closely behind him. He felt angry, the angriest he had felt since Jamie had shown up. Aaron hated this feeling. He knew that it would be easy to just open up to Jamie, easier so to have been nice to Jamie from the start. Something about his new bunkmate was so incredibly off-putting, it set Aaron on edge every time he was around the boy. But, he knew that Jamie was the only person who could help him solve the mystery of the dream, and possibly the meaning behind the mysterious mechanical part. He slowed his pace until they were walking side by side.

“I also had a dream about a woman. She might have been the same one who came to you. She told me to check my pockets and when I did I found my watch which I had given to my girlfriend, along with this,”

Aaron pulled the part out of his pocket and handed it to Jamie. Jamie took it and examined the mysterious part, turning it around and bringing it up closer to his eyes while squinting.

“What is this thing?” Jamie pulled it away from his face “and also did you just say you had a girlfriend? That’s the most I’ve ever heard about your personal life.”

Aaron snatched the part back from him.

“I have no idea what it is. And yes as a matter of fact I do. That’s actually where I’m going today.” he paused thinking about how much he should tell Jamie “Today is her birthday and we’re supposed to hang out. Her name is Penelope Patty, but she likes to go by Elle.”

Jamie's eyes widened

“Patty? Is in-”

“Yes, she's councilman Patty’s daughter. Her parents are away for the day so we won’t get caught and her sisters never say anything.”

“Well,” Jamie started. “I was going to suggest that we go to see Mr. Nyx to see if he can help us figure out the dream situation, but I guess you have more important things to do.”

Jamie hung his head down and shuffled his feet along the ground “I guess I can go and explore the city since I don’t want to go to Mr. Nyx without you. I hope I don’t go lost. Maybe somebody has a map.” He lifted his head up and peered around as if someone was going to magically appear with a map in hand.

Aaron rolled his eyes and sighed “Come on, I’m not just going to leave you on the streets. Plus you’re my responsibility now and I’ve never not completed a task I was given.”

Jamie grinned and sprung a little too close to Aaron for his liking

“Oh good! I swear I will not intrude too much on the birthday date. I will just sit politely far enough away so I don’t hear anything nasty coming from the other room.”

Jamie closed his eyes in annoyance “Just follow me please, I’m already late.”

The two boys made their way to the back entrance of Patty's luxurious house where Elle was already sitting in the back garden waiting for them. Resting next to her feet was an overstuffed backpack which she slung over her shoulder once she saw the boys appear. Proper introductions were made between Jamie and Elle, who was surprisingly happy to have another person there for her birthday.

“The pod is waiting in the front, and I’ve got everything I could think to bring in here,” Elle said shaking the large backpack.

The three of them walked through the alleyway that separated the Patty’s house from their neighbors and made it to the main street. A sleek rose-gold pod was resting on the curb.

“This is the personal pod that my sisters and I sisters can use whenever we need to go on a leisure trip,” Elle explained to Jamie as they all got situated into the pod. She entered the address to the port that her family’s boat was docked on.

“I used to also have a personal pod. It was forest green.” Jamie said as the pod began to glide along the streets. At Least they have something in common Aaron thought to himself as he looked out the window.

When they made it to their destination the pod parked and the doors opened on either side. Elle jumped out excitedly followed by Aaron and then Jamie. She ran down to the dock where a gigantic boat was stationed in the water. Aaron looked at the boat in awe. Even Jamie seemed to be impressed.

“I know it’s huge, it honestly doesn’t belong in a body of water this small.” Elle explained, “but my father likes to be excessive so now we have a gigantic boat that’s very fun for parties.”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

After they boarded the boat, Elle walked over to a little station and started pressing a screen. The boat came to life and slowly started to back out further into the water.

“Let’s go downstairs for now. It’s going to get super hot in the afternoon so it’s better to be on top in the evening.”

Aaron and Jamie followed her downstairs where there was a whole leisure room filled with fluffy seating arrangements and a full-sized bar. Elle slung her backpack up on the bar counter and unzipped it to reveal a few items of food and a large key ring full of shiny keys among other things. She picked up the keyring and shook it, the little keys chiming against each other.

“The key to the bar is on here,” she said with a wink towards Aaron. Aaron smiled and walked over to Elle as Jamie flopped down on one of the fluffy sofas.

It took a bit of warming up, but after a few drinks, Aaron seemed to be more than okay with the fact that Jamie was intruding on his and Elle’s personal time. The three sat around the sofa talking while listening to one another’s stories. Jamie and Elle had a lot more similarities being from wealthy families it turned out, which made Aaron happy but also gave him a twinge of jealously that he just could not shake.

“So, Jamie,” Elle said while leaning towards the boy

“I’m not trying to offend you, but I feel like it needs to be addressed. Why is it that you ended up in the orphanage when you came from such a privileged background?”

Aaron could see Jamie visually tense up. Elle had a knack for addressing the elephant in the room, no matter how awkward it might be. Jamie smiled at Elle and slipped off the sofa onto the floor where the other two sat.

“Sorry if I’ve offended you,” Elle started to say “but I’m just very curious and it is my birthday after all”

“So you want my life story instead of birthday gifts?” Jamie said laughing.

Aaron chuckled slightly still not sure what was going on.

“Well, how about this,” Jamie said “we can play a little game if you want to know more about me. A secret for a secret?”

“Oh that sounds exciting,” Elle said, clutching the big fluffy pillow in her lap. Jamie took a swig of his drink before turning towards Aaron and staring him down with his piercing green eyes.

“How about you go first, Aaron?”

“Me?”

“Yes, you silly. Elle and I have been talking this whole time. Do you have any secrets or stories you want to tell us?”

“Well um, there’s not much to tell really. Elle already knows all about me and I’m sure you wouldn’t find it that interesting. I was found on the doorstep of the orphanage when I was born with a pocket watch that had-“

“No not that,” Jamie interrupted. “Something really interesting. Why don’t you show Elle what’s in your pocket?”

Aaron stared back at the boy matching his glare. He was stupid to let his guard down around Jamie.

“Aaron, what is he talking about?” Elle asked.

“Go on, show her,” Jamie said.

Aaron reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out the mysterious metal piece along with the pocket watch. Elle stared at it for a second in confusion.

“Is this some weird joke? You gave me your watch. I don’t understand how you got it back.” She stared at the other thing and her eyes widened. “Did you break into our house, how did you get this stuff?” Elle jumped up from the floor and angrily walked away towards the door. Aaron jumped up and followed her

“What? No! I swear I didn’t break into your house, that’s crazy Elle.”

“Then how did you get the watch and the key?”

“It just appeared! I swear it! When I woke up this morning it was just in my pocket.”

“What do you mean a key?” Jamie said as he walked over to the couple.

“Stay out of this Jamie!” Aaron shouted at him.

“The other day a man came to our house and delivered a box of random crap to my father. He seemed most excited about that thing and when I asked what it was he said it was a special key that goes to a very special place before telling me he was locking it in his office safe. I don’t know how you could have gotten it, but I need answers now!”

Aaron squeezed his eyes shut. He hated fighting and confrontation more than anything. At that moment he wished whatever had put the watch and key and his pocket could magically make him disappear.

“A lady gave it to him in his dream,” Jamie said, now standing directly behind Aaron.

“What?” Elle said, sounding angrier than ever.

“What is he talking about Aaron?”

Aaron opened his eyes and stared into Elle’s large blue ones, looking madder than ever. The last thing he wanted to do was lie to her.

“Jamie’s telling the truth. I did get them from a woman. She showed up in my dreams.”

Aaron explained what had happened the night before as well as the other weird dreams that he had been having. He then explained how Jamie had wanted to tell Mr.Nyx but that Aaron was too scared and didn’t want to ruin Elle’s birthday.

Elle stood quiet for a second taking all of Aaron’s story in.

“Okay.” She finally said before picking up her backpack and swinging it over her shoulder. She turned away from Aaron and opened the door to the exit.

“Elle, please don’t leave. I’m telling the truth.” Aaron said.

“We’re all leaving,” Elle said turning back to face the boys. “I’m coming with you two to talk to Mr.Nyx and figure out what’s going on.”

The ride from the boat to the theatre was deadly silent. Aaron still wasn’t sure why Elle wanted to go see Mr. Nyx about the dream after she had been so angry at him. Yes, Elle was impulsive and loved adventure but this situation was a little too weird. Jamie kept trying to make small talk to lighten the mood but was repeatedly met with looks of hatred from both Aaron and Elle.

“You know,” Jamie began in yet another attempt to get a conversation going “I don’t know why I didn’t immediately connect the two but wasn’t it just last night that Mr. Patty told us about a dream involving some angel and a river?”

Silence.

“I almost forgot about that since I felt like I was going to fall asleep in the middle of that, no offense Elle. Has your dad ever said anything else about his dreams?”

“We’re here!” Aaron called, completely ignoring Jamie, as the pod pulled up along the curb. It was now getting darker, and the dimly lit lights that hadn't burned out yet slowly blinked around the theatre's entrance.

Once Aaron stepped out of the car the sinking realization that he would have to see Mr. Nyx set in. He had never seen Mr. Nyx outside of their scheduled time together and wasn’t sure how the man would react to seeing his two pupils and the daughter of the councilman show up unexpectedly. Still, Aaron wanted to get this figured out for both his and Elle’s sake, so he trudged ahead and pushed open the doors to the theatre. Jamie and Elle followed behind him.

“Wow,” Elle said looking around the place. “So this is where you’re spending most of your time.”

“Unfortunately,” Aaron responded as he led the way to the stairs that went up to the apartment.

“Maybe you should wait down here,” Aaron said, addressing Elle. “Mr. Nyx is a very private person.”

He began to walk up the stairs then stopped when he realized Jamie was following him.

“What are you doing?” Aaron snapped at him

“Going to see Mr. Nyx same as you.”

Aaron frowned.

“What?” Jamie snapped back. “He likes me better anyway.”

Aaron rolled his eyes and continued to walk up the stairs until they reached the top. The red door that led to the room was opened slightly, but Aaron still gently knocked on the door to let Mr. Nyx know that they were there.

“Mr. Nyx?” he called out timidly. “I’m sorry to bother you, we just had a few questions we wanted to ask you.”

There was no answer.

“I guess he’s not here,” Aaron said, feeling relieved that he wouldn’t have to face Mr. Nyx after all.

Jamie pushed past him and slowly stepped into the room.

“What are you doing?” Aaron asked

. “What if he fell asleep or has headphones on?” Jamie asked. “We should make sure he’s not in here.”

Knowing it was a bad idea, Aaron crept behind Jamie until they were both standing in the room. Even though he was in there almost every day, it felt wrong to be there after hours and especially when Mr. Nyx was not there.

“Look over there,” Jamie said in a whisper.

Aaron looked to where the boy was pointing. Another door in the back of the room stood slightly open just like the front door had.

“I wonder what's in there,” Jamie said

“I’m pretty sure that’s where he stores the typewriters and such when they’re not being used,” Aaron responded.

“Aaron, I’m not trying to come off as rude or anything, but do you really believe that Mr. Nyx’s grand plan is to write a stupid book? He has to be up to something more, there’s no way we spend all this time working just for that.”

“What else would he be making us file all those dream reports for?” Aaron asked.

“I don’t know,” Jamie responded. “You’ve been here longer than me. It’s almost as if he’s making us do busy work to distract from something else. And what about the little errands that we have to run? Why does he need us to pick up all those mysterious packages from those obscure little shops?”

Aaron shrugged his shoulders and looked down at his shoes. There was always something in the back of his mind that told him this whole situation was strange. He didn’t even know half the time what he was even supposed to be doing for Mr. Nyx. All his life he had never really questioned people. Asking questions seemed to make people angry, and Aaron wanted people to like him. That’s one of the reasons why Jamie drove him crazy. He always asked so many stupid questions. Well now maybe it was time for Aaron to be asking the questions.

He picked his head up and looked at Jamie “Let's go see what's over there.”

Jamie smiled and almost started skipping with excitement over to where the door was. Aaron caught up with him and the two boys slowly pushed the door open all the way. Past the door was a room that contained nothing but an absolute monstrosity of a contraption. The thing, whatever it was, filled up almost the entire room and didn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason as to how it was shaped. Random long metal prongs stuck out scraping the ceiling, random wheels were attached places where it would never make sense for a wheel to be. In the center were four chairs, each with a little helmet over the top. Upon further examination, Aaron realized that the chairs were in fact the chairs used at a salon to dry hair.

After staring at the contraption for what felt like forever, the two boys turned to face each other.

“We should go sit down in those chairs,” Jamie said

“I can’t” Aaron replied “Plus, I’ve left Elle downstairs. We should at least tell her what's going on.”

“Do you really think she could handle this? Think about how she reacted earlier.”

Aaron thought about it and realized he didn’t want to drag Elle further into whatever mess he and Jamie were about to fall headfirst into.

“Okay, but just for one second.”Aaron said, “I don’t want to leave her down there for too long.”

The two boys walked up to the four chairs and sat in the two middle seats. From their view in the chairs, they could see a box attached to a screen that was facing them. Below the screen on the smooth surface of the box was a small hole with nothing else around it.

Something instinctively inside Aaron reached into his pocket and pulled out the little mechanical part that they had learned was a key. He hesitated before inserting the key into the lock and turning. A sharp piercing sound erupted from the screen above the keyhole which caused both Aaron and Jamie to cover their ears. Suddenly, two straps shot out from the chairs and wrapped around the boy's legs and chest. The drying helmets started to lower down over each of their heads. The lights went out, and all they could see was the little screen glowing in the dark.

“Aaron!” Jamie called out from beside him. “Are you alright?”

“Yes!” Aaron yelled frantically “What’s going on?”

The little screen in front of them started to display letters that were slowly being typed out one at a time. First a ‘G’ than an ‘O’ then another ‘O’.

“What’s it writing?” Jamie asked, sounding more frightened than Aaron had ever heard him.

“I think it’s writing,” Aaron started as he saw the final letters appear on the screen “Goodnight.”

GOODNIGHT