Audra watched Morgan carefully, feeling a little taken aback when she mentioned book inspiration. "Well...I mean this place certainly is unusual enough to spark that thought..." Audra felt like she was back peddling, like she was trying to stop the proverbial bomb from going off.

She noticed the tears welling in Morgan's eyes and began to panic. Oh god...what did I do? why is she crying? oh no...I must have said something bad...oh stupid Audra you always do this! Try to help her damnit! If she starts bawling what are you gonna do? "Um....it's ok...I'm...I'm sure you've finished lots of things, sometimes we're just a little prone to procrastination...um...maybe we should have Kyoko come back? Then she can answer all our questions...it'll be ok!" as she faded out, Audra was unsure who that last assurance was for, her or Morgan.

"I could start -another- magnum opus...but even if we go on some quest and I live through it all, when I get home and sit down to write it won't -come-...it'll leave me...like every -other- story I've ever sat down and tried to write..." She was whining like a teenager and she honestly didn't care. When it came to this one topic, she was at her wits end far enough to try anything, even whinging like a spoilt child.

She sighed dejectedly and shook her head. "I'm going to finish my fish first. I'm dreaming about dinner since I didn't get to eat any...I might as well enjoy it..." She didn't mean to be so harsh to Audra, and she felt a bit bad for it. But it was a nasty can of worms her lack of writing ability, and it made her miserable just -thinking- of it.

"...I think you're being far too hard on yourself." Audra said softly, picking at the remains of her chocolate cake. After hearing her companion's outburst she had lost the desire to finish it. Writers block huh? How utterly frustrating...though I don't find it surprising this girl's muse hit the highway, she seems far too...logical to have any real imagination. Poor thing, what has to happen to a person to have their imagination and sense of fancy killed to thoroughly?

"It's always disappointing when you miss a meal...by all means, take your time." Audra smiled softly at Morgan as she set the fork down. Leaning back in her chair she put her hands in her lap, relaxing after a delicious, if somewhat awkward meal.

Morgan picked at her fish, cleaning the flesh off of the bones deftly with chopsticks in a way that suggested this was a regular meal for her. Her usual 'treat' to herself, after all, was to sneak off to a Vietnamese restaurant. Be that as it may, though, the awkwardness of her outburst had spoiled the food a bit for herself as well. Rather than relishing her treat, she instead finished it off for the food it was and set it aside.

She sighed softly, wondering why she was dreaming for so very -long-. Shouldn't she have woken up by now? She looked over at Audra and sighed softly. "I'm...sorry I'm being awkward. ...Give me a chance?"

She stretched out her hand again, feeling like she needed a bit of a reset. Some dream--things were going -wrong-!

"So...what are you eating?" Audra asked quietly, trying to restart the conversation towards a lighter end. "It looks delicious." However, Morgan didn't seem to be enjoying it, Audra had obviously upset her. Great, now she's upset, I've hit a nerve and she must hate me.

Audra was surprised then to have Morgan apologize. "Oh...it's OK, we're obviously in...unusual circumstances and nerves are raw...I'm sure lesser people would be having breakdowns by now." She paused, wondering for a moment if perhaps she should be taking the situation more seriously.

The question about the food made Morgan smile at least. She replied in a somewhat shaky voice, but the awkwardness came from not speaking the language she was quoting rather than any unsteadiness about Audra. "Ca Uop Xa. It's...fish." She laughed softly, shaking her head. She'd remembered what it was called, but...it was fish, it was spicy, and she was fairly certain there was lemongrass involved. The rest was a mystery even to her. She pulled off a bit of fish and offered it out to Audra, happy to share her little treat. She was still in a bit of a bad mood, but that couldn't be helped. Dwelling on it would only dampen her spirits further.

She nodded along with Audra's assessment of the situation, sighing softly. "Yeah...if any of this were real, I bet people would freak out. But why take it so seriously when it's only a dream? Things like this...don't happen for real. It's why fantasy books exist. Because reality is pretty dry."

Audra listened intently as Morgan explained the meal in front of her, and was pleasantly surprised when Morgan gave her a morsel to try. "Thank you!" Audra took the bite and nibbled on it; first and foremost it was spicy, very spicy. Audra had a bit of a sensitive tongue, and the vibrant spices in the fish caused her to flush. "It's good..." She said as she reached for her glass of milk, taking a sip to cool the burn. "It's rather spicy." Audra said with a smile.

She finished sipping her milk as she listened to Morgan talk about how if their situation were real it would be very troubling. She really thinks this is all a dream...wow and I thought I was bad. When Morgan mentioned how dull the "real" world was Audra had to interject. "It's only as dry as you make it. The world is full of magic if anyone bothered to look for it. I mean, have you ever bothered to really look at snowflakes? Or wonder why it can rain when it's sunny and the sky is clear? Or...why some people can see fairies and others can't...it's as dry as pudding in my opinion!"

Audra was used to people denying the existence of magic and magical beings. It happened to her almost every day since childhood. However, when Morgan said it, something about the tone or the utter conviction threw Audra off. She stared at Morgan, her cup halfway to her mouth as if she were frozen. She struggled to find words to vocalize her feelings but everything seemed to come up short. No...magic? We're sitting in a room, with people in a world that is chalk full of it and you're too thick to notice?! UGH!!!! Audra felt like she was talking to a child who responded to everything with "no!".

She finally was able to set the glass down, realizing how stupid she must look just sitting there frozen. "You... you really don't believe in anything unusual or magical or even scientifically anomalous?"

Audra listened calmly as Morgan ranted, it was a normal reaction from people who refused to see things for the way they were and as such, Audra was quite used to hearing it. She always made a point to listen carefully, if anything for the sake of politeness but also because under all the ranting was usually a valid point. "That's refreshing to hear, the living in the now part of it anyway...too many people are either trapped in the past or obsessed with making plans for a billion potential variables in futures that may or may not happen."

She returned both of her hands to her lap and continued speaking. "As for your opinion on fairies I may not agree, but I do respect it. However, it seems to me that the human imagination can only go so far without inspiration. I doubt your uneducated dolt from medieval England was imaginative enough to come up with half of the unusual creatures which dot western Literature and art." Audra spoke softly, it always helped to speak softly in debates which, this had quickly turned into. Things could get out of hand easily, and one had to keep their wits about them if they didn't want to end up being yelled at.

However, Audra couldn't help but throw a small jab out, after all she was getting quite tired of being considered part of Morgan's dream, as if it never occurred to the woman that this world could revolve around anything else but her. "And...if I am indeed a dream, which you seem to so fervently believe, then what is your subconscious trying to say with me? What undernourished, dying part of yourself am I supposed to represent?"

Audra thought about what Morgan said, Well...apparently this person is my complete and utter negative. "Sounds rather accurate, though I work in a book store near a university, not a library." She felt the correction might be in vain though, Morgan seemed solidly to think that this world was of her creating, and therefore all details were controlled by her. "And from what I know of writers, most are rather naive and foolish. The only super stiff 'authors' I ever met were those economic and financial writers who occasionally come to the store to do signings. Now, THERE are people with no sense of imagination."

She was getting off track though, Audra had a point to make she just had to flipping get there. "Anyway...why is it that it's only OK to believe in fairies and gnomes and dragons and angels when one is young? At what age do you suddenly wake up and say 'OK I'm done believing in these things!' hmm? It seems rather foolish to me to just drop your entire belief system simply because you finish another rotation around the sun."

Now the final nail in the coffin..."And as for being an adult, you seem to do it quite well and look how utterly miserable you are. I may act childish on occasion but at least I'm happy with who I am and the world around me."

Something about the atmosphere had changed. As you both look around, you realize that people are actually clumping together in groups, looking frightened. Many of them were talking in quiet, fearful voices, looking around the room, their eyes gluing to the doors. You both realize how deeply involved in the debate you had been; you didn't even notice when everyone had started to act differently. They had all been chatting amiably and eating just a moment ago, hadn't they? When had the air gotten so cold? When had things gone so quiet? As the questions ring in your mind, you hear a door open. In walks Kyoko, her features hard, like she was anticipating a fight.

"Everyone, please gather in the middle of the room," she said in a strong, clear voice that silenced the low murmur of whispers and anxious talk. Those who were standing obeyed, converging around the table that you two were already sitting at, looking perplexed.

"As some of you already know, there has been an attack. Three people are dead...."

She let this solemn fact sink in a moment before pressing on, but tears glittered in her eyes.

"We are going to be sending you all back as quickly as possible, but we must maintain order. Nobody is to leave this room without the accompaniment of myself or one of the Altor. You will know them by their insignias on their robes, or by the simple fact that they are wearing normal clothes, whereas you are all wearing sleeping clothes."

A very brief smile passed over her face as she looked at them all. Her eyes lingered on Audra and Morgan before she continued. You both simultaneously get the feeling she was trying to catch your eye.

"We will be doing this quickly, and quietly, in pairs. Please, do not panic. Stay calm and keep your voices down, and we will have you out of here as soon as possible. We will be starting to release you soon. Until you have been called, please remain calm and have patience. For the time being, this is the safest place to be. The three...went outside the building. Please, stay away from the windows and doors."

With the warning still hanging in the air, she took a couple of quick strides over to Morgan and Audra, placing a hand on both of their shoulders.

"Please, come with me. We must speak."

"You, and a few others, are being taken back first. I've spoken with the other Altors, and they have informed me that at least five others arrived tonight without warning, in the same fashion as you. I suspect that the one planning the attacks may have some connection with you and the other five arriving tonight. Coincidences don't happen often here. I suspect there is a reason you just showed up tonight. And I worry that if she gets her hands on any of you, it could be very dangerous. Miss...oh dear. I have been a poor hostess, I never even got your name. But please, wait here for me. I must speak with Audra a moment."

She spared an apologetic smile to Morgan before placing a hand on Audra's shoulder and leading her a short distance away. She made sure to lower her voice, her expression sympathetic.

"Audra...I do not wish to bestow this kind of news upon you, especially since it is just your first day here. I didn't mean to bring you into this world in such a dangerous time. I was not anticipating organized attacks, least of all today. But many things have been out of the ordinary, it seems."

Her gaze flickered back to Morgan, then a few others in the crowd, before landing on Audra again.

"I apologize. But I believe you knew one of the three who were killed. A coworker of yours, at your book store. I would advise you to skip work tomorrow. Call in sick. I don't feel it is a coincidence that one of the three killed had connections to you. I'm afraid that the one organizing the attacks may be looking for you as well as the others. I can't say why, but it would be safest if you stayed close to home when you wake up. I will contact you later, on the other side..."

She gave the girl a light squeeze on the shoulder, remorse in her eyes.

Without giving either of you much chance to say anything, she quickly whisked you both away to the hallway, and then into one of the rooms with beds. There were a lot of people in these rooms, standing by the doors, the windows, all bearing an emblem on their chests that neither of you had much chance to get a good look at. She instructed you both to lie on the beds and imagine home, or wherever it is that you fell asleep. You feel yourself begin to drift and you find yourself waking right where you fell asleep. Everything is just as it was. Was it all a dream? Was it more? You will have to come up with your own theories, because despite research and reading, nothing gives you concrete answers.

Audra, if you do not heed Kyoko's warning and decide to go to work anyways, you will discover one of your coworkers died last night in their sleep. There is so far no sign of foul play, but since she was young and had no history of illness, it is boggling the people investigating her death. You also get a strange feeling of being watched wherever you go, unless you decide to stay home. In which case, nothing extraordinary happens, other than feeling anxious to fall asleep again. Despite any attempts, however, you can't seem to get back to the place you were last night.

Morgan, should you choose to move on like any other day, you will find nothing out of the ordinary other than a small article in the paper about a young woman's death. The investigation is ongoing, and the cause of death is still undetermined. She appeared to have died in her sleep. You occasionally glance over your shoulder, expecting to see that strange young woman from last night, and you almost think you do sometimes, but every time you look, there is nothing there. Aside from feeling a bit foolish and superstitious, your day goes on without incident.

Audra woke up to a loud thud, she had rolled off the couch and had landed soundly on the floor of her living room. Dazed she did what she always did when she randomly woke up, she looked for a clock. "What time is it?" As she pulled herself off the floor she recalled the nights activities. She remembered the dining hall, the people, and a warning; "Don't go to work..." she said softly, as if quoting someone. Should I listen? I mean if that Morgan was right and it was all a dream...well dream warnings don't get much for direct than that. I should listen even more if it WASN'T a dream...

She shuffled into her tiny apartment kitchen and saw the clock, it was 6:30am, the store would be open in an hour and a half if she was going to call in sick now was the time to do it. "An ounce of prevention..." Audra mumbled recalling a favorite saying of her grandmother. "Where is my phone?"

Audra found her cell phone buried in the recesses of her purse and called the number she knew by heart. Hopefully the owner would be in, she hated leaving messages on the answering machine. "Hello? Boss?" She was happy to hear a human voice on the other end of the phone. "Yeah...um...I woke up this morning feeling like utter crap...I went to a new restaurant last night and I think I might have gotten food poisoning...wait, what?" She was halfway through her made up excuse when her boss dropped a bomb on her. One of the other cashiers, the girl who worked on Thursdays had passed away in the night. "In her sleep? That's awful...they think it might have been an undiagnosed heart condition" Audra knew better though, the events of last night had been real. "Yeah...I understand, someone has to come in...yeah I should feel better around ten...yes I'll come in...thank you." Audra ended the call and set the phone down. "Well crap."

Audra had made herself a slice of toast for breakfast, but it felt like ashes in her mouth as the night's events churned over and over in her head. She had to go to work, she couldn't NOT go the boss needed her there...but the warning echoed in her head. What would happen if she left the relative safety of her apartment?

She finished getting ready for work, and after making sure she had everything went to leave the apartment. Standing in front of the door Audra felt like David getting ready to fight mighty Goliath. "I can do this...I can do this..." she repeated to herself over and over again, the tempo getting faster and louder until she was practically shouting at the door. At the height of psyching her self up Audra flew open the door and jumped out into the hallway.

She looked around, partially to check for any evils around her, but also to make sure none of her neighbors had been witness to her spectacle. Seeing no dangers of any sort Audra locked her apartment door and made her way out of the apartment complex. Once on the street she walked quickly, with purpose. If you look like a victim, you will be a victim! she randomly thought as she made her way for busier streets.

The walk to the store had never felt longer, every time she turned a corner she got the feeling there was something lurking behind her, watching her. Audra tried to ignore the feeling but with Kyoko's words echoing in her head she was nervous, perhaps she should have pressed harder to stay home.

Walking into the bookstore the feeling dissipated somewhat, as if the bindings and ink of the various books was a ward. Audra sighed and walked into the back to search out her boss. Today is going to be a long day...no matter how you look at it.

Audra sat in the back of the bookstore, going over invoices and making the occasional phone call to distributors. It was dull work, but it kept her mind off of the events of last night, as well as the untimely death of her co-worker. Besides, being in the back of the store meant she had plenty of warning if anyone entered the store. Not that anyone's going to come in...all the regulars know what happened by now and will avoid the place like the plague.

She heard the door open and someone step into the store. Audra set the invoice down and strained her ears, hoping to determine something about her new guest. She heard shuffling, unusual for a regular customer who would know where things were. "If it's a customer I have to do something..." she whispered to herself. Deciding it was best to be on the offensive first and foremost she called out loudly. "Can I help you with something?"