Three weeks passed.
No fragments.
No company.
No blue lights.
Julian started sleeping through the night like a normal person again.
Dara learned how to cook.
Pip got himself a library card.
Marcus found a job at a gas station.
“I hate it,” Marcus announced every evening.
Elena looked up from the couch.
“Then quit.”
Marcus shook his head.
“I hate quitting more.”
Leo’s fragment symptoms gradually faded.
Tamara cut her hair short.
Rina painted her room bright yellow.
Life settled into something normal.
Something quiet.
Something almost boring.
It was perfect.
Then Julian’s band flickered.
....
The Dream
Julian woke with a sharp breath.
The Dreamer’s voice filled his head.
“I saw something.”
Julian sat up.
“What?”
“A dream. Deep sleep. I saw a vault. Millions of fra
