Insomnia

25

"Why the hell would you tell them your real name?" Oz shouted. "They know who you are! What were you thinking?"

Esme plopped down onto her living room couch, and stretched her neck. Sleeping on the ground for so long had left her stiff. "They would have figured it out eventually. You can keep a profile private in Somnus, but they would have asked, and then what should I have done? It's better to tell them now so they trust me, instead of making them drag it out of me."

Oz folded his arms, settling into the armchair on her right. He looked angry. Furious, really. It was strange on his face. Esme wasn't being totally honest with him about her motives. She'd grown so frustrated watching the Knightmare's lackeys parade themselves around, that she had to do something to take the edge off. Declaring her true identity felt like making a declaration of war, even if only she recognized it as one.

"I still don't like it," Oz said. "You didn't have to do it tonight. You didn't have to do it all! You have enough information to take to the police."

"Dream crimes are incredibly difficult to investigate, and prosecute. Atticus talked about it all the time. Because it's all about memory, and they usually don't cause physical damage, establishing that there was a crime at all is an uphill battle. And then implicating a specific perpetrator is really difficult. Even in the worst case, the Omens could toss out a few low level members to take the fall, and then move on. And I told you what Hypnos said. That they have friends, in high places, who protect them?" She shook her head. "We can't be sure that the police will do enough."

"What's you plan then? How are you going to stop the Knightmare?"

"I'll take care of him myself if I have to," said Esme. "I'll involve the police once I have more information, proof that their friends can't sweep under the rug, and they can take care of the lower level Psions. But the Knightmare? Let's be honest, Oz, I'm the only one strong enough to stop him."

Oz sat in silence for a few moments, arms folded across his chest. "You're sure? That you can take him?"

"I'm sure no one else can." Esme chose not to mention that a group of Psions could potentially overpower the Knightmare. But no. This fight was hers, and hers alone. Besides, dreaming in tandem with another Psion was incredibly difficult unless both people knew one another extremely well. Their thoughts needed to work in harmony, otherwise, they'd only get in each other's way.

"Okay. So what's the next step?" He seemed calmer now.

"I give them what they want. A Sleepwalker. Not sure how I'm going to pull that off, though. I'm not going to kidnap some helpless user, but..."

"I'll do it," Oz said. "I'll be your, Sleepwalker conquest, or whatever."

"What?" Esme scoffed. "No, why would you do that?"

"We don't have any other options. You need someone to pose as a user, that you can pretend to torture to advance in their ranks. Someone who won't give the game away. That's me."

"It's insane, it's too dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Oz laughed. "Dangerous is going after a homicidal maniac by yourself. All I'm signing up for is some really creepy role play."

"Don't call it that!" Esme chuckled, rolling her eyes. "God, you're making this weird."

"It's already weird. You're planning to show me off to some jackass named Hypnos as your love slave or something. Not really my thing, but if you're into it..."
"Shut up!" She said, sitting up and leaning over to punch him playfully in the shoulder.

"Please, Esme," Oz said, serious. He took her hand. "Let me do this. I'm not a powerful Psion, I'm just one of Fantasian's research geeks. This is all I can to do avenge Atticus. Let me do it." His eyes grew soft. "Let me help you."

She was struck by the directness of his reply. His hand was warm.

"Okay." There was a silence. It grew awkward as they continued holding hands, saying nothing. "Um." She pulled back. "We should practice. Or like, go over what we're going to say, and do."

Oz raised a scandalized eyebrow. Her face grew flushed, prompting him to sigh. "Yeah. You're definitely going to need to practice."