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and my expression serious, ‘I need some help. I’ve been seeing some strange things.’
    Bron pauses, his glass halfway to his mouth. He puts it down. ‘Go on.’
    I describe the cloudy jungle monster.
    ‘Where did you see it?’ he asks, crossing his arms and looking concerned.
    ‘In a dream. It was only a flash because I was so bloody terrified that I yanked myself out of there. It definitely saw me though, Bron.’ I shivered. ‘I swear it was out to get me.’
    He relaxes. ‘Oh. I thought you meant you’d seen it here in the Dreamlands.’ He waves an airy hand in the air. ‘People dream weird shit, Zoe. I wouldn’t over-think it.’ He leans forward. ‘You wouldn’t believe what I’ve seen lately. The Mayor had all these cards in a cabinet in one of the offices in the main Department building. I’ve been going through some of them.’ An amused gleam lights his eyes. ‘There’s a certain well-known actor who dreams every night about dressing up in women’s clothing before going to Buckingham Palace to depose the Queen and take her place.’
    I squint. ‘You’ve been going into the Bubble?’ I ask, referring to the strange section of the Dreamlands which is home to millions of white doors, each one leading to the dreams of different slumbering minds.
    He shrugs. ‘Everyone has. We’ve got to enjoy it while we can. As soon as the Department shows up again, it’ll be locked up.’ He gives me a grin. ‘Assuming the Deaprtment ever shows up, that is. We could go now if you want. Pick a door at random and see who’s inside.’
    I try to stick to the point. ‘I don’t think this monster is just one person’s dream, Bron. It seems more than that. And it’s not the only thing. Yesterday I tried to wake up a woman because she was getting really distressed and I couldn’t do it.’
    ‘You’re very new at this. You’re still learning what you’re capable of. You’re probably reading too much into it.’
    I shake my head. ‘Something’s not right.’
    He watches me carefully. ‘You’re really worried.’
    ‘I am.’
    I can see Bron considering. ‘Very well,’ he says finally. ‘Why don’t we go and talk to Esme? If anything strange is going on, she’ll be the one to notice.’
    I’m grateful that he’s at least pretending to take me seriously. I wait while he murmurs his farewells to the barman and then we wander outside, to the obvious interest of two dozen pairs of eyes. Bron hooks my arm under his.
    ‘I wouldn’t worry about all of them,’ he says. ‘They’re just jealous that I get to spend so much time with you.’
    I sigh in frustration. ‘I don’t get it. They all think that Ashley’s the dreamweaver, not me.’
    ‘Yeah,’ he admits, ‘but you led a string of night mares through the town. And they all kind of think that you, well, killed the Mayor.’
    What? I turn to him, mouth agape. ‘I’m no murderer,’ I protest. ‘That was Pegasus.’ I’m referring to the night mare I befriended in the forest. Considering the Mayor had held her captive and tortured her, one might say her actions were justified but it was still the most brutal thing I’d ever witnessed. There’s no way I’m capable of something like that, regardless of how much I despised the leader of the Dreamlands.
    Bron grins again. ‘Have you spent much time down at the river?’
    I’m confused by the question. ‘I guess. I used to talk to Ashley a few times at the oxbow lake.’
    His grin broadens. ‘You didn’t go to the mill?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Come on. This’ll be fun.’
    I begin to protest. ‘But Esme…’
    ‘A minor diversion, Zoe. It’ll only take us ten minutes but it’ll be worth it, I promise.’
    I sigh inwardly. I could do without this but if my suspicions that something is wrong aren’t entirely unfounded, I’m going to need all the help I can get. If Bron will humour me, then I’ll humour him. ‘Fine,’ I say. ‘Lead the way.’
    He takes me out towards the eastern edge