It took quite an effort to wiggle the paper out of her cold hand. She must've used all her strength to protect it in her last moments.

I finally freed the note and we ran into the kitchen to get away from Raspy. I spread it out on the table, smoothing out the wrinkles.

It was addressed to me.

Dear Jimmy,

I've sent Half away, because I fear what may happen. I could not risk losing him to the Shadow Ka. That is also why I write you this note. Just in case.

I quit reading. “Holy crud, I forgot about Half. Has anyone seen him?”

All I got were negative head shakes. I turned back to the note.

You must find Half. He is the only one who can help you find the Dream Warden. Then you must capture a Shadow Ka and force him to take you and the Warden of Dreams to the Yumeka, to the Stompers.

You cannot do this without the Warden. And the Grand Exception.

It will not be as you may think. The Gifts will help, but in the end, only one thing will save you. You must conquer your fear.

I wish victory upon you.

Inori

I shrank back into a sitting position on the floor.

“Boy, she really cleared things up, didn't she?” Rusty said.

“You're not kidding,” I said. “Come on, we have to find Half, and then deal with the Shadow Ka.”

“Did someone say my name? And who the heck is that guy?”

I turned in shock, although I shouldn't have been surprised. Half was in the doorway, staring at Raspy in the other room.

“Where did you go?” I asked.

“Inori made me …” His words stopped when he saw her on the ground. “Oh my …” We followed as he ran to her and grabbed her hand. “What—”

I explained everything to him, and his face went white.

“I should've been here,” he said, devastated. “I could've saved her. Especially considering I could've left one of me here to watch from the corner, just to make sure she was okay.”

I still had a hard time when he talked about how he could split up and be in different places. I grabbed him and made everyone go back into the kitchen.

“Half, then maybe you'd be dead too.” I said as we walked. “She said in this note that I needed you to find the Dream Warden.”

“She … she made me leave. I didn't get it—she made me stay, and then as soon as you were gone she made me go away. I kept telling her I should stay here, but she got all mad and screamed at me. Then I left because she'd ticked me off.”

He sat down at the table, put his head in his hands, and went silent.

“Half, this isn't your fault,” said Dad. “Inori knew what she was doing.”

He looked up, his eyes red. “I don't know anything about the stupid Dream Warden. I don't know what she's talking about!”

“You've gotta know something,” I said. “She wrote that you were the only one who could find him.”

“I'm telling you, I don't know anything!”

The room went silent, and I sat and stared at him for a moment, thinking through things. It just wasn't adding up.

“Come on,” I finally said. “Let's go take care of the Ka, and then we can worry about it.”

Reluctant to leave Inori alone, but not knowing what else to do, we walked outside.

Everything was in perfect order.

The tight pack of Shadow Ka showed no movement, an almost endless sea of silent, subdued black creatures. The dragons stood at their posts, surrounding them, ready to squash any more ideas of escape.

We had won the battle. The Shadow Ka were defeated.

Almost.

There was one more thing to do.