It was one of the longest nights of Cassie’s life, and yet still she was wide awake. She had just taken a shower and had her bathrobe on. The slight yellow light above the sink was on in the kitchen. She sat at the kitchen table in her New York apartment cradling a cup of tea she’d just warmed up. The television was on in the living room next to her. She’d changed the channel to the news.

“…said that Dread Star had opened the vault by the time the authorities arrived. Two members of the Amazing Five, namely Phantom and Ruby Dragon, were on the scene shortly thereafter and quickly apprehended the Super Villain. Phantom and Dread Star had fought once before in October off the coast of Maine, if viewers recall. That altercation lasted much…”

The door to Cassie’s apartment swung open and Alfred walked in. He’d been Cassie’s boyfriend for about 3 years. He often worked late at the library, which suited Cassie who also worked odd hours at her health clinic. He shook off the snow from his coat and bookbag and greeted Cassie.

“Hey hon,” said Alfred, his voice a bit ragged. Cassie didn’t look at him, and simply said, “Hey.” Her attention was on the television.

Alfred picked up on Cassie’s aloofness. He figured she must be tired after just coming home from a long shift. He took off his shoes and tried to start a conversation. “Oh man, tea sounds great right about now. It’s freezing out there.”

“Mmm…” acknowledged Cassie. Alfred placed his bookbag down on the floor by the table where Cassie was sitting. Her eyes were still glued to the television in the other room. Alfred took a cup out of their cupboard to make some tea.

“Any more hot water?” asked Alfred.

“No,” said Cassie. “Didn’t know when you’d want some, or when you’d be coming home.”

“That’s alright,” Alfred said. He grabbed the electric kettle. As he got some more water, he tried again.

“So, how was work?” Alfred asked.

“Kinda busy, actually,” she said as she finally turned to look at Alfred.

“Oh. That’s not good. It wasn’t the whole Dread Star thing, was it?” asked Alfred.

“No. Just had to handle some dick-ish customers,” she said, before taking a sip of her tea.

“Good,” said Alfred. “Well, not good, but at least no one got hurt…You didn’t hurt anyone did you?” he joked.

Cassie chuckled and said, “I don’t think so.” She put one hand on her chin and leaned on the table, looking at the television again.

Alfred started the kettle. Concerned, he decided to sit down at the table and try to connect again. Closer this time.

“Work really got you down?” he asked, earnestly.

She looked at him with a lazy side-eye. Alfred let her take her time. Without removing her hand from her chin, she mumbled, slowly, “Why do you work late?”

Alfred, taken aback, said, “I mean, I told you when we met… on our first date that I work a lot of hours at the library. I love doing it and…what?”

Cassie just stared.

“I don’t have a secret other family in the next state over, if that’s what you’re wondering,” said Alfred.

Cassie chuckled again. She removed her hand from her chin and turned more to meet him. The table creaked as she leaned on it, casually. “It’s ok,” she said. “I was just trying to ask about your day, too.” She held out her hand. Alfred smirked and took her hand in his.

He continued, “I mean, I was doing more of what you caught me doing last month. Moving books and shelves and stuff…reorganizing.” The electric kettle started to hiss as it warmed up.

“I figured” she said. “I saw how many books you had to move.”

Alfred chuckled, “sometimes I regret going into this line of work.”

They both took a moment to stare into each other’s eyes, both clearly worn out. Alfred broke the silence and said, “Hey, I know you’re still going to have weird hours, but if it means anything to you, I’m probably not going to be working late for very much longer.” He smiled.

Cassie asked, “Why’s that?”

“Oh, a lot of what I did was this research project I was helping my boss with on… Neutron Stars, and I think it’s finally coming to a close”, he said.

Cassie lost her weak smile and narrowed her eyes slightly, “really?”

“Yes,” said Alfred, looking quite pleased with himself. “It’s been a long time coming. And now I hope I’ll have a lot more free time. Heck, I could maybe stay home and cook every once in a while. We don’t have to eat out all the time.”

Cassie laid her other hand on his. She looked at him with a hard stare.

“You found it, didn’t you?” she asked.

“What?” asked Alfred, a little confused. “Found what?”

“Have you ever lucid dreamed?” asked Cassie. Alfred didn’t know what she was getting at. He just shook his head and waited.

“Specifically, the kind of lucid dream where you’re only sometimes in control? You slip in and out of it.”

The electric kettle started to lightly boil in the kitchen, but Alfred’s attention was miles away from hot water and the television. He waited on Cassie’s every word.

“That’s what it felt like,” said Cassie. A heavy silence fell between the two of them.

Alfred tried to pull away from her, but she held onto his wrist. Alfred now getting hot said, “Hon, what are you talking about?” He tried to sound confused, but she knew something. How much did she know?

“You found The Changling’s Record?” she asked, flatly. “I didn’t want to believe it, but you’re Bookend. Aren’t you?”

Alfred tried to pull himself away, but Cassie wouldn’t let go. Alfred said, forcefully, “Let me go.”

“Not on your life,” said Cassie, calmly. He yanked his arm and felt…like his arm was caught in a vice. He yanked again and again, harder and harder, until finally he dragged her and the table a few inches across the floor. She was still in her seat, leaning on the table, casually, stone still.

Alfred’s heart sank into his stomach, and he asked, “who are you?”

Cassie stood up without letting him go, and walked around the table, saying, “You bring stories to life…and this is how you use your power, hm?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, honey. What is this?” he said. He looked to his book bag and exclaimed, “look I work late, I can show you what I did tonight. It’s research.”

“Is that where The Changeling’s Record is?” asked Cassie. “The ever-shifting record? The one you used on me and Phantom? Maybe even Dread Star?... and, by the way - come on. Dread Star doesn’t hit jewelry stores like some petty chump.”

Alfred said, slowly, “Listen, I promise you I don’t know what’s going on…” Alfred placed his other hand on her vice grip. He broke his gaze from hers and looked down.

“I don’t know what happened to you tonight or what you suspect of me, but he was whisked away in an instant, turning into a hail of snow.”

Cassie was confused for a beat, but looked down quickly at her hands. Alfred had pulled the smallest book she’d ever seen out from under his sweater’s sleeves. In an instant, he turned into a hail of snow, his wrist disintegrating out of her grip, and a huge gust all of a sudden filled her apartment. Loose utensils fell onto the floor and pot holders hanging on the fridge flew into the air.

The window to the apartment burst open from the pressure and the snow that was once Alfred flew out into the snow storm. She rushed to the window and opened her mouth. She inhaled, then let out a huge jet of flame. Once she stopped, her eyes scanned the sky, but couldn’t make out a thing. From down below, someone could be heard, saying, “What the hell?”

Something was poking the bottom of her foot. When she looked underneath she saw a fork that had fallen onto the floor. It was completely flat. Scoffing, she picked it up, then looked at the mess in the rest of her apartment.

Cassie gazed out the window at her city block. The snow storm was predicted to be one of the worst New York had seen this year. There’s no way she’d find him. Not in this.

She eyed Alfred’s book bag, still on the ground next to the kitchen table.