The needle in the haystack
While Albert finished with his exams, his friends kept searching for clues. They hadn't found much in the library by then, but there were lots of books to look at, and they ended up reading more than they did when studying. Albert had repeated his incursion a couple times more, always the day before an exam so Marla would credit the tiredness and the anxiety to them. However, he didn't discover anything else, Marla would only repeat the same information they already had, changing the words. He considered looking around the house to see if he could find something, but he ruled it out as being too dangerous, if he went searching around the house he would not be able to see if Marla was awake. So he stuck the plan and saw how Marla looked miserable after each of the nights.
It was finally his last day of exams, and that day Dalia, Robert, and Myriam had gone to the city to try to see if they could discover anything. It was a bit desperate, but they were tired of spending their days at the university library. However, the fact that they had actually planned to stop to the city library, wasn't something they were looking forward. Still, they also needed to find where Marla's father lived, now that they had her surname, and the registry was in the same building as the library. They had also decided to go to the cathedral, they wouldn't be asking questions, but maybe they could accidentally discover something. After having promised Albert that they would stay together and that they would be back for dinner, they left leaving him alone in his room.
He took his notes and wondered if it was really worth it to go over them again, he was not likely to memorize anything else. When he put them aside he saw that the book had been hidden under the pile of papers. That made him feel guilty for not having thought of it despite all that happened, and for not having tried to contact his grandmother. Since he wouldn't be studying any, and he still had some hours before the exam, he decided that it was past time for him to pay her a visit. He set up the alarm clock and went back to bed. It was the first time he was trying to dream in the morning after a full night of sleep, so it took him longer than he had expected.
His grandmother's house was exactly as it had been the last time he had been there. Lara was waiting for him sitting on the sofa, she was as severely burnt as he had last seen her. She stood up and they hugged.
-I've missed you.- he said sobbing.
-Shhh, it's okay, I was with you all along.- she said caressing his head.
They sat down together on the sofa. He explained her the things that had been happening in real life since she only had access to dreams then. Lara was glad to hear that Mayra was getting better, at least her sacrifice had had a purpose.
-Grandma,... do you know something about the Creator?- he asked, hoping that she would have an answer.
-I wish I did, but I don't. I had never heard of her until the moment Marla talked about her. I'm completely clueless.
-She told me something once, that she had been someone else who lived for a really long time. A witch from medieval times.
-I am sorry I can't help you, Albert. I really am. I will look through my father's books to see if there is something. He had an extensive collection of some really rare books, it's going to take me some time, though.
He looked at her lovingly once again, he knew it was time to go.
-I have to leave now, but I will come back soon, try to do what you can and I will do my best too.
That evening, when he returned from his exam, he found his friends all dressed up. He stopped at the doorstep wondering what was all that.
-Come on! Get changed! We've got a reservation at your favorite restaurant in the city!- hurried him, Robert.
-But,...
-Hurry up!- urged Myriam.
-Have you discovered anything?- he asked while getting his t-shirt off.
-We won't tell you now!- the three of them replied cheerfully.
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