I popped the pea into my mouth and chewed it quickly. Like the other Gifts, it had no taste, for which I was very grateful. I despised peas the way I despised hammering nails into my skull.

  After I'd swallowed, I looked at Farmer. “Now what?” I asked.

  “Raise your right arm, Jimmy.”

  I wanted to complain, having been through this lesson three times before. But I knew better, and did as he said.

  “Now raise your left arm.”

  I did.

  “There wasn't really a need for that this time, but I just wanted to see you do it again.” He smiled.

  “Farmer, you're getting more and more hilarious every time I meet you.”

  “What do you have, when you have no humor, I say.” He let out a huge sigh as he sat back onto one of his special chairs. “Now, to tell you about the Fourth Gift, the last you will receive before the end.”

  “What is it?” A sudden excitement shot through me, as I remembered Farmer telling me last time that this one would be even more powerful than the Anything, which seemed impossible.

  Farmer leaned back further in his invisible chair. His smile faded, and he spoke his next words in a whisper.

  “You now have the power to control the Yumeka.”

  “Control the Yumeka?” I asked. “What … what does that mean? I can just go there and wipe out the Stompers?”

  “No, it most certainly does not mean that. The Stompers are only inside the Yumeka, they have nothing to do with it per se. You must still go there and defeat them in the only way you can in such a place.”

  “And how is that?”

  “Using the Fourth Gift. It's called the Power, and it will help you overcome the nightmares.”

  He stood and leaned forward until his face was only inches from mine.

  “You must do it for everyone. For everyone in your world.”

  His words turned my blood into a flowing red Slurpee.

  “That sounds awful,” I said.

  Farmer sat back down. “Jimmy, please understand that I will joke no more with you today, because we've breached a subject that doesn't allow it. Yes, what you must do is awful. Much more than you can now envision. But you must do it. You are the only hope now, the only one. I hate to do this …”

  Farmer broke into a sob, and his shoulders shook with grief.

  “I feel for you as I would my own son, Jimmy. I detest the Stompers for making me put this burden upon you. But it must be done.” He stood again. “Jimmy, I know you can do this. You will win in the end. I feel this in my heart.”

  My own eyes were wet with fear and sadness. The severity of Farmer's words had punctured my insides, and I knew that I was about to embark on something that I could not yet comprehend.

  “How … how do I do it?”

  “You must allow the Shadow Ka to put you in the Black Coma and fly you to the eye of the Stomper assigned to you. After you defeat your own nightmares, then you'll take on the others.”

  “And how does that happen?”

  “That's where the Dream Warden comes in.”

  There was a long pause.

  “The Warden has a gift of his own,” Farmer continued. “By now you have heard of the Grand Exception?”

  “Yeah—it's what the girl, the other Giver, did to save Joseph. You can willingly take the place of another, and the Stompers can do nothing about it.”

  “That's exactly right. Well, the Dream Warden has a special power that allows him to use the Grand Exception an infinite number of times. Through the power of the Warden, you will be able to take the place of every person on your planet, and fight their nightmares for them. And believe me, Jimmy, it is the only way. Those people cannot do it—they don't have the power or the means or the will. You must do it with your Gifts. It's the only way.”

  It was almost too much to sink in. The power to control the Yumeka, the Grand Exception, the Dream Warden. They all fit together like the sides of a triangle. Before I could say something to Farmer, he stood and looked out the doors.

  “We knew this would happen,” he said.

  “What?”

  He turned back to me.

  “They are here.”

  Farmer grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the barn. A great wind had picked up, and I didn't have to look to see its source. The Stompers had found us, quicker than ever before.

  “But I don't know everything yet!” I yelled over the wind. “Where is the Dream Warden? How do I use the Power?”

  “We can't chance it!” Farmer yelled back. “You'll figure it out yourself. If we don't get you out now, it's over. Run for the Door, go!”

  I didn't want to, but I did what he said. I turned and ran straight for it, pounding the wheat stalks under me with every step. Behind the Door, moving toward us like a black wave, was the wall of the Stompers. Wind tore at my back as the wall tried to suck everything into it. If it got much closer, it would be strong enough to lift me off the ground.

  But the Door was close now, and I knew I would make it without the tense moments of the last time I'd met Farmer. I ran the last few steps and grabbed the handle. Just before I pushed it open, I looked back at the old Giver.

  He waved, a simple act of lifting his hand and then letting it fall back to his side.

  I nodded to him and then went through the Door.

  I closed it from the other side, and did a double take. The instant it sealed shut, it transformed back into the plain white door of the apartment. I was surprised to feel a twinge of sadness, knowing that would be my last magical door.

  I turned to tell Inori about what happened.

  She was sitting on the couch, but she wasn't alone.

  Hood was standing next to her, looking at me through his old, dirty robe.

  I leaned back against the door. Inori's face was ashen, and her eyes were sullen. Hood's head was drooping.

  Something was wrong. Well, more wrong than having a whole world taken over by ghostlike Freddy Kruegers.

  “Hood, has it really been two hours?”

  His pale hand came out of his robes and he held up five fingers.

  “Five hours?” It seemed impossible that much time had passed. “Well, what's wrong? Inori, you look terrible.”

  She nodded her head to the far wall that had the door to the kitchen. It had been the only one in the house with some color—a fading puke green. Now, white painted words were scrawled all over it from top to bottom.

  One sentence, right in the middle, stood out like a naked sumo wrestler in a room full of ballerinas.

  “THEY HAVE JIMMY'S FAMILY AND WANT TO MAKE A DEAL.”

  I didn't want to read the rest, although words like ‘kidnapped’ and ‘last ones’ and ‘kill’ jumped out at me.

  “What's going on?” I asked Inori.

  “Jimmy.” She motioned for me to sit with her. After I plopped down on the couch beside her, she continued.

  “I told you we had only a matter of hours before the Stompers’ takeover was complete.” She paused and stole a glance at Hood. “Well, it's over. Your family and the remaining members of the Alliance are the last ones awake. The Ka have saved them for the end because they want to make a deal with you.”

  “A deal? What, are they trying to sell me a used car?” I wasn't really trying to make a joke—I was just angry they had the gall to use my family like this.

  “According to Hood, they said they would leave your family and Hood and the others free from the Black Coma and the Stompers, forever. All you have to do is promise to stop, and leave them alone.”

  “That's ridiculous!” I yelled. “What's the point in being free from the Coma if the rest of the world is dead?” I stood and walked around the room, fuming. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so angry. A swelling hatred filled my mind and body as I thought of Rusty and Mom and Dad held by those hideous beasts. Time after time the Ka had taken my loved ones, hoping to use them against me.

  And then the awful truth really sunk in. It was working.

  I thought of all the time I'd wasted saving my family and friends. One instance after another, I'd put the main quest aside to rescue everyone from the latest and greatest predicament. That was exactly what the Ka wanted—every second they could delay me, the stronger the Stompers grew, the more people fell into their grasp.

  And now, it was complete. The whole world had fallen. My circle of family and friends was the last little island yet to be swallowed by an ocean of nightmares and fear.

  But … no. I couldn't have done it any differently. Farmer even told me once that the reason I was able to get through the Door in the woods in the first place was because of the purity of my intentions. How could I abandon the ones closest to me? How could I do that and still call myself human?

  I was determined to prevent this from becoming an either-or situation. I would not, and would never, allow my family to come second. But I would also not allow the Stompers to win.

  We were going to win on both fronts.

  “Jimmy?” Inori asked. “Are you okay? What are you thinking about?”

  I looked at her, snapped out of my thoughts. “I'm just thinking about everything and what we need to do.”

  “Jimmy, you have the Four Gifts. There is only one thing to do. It's time to face the Stompers.”

  “You don't understand, Inori!” I was yelling, and felt bad for it. But they had to understand. “They're not our only enemy in this war. We have two battles to win.”

  In that instant, the plan solidified in my mind. Everything came together in a moment of perfect clarity. It would work, and when it was done, the Stompers would still be there and I could deal with them then. I looked at Hood, and then at Inori.

  “Jimmy,” she said, “you're up to something.”

  “I know what I have to do,” I replied. “And I know that in the end I have to find the Dream Warden and face the Stompers.”

  I paused and considered my thoughts one last time. And then I decided.

  “But first, we're gonna rid this world of every last Shadow Ka.”

  I expected Inori to complain, but she did the opposite.

  “You're right, Jimmy. It's just that I thought that part would come after you defeat the Stompers, not before. Every second we delay, their hold upon the minds of all those people grows stronger.”

  “But think about it,” I countered. “The Black Coma is caused by the Shadow Ka. If we release people from the Stompers, who's to say the Ka won't just put them right back in the coma, and then invite their masters to return?”

  Hood knelt to the wooden floor and wrote two words.

  “I AGREE.”

  Inori thought for a moment. “Okay.” She nodded. “But your plan has to work, and it has to work quickly. We can't waste any more time.”

  “All right then, let's get moving.” A thought popped in my head. “Inori, is there any way you can help find the Dream Warden while we deal with the Shadow Ka?”

  She laughed. “Oh, you don't need to worry about that part.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You've already found the Warden of Dreams.”

  “What?”

  “You'll see, you'll see. Let's go.”

  Confused but knowing we were crunched for time, I forced myself to put that aside until later. I trusted Inori, and it was a relief to see that she wasn't worried about that piece of the puzzle.

  And so it was that I found myself scrunched together with a hooded ghost and a lady who made good sandwiches and liked to float around in the air occasionally.

  I reread the words “THEY HAVE JIMMY'S FAMILY …” as Hood lifted the Bender Ring over our heads and let it drop.

  Seconds later we were in the living room of my uncle's house.

  We had barely stepped away from the Ring before Miyoko and Rayna smothered me with hugs. I was so glad to see them, I squeezed right back. Then Joseph smothered me as well.

  “Fill me in,” I said after we let go. Tanaka was also there, as was Justin, the Half.

  “They have your family,” said Miyoko, “but left the rest of us to make sure you got their message nice and clear.”

  “Where are they?”

  “They're out in the fields,” said Joseph. “There are probably a hundred of those suckers, closely guarding your family. We considered attempting a rescue but thought better of it. We didn't want to take any chances until you got here.”

  “Thanks. By the way, this is Inori.” I pointed to her. “She won't really tell me where she came from, but I think she's an outcast member of the Alliance.”

  “I'm on your side, that's all that matters,” she said.

  “Tanaka,” I said, and gave him a hug, too. For once, his smell didn't make my nose beg for relief. “Jeez, did you shower or something?”

  “Rayna made me.” His frown showed he didn't like it too much.

  “Wow, I can actually see the separate hairs of your hanging eyebrows. I thought they were sealed together forever with grease.”

  “You very hilarious,” he said.

  “Hey, did the okisaru ever come back?”

  “Yes, Jimmy-san. They are here, ready to fight for you.”

  “Good, we'll need them. You know, Tanaka, I think I liked you better before you got so serious. Make a joke once in a while, would ya?”

  “I not so funny looking after you get here,” he replied.

  “I have no idea what you meant by that,” I said, “but at least you tried.”

  Half came up, holding the Braves hat he'd left for us earlier.

  “I'm offended, Jimmy. I go through all that trouble to get this back to you, and you haven't even put it on your head yet.”

  “The water shrunk it. Sorry.”

  “I think your head's just gotten bigger with all your fancy Gifts.” He flipped the hat over onto the couch. “So did you ever figure out the Red Disk?”

  “Yeah, I'll show it to you guys later, but let's get my family back first.”

  “I can tell you've already got something up your sleeve,” said Rayna.

  “You're right, I do. All I need are three things to get started.”

  “What's that?” asked Miyoko.

  “The Anything, the okisaru, and a whole lot of courage.”

  We spent the next thirty minutes developing and perfecting my plan. At first the others thought it was way too far-fetched, but I was able to convince them that it was the best way. The biggest doubt I had was something about the okisaru, but Tanaka assured me that they could turn into anything.

  And so it was set. Now everything just had to run without a hitch.

  “Inori, I'm sorry you don't have a part in the plan. I didn't really think you would end up coming with us. I thought you would be like Farmer and just disappear.”

  She laughed. “I'm not a Giver, Jimmy, although I'm more like them than you might imagine. No, I'm like the Alliance—different like them.”

  Something about her words didn't compute.

  “What do you mean, different? You have a Gift?”

  “No, not really. It's just another one of those things that you'll find out later.”

  I shrugged. “Whatever. Anyway, I don't think you should come out there with us—it's too dangerous. Should I have Hood take you back to New York?”

  “No, I don't need that. Just go. I'll be fine, I promise you. Actually …”

  “What?”

  “I would like some sort of protection. Could you leave the Half with me?”

  “Half? What, do you have a crush on him or something?”

  Half spoke up. “There's no way I don't go out there. I'm fighting.”

  “Please!” yelled Inori. Then she calmed her face. “I'm sorry. I just … the thought of being left alone just scares me, that's all. I'm too important, Jimmy, I need someone here to protect me.”

  I studied her face, trying to see if she was hiding something. Well, I knew she was hiding something, but I wanted to know if it was worth my time to grill it out of her. I decided it wasn't.

  “All right, then. Half, you stay.” He started to protest, but I held my hand up. “Please, Half. She's right—it's as important we keep her safe as it is we get rid of the Ka.”

  “Fine.” He went over and sat down on the couch. “But if you do have a crush on me,” he looked at Inori, “let's get one thing straight. I don't go for older women.”

  She laughed, and Half tried his best not to smile but did anyway.

  “Glad we got that settled. We'll see you guys back in here when we're … done. Inori, I think I'm going to need your help before I go to meet the Stompers. Which reminds me, will you hold onto this until I get back?” I handed her my leather case.

  “Yes, I think you will need my help, and yes, I will hold that for you.” She reached out and grabbed the pack then shook my hand. “Good luck.”

  “You sound like I'm going to play in a basketball game or something.”

  “Okay, fine. May the graces of God be with you on the battlefield. Better?”

  “Now you sound like a bad movie. See ya soon.” I turned to the others. “Let's go.”

  We filed out of the house, the smallest army in history. Rayna, Miyoko, the Hooded One, Tanaka and his okisaru, Joseph, and myself. The sun was just beginning its trip down to the far horizon—it would be dark within a couple of hours. The thought sent a chill down my spine—by the time the sun set, all of this would probably be over.

  And then the real terror would start.

  The cool air was refreshing, and the smell of grass and bark and other nature-type things filled my nostrils. In another time, the feel of being outside on a day like that would've been such a thrill, and I would've searched the house top to bottom to find a football to toss around.

  But these were darker times, and my only hope was that someday soon everything could be back to normal.

  Far out in the field, there was a gathering of black shapes, huddled together in a mass of bodies, protecting something in the middle. They had my family. How easy it would be for me to just walk out there and grab them, I thought. But not this time. Today we were going to accomplish a much greater task than just saving my brother and parents.