"We can't do this with just Eames. We need a second forger, or the job won't work." Cobb says as he runs a hand through his hair.

"So, who do we need?" Arthur asks. All eyes fall on him. Everyone in the room is stunned that the Point Man doesn't know the answer.

"A girl," says Cobb. "I think an actress would do well. We need to be able to teach someone who already knows how to be another person. It's easier that way."

Arthur turns to Eames. "What do you think? You'll be the one teaching her."

He sighs. "Well, darling, it will be much easier to teach someone that at least knows something. I think an actress is a good place to start, but I don't want one that's been completely trained. It's too hard to change somebody's ways once they've been set into them."

Ariadne's head shoots up. "I know someone!"

All eyes turn to her. "Well, who?" Cobb asks.

"She's, um, a friend of mine that's studying theatre back in Paris."

"Will she be willing to do this-walk in people's dreams and break the law? Will she be willing to learn?"

"This girl is the most adventurous I've ever met. She's a brilliant actress. I think she'll be perfect." Ariadne replies.

Cobb nods. "It's settled then. Is she still in Paris?"

"Yup,"

"We leave tomorrow."

{Eames}

Ariadne leads us into the theatre. It's huge and virtually empty. There are two men and a woman sitting on the stage discussing something in French.

"Ella!" Ariadne calls.

The woman turns. "Ari?" She bolts up and dashes over to the edge of the stage. She doesn't hesitate before jumping off. She lands perfectly on her feet, runs over, and captures Ariadne in a hug. "I missed you! Where have you been?"

"Uh, working,"

"Horrible excuse. I haven't heard from you in ages."

Ariadne laughs. "I know, I'm sorry." She turns and gestures towards us. "Ella, these are the guys I'm working with. Cobb, Arthur, and Eames. Guys, this is Ella Taylor."

Ella whispers something into Ariadne's ear. Ariadne giggles.

Ella almost takes my breath away. Her face is shaped subtly like a heart and is framed perfectly by wild chocolate brown curls. Her curls match exactly with the delicate eyebrows that arch dramatically over her wide almond eyes. Her eyes are this breathtaking hazel-cocoa and emerald. They're bright, and they light up like fireworks when the light hits them. Her eyelashes cast long shadows across her high cheekbones. Her full, rose pink lips are just begging to be kissed. She bites the bottom one absentmindedly. She's so pale that she almost looks like she's been painted with moonlight.

Everything about her is long and graceful. She looks like something out of a fairytale. There's no way something like that can even be real.

Her gaze locks into mine. I feel like she's stripping away every layer of me and piercing into my soul. I swallow. Her eyes search mine before Ariadne pulls her away for a private conversation.

{Ella}

"Who is that?" I hiss as Ari leads me away.

"I have no idea what you mean." she says.

"The blond guy back there that looks like a Havana mobster,"

"Oh, you mean Eames? I told you all of their names."

I shrug. I wasn't really paying attention. I was too occupied with the thought of ravaging every inch of him. "I was distracted." I whistle a low note. "I would destroy that man."

Ari rolls her eyes. "Well, if you agree to what I'm about to ask you, then you'll be spending a lot more time with him."

"Yes,"

"Ella, you haven't even-"

"I don't care. My answer is yes."

"It's illegal, Ella."

I whip around and glare at her. "Ari, what have you been doing?"

"It's called extraction, or sometimes inception. You share dreams with people and steal information from their subconscious or you can plant ideas in their head to make them do something specific."

I just stare at her for a little bit.

"That literally has to be the coolest thing I've ever heard. What do you do?"

"I'm the architect. I design the dreamscape."

"Ari, that's just- that's so cool. What do they need me for, though?"

"They need you to be a forger. Basically, in a dream, you can look like anything. Forgers impersonate people, but it's really hard because you need to study the person you're impersonating or the mark's subconscious will get suspicious and attack you. I don't really understand it, but Eames will teach you."

"All my life, I've been infatuated by dreams. This is the most amazing thing I've ever heard of."

"So, you'll do it?"

I smile. "Of course!"

Ari calls the three men over. We discuss positions. Cobb is the leader, the extractor. Arthur is the Point Man, the logic and brains. Eames, of course, is the forger.

Cobb extends his hand to me and smiles. "Welcome aboard."