Chapter 3:

The Call

I stayed up late that night watching old Christopher Eccleston episodes of Doctor Who on Webwatch. I didn't have to wake up for anything in the morning, so I wasn't going to bed until I finished watching 'Rose' through 'The Doctor Dances' at least.

While I was watching 'The End of the world,' a thought occurred to me. I didn't have any way of contacting Carl! He'd left in such a hurry that I didn't get to know almost anything about him that didn't involve Doctor Who! I mentally kicked myself. Now I might never see him again! I might never know what those dreams were about! I might –

Suddenly, my thoughts were cut off by my cell phone ringing. The number was unfamiliar, but I answered anyway.

"Hello?"

"Haley!" said a squeaky, familiar voice.

"Carl?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah, it's me."

"How did you get my number?"

"Well, that doesn't matter right now. I just need to know more about your dreams. Tell me all the details!"

"Why? What's going on?"

"I don't have time to explain, but let's just say that the Tri State Area might hang in the balance!"

"Alright, umm… Where do I begin?"

"How about the first time you had one of these dreams."

"Okay. So, uh… In the dream, you and I were standing in the center of a circle of people in white coats. You turned to me and said something along the lines of 'I'll be back for you. Wait for me.' Then the old guy in green came up to you and took you away. Then I woke up. It's the same layout for each dream, but you always say something different."

"Like what?"

"Well, last time you said 'Don't forget me. We'll meet again soon; I promise."

"Okay. I might call back at weird times for more information, but don't save this number. Plus, you might want to delete your recent calls."

"Why?" This was getting creepy.

"I need to go. Bye!"

The call ended.

I stared at my phone for a minute, and then put it back in my pocket. What the heck was going on?

I finished the episode of Doctor Who I'd started, and then decided to forget my plans and go to bed. I needed to think for a while.

So I sat in bed, trying to decipher the story problem that was my life.

Carl's POV:

"I need to go. Bye!"

I hung up the phone.

"Well?" Major Monogram asked.

"She said that the dreams usually have the same general template, but one little detail always changes."

The major's eyes widened. "Just like-"

"A prediction dream," I finished.

"Yeah. What's the dream about?"

"Well, apparently it's about me and her surrounded by a group of people in white coats. I always say something, then you come and drag me away."

"Evil scientists," Monogram concluded.

"That was my first thought, too. And it could even be LOVEMUFFIN, from the brief description."

"Great googley - moogley. We need more details. Call her again in the morning and see if she's had another dream yet."

"Will do, sir."

The older man walked out of the room, leaving me alone. I sighed. If this was LOVEMUFFIN, and Dr. Doofinshmirtz was in charge, this could be his greatest plot yet. He was getting smarter, and that was never a good thing. The fate of the entire world may hang in the balance this time.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Sometimes I felt like the agency put too much pressure on me. I am just an unpaid intern. But then I think, who am I to complain? I have it easy compared to the Major and the agents. I mean, those animals are out there every day, risking their lives to save the people of Danville, and no one can ever know enough to thank them.

My thoughts turned to Haley. She seemed so interesting, and not just because of her dreams. Plus, she was the first girl I've been able to have a real conversation with; about our likes, and not just me helping someone with homework.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the clock. It was almost midnight! My parents were going to kill me when I got home! I ran over to the coat rack and grabbed my jacket, then headed outside to get my bike. I raced the few blocks back to my house, arriving at the door at precisely 12:01.

Haley's POV:

And, yet again, I was dreaming. The setting was the same, but this time, Carl and I were alone. We were sitting on the floor together, gazing into each other's eyes. (I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth!) Carl took hold of my hand and was about to say something… when my cell phone rang and woke me up.

I groaned, put on my glasses, and looked at my clock. It was already eight in the morning! Dreams seriously screw up time.

I picked up my phone and saw that it was another unknown number.

"Hello?" I croaked, after pressing the green button.

"Haley, its Carl."

"Carl!" I exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. "So, uh… what's up?"

"Nothing much, really. Except for the fact that… never mind. I'm just calling to get more information on your dreams."

I pouted to myself. It seemed like all he wanted from me was my dreams. "Alright. What else do you want to know?"

There was a long pause.

"Do you remember what any of the people in lab coats looked like? Did any of them talk?"

"Well, they didn't talk, but there was this weird bald guy with lots of wrinkles on his head and thick glasses. And there was a really, REALLY short guy with white hair and kind of a stocky build."

"Did you see a guy with spike brown hair, a pointy nose, and a slouch?"

"I…" I thought for a moment. Then I realized something. How did he know so much about what the people in my dreams looked like? I had seen the guy he was talking about. "Yeah, he was there, too. How do you know this stuff?"

There was another pause, but I heard faint voices arguing in the background.

Carl sighed. "Haley, I'm going to be honest with you. I-" He stopped again. "I'm part of a secret organization of agents. I'm not an agent, more of an intern. I just do the more technical stuff.

My eyes widened. I didn't know Carl very well, but something told me he was telling the truth. He worked at a secret agency.