Leo closed the door of the room where Marisa was relaxing and then counted to ten in his head. He felt slightly thirsty, so he thought, I need a drink. The door handle was no longer there.
He tried pacing up and down, as Marisa had earlier. Still nothing. Then he thought I need the room where Marisa is, and the handle immediately appeared.
So that meant the room wouldn't work if there was someone in it… or did it only do certain things. There was one way to find out, but Marisa wasn't going to like it. He opened the door.
There was exactly the same room, Marisa still sprawled on the bed.
"You need to get out," said Leo.
"Look, I told you, I am resting. Leave me in peace."
Leo suddenly had a thought. He wasn't sure if it was right, but it might convince Marisa to leave the room. "I knew there had to be a catch somewhere!" he said triumphantly.
"What – what do you mean? What… catch?" Marisa appeared genuinely confused.
Leo smiled. "The room is a trap. It makes you stay here by fulfilling your dreams, but it keeps you here. You can't leave."
"You're making it up. Of course I can leave."
"Prove it."
"You just want me out of here so you can… whatever it is you want to do…"
Leo wasn't used to dealing with people who actually had enough of a brain to see through his tricks. He sighed. "Maybe…"
Marisa laughed a little. "So you admit it?"
"Well…" he said slowly, "I wasn't completely making it up… it's still possible…"
"Anyway, I'm not the one who's obsessed with this room. Who's the one who's trying to – "
Leo interrupted hastily. "To use its powers to…um…"
"Take over the world?"
"No, I don't want to take over the world, I want to improve it…"
"And your definition of an improved world is one you're in charge of?"
"Shut up."
"Only if you let me enjoy my room!"
Leo paused, considering. "All right, just until tonight. But I'm not the one responsible for you being out past curfew, and I'm leaving you. And tomorrow we are coming straight back here to investigate further."
Marisa nodded.
"Bye," said Leo, and walked out of the door.