... Hello. My name is Diarmuid. I am a monk from the shores of Kilmannán, from thirteenth century Ireland. I've been here for two years come October... And I died and forgotten all of that for a time, and I... um... I apologize if I lost contact with you or thought you a stranger. Some of my memories are still scrambled, but I'm regaining them with some swiftness, praise be.

[Deep breath.

The Irish teenager sits in his cabin, lit by a pleasant-looking rabbit nightlight on one side, and a small battery-powered lamp given to him by Will on his other side. His bed looks comfortable, adorned with some stuffed animals and lovingly stitched quilts. A warm and inviting orange glow fills the area.]

There are more important things to speak of, right now. A moment to collect my written notes... I had to write down some of my recollection, to paint things in an easier light.

[He clears his throat.]

Kurt and I had ran into a little girl not very long ago — she had been on this... this homemade swing, near the home of the Mayor. In its front yard... The 'force-field' around the home persisted when I inspected it, but when we pushed along, we found a weakened space in its wall and fell through.

[Well, okay, he fell through. He is not graceful.]

There was the child, behind the swing. Her hands were bandaged... all of her had been bandaged, really, and she did not want us to look at her. She had told us that her mother said it would be the last day she was allowed to play; that they were going to take her... I think to put her to sleep. Her eyes were bandaged, but... but there was an eye on her forehead, peaking through the bandages, red and dark... Her toes and fingertips were dark... Rotten. That is the only word I could think to describe them...

I did not want to hurt her anymore than she seemed, so I agreed to play with her. She was not cruel, not unkind, but when she pushed me as I sat on the swing, I felt... I felt like I was being pushed by someone much larger than she. I went higher than a child could bring me, and I knew with more certainty that she was Sodder.

She said that Ramona — I know very little of this Ramona — that Ramona told her to call out for guardians. That she need to put herself in a deep sleep... that they were going to treat her at the lab, but that they needed to make it so that the scientists cannot find her. That she must make the layers we all know so well of this town, so that she may lose them in it... That there need be a guardian for each layer. She pushed me on the swing, high enough that I could look straight up into the sky, and I saw them. I saw six creatures, all too large, all... amongst each other, masked by cloud and sunlight...

Sodder said she had been working on them all this time... That they were her first nightmares. She said that if Mother Superior tried anything, they would rise to meet her. Her final option. And she and Kurt and I, we stood there to loko at them amongst the clouds... and she took my hand, and it was cold but gentle... She asked if she were sick. I think she had been afraid in that moment, and I must admit, I had hesitated in my sympathy. But Kurt soothed her nerves, I think...

He asked her what Mother Superior would try to do. She said that she would most assuredly try to kill her, as her final option. Mother Superior had thought that putting the child to sleep would help cure what was wrong with the town, but it seems Sodder knew otherwise. That it would be a fruitless attempt to repair what was damaged... I know the girl wanted to say more about something that had happened once before. That perhaps someone had tried to make her sleep before that. But she would not speak further on it...

She said that her wounds were caused by her relationship with her father. That he had wanted a little girl, but that she was never little... never a human child. And because of how he saw her, and how she viewed herself as a monster... their realities could not coexist, and she began to deteriorate. She spoke of the Sleepers who decided to become scientists, and spoke of how she believed perhaps they were right to hate her. I cannot help but wonder if some of the pain and turmoil is caused... by Sodder's own hatred of herself...

[A long, soft pause, reflective, the boy cast in the gentle glow of his cabin.]

The other towns she spoke of... the layers... she said that it was like 'a house of mirrors'. I remember the words clearly, because... I hadn't a clue what a house of mirrors was. But I think I see now. I think I know what it means. And she used that house of mirrors to hide her body away from Mother Superior. From the others. I think that is why Mother Superior has worked so fruitlessly to break through the layers. October fast approaches — I know some of you are too familiar with the layer that bleeds through during the month, then...

I asked her if there's anything we can do, to aid her. To try and make things right. She said to remember that it is all in her head. That her rules must be played... that the more we believe, the more she can do... I cannot deny, there was some weight to her words that chilled me. [He clears his throat.] I asked her what her name was, and she gave me many. I must admit, I cannot remember them all... She did mention Somnus, though. I know of Somnus — Hypnos, in Greek myth. And I recall Moon Queen, and — and... Moonchild? Sorry, I've had some trouble keeping them in my head.

But her mother, she had called her Julia.

She was very excited to recall her name. That it had been a very long time since she'd remembered it. I could feel this... this strange wave of energy wash over us, when she spoke it. Like something had come undone, or some small revelation had gained a physical presence among us, for but a moment. I'm not sure if my eyes had deceived me, but... I thought I saw her body flicker into something — different. Something scaled, much like a lizard. Perchance the good image of her, outweighing that of her father's... I know not if my thoughts ring true.

I spoke to her for a short time about my garden, and gave her a small doll I had kept in my bag. I think she approved, because I found my garden more plentiful than it had ever been, when I returned home. And... a few bruises from legs hugged perhaps a bit too firmly...

... That was the most of it, really. But I would regret not to speak of it in the greatest detail I can, somewhere all ears may take witness to our meeting.

[Another pause, and he says with some seriousness:]

I was determined to not speak of this, but... there is a large rock in a shoe-box under my bed.

If you find yourself the kind to steal from homes, do not attempt to take it, as you may find yourself smote into a smear of ash on the floor by its holiest judgements.

... Thank you.

[Click.]