Page 130 of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

As she thought this way, the tree indeed became even more solid.

And the wind,Yumi thought forcefully.I am lucky. Because it blows the right direction.

The tree shifted in the wind, turning the way she needed it to go, toward Torio City. Toward the machine.

An hour later,painters gathered at the western edge of the city, laying down stacks of canvases and large jars of ink. Favors had been cashed in. Promises given. Debts incurred. In total, thirty-seven had come.

Painter watched it all with excruciating anxiety, worried that the assault would come while they were still preparing. But now that he had them all organized—a good ten to fifteen percent of the city’s total painters—he found himself overwhelmed with gratitude. His friends had not gone halfway in their efforts. It was still a small force, considering what was coming. And not one of them save him had any experience painting stable nightmares.

But it was a far, far cry from where he’d been before, standing here alone.

“All right, Akane,” a lanky painter called. “What are we doing here again?”

“Waiting,” she said. “Something might be coming. Something dangerous. Have your paints ready.”

The others settled in, chatting in groups, some sitting with their backs to the wall of warehouse buildings around the city. Painter turned his eyes to the shroud and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

A full hour with all of them gathered there, grumbles increasing. His anxiety rising. What if he’d picked the wrong location? What if the others got bored and left right before the attack happened?

What if…

While Tojin placated one of the leaders among the other groups. Akane walked up, hands clasped behind her back. She looked tired.

“Nikaro,” she said, “is your sister safe? Please tell me she’s staying, for once, in your room.”

“She’s…not going to be painting. I will explain eventually, but you don’t need to worry about her.”I’ll do enough of that for all of us.

Telling the truth was one thing. Explaining what had been happening with him and Yumi…well, that would have to wait. Akane glanced out at the shroud, concern written across her face. Then she looked back at him. “Tell me again what we’re waiting for?”

“They’ll come,” Painter promised her before she could continue. “A hundred nightmares. It’s going to happen.”

“It’s all right if it doesn’t, you know.”

“You all put your reputations on the line for this,” Painter said. He’d noticed the glares from some painters as they realized he wasinvolved. The others had left his name out of the recruitment efforts. Wisely.

She shrugged. “Like Tojin said. We might get embarrassed for a little while. Nothing we can’t live down.”

“Akane,” he said, “I know it sounds strange, but Ididspeak to a nightmare. I…I can’t explain it all. I promise though, this is really going to happen.”

“And…if it doesn’t, Nikaro?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” he said, his voice strained. “Not again.”

“I’m not saying you would,” she whispered. “But Nikaro, what if…maybe you imagined it. What if you…need help? Because sometimes, things you want to be realfeelreal?”

“I—”

“Please,” Akane said. “Consider it.”

He forced himself to. For her; for the effort they’d given him. He closed his eyes, and actually wondered. The things he’d experienced seemed so incredible, even outlandish. Therewasan easy explanation.

He’d wanted so badly to be someone special. He’d viewed himself, all these months, as a lone warrior wandering the night, looking for people to save. Could he have just…made it all up? Formed everything out of the shroud? Or even worse, simply imagined it?

He rebelled against the thought, but a calmer part of him—the part that had survived the shame of his previous lies—stood fast. Willing to examine this. If it was true, if he’d devised all of this, then Akane was right. He needed help. It wasn’t a lie, or even a moral failing, to admit that.

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