C-THM03 (Nov 14, 1995)
Puzzle
“All that we see or seem.”
Owner Trivia | 5 Words
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: The Owner likes poetry.
Clue 2: It's by Edgar Allan Poe.
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A Dream Within A Dream
Explanation: The line comes from the poem ‘A Dream within a Dream’ by Edgar Allan Poe.
Summary of Receipt
71 finds it likely that the reason why Umbra is able to hunt 35’s ‘astral form’ through her dreams is likely due to her training with her Second Vision. Unfortunately, Umbra’s incredibly skilled in the astral plane, so if he or the Owner tried to do something it might end up backfiring. Instead, he suggests that 35 try not to dream so that Umbra doesn’t find whatever’s in her subconscious, and to get someone - possibly 1313 - to stay up and guard her physical self.
Transcript
RECEIPT #003
FILED UNDER: CAFE-THM
DATE: 11/14/95
EMPLOYEE #71
That damned shadow, what a nuisance, no? Unfortunately, I cannot help but feel that this is, in part, my fault. At the very least, my work with #35 has opened her psyche to unwanted attacks by foreign entities. Of course, even without my meddling, Mrs. Umbra would have been able to cause his unpleasant sleep paralysis. But his chasing of #35 through her dreams and deeper into them most likely would not have been possible without her having a solid astral form to chase. And I fear #35’s instinct is spot on; he is chasing her intentionally deeper and deeper into her dreams, most likely to find something… or someone.
As for what that might be, I have no clue. Nor would it be safe or wise to try and find out what it is ourselves. Mrs. Umbra is a master of the astral plane, and if the Owner or myself were to attempt to find what he is looking for, we would probably do more harm than good. While the safest course of action would be to have #35 stay awake until we can fully sort this conundrum out, it is quite impractical. Thankfully #35 has a good deal of natural protection in her own subconscious that not even Mrs. Umbra could easily overcome.
My recommendations are to distract Mrs. Umbra and for someone to stay with #35 while she sleeps. Whatever it is Mrs. Umbra is looking for, it is buried deep inside #35’s subconscious, which is why Mrs. Umbra has been chasing her deeper and deeper into dreams. So, if you can, #35, try not to slip further into dreams when Mrs. Umbra gives chase. It is not an easy suggestion, but it should help us buy time. Assuming this works, I suspect Mrs. Umbra will attempt a more physical means of extraction, which is why someone should stay with #35 throughout the night. Perhaps #1313, seeing as a cover story, should be easy enough to put together, and she has shown a potential resistance to Mrs. Umbra’s hypnagogic powers.