CITY OF DREAMS
CHAPTER FIVE.
CITY OF DREAMS.
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PRIVATE CHAT WITH: @holimoli_44
Updated: 06/21/2026 21:39:28 EST
See previous messages
tshep: So…I met Wayne.
holimoli_44: ah hell. I knew I shouldve said something
tshep: Yeah, a head’s up would’ve been nice.
holimoli_44: I really thought they were over! u said last time was pretty bad.
tshep: Well, he’s back. And because I had no idea who he was, I tackled him when I caught him coming out of my mom’s bedroom and long story short, his rib is fractured and my nose is broken.
holimoli_44: OMG
holimoli_44: IM SO SORRY
tshep: It’s fine. Mom is pissed though, she thinks I started it. Which I guess I did.
holimoli_44: ugh no she’d say that anyway wayne is such an ass to her and she just goes back for 2nds
tshep: How long have they been together?
holimoli_44: on and off for like a year and a half i think?? Pretty sure he’s one of the fights that got u sent to juvie
tshep: He really is an ass, isn’t he?
holimoli_44: u have no idea. Hows the nose??
tshep: Still attached. He says he’s sticking around a while. Mom’s thrilled.
holimoli_44: ugh just come stay with me for the week until he gets bored and moves on.
tshep: Really? You wouldn’t mind?
holimoli_44: wait ur considering it?? omg usually ur all ‘no I couldn’t impose’ yada yada!
holimoli_44: for real, come visit me in the city!! it’ll be gr8, the couch is shit but you can just bunk in my bed if you want
tshep: That sounds perfect. Anything is better than here right now.
holimoli_44: YEA BOI
tshep: Actually, you might be able to help me test something.
holimoli_44: sksksk I flunked every class except art but sure let’s bust out the lab coats and do some science
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Boyf
+416 2242-044It was really good seeing you last night
I know, I missed you.
I’m sorry again about your game.Do you wanna hang out tonight too?
I’ve got an extended cut of the Omen
with your name on itSure, sounds good
Wait, for real?
Usually I have to bribe you to watch
something that horror-yThe things we do for love
You always call my horror movies distasteful!
Well I haven’t seen you much lately
so if a horror movie is what it takes
to spend time with my cute but
tragically tasteless boyfriend, bring on
the goreWhat about a double feature?
We can watch one of those super dumb
Christmas movies you likeIt’s not remotely the season for it
Then it’s a good thing I don’t celebrate
Okay I wanna watch the one about the hot
gay Xmas tree farmers who fall in loveThere’s no way that’s a thing
[link attached]
Fine but if I hear a single pun that tries to
make Xmas horny like stroking each
other’s woody pines, we are turning it offDeal.
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iOS/User/Library/Files/Videos/clip204df92g8
00:00:01 | 01:12:29
“Testing, testing. Okay, this is day one, test one-”
“What are you doing?”
“What? I’ve seen the Iron Man tests that leaked online, this is how the professionals do the science.”
“Do the- okay, whatever. Go ahead.”
“Alright then. This is day one, test one. For the record, it is June twenty-second at…three fifteen on a sunny afternoon in New York, New York and we’re gonna start with a real simple two hundred fifty yard dash. These are our testing conditions: nice long alleyway straight down the block, no obstructions-”
“There is literally a dumpster in the middle of the road right there.”
“Well, it’s too heavy to move so just run around it, smart ass! You’re the one who wanted to do science, remember?”
“I mean I was really just hoping you’d hit the stop start button on the stopwatch.”
“And what does that tell us? Nothing! We need visual data!”
“Alright! Fine, let’s just get started.”
“Finally. Alright, on your marks. Get set, go! Off he goes, the fastest man alive! Wait, why are you stopping?”
“It’s not the same.”
“You didn’t even try!”
“I’m telling you, it’s not the same. The last time, I was- everything just slowed down. I can’t explain it.”
“Well, let’s focus on that this time. Ready? Day one, test two.”
01:01:23 | 01:12:29
“Day one, test fifty-two was…well, I mean, that was definitely pretty fast.”
“It’s not working. It’s not…I can’t describe how but it’s not it!”
“Hey, Tommy, chill out man.”
“I’m not crazy! I swear, I- I was moving so fast, I could feel time, Lisa!”
“I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re overthinking this.”
“What?”
“You’re putting too much pressure on this. Just take a minute and focus.”
“I tried that! I just…it’s not working!”
“What were you thinking about last time?”
“I…my dreams. I run a lot in my dreams.”
“Okay, there you go. What else do you do in your dreams? And remember, my impressionable ears are listening so keep it clean.”
“There’s not a lot. They’re all kind of blurry, I guess? Except…”
“Except what?”
“I can hear him laughing.”
“Who? Billy?”
“Yeah. He’s laughing and it’s coming from right next to me. And when I hear it, I know he’s okay, he’s safe, you know?”
“So focus on that. Think of Billy, at the end of that alleyway, laughing. He’s just waiting for you at that finish line, Tommy. All you have to do is- whoa!”
“Was that- did you see it?!”
“Barely! You were a goddamn blur, Tommy! What the hell?”
“Right?! I told you!”
“You ran, like, five hundred yards in less than two second!? How are you doing that?”
“…I have no idea. But I think Billy might know.”
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From: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Subject: Long time no spell?
Date: 24 June 2026 at 10:10:10 pm EST
To: Kale Kare Customer Support <[email protected]>
Hey Jen,
I’m not really sure how to start this. I hope you’re doing good. I saw the lawsuit was dropped, congrats.
I know I’m probably not at the top of your list of people you want to hear from after everything that went down on the Road but I’m kind of out of ideas here and I could really use some advice, witch to witch.
My number is +416 3928-223, just give me a call. Please.
Billy
PS. Agatha says hi
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From: Kale Kare Customer Support <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Long time no spell?
Date: 24 June 2026 at 11:39:55 pm EST
To: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Thank you for contacting our online helpdesk.
At Kale Kare, your satisfaction is our priority and our team is working to respond to your query. While you await our response, please accept this 10% off code [OPENING26], valid on any purchase over $89 at our new Brooklyn branch, opening July 2026.
Support Team
Kale Kare Cosmetics
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From: Jennifer Kale <[email protected]>
Subject: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 6:23:09 am EST
To: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Teen,
I got to say I’m surprised to hear from you. There have been a lot of rumours about how it went down after the Road, none of them good.
I’d hear you out at least but I’m in New York for the next few weeks prepping for the new store. If you find yourself around, look me up and we can talk.
I’m glad you made it out, Billy.
Jen
PS. Agatha can either speak to me herself or she can drop dead.
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From: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 7:18:34 am EST
To: Jennifer Kale <j.kale@kalekare.com>
I can be there by this afternoon!!
Billy
PS. ….So about that.
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From: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: RE: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 7:34:54 am EST
To: Jennifer Kale <j.kale@kalekare.com>
нə¥ καℓə
$†¡ℓℓ ℓ¥¡η9 †0 ¥0μЯ ¢μ$†0мəЯ$??
ℓ00κ¡η9 ƒ0ЯωαЯÐ †0 $əə¡η9 †нə ηəω С9$
κ¡$$ə$
α9α†нα
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From: Jennifer Kale <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: FW: RE: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 7:28:12 am EST
To: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Teen.
What. The holy hell. Was that?
Jen
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From: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: RE: FW: RE: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 7:29:27 am EST
To: Jennifer Kale <j.kale@kalekare.com>
Sorry, turns out macbooks aren’t real ghost-friendly. All her messages come out looking like 2009 leetspeak for some reason.
B
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From: Jennifer Kale <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: RE: FW: RE: Hi Teen
Date: 25 June 2026 at 7:42:01 am EST
To: Billy Kaplan <[email protected]>
….You know what, I’m gonna go ahead and cancel the rest of my meetings for this afternoon.
J
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PRIVATE CHAT WITH: @holimoli_44
Updated: 06/25/2026 09:18:55 EST
See previous messages
holimoli_44: hey
holimoli_44: so im trying not to freak out but u weren’t here when I woke up
tshep: Shit, I forgot to leave a note. I’m just grabbing us bagels from the kiosk outside your building. Back in a few.
holimoli_44: oh
holimoli_44: ok
holimoli_44: i was kinda worried I freaked you out last night
tshep: What do you mean? Why would I be freaked out?
holimoli_44: well, I did kinda trauma dump on you
holimoli_44: and then cried on you
holimoli_44: and then kissed you
tshep: That does seem to cover the events of last night. Still not sure where I’d be freaked out.
holimoli_44: well u r technically a stranger still. U don’t remember any of this going down the first time and i feel bad that you have to go through it twice
tshep: <is typing>
tshep: Lisa, what happened wasn’t your fault.
holimoli_44: ok u don’t have to good will hunting me about it
holimoli_44: I got enough of that from the trauma counsellor
tshep: You were assaulted. And you were just a kid. I’m not trying to be condescending here but it would be okay if you weren’t, you know, okay.
tshep: I’m not freaking out. I mean, I’m pissed that he’s still walking around. And maybe guilty, I guess.
holimoli_44: oh god, here we go
tshep: What?
holimoli_44: we’ve done this before, tommy. Sure I was visiting you for the weekend but trans women are four times more likely to experience violent sexual assault. It couldve happened here too.
tshep: But it didn’t. It happened with an asshole I introduced you to.
holimoli_44: jfc okay, for the record: What Gregory Danes did to me is on him. Not you or me or anyone else.
tshep: I know, I just. God, I wish I’d kept hitting him that day at the mall now.
holimoli_44: me too.
tshep: And as for the other part…I’m not at all freaked out. Like, at all.
holimoli_44: ….yeah?
tshep: Yeah.
holimoli_44: no garlic on my bagel then.
tshep: You got it :)
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Jen K
+410 5932-394Kid, you left your spellbook at the store
yesterday. I’ll be back in Jersey in about
a week so if you can wait, I’ll bring it with
me then.β¡ℓℓЧ η0† нεЯε
0μ† ω¡†н β0ЧƒЯ¡εηδ
Then why do you have his phone?
$†0ℓε ¡†
Classy of you
η0† ℓ¡κε нε ηεεδ$ ¡† †0 $μ¢κ ƒα¢ε ω¡†н α β0Ч
Whatever. Tell him I’ll bring his book
back next week.нε нα$ εЧε$ ʝεηηЧ
Goddess three, death hasn’t changed you
one bit, has it?¢αη'† ¡мρЯ0vε 0η ρεЯƒε¢†¡0η
So this is it, huh? You’re just gonna cling
to the mortal plane as a incorporeal hag
for the rest of time?Ч0μ $0μηδ ℓ¡κε Я¡0
Gee, what a compliment to be compared to
a homicidal lunatic. Teen told me you guys are
back together by the way.†α††ℓε†αℓε
$0 ωнα†?
So isn’t it a conflict of interest? You’re helping
him look for his brother who just stole a body
from Death. Won’t she just try to kill him too?ω¡ℓℓ βμЯη †нα† βЯ¡δ9ε ωнεη ωε 9ε† †0 ¡†
†нαηκ$ β†ω
For what?
ƒ0Я нεℓρ¡η9 н¡м †0δαЧ ω¡†н †нε $¢ЯЧ¡η9 ρ0†¡0η
Okay, this text gargle is getting out of hand.
Just wait a second.
εχ†Я¡¢αЯε нαε¢ vεЯβα
huh. clever trick.
Look, I didn’t help him for your sake. Teen’s
just a kid and scrying can mess you up if you
do it wrong.i wouldn’t know i studied better forms of magic
than waving a charm over a mapOh, so that’s why you came to me. You don’t
know how to scry, do you?why bother when you can just summon
what youre looking for?Figures. Scrying requires patience, focus
and finesse, after all.careful kale or youll hurt my feelings
besides its not like it worked
it just told us teen was in nyc
surprise surprise google maps could’ve told
us thatIt was a long shot, trying to use the brick from
his old house. Scrying needs specificity. Something
personal.i did tell him that
Poor kid is really throwing himself into the hunt
then isn’t he?tenacious little bastard
You know there’s more to being a mentor than
just teaching him the craft, Agatha.dw im also teaching him
how to roll a joint tooI’m serious. That kid looks up to you.
You have to look after him better.
well look at little miss feelings
gets her magic back for a hot minute
and all of a sudden shes just
full of wisdom huhAgatha, you can blow me off if you want but
I know you saw what I saw yesterday. That kid
is nearing his breaking point. It’s your job to
bring him back down.i don’t remember signing up for
babysitting servicesOh please. You’re not fooling anyone.
Do better. For his sake.
…fine
Good.
Also, tell Teen I’m sending him a few extra
potions books. Clearly if he keeps studying
with only you, he’ll turn into a one witch
wonder in no time.rude
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UNKNOWN NUMBER
+399 0294-192Got your number from a friend
who said you could help me out.Depends
Whos ur friend?Works at Giacomo’s
pizza out in Jersey
He said you were reliable.What do u want?
be specificTwo ounces. Uncut, cash upfront.
Typing…
Wont be cheapI need it fast.
I’m in the city this week.Fast costs extra
Not a problem.
Can you do it?brooklyn bridge park west
thursday midnight
come aloneDone.