Despite his immersion in Chinese geomancy, Neil didn't lose his touch as a psychologist. His face remained stoic even after Jacob recounted the battle he witnessed during his brief coma. There wasn't even the hint of wistfulness in Neil's eyes when Jacob uttered Nancy's name. He didn't flinch when Jacob repeated Alice's ominous words: Worry about staying alive.

Was Neil judging him for waiting so long to get help?

Once he finished spilling his heart out, Jacob reminded Neil about what was on the line.

"I'm on a short leash here, Neil," said Jacob. "If I don't solve this…if I don't become the Dream Master again…it's going to be the end for Stephanie and me."

"You don't know that," said Neil. "I'm sure Stephanie is just really concerned about you and the boys."

"She has every right. I lied to her about everything. I made her think that I was protecting our family," said Jacob. He broke into tears. It was a mixture of sleep deprivation and emotional turmoil. His mother sacrificed her life to give him that supernatural ability. His felt that his complacence was an insult to her legacy. Neil placed his hand comfortingly on Jacob's shoulder.

"I just…I couldn't admit my failure," said Neil.

"Jacob, you don't know if you're dreaming or not. I've encountered several patients who claim that they don't dream, but they enter REM sleep with no trouble," said Neil. "The accident may have affected your ability to remember your dreams. For all we know, you're still the Dream Master, but your abilities are just latent."

"If that's the case, what do you think I should do?" asked Jacob.

"I have a method we can try. Usually, I have to coax my patients to relax," said Neil, "But since you haven't gotten much sleep, I don't think it'll be hard to get you to close your eyes."

"I'm game for it. Only…can I just check on Richard and Stephen first?" asked Jacob.

"Yeah, go for it. I'll get everything prepared while you do that," said Neil.

Jacob went into Neil's den. He found his sons staring in fear at a statue. It was of a snarling man riding a ferocious tiger.

"What're you two doing?" asked Jacob. His question startled them.

"Daddy, the evil man's eyes keep following us," said Richard. Stephen was holding his older brother's hand.

"Don't worry. The evil man won't hurt you," said Jacob. He walked up to the statue, and gave it a fake punch. His sons laughed in nervousness. "Come on let's go outside to the koi pond."

Jacob led his sons to the peaceful backyard. Stephen perked up at the sight of the fish.

"The both of you stay out here and look at the fish, okay. Neil is going to help me with something," said Jacob.

"What's Neil helping you with, dad?" asked Richard.

"He's going to help me get strong. To protect you both against the evil man," said Jacob.

"Will you keep the evil man away, dad?" asked Richard.

"Always," said Jacob. "You watch your brother, okay."

"Okay, dad," said Richard. He walked over to Stephen, who was lying on his stomach on the grass. He was entranced by the fish.

He didn't worry about them being alone, as the pond was very shallow. But he kept the screen door open just in case.

Jacob returned to Neil's office.

"How're they doing?" asked Neil.

"They're outside having fun by the koi pond. They got a little creeped out by that statue you have with the tiger," said Jacob.

"Aw, poor little guys. Maybe if I tell them the story of Cai Shen, they won't be so scared of it," said Neil.

Jacob sat down on Neil's leather recliner.

"But first, let's see if we can get you to recall a dream," said Neil.

"So, are you going to use hypnosis?" asked Jacob.

"Kind of," said Neil, as he brought out a dreamcatcher.

"That's new. I never heard about dreamcatcher therapy in Psychology Today," cracked Jacob.

"It's for visualization. If we follow the Ojibwe belief, let's say the dreams are weaved together in your mind. We're going to keep going through the net until we find one that you can recall. Maybe then, we can determine what's blocking you from your ability," said Neil.

"When you put it that way, it sounds like a genius plan," responded Jacob.

"Of course it's a genius plan. I'm a well-published author, you know," said Neil jokingly.

Neil suspended the dreamcatcher on a tether. He positioned a dim light to reflect through each loop, shrouding everything else in darkness.

"I want you to focus on one of the dreamcatcher's webs. As you do so, open up your mind, and allow yourself to receive the dream…"

Jacob's eyes grew heavy as he stared at the dreamcatcher. It was as if it was floating in the air towards him. His vision magnified until he was within one of the webs. He felt himself entering the light, as it bent towards a center.

The center gave way into a new setting. Jacob faced a vast pool that resembled the koi pond that he left Richard and Stephen at. The pool seemed to pulsate every few seconds, and the ripples transitioned into a rainbow of colors.

Where am I? thought Jacob, as he studied his surroundings. He looked up towards what should have been the sky. Instead, he saw the hoop that framed the dreamcatcher.

"I'm in the dream," Jacob said to himself. Okay, Jacob, Neil got you here. Let's see if you can still work your Dream Master magic.

Jacob visualized Stephanie. The pool shifted, and formed into a watery version of her image. He thought about his sons, and the pool transformed into a giant screen. It was as if he was one of the koi and his sons were watching him in all his natural beauty.

Although Jacob was glad to be dreaming, he felt unsatisfied with his initial efforts. He needed to do something that fully showed his mastery. Jacob stepped into the water, and focused his energies on walking on it. With little concentration, he was able to perform the feat. Jacob kept walking until he was in the center of the pool. He hollered and laughed in triumph.

"I'm back! The Dream Master is…" Suddenly, Jacob was pulled into the water.

Jacob thrashed in panic as he tried to reach the surface. He pushed against the surface, but it was like hitting ice. This is just a dream. You're not really drowning. Picture someplace dry and on land.

The water dissipated, and Jacob was able to breathe again. Relief spread over him until Jacob realized where he was. It was Freddy's boiler room. Only everything was still.

There was no sound from the furnaces. The place was in disarray from the battle that Jacob witnessed between the Elm Street parents and Freddy. But there were no signs of life, not even for a place as haunting and frightening as Freddy's lair.

Just as he finally adjusted to her surroundings, Jacob could see something stirring in the corner of his eye. Just as he turned, a powerful force knocked him back.

Jacob bolted upright in Neil's recliner. He grabbed his head with both hands, and sighed in relief. Although Jacob was thankful to dream again, the experience was still daunting. At least he had something positive to report to Neil. Speaking of Neil, why wasn't he saying anything? Jacob turned to where Neil was standing, but he was nowhere to be found. The dreamcatcher was gone. Even the room itself looked different. Instead of the Feng Shui that Neil adopted, the office looked quaint—almost country-style.

"Neil?"

Jacob tried to home in on the call. It sounded like a female voice.

"Neil, where are you? You better not be hiding in your study. I told you that if you didn't fix that shower head, I was going to let you have it," said the female voice as she opened the office door.

"Oh!" said the startled female.

Jacob was surprised to see the figure standing at the door.

"Nancy?" asked a shocked Jacob. "What're you doing here?"

Before Nancy could answer, Neil appeared at the doorway.

"Were you calling me?" asked Neil, who was carrying a toolbox. He turned his attention towards Jacob. "Jacob, I told you a million times not to use my couch. You always forget to take off your sneakers."

Jacob looked down at his shoes in bewilderment. He was indeed wearing sneakers. What the hell is going on?

"Jacob, Neil already had this talk with you. Aren't you going to apologize?"

"I'm…," Jacob pushed passed them. He ran to the nearest bathroom he could find. As Jacob looked at his reflection, he didn't know what to believe. Staring back at him was not a man in his early thirties but instead a teenager.

"Young man, come out here this instant," said Neil, as he banged against the door authoritatively.

Jacob pinched himself in horror. Wake up, wake up already you stupid fucker.