The stuff of dreams mingles with the fabric of reality when in a dream, Braxton Kinderling finds young Monica on an island where she's marooned, hunted everyday and is losing hope of ever escaping. Braxton awakens to find deadly shadow hunters have followed him back to our world seeking to kill the waking version of Monica. Braxton concludes he's had a vivid dream until he discovers beach sand in his bed. His memory of Monica is vibrant but attempts to dream of the island again don't work until he holds the sand in his hand as he sleeps. Braxton arrives at the island again and learns of a graver danger affecting us all in our dreaming moments, giving a new meaning to the phrase; "...died in their sleep."