Gary Brandt transforms his tale from The Dimension Of Mind Dot Com from a supernatural sleepover story into something closer to political thriller territory, as the girls wake up to find Helana has manifested as a tiny visible form—complete with the outfits they imagined.
The euphoria of finally seeing their interdimensional friend in person (she's 'beautiful' and 'gorgeous' with 'the cutest thing ever' vibes) gets dramatically overshadowed when their protective instincts kick in during Mr.
Danvers' car ride interrogation.
Ella's fierce 'Don't talk to her without our permission!' moment reveals how much these thirteen-year-old girls have evolved—they're no longer just excited kids but genuine protectors of someone they consider family.
Helana's explanation of Earth as a 'bustling transit hub' filled with interdimensional travelers adds mind-bending context to the story, suggesting their little adventure is part of something much larger and more complex than they imagined.
But then the real 'double trouble' hits when the U.S.
Navy shows up at their middle school, with Lieutenant Commander Beaker offering a suspiciously vague 'specialized program for gifted students' that involves mysterious field trips and night classes.
The girls' unified rejection of his offer triggers the chapter's most chilling moment: Beaker reveals he knows about their telepathic communication (they have a 'tell' when they glance at each other) and warns they're 'in danger' while offering military protection for 'your friend too.' The timeline implications are staggering—Helana's presence has altered their future, creating government interest that never existed before.
Ella's diary entry captures the impossible choice tearing her apart: she knows Helana needs to return home for her own safety, but losing her interdimensional best friend feels 'like my best friend dying.' The chapter ends with Ella crying herself to sleep, desperately hoping for 'drama-free' tomorrow while knowing their secret supernatural world has collided with very real military surveillance.
Brandt masterfully escalates the stakes from teenage friendship drama to government conspiracy, as these girls discover that having an interdimensional friend means dealing with interdimensional consequences.