He could see how one might think this was easy to do at first. After all, it was just lining up five rows of five different symbols, yet he could see a stumbling block after he had lined up all but two rows of symbols. The last two rows would be almost impossible to get with his current strategy.

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Putting it down on his chest, Stephen just stared at it for a few moments, trying to think of a winning strategy to get all five rows. Taking a glance up at the clock, he realized it was close to midnight. d.a.m.n! I've been at this almost two hours!

After several more minutes looking at the puzzle, he realized his initial strategy was all wrong. It could only lead to getting stuck on the last line. To solve the puzzle, he'd have to deconstruct the lines he already created, and start from the beginning. His fingers got to work. After about twenty five minutes, he had re-created three of the rows of symbols like before, and could now see a path to completion. His fingers moved quickly, if not for the fact that he was extremely sleepy and ready for bed. At least he had tomorrow off, and could sleep in.

Finally, he had just the last row to populate. His fingers moved the last symbol, which looked like a lower case letter b, into position, and completed the fifth and final row. Yes! He thought, smiling at himself for figuring out the puzzle. He stared at the completed puzzle for several moments, proud at figuring it out. It had taken the better part of two and half hours, but he had done it.

Putting the completed puzzle on his nightstand, Stephen let out an audible yawn. It was so late, and his tiredness had finally caught up with him. It was all he could do to get his light turned off before his head finally hit the pillow. Stephen was out almost immediately, sound asleep. A good thing, for if he was still awake, he would have noticed his puzzle box was spilling out a light green gas from the two seams. That gas was steadily filling the room, all released from deep within the box.

Stephen, fast asleep as he was, didn't notice the gas slipping inside him. He breathed it deeply, inhaling the ancient fumes, and releasing a spiritual ent.i.ty that had been caged for more than two thousand years.

For his part, Stephen only slept. It was a night without dreams or nightmares. A deep restful sleep that promised an interesting awakening.