[ Alan freezes too when he hears the call coming through and the words that are being said. It does nothing to ease his frustration; if anything, it only makes it grow. He really does feel like nothing more than a pawn in a story that he can't control, only follow, when the last thing he wants to do is blindly follow something leading him somewhere he can't even see. ]

Yeah, it's obvious. Too obvious, and I hate it. I don't want to just follow it where it says to go, even if that's obviously what I have to do. I know I don't want it to become real or true, and I can't let the story become real. Whatever's going on with me and Alice, it can't have her. Or you. Because you're involved too, now.

[ Maybe it's the frustration talking, but Alan's resolve is clear. ]

We'll change the story. We'll stop the story, because we have to. Because I have to. And I'm getting you that coffee. Now, I guess we have to find our way to Mirror Peak.