His mother died giving birth to him, and now teenager Osemer comforts his dying father, who reassures him he can do anything he wants in life. Just before the father dies, he gives Osemer a special key that seems to produce noises, manifest mysterious characters, and make things move in his home, especially in the basement. He wonders if it is his imagination or a bad dream or a nightmare. Osemer hears voices during the day and even stranger things happen while he sleeps. He finds himself in a strange land, where he journeys with William and encounters a variety of animals. Their days are long and hard as they traverse valleys and see mountains and rivers. Everything revolves around the key Osemer's father bestowed on him. Following Osemer's adventures, Beyond Sleep explores the world of dreams, some of them so vivid one wonders if it is indeed real.