I can barely see through a haze of mist all around me. Darkness, getting darker. I cannot feel; only my senses are overwhelmed by a growing dread. Still reflective pools of water gather, glistening upon the rain-soaked street. A lamp post blinks dimly in the distance. The sound of my footsteps echoes as I come upon a house, the only house to be seen. The whole neighborhood is deserted. A light shows through a window; on its sill there stands a bird. Black ravens watch me. It appears there were five of them.

I need to get by them; they watch as I approach. Then, just as I think of it, one of them says, “What you seek will not be found.” The one that spoke suddenly flew away. The others shift; there are four that remain. The largest of those remaining takes flight, suddenly appearing along the edge of a fence. I pause in my approach, though the gate to the yard is open. I stand...