After so many bizarre events in so short a time, Lia felt no surprise when strange dreams pursued her throughout the night. In the first, a house seemed to reach out to her. The beautiful structure appealed to her artistic sensibilities, and its inner glow of positivity made her want to run inside and roll on the carpet, wrapping herself up in its joy, but a dark haze that lay over the house like a huge blanket barred her entry. It took the form of a malevolent face with an evil grin. “Come on, little girl. Come on in. I’m waiting. Come to me. You’ll have power like you’ve never known.”
Lia backed away and ran. Ran to her safe place by the ocean. A pod of sea lions greeted her with raucous honks and waving flippers. One, smaller and paler than the others, humped his way forward over the s
