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Things of NightmaresSantha was dragged down into a void of smothering darkness. It gushed into her mouth, her eyes, ears, and nose, and bound her like a wet sack, cold and constricting. She could not breathe, could not see or hear, and the terror it imparted was all-encompassing. There was no consolation, no protection, no relief from the pressing night. She was in a forgotten place.
She had never felt more alone in her life.
‘Who are you?’ asked a voice both ancient and beautiful. ‘What is your name?’
Santha could not answer. The darkness encased everything, including her jaw, which it clamped shut. She struggled to free herself, to answer that wondrous and sad voice, but the more she resisted, the more the darkness tightened its hold. The pressure was immense.
When she could bea
