Allia had had a long day. As she climbed into her cold, hard mattress, she sighed. She knew she was going to have the dream – the nightmare – again. She considered trying not to sleep but she knew her work would suffer the next day.

The sun shone dazzlingly and blindingly, as it did every night. Somehow she was always surprised at how very bright it was. Slowly, she walked toward the door. It was the only thing that was shadowed. This was impossible, of course, because the sun shone everywhere.

Her mother, her father, and her sister all joined her at the door, preparing to open it together. They pushed it open to reveal a gloom so immense, so dark. The sun had been extinguished and her family members had turned into great, slithering serpents, poised to attack.

She screamed.