Introduction

A slender finger reached out and tapped the hand-made dreamcatcher that rested peacefully on the corner of a birch nightstand as an emaciated shadow cloaked the small piece of furniture in shadow. Wrinkled skin and jagged, discolored nails wrapped around the small talisman. A croaking chuckle, much like the sound of a bullfrog, sounded quietly as another hand closed briefly over the small dreamcatcher. “Ahh, yes. I see now.” A weary, tremulous voice spoke in a tone that was both reverent and cautious as a single finger stroked the strings connected to the woven branches that formed the outer hoop of the charm. “So much negative energy in one so young…hmm…strange that one such as this should be plagued by bad dreams. The Spirits are unhappy with this one. But why?” Tapping the dreamcatcher lightly, the voice—old but still strong—announced quietly, “I release you. Go forth and haunt another. You have no reason to dwell here any longer.”
The silver glow of a single moonbeam illuminated the strands of the dreamcatcher for a moment, then faded as quickly as it had come. Chuckling quietly, the shadow flicked across the nightstand like the flame of a candle across a wick…and disappeared.