And lo! Just then the lights went out. The room was briefly lit by the momentary flash of lightning, but just for a bit. The eerie combination of darkness and silence shrouded the room again. Tumultuous raindrops halted the silence again. Almost overcome by fear, she groped for the candle in the drawer. But there was none. Was her memory failing her? She remembered having kept a used candle and a match box in the drawer. Absorbed in thoughts, she heard the room door slam. The wind had picked up speed as if to provide a heady cocktail in a already strong drink. The human brain is wired to start imagining things almost instantaneously. She now heard footsteps. Not outside but in the very room. Had she forgotten to lock the door? Her thoughts raced to a few minutes ago. She remembered that when she had returned home, she had locked the door. There cannot be anyone in the house. Had a burglar sneaked in? She found herself unable to move. Excitement and fear together create a force strong enough for us mortals to temporarily suspend all out faculties. Was it an apparition? She did not believe in the goblins? She never did. She found her strength returning. Just then she heard a knock on the door. Soft initially, and then louder and louder. “Open the door!” It was a heavy voice. It was not a request. Someone commanded her to open the door. “Open the door NOW.” Her hands trembled. In the near dark room, she stumbled while she tried to reach the door. As if the command was not enough, there was a loud clap of thunder almost pushing off her feet. She told herself - you need to be brave, let there be no fear. Hands still trembling, she reached for the bolt. With a prayer on her lips, she slowly opened the door. One voice in her told her to run away. But courage seems to have got the better of her. She did behold a short and rather stout man with unkempt hair and bloodshot eyes looking straight at her face. He was clad in rather old and worn out clothes. He held a candle in one hand. It was flickering, and the glow from the candle created grotesque shapes all around, with some shadows as if there were goblins lurking all around her. The man reached out his hand and said, “Here is the candle you were looking for, I have lit it up for you.  Have a rest - well restless night. Good Night.”

Scream! She sat up in bed. There was no rain, there was no power outage. There was no goblin in sight. All was calm except her recent shriek. Welcome to DREAMLAND!