A BIT OF EXPLORATION

[ It's been years since he's had a twisted work dream. Even then the worst that ever happened was double-booking a public school's visit through the national park. Oh, or that time restrictions were enforced for collecting razor clams, and the public practically rioted.

But since the winds changed one late summer and brought two priests to their quiet Nachburn Island, his nights have been restless and eerie. This, however, is a new low for Peter. Unable to wake up and too spooked to wander back into the fog in the hopes of a way out, he finds an empty, rustic restaurant, the Grey Gull.

Just like everywhere else, no one's around to answer his calls, so he decides to break a few rules. Walking behind the cluttered bar, Peter helps himself to a bottle of moonshine and a dusty glass. Dream or not, he's going to spend his time getting lit until he wakes up or someone finds him.

The table he settles at faces the door. It's the best advantage point as he slides out another chair to rest one leg on. Unfortunately, the windows turn the foggy outside into a terrarium of horror as dark figures suddenly appear behind the glass, black hands knocking against it with a soft thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

Peter pours himself a drink and chokes it down in order to calm his racing heart. ]