Have you ever dreamed of a place you've never been before, in vivid, lasting detail, only to find yourself there in reality at some later date? I have. It's an odd feeling, to say the least, and a chilling one when the dream has been one filled with danger, dread, or evil. These dreams come without warning, and mean nothing other than nightmare visions when they are dreamed. Though their memory lingers, they are dismissed from conscious thought. Only later, when I have found myself actually in the place visited in my dreams, do they return to my conscious mind, bringing unsettling, even fearful emotions.

For example.....

The Dream:

I find myself imprisoned in a tiny room, containing only a washstand and stool. I am a small child, and feel very afraid, and very alone. The room is very small, and cramped, and I have a trapped, claustrophobic feeling. I must escape, but am fearful of whomever or whatever has me captured here. There is one tiny window located high in the outside wall near the corner of the room. It is too high up for me to see out of, and covered with a yellowed, ragged curtain. Afternoon sunlight filters in around the curtain's edges.

I try the door, which has skeleton key type lock, but find it locked fast. After some maneuvering, I am able to climb up on the washstand, and by standing on the tips of my toes, peer out of the tiny window. In the way of dreams, I am able to see both the normal view of the surrounding area, and also the outside of the room and house I am in. It is a large, two story farmhouse, and the room I am in is located at one corner of the house. There is a large old tree to my left. Across a short expanse of lawn, I see a paved lot surrounding a brick building. In the lot is a basketball goal post, and several young boys are playing there. I attempt to catch their attention by rapping on the window and calling for help, but they do not notice me. I am filled with frustration, and fear. I begin to cry, and beat more frantically on the glass. There is still no response from the boys outside, but I am suddenly aware of approaching footsteps on the other side of the locked door. I am filled with fear and panic. I do not want the door to open, for it does not signal help and release, but terror. I hear the key in the lock, and stand frozen as the door knob begins to turn. At this point, I awake, my heart beating wildly.

The Reality

My family is on one of its frequent weekend outings, exploring the countryside. My father, who was an avid regional historian, is persuing the location of an old cemetary and church that has graves dating back to the early 1600's. As we travel down the winding country road in the bright autumn sunlight, he slows the car to let approaching traffic pass. Sitting in the back seat of our old station wagon, I suddenly feel a cold chill as my eyes drift to the scenery beside the road. To my left, I spy a large, two story farmhouse, shaded by huge old tree. Across a short expanse of lawn, a large brick church sits, surrounded by a wide, paved parking lot. In the lot between the house and church, several boys are playing basketball, thowing their shots at the goalpost anchored there. In stunned silence, I allow my gaze to drift back to the house, paying special attention to the corner near the tree. My breath stops, and the hair on the back of my neck, and all along my arms stand at attention. Located near the corner, higher up the wall than the other windows, is a tiny window, covered with a dingy white curtain.

I fully expected to see a small, tearful face there, and a tiny hand banging against the glass. Every emotion I had experienced in my dream rushed back with amazing force. Even as our car resumed speed and the house vanished from sight, my eyes searched for signs of movement in that small, forbidding window. There were none. But I could not then, and can not now, escape the feeling that there was someone there, small and fearful, seeking escape, just as I had in my dream.