Virginia moaned softly as she fell into the strange and oddly compelling dream landscape. She found herself on a level plauteau unlike her familiar surroundings yet similiar was the atmosphere of the place nonetheless. A slight chill breeze blew over the non-existent grasses of this vacant plain, and a soft light issued from sources unknown. She was walking forward when the box came into view.

Suddenly, Magda was standing there blocking her further progress!

She awoke with a frightened start! She shivered fearfully as she gathered the disheveled bedclothes back around her trembling shoulders. She could remember the dream as if it had been a waking moment. She could not recall ever having had such a unreal. yet so real in texture, dream before. She was too afraid to go back to sleep so she turned on a small reading lamp and started going over tomorrow's schedule for the continuing education of Jamison Collins. He was not as apt of a pupil as he should have been, but alas, neither was she very apt at being his instructor. It was not something that came easily to her.

"75. 76. 77." Laura Collins counted the number of times that her maid, Mary Agnes, combed her beautiful long blond hair. Although it was late and nearly midnight, the mistress to be of the great house could not sleep as was often her want. And with Edward away she did not hesitate to be up and most active with her servants in full attendance. Claire was up as well busily putting some finishing touches on some general room maintenance. Here it was 11:20pm and she was dusting!

Mary Agnes smiled to herself shyly as she saw Claire roll her eyes at the absurdity of all these chores being performed at this ungodly hour. She had grown quite accustomed to her lady's peculiar sleeping schedule or lack there of. She had also grown rather fond of Laura Collins,who although she did not treat Mary Agnes as an equal she did treat her with uncommon respect as regards a household servant. So when, Laura's countenance suddenly took on a ghostly pallor and she seemed to freeze in motion, Mary Agnes was quick to concern, but not to panic.

She had seen her lady as such before, but never had anyone else been present as Claire was now. She quietly motioned Claire over to the vanity table where Laura's gaze was steady and transfixed as if upon some distant object. "See, it is just as I told you about that time before. She has gone into a trance!" Mary Agnes spoke in awe of her lady's apparent condition.

"No, it's a fever coming on, I tell ya. There is nought here that is of the spirit realm." Claire added matter of factly. Claire was not one to wild flights of fancy. She was not a handsome woman and as a result she was a most practical one.

As the two of them debated what was really happening Laura Collin's lips parted slightly as she just barely spoke the two words, "The box."

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.