Tempted as I was, I skipped on checking Rafe's condition.

He had dream-walked too many times, and something was wrong. I'd had enough of the paranormal pushing me around. I needed to know the root of the problem, and how to fix it. The next vague spirit guide to cross me was liable to get punched in the face.

The restaurant wasn't far, and I was confident I'd return pronto. Still, I should've went back. How was I to know what I'd find?

I walked to Titi's, turning the map every which way. What looked like a road on the map turned out to be a row of mountains. A small squiggle I figured for a waterway was actually a tree. Thirty minutes into my trek and I pulled up Google Maps on my phone. Yet, no results turned up, and so I relied on my amateur navigation skills.

Shortly after, I spied a boy popping wheelies alongside the dirt road.

I threw out a greeting, "Hola!"

Sensing my hesitancy, he smiled the toothless smile of a youngster, but he didn't reply.

"Donde está Titi's?"

When he continued ignoring me, I considered pulling out my sword (just to scare him, swear), but then he twitched, ever so slightly. He pointed in front of him toward a flat expanse of more dirt, or as the locals might call it, nada. The wind picked up, tossin' up swirls of earth. For a moment, light reflected and blinded me, but I wasn't sure of the origin.

"There's nothing," I said, shielding my eyes from the sun.

He laughed and rode off. I kicked myself for wimping out on the sword threat.

A shadow passed over the area, the result of a large cloud blocking the sun. When I lowered my hand from my eyes, I noticed a building.

It was modestly-sized, plank construction, and in need of a paint job. The sign read Tit_s.

I chuckled, and went to see if the delusion was real or just a mirage.

~*~