Amanda looked around the cottage. It was devoid of any human presence but it was not, in any

way, empty. In the middle of the living room is a low centre table made of Maplewood,

surrounded by 3 3-seater upholstered couches. Piles of what seems like glossy paper-bound tomes

were on top and at the bottom of the centre table. As she saw earlier, the windows were closed

but the curtains were drawn to the side to give a view of the garden outside.

Amanda took a few steps towards the living room and suddenly felt light-headed. It was as if she

was transported to a different place- not, to...