I step out into the parking lot and my car is gone. All of my possessions that I left in my car are, however, neatly piled in the parking spot I left it in. This is all even more surprising than it normally would be given that I was only inside for ten minutes or so.

  In the pile of my things are two unfamiliar objects. The first is a dongle for a nearby pickup truck with keyless ignition. The truck has an orange paint job and I have never seen it before. The second unfamiliar item is a phone. The phone has no lock screen password and no saved contacts. The only image saved on it is an illustrated map full of fantastical elements and grandiose bels. Upon closer inspection of the map I realize that the yout of the terrain is analogous to the region surrounding my hometown. There is an X on the map over an area I have never been to.

  This is either an exceptionally eborate prank, or I’m about to wind up on a most unusual magical adventure. I sigh, load my things into the orange truck, and start driving to go get my car back.