In the early 1900s, a dark shadow covered a small country town in rural America.

The massive and vaguely mushroom-shaped ship hovered above Earth. The details weren’t very clear, but there was a dark, glass bubble attached somewhere in the middle, and many little hatches that covered it like chicken pox. Within the bubble was a faint movement, and suddenly, the inside was slightly visible. It was the silhouette of a strange, skinny, humanoid creature.

At that time, a young married couple vanished mysteriously from their home.

The figure was very still for a moment. Hesitation? Enjoyment? Fear? Whatever it was, it shook itself and waved one of its spaghetti-like arms. As if this was a command, all of the hatches swung open, pushed by the barrel of a cannon. The figure gestured one more time, and there was silent explosion. All the cannons had shot at Earth.

The man’s name was George; the woman’s name was Maria.

The shooting continued on, sending pill-like objects all over the continent below. Some landed in large concentration, while others spaced out.

One of those was approaching the seemingly insignificant town of Reindeer.

Two years later, as suddenly as he had left, George returned.

I walked up to the batting plate, completely unaware of what was going on just above my head. All I was worried about was winning the game, wanted to make sure my last impression on this town was one to remember. I was about to move that day.

I should have been used to moving around a lot. We had been almost everywhere in the country, so our dad would be able to visit us between his long work hours, but he rarely did anyway. It was unfair. I knew he worked hard for our sake, so why did I feel so cheated whenever this came up? “Why do you feel so cheated, Ken?”

Isn’t it obvious?

It was only yesterday when I last saw my friends. All perfectly human. Today, though, there was something extraterrestrial that had possessed everyone at the field. They talked, they played, Andy, the pitcher, wound up and hurled the ball at me. Then I realized.

None of them had a face.

I felt a desperate rage. My vision flushed to red, and suddenly, all I could see was the ball flying toward me, and fire surrounding my body. All I cared about was the ball, though, and my hatred towards Dad. I felt so much stronger.

He never told anyone where he had been or what he had done, but he began an odd study all by himself.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t know about the pill thing coming at us, but some part of me must have, maybe on a subconscious level. The baseball I hit tore through the thing, which apparently knocked it off course. The pill swerved and jittered, making a few other noises that didn’t sound good, before becoming silent and falling towards a different, even less significant town. The one I was about to move to.

As it collapsed into a woods, some unusual stuff flew up from the explosion. A coffin, a garbage can, a pink hat, a microphone, two letter Xs.

As for Maria, his wife…

Everything fell to the ground and shattered like glass.

…She never returned.

Chapter 1: Broken Window

“AIEEE!”

The sound of shattering glass was shortly followed by mom’s cry of annoyance and bewilderment. I woke with a start and found myself watching a scene play out from our car’s passenger seat.

It wasn’t a very good view, since things were happening on the driver’s side. However, because Mom was too busy storming away to close her door, I could more or less spot the red-headed kid and little white terrier she was approaching. I couldn’t hear the verbal battle that had started to ensue very well, so I got out of the car and walked a little closer.

“…I’m telling you, it wasn’t me!!” yelled the red-head, a girl with pigtails and freckles who must’ve been older than she looked.

“Then whose ball was it?!” Mom demanded angrily.

“Not mine. THIS one’s mine,” she replied proudly, holding out a red softball in her mitted hand.

Mom wasn’t convinced, and I wasn’t either, to be honest. “They could both be yours for all I know, and besides, don’t your parents know you’re playing in other people’s yards?”

“They do!” she countered. “We didn’t think people’d live in this place ever again!”

I glanced up at the two-story house sitting behind them. So this was our new house after all. It did look pretty old, but the well-kept kind of old, and very plain and white too. A window on the second floor was broken, but judging by the current situation, it was a recent wound.
 
I tuned back in to the going-nowhere argument and decided to intervene by tapping Mom on the shoulder. “Mom, listen.”
 
She spun around, expression softening at the sight of me. “Did we wake you up?” she asked apologetically.
 
I nodded, but continued what I started to say: “I’ll check out whatever room is behind that broken window and find that ball; you,” I pointed to the startled but suspicious girl, “can help me figure out who it might belong to. You‘re familiar with the other kids in this town, right?”
 
She shrugged. “Better than you, I’m guessing. Who are you, anyway?”
 
“Ken Daus,” I replied. “Me and my family just got here from Reindeer. You?”
 
“Pippi,” she said simply, “and I don’t like your name.”
 
That took me aback. “Sorry?”
 
Mom kept on her disapproving glare. “I’m still going to call your parents,” she warned Pippi while handing me the key.
 
As I wandered to the front door of the house, I heard Pippi reply, “Is it okay if I give you my Mom’s work number? We don’t have a home phone.”

* * *
 
The creaky door opened, revealing the dust floating about inside. There had been people here in the past few days replacing the carpets and tiles, setting up some of the furniture, and other general repairs, but the place was still pretty dusty. I stepped in gingerly, almost expecting the floor to cave in at the touch of a feather.
 
I passed the mostly empty living room, and headed up the flight of stairs, which also squealed in protest. Four bedrooms lined the upstairs hallway; a bit of an overkill, since Minnie and Mimi, my little twin sisters, could share a room without killing each other. However, it also meant I wouldn’t have to share a room either.
 
It wasn’t long before I found the room with the broken window, which, judging by the familiar shape of the bed frame set up inside, was probably my room. Hoorah! I thought sarcastically, but then decided it was better this way. The window would already be my problem, so no one else would complain to me about it.
 
Besides, everything else was impressive. This had to be the biggest room I ever had to myself, even though I didn‘t have much to fill it with, nor did I care that much. The comfort was thinking about how much the twins would enjoy having their own big rooms.
 
Being careful to avoid the shards of glass, (I always take my shoes off during long car trips and had forgotten to put them back on this time,) I picked up the ball.
 
‘BOUT TIME! TAKE YOUR BALL AND GET OUT!
 
A cold, angry voice echoed in my head. I stood up, hair bristling, and looked around. Empty. But I could hear heavy breathing, as if the person who had shouted at me was ready to start again.
 
“It’s not mine,” I said out loud, mostly because it really wasn’t, partly to see if I could provoke the voice. Sure enough, I heard it, fainter this time…
 
Of course it is! You’re the reason…
 
“KEN! You okay? What’s taking you so long?”
 
…and then it was lost. 
 
“Coming,” I shouted in reply to Mom. Before I left, though, I stopped in the doorway and took one last look at the baseball in my hand. Could it have been the same one I lost in Reindeer? I immediately shook the absurd thought out of my head and hurried out.
 
You’re the reason…You’re the reason…said the echo.

* * *
 
“Really?” Minnie was saying when I got outside again.
 
Pippi nodded. “Yep. He’s actually a stray dog. He sleeps in the backyard shed of this house and I bring him food and walk him and play with him everyday.”
 
“Why haven’t you been keeping him at home?” Mom asked suspiciously.
 
“My mom’s allergic,” she replied. “Sorry. Like I said, I didn’t know this house was still livable.”
 
“That’s okay!” exclaimed Mimi. “Now Mick can live here with us!”
 
Mom flinched at that statement. “No way!” she yelled. “We’re NOT having a dog in the house!”
 
“Then he can sleep in the shed, like he always has,” I piped in. “And if the girls can’t take care of him, I will.” It wasn’t that the prospect of owning a pet that made me stick up for my sisters. We had had a few pets in the past, all eventually left behind due to apartment restrictions. I just couldn’t see any reason to send the dog away when we would eventually move again and desert this house like before.
 
“I don’t know…” Mom said. She seemed to be weakening, then she thought of something. “But he digs in the yard! Look!”
 
It was true. The yard was filled with small but numerous holes. There were also a few turds here and there.
 
“Well…we can train him,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation. “And if we can’t, then we can send him to a pound or something.”
 
Mom was silent this time, thinking.
 
“Just give him a chaaaance!” Minnie, a passionate animal lover, whined while giving her the doe-eyes.
 
Finally, she gave in. “Alright. For now, it’ll be alright. But this is also your father’s house,” she added. “If he says no, the dog goes, got it.”
 
“He’ll never even notice it,” I muttered.
 
“What was that, Ken?”
 
“Nothing.”
* * *
 
Mom insisted that I walk home with Pippi. (“And make sure you write down her address!”) Neither of us really complained because, although we had only known each other for less than fifteen minutes, we had a lot to talk about.
 
“Man, your mom’s hysterical!” Pippi was laughing. “One minute, she’s like, ‘No! No! No!’ Next, she’s like, ‘Fine. Have it your way, sweet talker.’ You really know how to push her buttons.”
 
I shrugged. “I guess so. The twins really like me for it, but I just go for whosever’s way sounds best. Sometimes I get on my sisters‘ case if Mom‘s point is better, so really, I‘m on everybody‘s good side in my family.”
 
“Wouldn’t that be the life,” sighed Pippi wistfully. Suddenly, she asked, “What about your dad?”
 
I flinched. I never liked talking about Dad, but I figured I might as well. I knew Pippi wasn’t prodding or anything; she was just worried about Mick.
 
“My dad,” I started, trying to think about how to word this, “is never around. He’s away at work all day, and when he does come home, late at night, he’s too tired to pay any attention to us. I never talk with him, and I don‘t even care to anymore.” I could have said a lot more, but that wasn’t necessary.
 
Pippi smiled oddly. “That’s kinda funny, ‘cause my dad’s the opposite. He’s at home way too much, just lazing around and watching tv, and my mom’s the one who has to earn all the money.”
 
“Oh,” I said, embarrassed for having known that her mother worked and then complaining about my dad. Talk about insensitive! “Sorry, that was rude of me.”
 
“It’s no big deal,” Pippi shrugged good-naturedly. “I’m like you; I just pretend he’s a piece of furniture or something, and then he’s a lot easier to forget about.”
 
We walked on in silence, both trying to ignore the awkwardness that had entered the conversation. But finally, I thought of a subject changer.
 
“Hey, Pippi, does everyone around here think our house is condemned or something?” I asked.
 
She nodded. “Yeah, pretty much. We did here a rumor about some guys going to refurnish the place, but we didn’t believe them. No one‘s lived there for decades.”
 
“Why? Are people just afraid of it, or do you even know?” I asked. The creepy voice from earlier was still bothering, and I wondered if there could be any connection.
 
“Well,” she said hesitantly. “Sure, I can tell you. You’re pretty level-headed. Just keep it from your mom unless you really want her to freak out.”
 
“Tell me what? What is it?” I was breathless with suspense.
 
“That house…well…” She took a deep breath. Then whispered darkly, “…Your house is haunted!”
 
“I knew it!” I cried, slapping my fist in triumph. “I heard a voice when I went in to get that baseball. That must have been the ghost, right?”
 
This obviously wasn’t the reaction Pippi had been expecting. Her eyes narrowed in disgusted shock. “I was just kidding! What are you, crazy?!”

Chapter 2: Basement Treasures

We spent the next several days moving stuff into the house, cleaning up the yard, and attempting to train Mick. Those sessions usually ended up as games of fetch or tug o' war. The playful little dog only became serious when Pippi was over.  

Pippi couldn't come by all the time because of her chores, but when she did, she was always a welcome company, and even helped us unload boxes sometimes. We were still friends, even though she was convinced I was crazy.  

Quite frankly, it wouldn't have surprised me if she was right. I heard the voice every now and again, telling us to leave, but no one else could.

The window in my room still hadn't been repaired, probably because I hadn't complained about it at all. Although it hadn't rained yet, it was still quite humid, considering it was the middle of June. One morning, after another hot night, I was fed up. I grabbed some duct tape, some cardboard from one of the boxes, and started covering up the hole. 

"Oh, don't do that, Ken!" Mom exclaimed. She must have just gotten up and happened see me through my open door; I thought I was the only one awake. "That looks ugly!"

"It's hot in here," I countered.

"Then I'll call someone to replace the window! Honestly! I know you don't care, but this isn't just any house. It's belonged to our family since the early nineteen hundreds and..."

...the early 1900s...

I'm still unsure what happened during that lecture. As soon as I heard the part about the 1900s, my dream from a few days before started floating back to me in bits and pieces. I could still hear Mom talking, but the only words I could understand were what corresponded with that odd vision.

...married...home...years...study...never returned...Ken...

"Ken! Are you listening to me?"

I shook myself from the little trance and replied, "Yeah, got it. Sorry, Mom. I should've reminded you about the window."
Mom didn't look too convinced, but my guess must not have been that far from the money, because all she did was huff at me and walk away.

* * *

After breakfast, Mom went out to finally meet Pippi's parents. She kept promising to do this, but hadn't had the time ‘til now, when we were mostly settled in our new house.  

"Let's let Mickey in!" Minnie exclaimed mischievously the second after Mom was gone.  

Mimi and I glared at her.

"Or not," she pouted. "Party poopers."

"We'll take Mick on a walk later today, with that leash we found in the basement," Mimi consoled.

I blinked in surprise. "What basement?"

* * *

They grabbed some flashlights before leading me outside to a couple of cellar doors in the backyard. For being hidden only by a few scrubby bushes, it surprised me how I hadn't noticed it before now. My sisters heaved a door open, releasing a cloud of dust. Inside, a gray staircase ominously beckoned into the darkness.

"We were afraid Mom wouldn't let us play here," Mimi explained quietly.

"So we weren't gonna show her 'til we showed you," Minnie finished.

I was impressed despite myself. "When did you find this?" I asked, wondering how long they had kept this a secret.

Minnie shrugged and said, "Just yesterday, and it's not even dangerous. It’s just really, really dusty and full of junky papers and boxes and other stuff.”

Not sure what to think, I decided to comply. We started down with our flashlights ablaze, but they did little to reveal anything beyond the thickening dust. We were really underground now. I started coughing as the stuff entered my lungs.

There was a scuttling sound to my left, and I quickly turned my flashlight and saw a rat scurrying behind a strange metal box.

“I don’t know if you saw that,” I said out loud, “but there are rats down here.”

Apparently, they hadn’t heard me either, because Mimi suddenly shouted, “Look! Up on that shelf!”

As if it had been waiting for a spotlight, a pretty little china doll was standing there, surprisingly un-dusty.

“She’s gorgeous!” Mimi cooed, starting to reach for it.

NO! DON’T TOUCH IT!

The ghost. This time, the voice was so loud, I cringed.

Too late; Mimi was hugging the little doll.

You can hear me, can’t you? Please! Tell that girl to put it down! That’s where…that’s where…

Up until this point, the ghost only seemed to have one emotion: anger. Now, it was pleading, begging me to do something. It could have been my imagination, I could have just put it off as me being crazy, but it was so urgent, I didn’t feel I could risk it not being real.

“Uh, Mimi, maybe you should put that back,” I said evenly, trying to make it sound like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Why!?” Mimi cried indignantly.

I sighed. I couldn’t think of anything. My mind was blank, so I said what I was hoping I wouldn’t have to. “Because of the ghost.”

It got their attention at least. “G-Ghost?” Minnie stammered.

“Don’t freak out,” I told her quickly. “It’s…it’s just a ghost of a little girl.”

Mimi looked at me strangely. “A little girl?”

“Yeah. She lived in this house many years ago,” I said, pulling stuff from the top of my head, “and that was her favorite doll. But she was extremely…protective over it, so when she died--”

“THERE YOU ARE!”

Another beam of light poured into the room with Mom’s voice. From the doorway, I could see her silhouette marching toward us.

“Mom! I can…” I started.

“I am VERY ashamed of you, Ken Timothy Daus!” she interrupted fiercely. “Taking the girls to your secret hideout and telling them scary ghost stories, indeed!”

Mimi started crying while Minnie said, “No, Mom, you got it backwa--”

“I thought you were more mature than that!”

Calmly, I sucked in my breath, “Mom…” I didn’t get any further than that, though. I had to cough again, harder this time, and I couldn’t stop for several seconds. Dang, it was dusty down there!

“Ken, are you okay?” Mimi whispered nervously.

“Yeah, ’m fine,” I managed to croak, still trying to catch my breath.

Mom, on the other hand, was either tired of standing in the basement, or she didn’t want to risk being talked out of punishing us. Grabbing our shirt collars, she yanked us toward the stairs.

But as we passed the metal box, one of the spasmodic flashlight beams hit the front of it, and the first thing I noticed were two letter X’s engraved above the lock.

I could almost hear the glass shattering again.

Chapter 3: Secret in the China

Do something…anything…he’s…he’s coming closer…

“Shut up.”

He wants to keep…it…hidden…you’ve got to stop her…

“I said shut up. I’m in enough trouble as it is.”

This had been going on for almost two hours. The ghost kept begging and begging me to do all kinds of dreadful things to Mimi’s new doll, while I kept refusing and refusing these insane requests in whispers. I found out that reading was the best defense, that concentrating on other words made the quiet but annoying voice get quieter. Still, I didn’t exactly have a library in my room. The rest of the books were downstairs in the living room, and I was trapped up here until dinner. Rereading didn’t help at all, so I was just sitting in my chair now, gritting my teeth and hoping I wouldn’t start shouting out of frustration.

Although my newfound schizophrenia would never make good meal discussion, I knew I’d have to bring it up as soon as possible. I shuddered at the thought of Mom bursting into tears, Mimi and Minnie asking what schizophrenia meant and shuddering at the answer, and Dad…blinking indifferently. Yes, it would be a saddening scene, but it’d be far better to get it over with now before I did anything stupid.

Listen…Ken…

Here we go again, I thought. “You can’t make me crazy, so stop trying,” I hissed.

I…can prove that I’m real…that your not mad…it said, catching me off guard. In a few minutes, you’ll see for yourself what I’ve been trying to warn you about…

I blinked, daring to listen closer…I shook my head. No. “You’re just trying to trick me.”

I’m sorry that…you think I’m not real…It’s too late now…I should’ve known you wouldn’t have listened…but I at least wanted to warn you…

I felt another chill. This was different than ever before. It sounded…apologetic, now. It had given up trying to force me to do its bidding. What’s more, though still faint, I could hear it as though someone was actually whispering in my ear. It sounded like a woman, my mom, in fact, though much less shrill.

“If you’re not a figment of my imagination, then what are you?” I asked, hoping I could at least change the subject.

There was a short silence. I don’t know. I might’ve been alive, maybe even…human…at some point, but I don’t remember, she(?) said vaguely. But if you come to me, I might be able to show you more than I can tell…Come to me…come to me…

She continued chanting, and after a while, I realized that she was getting louder and louder. Not the kind of loud that gives you a headache, but her voice kept getting stronger while maintaining a gentle, patient tone. She was lulling me into drowsy trance.

When I understood what was happening to me, I wanted to fight it, but I remembered there was no reason for it. I had asked a question, and this was how she was going to answer. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and tried to think only of finding that ghost.

I only saw darkness for a while, but slowly, I saw a drifting image, a window, almost like a movie, looking out into my own room. I didn’t feel like I was moving anywhere, but it looked like I was. My vision was on the move. I saw right through the door of my room, I flew across the hallway, and finally into Mimi’s room. There was a tea-set out, along with all her dolls.

“More tea, Madame Zambini?” Mimi giggled in a British accent. She poured some imaginary liquid into the teacup of her newest doll, the one from the basement.

Look closely, the voice crooned. This is where I am…what he wants…

I drifted closer and closer to that new doll, and sure enough, something was gleaming in its eye. I don’t mean that it was shiny; I mean there was a dull light coming from within. When I came even closer, I saw something else. It was a silhouette. A person…holding some kind of scepter…

DUCK, KEN!!

Just like that, it was over. I snapped my real eyes open and dove to the floor immediately. At that same moment, something whizzed over my head, smashed into the chair I was sitting in, and tipped it and my bookshelf over.

Then, everything was perfectly still. I swear it! My window was still busted open, and there had been a breeze coming in, but now even the curtains were deadly still.

I was afraid to move, but I finally sat up, feeling lightheaded and sleepy, probably as a result of that ghost-vision or whatever. As I watched the fallen chair, something floated up suddenly into my vision.

A Lamp.

Chapter 4: The Ghost's Protector  

I rubbed my eyes. Nope. That lamp was definitely floating.

Whether this was actually happening or yet another result of my madness, I didn’t have time to dwell on. All I knew was a sudden pain around my neck, and a cold panic of being choked.

I fell to the floor again, wrestling what I now realized was the lamp’s cord. I could barely grip it, and every time I did, it slipped from my fingers and squeezed even tighter. My eyes bulged, and I felt like my head would explode long before I suffocated. The word Help! kept playing in my head over and over in my head, but my breath was gone. I couldn’t whisper, let alone scream. I was completely on my own…

Except for the ghost!

That simple, foolish thought gave me hope. Not much, but enough to give me one last weary burst of strength. I only pulled the cord about a half-inch away from my neck, but that was enough. Still, it started struggling to tighten again, so as quickly as I could, I got a few more breaths and croaked, “Ghost…Help me…” And then the noose closed, bringing me into breathless agony once again and also squeezing my thumbs this time.

She had been sobbing this whole time, a wrenching, mournful sound, but her tearful voice answered my call instantly. I’ll try! Dear God, I’ll try!

Once again, my sight became blurry, and my eyelids heavy. The ghost’s doing? Or was I dying? How long could humans survive without air? Five minutes? I still had a ways to go, perhaps, but if I passed out, I’d be completely helpless. You know, instead of just mostly helpless.

That's when I saw it.

In my fading vision, something jumped out at me, something that gives me chills just from remembering it.

It was Reindeer, the town of my childhood. It was set ablaze.

* * *  

Blinking, panting heavily, I stared at the shattered remains of my first adversary. I was standing up now, after acting on some unknown force that drew me to slam the lamp over and over into the floor by the cord. When it finally shattered, its death-grip loosened, and I spent those first minutes of freedom coughing and trying to catch my breath.  

Its true...the ghost murmured, wonderment in her voice...You have it too...  

"What...are you...talking about?" I gasped, feeling too confused and exhausted to think for myself.  

Ken! Your sisters...!  

I didn't even pay attention to what she said next. I rushed for the door in a frenzy, twisting the doorknob so suddenly it broke off. I tossed the useless hunk of metal aside and flung the door open.  

In the hallway, I saw Minnie, screaming and running from another lamp, the tall metal one from the living room. This one hopped after her, lashing its cord like a whip and narrowly missing her ankles. It raised its weapon once more...  

It hit my shoulder while I was charging between it and my sister, causing a screaming pain. Still, I managed to grab the pole, and smash it light-bulb first into the wall, where it shattered and then lay still.  

I turned to my sister. She was definitely spooked, but looked unhurt. I wanted to be sure, though. "You okay, Minnie?"  

For a moment, she said nothing, staring at me with an, at first, unfounded horror, then screamed hysterically, "Why are you asking me?!! You're on fire!!!"  

"I'm what now?" But as I looked down at my arms and saw it too; the ethereal red flames that licked across me. Actually, as I thought about it, they had been there ever since I had destroyed the first lamp, but I had been too distracted to notice.  

Another day, I would have jumped up in alarm, but now, I was too tired, too uprooted, too worried. "I'm fine, Minnie, honest," I croaked, although I had a cut on my shoulder and a necklace of bruises. "More importantly, where's Mom? And Mimi?"

Minnie, still trembling replied, "I haven't seen them since..."  

Your mother is fine, but she's trapped downstairs, the ghost informed, and Mimi is still in her room. She's hurt and scared, but alright.  

Sighing, I got to my feet one more time. "Minnie, stay right here, and just scream if something comes after you agai--" I coughed a few times, wrenching, agonizing, but I managed to stand up again and start walking for Mimi's door.  

"No way, Ken!" Minnie yelled stubbornly, running up to my side, "I'm staying with you!"   "No, Min, it's dangerous," I countered, trying to push her away feebly, but she just hugged me.  

I looked down into her little face and realized that tears were pouring out of her puppy eyes. "I don't want to let you get hurt again," she sobbed.  

What kind of big brother was I? Mainly I was a nice one, and if the situation had been different, I would most likely have let poor, worried Minnie tag along, but now...I had almost died. I couldn't let her get in anymore situations like that, not to mention I was wasting time and putting off Mimi's rescue.  

"Minnie, stay here," I said firmly. "It'll be worse if you were to get hurt. I'll be fine."

"Promise?" She pleaded.

* * *

Complete darkness.

Even though dim light flooded in from the hallway, I still couldn't even see the floor or walls, much less Mimi. Keeping my hand on the doorknob, just in case I stepped into empty air, I put my foot forward and sighed with relief as it touched familiar wood floor. The room was still there, just invisible, somehow.

Also quiet. WAY too quiet. I almost drew back at the sudden stillness. It reminded me of the time we were visiting Mammoth Cave for one of our vacations, and I ended up getting separated from the group. It wasn't the darkness, since there were lights everywhere. It was the silence, the sound of lifelessness, nothing, empty, like I was the last living thing in the universe. I ended up singing, not only so they could find me easier, but to give myself something to listen to other than the smothering hush.

Thinking back to this, I wondered in amusement if it would calm my nerves now, and maybe even help me find Mimi. I opened my mouth. "I believe the morning sun..."

At least, that's what I tried to intone, but nothing came out. I couldn't here myself breathing, nor my footstep, nor even the pounding of my panicked heart.

"Mimi!" I tried in desperation. It didn't work either, of course, but at that moment, I was hit with a horrifying realization; if I couldn't even hear myself, how was a supposed to hear Mimi? She could be screaming in pain right now and I'd have no idea!

I began to run forward. No, running is the wrong word. I began to tip-toe quickly. I didn't want to trip over anything, especially my sister, which would possibly hurt her even more. I felt something crunch into shards under my foot, and decided it must be one of her little tea plates; I was near the tea table in the center of her room. I snaked my hands out like a mummy's, trying to feel for something, any kind of landmark.

That's when my foot touched something trembling. Kneeling down, I felt the smooth, flat table top, but I reach underneath.

Yes! It was her. She was curled up and shaking like a leaf, but she offered no resistance as I pulled her out and embraced her. Did she even know I was there?  

No time to wonder, I decided. Get her out of here first.  

I got up and started toward the door where I could see Minnie peering in but hanging back obediently. As I approached the door, I felt something fly right past my head. Then the rectangle of light began to shrink rapidly.  

No! I thought, starting to run as fast as I could. It wasn't fast enough. The suffocating darkness had engulfed us.  

Something came for my head which I somehow dodged, then it hit my back as I instinctively shielded Mimi from the blow. I felt terrified, but at the same time...enlightened. Blinded, muted, and made deaf seemed to be just the thing to awaken a sort of new sense, a kind of feeling without touching. I suddenly knew where everything was in the room, what everything was. The thing that had been dive-bombing me was a doll, THE doll, the one from the basement I should have gotten rid of before it had gone all Dark-Magic-Chuckie on us. It was striking like a hornet, but it was still just a doll.  

The doll charged again, this time from the front. Instead of dodging, I set Mimi down, brought back my fist, and smashed forward with all my strength.  

For the briefest instant, the flames flashed brightly around me, lighting me and the now shattering china. Then the room was suddenly back to normal. I could see the mess that had been made, broken dishes and disturbed furniture everywhere. Noisy too. I could here something booming rapidly, but slowing down. I realized it was my heartbeat.  

Mimi was still unconcious, but no longer so frightened, it seemed. I collapsed next to her, exhausted, but lightheaded and profoundly happy.  

I heard a shaking, so I turned my head to see the ruins of the adversary, in which a little black box was partially burried and trembling, as if something inside was trying to escape. I guess I was right, because I heard ghost's voice muttering from it...Almost there...almost there...THERE!...And the latched lid sprung open, along with a pretty little ballerina figurine. A music box. It spun once, and plucked out a short tune, which ghost sang to:

It was the last thing I heard before I passed out completely.