The Dollhouse

Part II- a new beginning

They were in deep, deep trouble. Ashton and his friends were only playing a quick soccer game but now the ball had smashed through the window of the haunted house at the corner of the street. Nobody ever went near the house; it was the oldest structure in the city dating back to the 1800s.

"Shit dude, my moms gonna kill me and then ground my dead body for a year," Jake groaned.

"What about the soccer ball?" Ashton asked, " I took it without my dads permission and it's a signed one,"

Ashton felt a headache coming on. This was definitely not good. What the hell was he going to do?

"Someone should get the ball back," he stated.

"Well duh," Ben quipped back, " I have to be home for dinner or mom will wonder where I am."

"Same with me. Plus it is your ball. You're the one who stole it."

Ashton was definetly getting a migraine. Why didn't he just stay home and do his homework like a good kid? Apparently that just wasn't possible for a teenage boy.

"Fine," he groaned, "see you at school tomorrow."

He headed towards the monster house in annoyance. Why was the stupid thing still standing. All the other old houses had already been demolished and replaced with mini mansions. The suburban dream. But for some reason this stupid old house stood the test of time- no contractor dared touch it.

The gate at the front of the house was tall and rusty. Ash pushed it open and it creaked loudly making him flinch. Here goes nothing.

The interior house could be described in one word. Dusty. Everything in the room was covered in a fine layer of grey powder, like a brushing of polluted snow in the winter. He looked around and saw a large staircase leading to the upstairs. He ignored all the curious retro gadgets and headed to the stairs.

He remembered the soccer ball went through the second story window. He stepped over some weird mounds on the floor and climbed the staircase which creaked and groaned under his weight.

He came to a long hallway. He walked down the corridor opening all the doors and checking for that damned signed ball. No luck. Finally he made it to the very last doorway. He crossed his fingers. Please, please, please let me find what I'm looking for. He opened the door and stepped inside.