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Chapter 1.

"Coraline, where are the keys to the house?" Mum patted her coat pockets.

" I have no idea mum." I looked up at the old house. I was attracted to this one window facing the driveway. " Mum can I have the room with the window facing the driveway?" I don't know what was leading me to want that room.

" I do not care Coraline. Charles do you have the keys?" Mum raised her voice a bit for my father to hear.

" Yes I do Mary Lou." Dad walked swiftly past me to unlock the door. A cold wind hit my face has the door swung open. A strange feeling came over me. I didn't feel the same. I was hesitant to walk in, but I quickly shook the feeling and went inside. I gasped at how beautiful the house was.

"Go take your boxes up to your room," mother patted me on the shoulder. I walked up next to the banister, I sighed, and continued to walk up the stairs. The hallway was dark, but the light shinning through the windows lit it up a bit. I walked into my room. It was cold. Very cold. Every time I exhaled I could see my breathe. Why is it this cold? It's in the middle of the summer, maybe there is air conditioning in here. I set my boxes on the floor. My stomach turned, I got un-easy feeling. I ignored it and walked out. From my room to the hallway was a dramatic change in temperatures . I walked down the stairs and grabbed more boxes to bring back to my room. I also need to bring boxes to my brothers room, so when he visited, his stuff would be here. His room was across the hall. Luckily he is coming down for the week.

"Coraline, can you set the dinner table?" Mom smiled. I nodded. I went to the kitchen, I grabbed forks, knives, spoons, and dinner cloths. I closed the drawer, I was almost out of the kitchen when I heard something open. "What?" I said under my breathe. I looked over, a drawer, the same drawer I was in opened. Hmm, maybe I didn't shut it right? I closed it and walked out. That was odd. I set the table and sat down. The doorbell rang

" It's Jackson!" I squeaked, I stepped away from the table and walked briefly towards the door. I opened it, fast. "Jackson!" I hugged my brother tightly. He wrapped his arms around me. After we broke our hug, I waved him in. Jackson set his coat on the coat hanger, and he went off to find mum and dad. I went back over to the dinner table and sat back down. Jackson came in. I petted the spot next to me.

" This house is nice, and it's closer to my college." Jackson sat down.

" Yes, it is. I also set up your room for you." I looked at him, while he smiled.

" Thanks Coraline, that's sweet." Jackson gave me a hug. As soon as that happened a glass fell off the table.

" Oh my god!" I said, covering my mouth.

" You got to remember not to put the glass on the side of the table," Jackson pulled his lips in a straight line.

" I did." I said, I know I did. I'm not five I know how to set a table. Or maybe I didn't.

" Okay, Coraline that's why the glass fell off the table." Jackson huffed. I rolled my eyes.

After dinner I excused myself from the table. Walking up the stairs I admired the beautiful decor on the walls, like it was hand-painted. Before going into my room, I noticed some old books on the shelf beside my door. Dust covered the title of the book. I brought it to my room. Same as before a cold wind hit me hard. I grabbed a quilt from one of my boxes. I quickly rapped the quilt around me. I wiped the dust off the cover. The words read " My journal". I skimmed through the pages. One by one. The pages were almost disintegrated. The ink was smudged. I could only make out with a few words on each page. I heard a knock on the wall. "Hello?" I said. I took my attention of the old book. I looked around the room. Ignoring the sound I went back to the book. There. I heard it again, this time it was more soft. "Hello?" I sat up. My heart was beating a bit faster than normal. I brought the book up back to my face, as soon as I did that a loud knock like someone punched the wall was made. I jumped off my bed. " Stop it!" I shouted.

"Stop what? Who are you talking to Coraline?" Jackson said. Opening the door. His face was concerned, he walked over to me.

" Stop hitting the wall it's obnoxious." I hissed. I crossed my arms and sat down.

" What? I never hit the wall." He pulled his eye brows together.

" Yes you did. You hit the wall three times." I scolded Jackson.

" How can I hit the wall hard enough for you to hear it? Your room is the only one on this side of the house." He stated. His statement was true, my room was the only one on this side. But what was hitting the wall? How could something hit the wall? Maybe there is something like a squirrel in the house.

" I...I don't know, never mind." I rubbed my head. " I need to lay down for a bit" I said. Laying my head on the pillow.

" Okay...." Jackson left the room, obviously puzzled by what I was saying. Maybe I'm not use to this old house. Maybe I'm hearing things. Closing my eyes slowly, I drifted into a sea of dreams.