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Chapter 7.

That night was awfully strange. I stayed up. Thinking that if I did, I would see the one that goes by 'Harold.' His emerald green eyes, his lushes brown curls slicked back just a wee bit, his purl white skin looked soft, smooth to the touch. He dressed as if he was still in the early 1800's. His straw top hat had holes, his black overcoat was dirty, covered in dirt. My dream seemed so real, yet so fictional. He was to perfect to be real.

"Coraline, darling wake up." Mothers soft voice whispered in my ear. I rolled to my side, and opened my heavy eyes. "Do you want to sleep in?" She whispered again.

"No, mother I'm fine." I smiled and rubbed my eyes. I sat up, a sudden burst of dizziness hit me. I closes my eyes once more and sat there.

"You okay Coraline?" Mother grabbed my shoulder. She sighed, I knew mother worried about me, the sudden change in me.

"I'm fine, I just got a little dizzy, that's all." I gave her a reassuring smile. She smiled along with me, but her smile was filled with concern. She left the room, trailing her emotions with her. Mother has been treating me differently, like I'm helpless.

I down stairs to the laundry room. I set my bare feet on the cold cement floor. I shivered. I could see my breath, but it was very faint. I tip-toed to the laundry basket. I grew purple. I grabbed a pink blouse, a white over coat, and a pink, white flowered skirt.

"Oh god." I said. I ran towards the staircase.

"You'll look lovely today." The familiar low voice said. It was Harold. The boy in my dream, the imaginary boy. Why was I hearing his voice? I'm not sleeping.

"Mother!" I called at the end of the stairs.

"What is it Coraline?" She peeked her head over the banister. I'm not sleeping. I'm awake. Fully awake. A quick shiver ran down my back, starting from my head to my toes.

"Oh, never mind mother, I remember now." I faked a smile. I added a corny giggle to. Mother nodded her head, and went back up stairs. I quickly followed mother, I didn't want to be alone. Well, I wouldn't be alone I would be with something I couldn't see. Something that 'liked' me. Why me?

I ran my fingers through my soft, wavy hair. I looked in the mirror. My face pale, y eyes had bags of purple lining underneath them. I looked like death. I turned on the foist, I cupped my hands under the hot stream of water falling, I slowly throw the water on my face.

**

"Coraline, it's time for dinner." Mother shouted from the bottom of the staircase. I scrabbled out of my room, and down the stairs. I was very hungry, it felt like my stomach was trying to eat itself. I walked into the kitchen, a familiar cold breeze hit me. Goosebumps grew upon me, I knew there was something here.