The little girl sat cross-legged, or what her twin brother would call Indian style, on the thickly plush carpet of the living room. A soft, almost warm light filtered in through the large bay window and bathed the scene set in front of her. And what a magnificent scene it was. Placed before her was the most intricate and elaborate doll house ever imagined. And that wasn’t the only thing that thrilled the young girl on this fine morning. What added to her good cheer was the fact that she was in charge of all the proceedings, well she and her pesky brother, but he could usually be handled if she kept on her toes. He never was the brightest gem in the jewelry box, and the thought of this made her giggle. But he was useful in his own unique way. He always seemed to be able to get the various materials needed for their special days, and today proved to be no exception. He now sat opposite her, on the other side of the doll house, and at the moment all she could see of him was his tousled blond hair rising above the shingled roofline.

She now leaned closer to get a better look at the miniature home. The sound of the word 'miniature' never rang true for her, it always seemed so inadequate. She preferred the words ‘shrunk down’ because the doll house appeared so life-like that anyone looking upon it would wonder what it would be like to be inside, living within the many rooms. In fact, she often found herself wishing that she too could be ‘shrunk down’ to enable her to truly know what it would be like to have her own special home all to herself without her pesky brother bugging her all the time. But then she would remember, once again, that he could be useful upon occasion, so she would put up with his quirkiness when necessary.

She reached out and gently pushed open the front door of the doll house, admiring how easily the walnut and stained glass door moved on well oiled hinges, and looked upon the tiled foyer that led to a highly polished hardwood floor. To the left was a rather ornate spiral staircase, with its oak railing, leading to a series of rooms on the second floor. On the right, filling nearly half the wall, was a large marbled fireplace, its intricate design so life-like one would be inclined to fill it with kindling and set it ablaze on a cold winter night. The formal dining room was located just past a hand painted archway separating it from the living room; its beautiful cherry wood table and chairs, enough to seat sixteen guests, stood at the ready. China dinnerware, crystal glasses, and polished silver were properly set at each place setting, and there were even miniature floral arrangements with candles placed in the proper spacing. Such carefulness to detail had never before been seen by the two children.

The large kitchen was off to the side of the dining room, and of all the rooms in the doll house it was perhaps the most elaborate and authentic to the eye of the young girl.

Most other doll houses she had seen in her picture books were decorated as a period piece; the time frame usually being the late eighteen-hundreds with its wood-burning stove and a hand pump next to the kitchen sink. But this doll house was far more modern and up to date. It came equipped with a Jenn Air range, stainless steel refrigerator, microwave, and an island sink complete with a disposal unit. In fact, if she flipped a switch the garbage disposal would provide her ears with a low hum. Upstairs the doll house contained five bedrooms and a large library equipped with over a hundred miniature books, some even bound in authentic leather. These volumes rose nearly to the ceiling on oak shelving, and the room held an aura of serious thought and contemplation. Each bedroom contained a four poster bed with nightstand, and each bed was adorned with a beautifully hand-stitched quilt. Each one delicately made in a folk art fashion, each one unique in appearance.

But the most special room of them all, the one favored the most by the children, was located off the second floor master bedroom. Built as an addition to the original doll house, this room jutted out from the second story and was supported by a series of redwood posts extending down to ground level. The walls of this room were properly wall-papered, the ceiling nicely painted, but it was pretty much void of the furnishings found in all the other rooms on the second floor. But that wasn’t all. If one took the time and looked very carefully they might notice a surprising detail, or lack of one, as it was in this case. With the proper scrutiny they might notice that the walls and flooring and ceiling were totally void of any wood grain and texture as was found in the rest of the doll house, and that was because this special room was made entirely out of metal. Even the shingles on the roof of this addition were made out of metal, intricately hand painted to resemble normal wood shake. Everything about this room was different from all the rest of the rooms in the doll house. But it served its purpose, and it served it rather well.

The young girl felt a flutter in her tummy. She could hardly contain her excitement. “How much longer?” she questioned her twin brother. “Aren’t you ready yet?”

“Hold onto your horses,” said her brother. He was still blocked off from view on the other side of the doll house. “Give me just a couple more minutes.”

“You got everything?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Was it hard to do this time?”

“Yes,” he replied again. “It seems to get harder each time.”

“But I can always count on you, right?” Her voice sounded patronizing and condescending. It was because she hated to give her brother so much credit for anything he could do. She also hated to admit that he was the only one who could pull something like this off, and that fact alone bothered her to no end.

The boy ignored her last statement. He knew how she really felt about him no matter how hard she tried to convince him otherwise. Just because she was born three minutes before him, making her just that much older than he was, didn’t give her the right to be so superior and act like some sort of queen or something. But he let all this go today because today was special.

“Okay,” he said at last. “Let me put the food tray in and I’ll be right there.”

The boy then carefully lifted a hidden section of the metal roof over the special room with one hand. With the other hand he inserted a small porcelain dish filled with tasty morsels the honored guest would surely enjoy. Sunflower seeds, pine nuts, cracked corn, and even a small alfalfa cube filled the food dish which was gently placed, so as not to spill any of the contents, in the far corner of the room. The boy looked the scene over deliberately, and when satisfied he carefully lowered the section of metal roof back into place.

“Okay, that’s done,” he said at last.

“Well, come on over and let’s get started,” said the girl. “We don’t have all day you know. Sometimes it takes a lot longer than other times.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said.

The boy came around and sat next to his sister in front of the doll house. In his hands he held a small cardboard box. The box had small holes in it for air. “I believe the honored guest has arrived,” he announced, in his most distinguished voice.

“Yes, yes,” said the girl, a sparkle in her eyes. “Let me see, let me see,” she begged. “I must meet our new friend.”

The boy gingerly opened the box, reached inside, and lifted out a healthy and vibrant-looking mouse. He held it by the tail before their eyes, and the innocent little creature twitched its nose and looked back at them in mutual curiosity. The mouse was nearly all white with occasional black blotches of fur, and the palms of its hands and the tip of its nose were the purest pink anyone had ever seen. Both children smiled with glee and could not believe their good fortune. This indeed was a very special and honored guest. And once again the girl had to give credit to her pesky brother for securing such a prized specimen, even though she would certainly not admit that to his face. Some things were better off never said.

“I wonder if our new friend here will like its new home?” asked the boy.

“I don’t know why not,” answered the girl. “I don’t know of any better place than this.” She leaned closer for one final inspection of the doll house. “The front door is open, so let’s get started.”

The boy lowered the special guest and placed him just inside the front door. The mouse, not really bothered by the handling and curious as most of its species are, stepped forward into the living room. Pink nose twitching, long tail held straight out, and beaded black eyes taking in all surroundings, the honored guest paused for a moment to decide its next move. When it turned and looked back toward the open front door the girl quickly reached forward and pulled the wooden door shut. The mouse certainly had the freedom of movement in the expansive doll house, but it did not have the freedom to leave.

“How long do you think it will take this time?” asked the girl.

“I don’t know,” answered the boy. “Sometimes it’s fast and other times it seems to take forever. I guess it all depends on how hungry he is.”

And this particular mouse must have been hungry. Following a careful, but somewhat rapid search of the living room, kitchen, and dining area, the pleasant little creature started up the spiral staircase toward the second floor. Having caught the scent of the tasty treats set out by the boy, the mouse quickly stuck his head into each bedroom along the long hallway. It knew there was food located somewhere in the area, and with pink nose twitching it eagerly continued its search.

“It’s getting closer,” the girl said, her voice full of anticipation.

“Yes,” said the boy. “It won’t take long for this one.”

Just then a rustling sound could be heard. It appeared to come from somewhere outside of the house, and for a brief moment all light coming in from the large bay window was completely blocked out. Both children looked up, but whatever it was that caused this phenomenon was gone, and the soft light once again brightened the room, the children, and their doll house.

“What was that?” asked the girl.

“I don’t know,” said the boy. “But look, he’s almost to the special room.”

The mouse indeed had made its way to the last room on the second floor; the special room that was made of metal. It poked its head inside the door, spotted the dish of food in the far corner, and quickly headed in that direction. The mouse had no idea that the doorway it entered would now be locked so there would be no escaping this chamber. It wandered over to the food dish, sniffed at the various assortment offered, and finally decided on a fat sunflower seed. The mouse then sat back on its haunches and systematically peeled off the shell. When that was done, he blissfully began to enjoy his meal.

“Are you ready?” asked the girl.

“Not yet,” replied the boy. “Let’s give it another minute or so.”

Once again a rustling sound could be heard. It seemed to be coming from all round them. But this time the sound contained something else. Along with the rustling came a low, guttural sound, like a generator motor set on low idle; it was constant and never varying.

“What’s that sound?” questioned the girl, looking up from the doll house for the first time.

“It’s nothing,” replied the boy. He was becoming agitated by these constant interruptions. “Now will you pay attention to what we are doing? It’s almost time.”

The motor noise coming from outside was getting louder. Something did not seem right. The girl felt a cold shiver run up the back of her neck. She had to wonder if the mouse felt the same way. She looked inside the window of the special room only to see the small creature pick up another sunflower seed. The girl relaxed at seeing this. Maybe she was a little on edge. Maybe she needed to be more like her brother and simply sit back and enjoy the proceedings. She glanced at him briefly and noticed the strange but continued smile on his face, and she wondered why she couldn’t be more like him in moments like these.

“Okay, I think it’s time now,” said the boy.

“Alright,” answered the girl.

The boy then produced a small container of lighter fluid and uncapped the spout. He then lifted the hidden section of metal roof once again, only this time it wasn’t to insert the food dish for the mouse. This time the purpose was much more diabolical. He lowered the container of lighter fluid just inside the opening in the roof and squeezed out a steady stream of the highly flammable liquid. Careful not to squirt any directly on the mouse, the boy drenched the walls and the floor opposite the spot where the food dish had been placed. The mouse, smelling the lighter fluid for the first time, dropped the sunflower seed it was holding and began a frantic pacing in the small corner of the room that was still dry, its little black eyes bulging with confusion and fear.

The boy then produced a book of matches, which he held out between them. “Do you want to do it this time, or do you want me to?” he asked, the weird smile still plastered on his face.

For some strange reason the girl was not into the game anymore. It wasn’t because she had lost total interest in what they were about to do, or that she somehow saw the light and had a change of heart. No, it wasn’t anything like that. It was because she sensed that something was not right. Something dark and sinister was in the air, and it had nothing to do with their little game of setting an innocent little mouse on fire and watching it slowly burn to death.

“No, you go ahead,” she answered distractedly. “I don’t feel like it this time.”

“That’s okay with me,” said the boy. He then took out a single match and held it against the striking strip. “Well, here goes.”

Suddenly the house around them was hit with an incredible force as though the full power of a massive hurricane had slammed into its side. The walls shook, and the house itself seemed to move off its foundation. And that low, growling motor sound was so loud now that it was almost deafening. The boy dropped the unlit match and looked around in sheer panic. The girl looked up toward the bay window and screamed, a throat-tearing scream that could be heard above the growling sound. Outside the large bay window, filling the entire open frame, was a massive eye, eagerly, hungrily, staring inside the living room at the two children. It was greenish-yellow in color, and the coal black pupil was an open slit of darkness.

The boy jumped to his feet, tried to run, but stumbled. It was as if his feet were moving faster than his balance could catch up with. Once he gained a semblance of stability he bolted toward the hallway to get out of the living room. But it was too late. The horrible eye watched his movement and was energized by his running, and in an instant the bay window burst open and a long, fur covered arm flashed inside in a blur so fast it was nearly impossible to see. It struck the boy on the side and instantly hooked him with razor sharp claws. These claws dug deeply into the boy's flesh, piercing his chest, hip, and upper thigh. The boy screamed as he struggled to get free, but it was hopeless. Blood spurted from his chest and leg as he continued his agonizing scream, and then he was gone. The arm flashed back out of the broken window, taking the boy with it. There was another scream, a horrible crunching sound, and then silence.

The girl, frozen in place and in shock, stared at the blood-splattered carpet where a moment before her brother had stood. She was confused and in a daze, and she wanted to run but saw what had happened when he tried to get away. For an almost surreal moment she looked down at the doll house which still sat before her, and watched as the mouse, sensing an opportunity to escape, climbed out of the opening in the roof and scurried away to safety. The girl smiled, and in an odd sort of way was happy for the mouse. It was at that moment that she looked up again and saw the massive eye filling the open bay window, and she knew that her time had come as well.

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