The Doll Room {DRAFT}

1

The smell of the old antiques shop is the same as always. I can never explain it, other than it just smells... old. Just like all antiques stores should.

The library room, where I typically spend most of my time in my frequent visits, is currently occupied with a few kids from my school who I've known since late elementary, when I'd transferred. Normally I wouldn't care, but today is different.

Today, for some reason Jayson is here, with his girlfriend and her best friend.

I noticed then right before I was about to walk in. Thankfully I hadn't walked in or made any noise for them to notice me. I stood against the wall, eyes wide, my head resting gently on the frame of an old photo of a horse with some sort of horn on its head.

I sigh. I guess I won't be going into the library today. I'd have to wait for them to get out and I have no idea how long that will take. From mere minutes to hours, and I don't want to risk anything.

Memories are coming back, now. Memories of what had happened that night, about a year and a half ago.

I squeeze me eyes shut tight, willing the ghostly pain and shouting away. I'd been doing so well, keeping the memories at bay for so long. It'll be another long night, I know.

As I slowly open my eyes again, I hear Jayson's voice rise above the other two. "C'mon, let's go now; I'm bored."

Three pairs of footsteps grow louder, and I realize they're leaving through the exit I'm standing at. Quickly I slip into the next room, a room filled with old antique children's toys. I stand in the corner until their voices pass me, then I peek out to make sure they're not in sight before I go into the library.

As soon as I'm here, I can breathe properly again. I allow a smile to cross my face as I gaze at the many shelves of old books covering all four walls. The old-books smell floods my senses and I breathe deeply, eyes closed. This room is like my second home, but it's my first distraction.

I cross the dull gray-tan carpet to my favorite section, fantasy. Closing my eyes, I select a book at random and slide it from its cozy spot nestled between two of its friends.

Not looking at its cover, I go to my favorite of the old leather armchairs and fall backwards into my favorite one. Still keeping its title a surprise, I open to the first page and begin to read.

It feels like both hours and no time has passed at all when I'm pulled from my vivid land of knights, princesses, dragons, and foreign lands to the sound of shouting. I frown and sit up to hear better.

"Why not?! I wanna see!" I immediately recognized Jayson as the angry speaker.

An older, much quieter voice, said, "I'm afraid it's off-limits. I'm sorry, children, but you can't go in there."

"We're not children," Jayson growled. "Why can't we?"

The old man seemed to hesitate here. "Because... well... it's my shop, and I said no. And also... there's nothing good in that room. I assure you, let this topic be and all will be well."

Jayson scoffed. "This is ridiculous," he said. "C'mon, guys, let's just leave."

Despite my fears, my curiosity got the better of me. I stood and crept out to where I thought I'd heard the voices. Only who I supposed to be the shop owner stood in the aisle, hands supporting him on an oaken desk I would absolutely love to have in my room. Jayson and the other two were gone, their voices fading until I heard the little bells chime as they left the shop.

The old man looked up then and saw me standing there. He gave me a strange look. "You're the girl," he says.

I'm confused. "Um... what?"

"You're the girl that comes here and spends most of her time in the library."

So he's watching me...? Okay... that slightly freaks me out. I laugh slightly. "Yeah, I guess."

He stands and walks towards me. I back a step or two away, but he stops over a yard away from me. He extends hoses left hand. "Mr. Moor. I own this little place."

"Jessamine," I say, shaking his hands somewhat awkwardly.

Her boss and thinks for a moment. "You like the library?"

I nod. "It's my favorite room. I've been in every place here though." When a shadow crossed over his face, I quickly added, "Except for your office and the storage room!"

Mr. Moor shook his head. "No, no... there's one other place you haven't been to, then."

"Oh." I look at my feet, at the floor. I don't know what to do right now.

"There's one more room, but I don't think it would be wise to enter."

The tone in his voice, for some reason, gives me a small chill. "Why?" I ask, interested.

"I can't say," he says.

I realize something. "Is that the room that Jayson and Mira and Jessica wanted to go in?" Then I realize he doesn't know their names. "The three kids who were bothering you a minute ago," I correct.

"Ah, yes." The shop owner laughed slightly "Although if I did let them go in, they would regret it I'm sure, if they knew...." He quickly trailed off and stopped speaking.

"What?" I say, intrigued.

"Nothing." He shakes his head. "Nice talking with you Jessamine," he says, and walks away.

I stand there, watching him enter his office. What has he been talking about? Great. Now I was going to be thinking about this for who knew how long.

I turn around to leave when I see the red velvet curtain had caught on the edge of the oaken desk. I pull it back to unhook it from the corner and catch a glimpse of a wooden frame. Confused, I pull the curtain farther back and see a small door.

Now it all makes sense, if I'm correct. Jayson and they other two must have been messing around and seen this door, which I assume leads to the forbidden room Mr. Moor was talking about.

I badly want to push the desk aside and go into the room the door leads to, if it isn't locked or anything. But I know I shouldn't, so I manner the curtain to the wall and drop it so it falls freely against the wall and doesn't get hooked on the desk again.

Then, filled with questions, I turn and despite the fact that I don't want to, I leave and start the short walk home, thinking about nothing besides the events that happened at Moor's Antiques today.