The Dollhouse Chapter 2

Genevieve POV

Groggily I shielded my face from the morning sun.
“Why did I ever drink that entire bottle of wine?” I murmured to myself. In truth, I had lost track of how many glasses I sipped on as I unpacked. Now my head pounded and my mouth felt dry. Unearthing myself from my covers, I padded my way to the bathroom to get myself a glass of water and a shower. On my way, I halted as I walked past my closet door. Fuzzy memories of the previous night trudged though my mind. I shook my head, and immediately regretted it due to my increasing headache. No, no. That was definitely a dream. I had a neighbor directly on the other side of the house. There was no way there was a huge void of a cavern through that door. Chuckling to myself about my drunken dreams, I continued to the bathroom.
The shower felt DIVINE. I washed all the dust and sweat from moving, as well as the cobwebs from my brain. It was a little unnecessary to shower since I would spend the rest of the day continuing to unpack, but it felt good regardless. I stepped out and wrapped the towel around myself, my hair hanging wet around my face. Now, I just had to find more clothes in this mess of a move, after which I would promptly rustle up some desperately needed coffee. The bags in my room seemed to have only my more formal clothes, which I definitely wasn't wearing for a day spent inside the house working. Now where did that other bag go? My gaze wondered to my closet door. That's right, I had kicked a bag in there last night. Tightening the towel around myself, I picked my way past boxes over to the closet door. Grabbing the old brass knob, I twisted it and pulled it open.

Space. Again.
My jaw dropped open slightly as a small gasp escaped my lips. However, this time there was plenty of light. No dark void. I was staring into another bedroom...but....but this one was huge. Cathedral-esque ceilings soared above me, far beyond where my own roof ended. I was staring across a canyon, where the floor was also far below. My eyes skipped across the room. A huge desk, piles of clothes...and a bed.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
They locked with an equally surprised set of eyes sitting in that very bed across the room.
I screamed and slammed the door shut. Shaking, I stared at the shapes of wood grain on the door I just closed. This wasn't possible. Was I still dreaming? I was definitely sober and it was definitely daytime. Did I just see a giant? I felt a strange urge to open the door again. This obviously couldn't be happening.
My trembling hand reached out and touched the knob again. I slowly stepped forward so that I could peer through the crack of the door. The knob clicked as I twisted it and inched it open.
A huge blue eye peered right back at me and I heard a loud gasp.
I screamed and slammed it shut a second time.
Okay, so it was definitely there. Whatever “it” was. I tried to focus my mind, but on what? What could I do? Call the realtor and tell her that there is a giant bedroom...complete with with a giant man...in my closet? Obviously I was going insane.
Swearing under my breath, I frantically searched the other boxes and bags in my room. It was still a little fancier than I was looking for, but I slipped on a comfortable yellow sundress. I smoothed it out, barely paying it any attention as my mind was completely on other things. I collapsed onto a box, using it as a chair, and stared at the closet door. What the hell did I do now? My options seemed pretty slim. I couldn't tell anybody. There weren't any giant exterminators that I was aware of. My mind distantly thought about how I had the house inspected before I purchased it....did they not open this door? Of course they did, they probably just weren't insane as I seemed to be. Should I ignore the door forever? If.....if there was a giant on the other side....could he hurt me? How could I sleep in this room knowing what was on the other side of that door?
Standing up I tried to gather my courage. This was ridiculous. I bet this time, there would be nothing on the other side of that door.  Taking a deep breath and a few strides, I confidently placed my hand on the knob once more and swung open the door before I could think about it.
….And there, a little ways across the room, was the giant. Upon hearing the squeak of the rusty hinges, he froze, his back to me. I had apparently lost myself in this delusion and for once, didn't slam the door shut. My breathing quickened as the monstrous being slowly turned around. I finally saw him in broad daylight and far enough away that I could see most of him. His sandy brown hair was cut shorter, although still a little shaggy. I couldn't gauge a height...he was huge, and to top it off, muscular. I didn't gather many details of his face as I looked again (although this time into both) into his wide blue eyes. Once his attention fully settled on me I feel my courageousness wither and I took a step back, hand still on the door.
“No!” His voice was loud even though he spoke at a high, rough whisper. I jumped, but didn't move any further.
“Sorry, I just mean don't shut the door again.” He hadn't moved, so I obliged. He was far enough away that I had time to make a break for it if I decided to.
We stood in silence for a moment. The look of wonder never left his face, although it probably was frozen on mine as well.
“Wha....” My voice croaked. I swallowed and took a deep breath, “What is going on?”
My eyes flew open wider as he took a step forward and I swung the door just a few more inches shut.
“Wait! No, don't shut the door...again. I won't move. Is that what scared you?”
I cringed at his voice, but slowly nodded my head, reopening the door all the way.
“I just can't hear you very well. Did you ask a question?” He pleadingly asked. I stared at him for a few more minutes, trying to read his face. What kind of person was he? Was he a person? Was he even real? I looked backwards for a moment and was comforted by the fact that my room was still there, just as solidly real as ever. Quickly, I swiveled my head back to face him, realizing I left myself vulnerable for a moment. He was still in the same spot. I gathered my courage again. I might as well commit to insanity if I was already experiencing it.
“Yeah! What is going on?” I raised my voice so that it might carry across the expanse of space. The great being shrugged.
“Beats me. I'm still wondering if you are a figment of my insomnia.” His voice rumbled as he continued to keep it low. Now that he mentioned it, I did see dark circles under his eyes. I continued to stand there....what was I supposed to do next?
“I'm real.” I said, not sure of what else to say. The giant's eyes flickered back to me, but he didn't respond. A look as though something occurred to him flew across his face.
“Sorry, I still can't hear you very well. Okay....doll person.....don't go anywhere, okay? I'm going to move, but I won't come towards you.”
I made a face at being called doll person, but his request seemed reasonable enough. I nodded. At my response, he slowly turned and walked to what appeared to be his night stand. I stretched, trying to see what he was picking up, but his back obscured my view. Just as slowly, he turned back around and returned to his previous spot. It was hard not to listen to the thundering noise his footsteps made.
“Are these yours?” He held out his hand in a way so that I could see. My clothes! My stomach felt sick at how small they looked in his hand. It was the first time I could get any idea of the size difference between us. I was maybe...four inches tall to him? I shuddered as I nodded.
“Do...do you want them back?” He asked. I was slow to respond....did I even want them back now? However, it was half of my wardrobe....I nodded again.
“Okay,” He began to make his way towards me, his hand outstretched and growing larger every second.
“No!” I yelled, as I started to back away. He quickly stopped and looked confused.
“I don't know how else to give them to you...if you are even real.” He added. This time his voice was louder due to proximity. This close, I could tell that the door I stood in was perhaps a little above waist level to him. For the first time I glanced down and noticed the house I was in sat on a table...and far below that, the floor. It seemed like there should be a balcony or something.
“Um...I don't know. I just can't let you come any closer.” Any closer and I would be within arm's reach. A look of understanding crossed his face, followed by a look of sadness.
“Do you think I would hurt you? I wouldn't do that.” He said quietly.
“I don't know, all I know is that you are HUGE!” I said, exasperated. Had the thought seriously just crossed his mind that I would feel that way? I tried to think straight for a moment.
“Like I said, I don't know what is going on either, but I promise I won't hurt you.”
“Okay. I'm going to leave the door open. Can you just put the clothes in the doorway?” I asked. He hunched a little closer and turned his ear towards me as I spoke, trying to catch what I was saying. I tried to not be so put off by the movement.
“Yeah, I can do that.” He said, straightening back up. I opened the door fully and then darted towards the back of the room until I stood at the entrance of the bedroom. If I needed to, I could run into the other room from here. Once I cleared the doorway, I could see him begin to move cautiously closer. With every step, he kept growing larger, until all I could really see was his hand in front of the wall of his shirt. Those massive fingers pinched portions of my clothing from his other palm and laid them in the doorway. It was surreal to see his digits momentarily enter my room and then disappear back out into his space. Finally, he grasped the last bit of clothes and gingerly set them on the top of the pile. My heart was racing. This was too much. Suddenly I could see the texture of his shirt moving and shifting. His face (well, part of it) appeared in the doorway. His eye peered inside, sweeping across my room and landing on me. In a frenzy, I motioned for him to move away. It appeared that he nodded and he backed away, his hands held in front of him in mock surrender. A slight grin was on his face. I wasn't sure if that unnerved me or calmed me. Once he was at an acceptable distance, I crept back towards the door.
“Thank you?” I yelled in confusion. It made sense to be polite, as he returned my clothing, but what was going on?
“Are you sure I can't come just a little closer? It would be nice to be able to hear you better.” I shook my head violently, my heart palpitating at the thought of him being any closer. His face grew thoughtful as he looked around.
“Okay, how about this? Very slowly I'll grab that chair over there and pull it over here. That way I can at least be eye level with you. I'll keep it far enough away that I can't touch you.” His voice sounded like I could trust it...but you could never know. I thought it over and nodded. I was still too curious. He nodded back and grabbed the chair. I gasped and covered my ears at the hideously loud scraping sound. The giant, having never taken his eye off of me, took notice and lifted the chair from the ground as he continued to bring it over. I ignored the fact that he lifted the giant chair easily as he spun it around so that the back was facing me. He straddled it and leaned his thick arms on the back of the chair. I stayed silent as his gaze settled back to me and he lowered his head to rest his jaw on his arms. Now...now he was eye level with me. I gauged the distance, trying to see if that long, terrifyingly huge arm could possibly reach me. It seemed not. I considered sitting myself, but I needed to be able to move fast if necessary.
“So....doll person....” He drawled, starting the conversation.
“I'm not a doll person.” I stated defensively, looking him square in the eye.
“Sorry...then what are you?” He smiled softly again.
“I'm a person. What are you?” I asked grouchily. It was a mixture of my nagging headache and the annoyance with the surreal situation. It also helped that he was a tiny bit less intimidating when he was sitting.
“I'm a person too. How did you get all that stuff in my house? It has always been empty.” He motioned to my own bedroom behind me, cluttered with boxes and random bits of furniture. I forced myself to not jump at his moving hand.
“I just moved in, and it is MY house.” I emphasized. Suddenly a loud ringing sound filled the air, shocking me so much that I nearly fell over. The giant stood up, his body shooting into the air as he loudly stumbled to his night table. I stepped back and shut the door, biting back my scream. The noise and the movement was just too much.

Ivan POV

“Sorry, it is just my alarm clock. I thought I turned the damn thing off.” I explained with my back turned. Fumbling, I finally found the appropriate button and shut it off. As I turned back around, I saw that the tiny door was shut again. The girl was gone.
“Wait, where did you go?” I stood frozen for a moment. No response. After a few minutes of silence, I crept back to the doll house, this time going much closer. Raising my hand, I used my finger to lightly “knock” on the door. Nothing. Finally, I pushed open the door. It gave way easily as it always had, being nothing more than a dollhouse door. I bent down and peeked inside, thinking that I surely I would be greeted with yet another tiny scream.
Nothing.
The tiny room was empty.