The Dollhouse Chapter 4

Genevieve POV

The next morning I once again carefully opened my closet door. However, I was mentally referring to it less and less a closet door. How could I? There was certainly no closet in there. I expected to see Ivan laying in bed or otherwise waiting, as he had been previously. I was instead caught off guard by the onslaught of a hectic scene of the giant rushing about. Even worse, he was only half dressed. What startled me the most is that I heard absolutely nothing before I opened the door to prepare me for the enormously loud noises. I shielded my eyes, although he was only shirtless, my face blushing furiously. I was caught between admiring what I saw and being completely intimidated. It took him a few minutes to notice me. Why was I still standing here? This was terrifying!
“Oh, Genevieve!” This time he spoke at full volume and it reverberated in my chest. I hastily moved my hands from my eyes to my ears.
“Crap, sorry.” Ivan lowered his voice and slowed down. He did manage to grab a shirt and throw it on before coming closer. Thankfully, he still kept his distance.
“Hey, I got called into work last minute. I gotta go. I really want to talk to you though....can we talk later today? I'll be home in several hours or so...it is just a partial shift.” He explained, continuing to keep his voice down.
“Yeah, that is fine. I'll be around.”
“Okay, good.” He smiled, then checked the clock. “Ah, I'll see you later.” The giant gave me one last curious glance, then headed out of his room. I heard his steps retreat, growing ever more distant, until I heard nothing at all.
For the first time since I started opening the door, the giant was gone. His house was empty. I sat down in the doorway for a bit, unsure of why I was still lingering. I guess....I guess I never really got to look around the surreal environment without the distraction of the giant himself. Every object in his room was fascinating to look at on such a large scale....and there was a whole house! An idea developed in my mind. An idea that my brain immediately recoiled at and I called myself stupid for even thinking about it. However, as the minutes passed, it nagged at me. I only had a few hours until he returned and maybe this would be my only opportunity. Leaning over, I looked down out of the doorway to the ground below. There was only one story of the house below me and then the table. Ten feet or so? Standing up, I headed back inside and found all my sheets. Carefully and thoroughly, I tied them together. I shook my head at such a cliché idea, but I was a girl living in the suburbs. Why would I have a length of heavy duty rope? Tying one end to my grandmother's antique dresser (which far outweighed my petite weight) I tested the “rope”. It seemed to hold. Carefully, I began to lower myself out of the doorway of my closet to the table below. My heart raced. I couldn't believe I was doing this. However, one of my personality traits was unwavering curiosity. I couldn't just let things go. This had gotten me into trouble quite a few times in my life. I just wanted to see how real this giant world was. I needed to be out there, just for a few minutes. I certainly wouldn't do it with the giant himself around. With a little luck on my side, I made it to the table top. My jaw dropped in awe as I surveyed my surroundings. Immediately I began to explore. The table I was on was actually a chest of drawers, it seemed. I maneuvered several items on the wooden surface. A giant black comb. A simple necklace, ending in a strange pendant of sorts. A bottle of cologne. The same cologne I had smelled on my clothes, no doubt. I cringed. The bottle was huge! Nearly the same size as me. Plus the smell was strong on this scale.
Turning around, I realized I had walked far enough from the dollhouse to see it fully. A weird feeling of shock passed through me. The dollhouse in front of me.....was an exact replica of the house I had bought. My real house. It was a simple two story powder blue. This version wasn't quite as detailed...I'm sure it was a giant who had crafted it...but it was still incredibly detailed for a dollhouse.
“Creepy,” I muttered. On another note, why did a grown man who lived alone have a dollhouse? Maybe I'd ask him later, if I got up the nerve to talk to him again.
I poked around some more, my curiosity not satiated just yet. Judging by his clock across the room I still had plenty of time. I could still see my blanket rope hanging from my door, and that soothed me. At the end of the table I came to a looming lamp and noticed multiple cords hanging down the side. On one hand...this was sort of high. On the other hand....there was an entire house this size! I just had to get a peek at least. Besides, I was a pretty avid rock climber...this shouldn't be too hard. My  exhilarating slide to the bottom was thankfully cushioned by soft carpet.
“Whoa.” The ceiling looked forever away. I closed my eyes for a moment to escape vertigo. After I recovered, I began to walk around. The furniture soared above me like cliffs. I couldn't get over the scale of everything. Reaching the end of his bedroom took a few minutes. The carpet squished beneath me and made it difficult to walk anywhere fast. Then I heard something.
My heart dropped.
I distinctly heard a door opening, then shutting.
In a complete panic, I tried to run back to the lamp cord. This was such a stupid idea! Why did I do this? The carpet tripped me up, smushing beneath me and making me pick up my feet extra high. I heard footfalls in the distance....and they began to grow louder. Crap. Screw the lamp cord. I just have to get out of sight. I made it to the wall and finally got to the edge of the dresser. My heart was thumping out of my ribcage and my nerves were fraying with each thunderous footstep, which was now accompanied by tremors. I nearly stopped breathing as he stepped into sight.
If I ever thought he was huge before, I was sorely mistaken. Upon seeing him from the ground....he was enormous. His body stretched into the sky and I was insignificantly tiny. This is the being I talked to? His feet swiftly moved past me as he entered the room, the vibrations almost making me fall over. What if he found me? What if this made him mad? I did essentially invade his privacy. I tried in vain to steady my breathing. His footsteps stopped.
“What?” His voice echoed in confusion.

Ivan POV

Work turned out to be a false alarm. Super happy to leave work, I walked into the house, excited to see Genevieve. Something peculiar caught my eye as soon as I entered my bedroom. Her tiny door was already open and something was hanging from it? I slowly stepped closer and carefully touched the object. It was a white rope like thing. She was nowhere to be seen.
“Genevieve?”
No answer. I peeked into her room and saw that all of her stuff was still in there. Tiny little boxes and bags. The rope seemed to be tied to a dresser of sorts. I quickly scanned my room. No sign.
“Genevieve? You can answer me. Please?” I strained my ear for any sort of response. Nothing. I crossed my arms in thought. From what had occurred the past couple of days...if her belongings were still in her room, and if her door was open, then she had to be around. Risking invading her privacy, I took an even closer look in her room, putting my eye to the door. She wasn't in there. My breath caught. Was she in my house? The rope seemed to indicate that she had intentions of leaving her room. My eyes widened as I scanned the tabletop. No clear signs that she had been there....except....over by the lamp. I examined the dust that had accumulated in the corner. There were tiny smudges. Footsteps?
“Genevieve....can you please tell me where you are? I know you are probably scared. I just need to know where you are.” I tried to sound as friendly as possible. Of course she was scared. She wouldn't let me touch her. I doubt she would enjoy me finding her without her having access to her room. But, oh god, what if I hurt her on accident? Very slowly I paced through the room, scanning the floor. This was such a weird situation. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement.

Genevieve POV

Run! I just have to get out of this room. He will leave eventually and hopefully leave my rope hanging. I waited until his back was mostly turned. It was my only option. I struggled to run as fast as I could, but the carpet kept bogging me down.
“Genevieve! Where are you going?” His voice rumbling around me and was accompanied by tremors.
Oh my god. I didn't look and just tried to run harder. His shadow fell over me.
“To be honest, you aren't going anywhere very fast.” Ivan said tonelessly, no doubt from right above me. Suddenly, a hand blocked my path. I yelped and avoided it by falling backwards.
“Well, well. What are you doing down here?” He questioned, removing his hand. I refused to look up at him. I was shaking. I was such a fool.
“Are you going to answer me? Or look at me?”
I refused....then I felt something heavy prod my back. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“I'm really sorry. I just was curious. I was too scared to come out with you around.” I nearly cried. He had to be angry.
“Will you look at me?” He asked. Slowly I turned my head to look up at him. I had to crane my neck at this angle. He was crouched almost right above me, one hand supporting him to one side of me. Mostly I could just see the fabric of his pants on each side of me.
“Please don't be mad.” I was still trembling.
“Oh, hey, I'm not mad.” He sighed. “Please stop looking so terrified. I'm really not going to hurt you. You have every right to be scared, but I promise there is no real reason to be.”
I let my dark hair obscure my face. It was easier to talk to him when I couldn't see him.
“What do we do now?” He asked me.
“I want to get back to my house.” I murmured, still thoroughly embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
“Okay, well...here.”
I looked up and saw that he had extended his hand to me. Was he crazy?
“No thanks.” I said, as I backed away slightly. He sighed in exasperation.
“Well how are you planning on getting back up there?” He challenged.
“I'm going to climb.” I explained. Just like that, the energy between us changed. Some of the tension and the horror melted away. He wasn't mad and he hadn't tried to grab me yet. I looked up and saw a bemused expression on his face.
“Oh yeah?” He said, arching an eyebrow.
“Yeah! I told you, I'm not helpless.” I responded as I stood up and made my way to the lamp cord. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hands fidget, but otherwise he stayed still.
“You're sure you can't just let me help you?”
“Positive.”
“That is like....” He paused as he calculated, “a four story climb for you.”
I glanced up at him and noticed that, even crouched, his head was level with the top of this 'four story climb'.
“Yup, I'll be fine,” I insisted. Grabbing the phone cord, I concentrated more on climbing and less on the overwhelming presence behind me. I heard a loud sigh, but I continued until I heard him move. I was only a few feet off the ground as I looked around, but below me were his hands.
“What are you doing?” I grunted through my effort.
“If you won't let me help you, at least I won't let you fall. Just think of it as a safety net.” He grinned. It was my turn to sigh, and I returned to my task. I tried to ignore him, but his hands were so close I could feel the heat radiating off of them, not to mention hear his breathing. I stopped for a moment.
“Tired?” His voice was full of satisfaction.
“No.” I snapped back, and continued to climb.
About half way up, my arms started to feel weak. Ignoring the burn, I continued to struggle upwards. However, my palms were becoming sweatier. Abruptly, I lost traction and slipped, falling and hitting a firm surface on my back with a thud. I froze as my brain finished processing my fall and thought more about what I had landed on. Slowly I opened my eyes. Above me, Ivan's face came into view. His eyes were wide with surprise. I sat up in a panic and moved back, only to hit his curved fingers.
“Shh shh...you're fine.” He whispered.
“Put me down,” I gulped. His cupped hands, with me included, moved slowly away from the cord and a little closer to his face. I squirmed at the proximity.
“Just relax for a minute.” He breathed.

Ivan POV

She was in my hands. IN MY HANDS. While I was teasing her only a moment before, my thoughts suddenly froze as her tiny weight thumped into my palms. Genevieve...she looked so tiny against me. She was only a little bigger than my biggest finger. I was suddenly very aware of how frail she was...and how much I didn't want to put her feather weight down when she requested I do so.
“Why won't you put me down?” She asked quietly, looking up at me, her dark eyes wide.
“I will. You have just been panicking for the last twenty minutes. Just rest a moment.” It was true, but I also selfishly wanted to hold her for just a moment longer. What if she never let me again? Her miniscule hands and feet tickled my palm as she adjusted herself. I distantly noticed that she was wearing what appeared to be the same pants that I had found and returned just the day before.
“Gen...I promise, on everything that I have, that I would never hurt you.” I told the tiny girl cupped in my hands. I meant it now more than ever.