SIGIL PAGE

DOLLHOUSE PAGE

LARKSPUR HOUSE LETTER

TITLE PAGE

DEDICATION

For my mentor and friend, David Levithan.

CHAPTER 1

VOICES ECHOED UP from below.

It was long past midnight, but Jason’s parents were fighting again.

“I cannot believe you think I’d do something like that,” said his mom.

His dad spat back, “It’s like you care more about that old toy than you do your own daughter.”

His mom and dad grew louder, angrier, and Jason cringed, pulling the thin blanket up to his chin.

“Why would I lie? I want to protect Louise as much as you do!”

“If you’d actually brought the dollhouse to the children’s home yesterday, why did Louise find it back in her bedroom this afternoon?”

“I have no clue! The director at the home was thrilled to have it. You can call her yourself!”

“It’s the middle of the night, Amy! Everyone is asleep!”

Well, not everyone …

Jason covered his ears, trying to block out the noise. His mom and dad must have known how loud they were being. It was like they wanted him to hear everything—as if the argument would force him to pick a side. Lou too. He pictured his little sister just down the hallway, huddled in her own bed, guilt wracking her small frame. Ever since she’d started sleepwalking, their usually peaceful home had grown toxic, as if a hidden, leaking pipe were rotting the walls. Jason riffled through one of the many catalogs he kept stored in his mind, thinking of the different kinds of mold he’d studied in his science class.

1. Penicillium
2. Trichoderma
3. Aspergillus

“I’m as freaked out about it as you are, Scott.” Mom’s voice cracked. “How do I know that you didn’t go to the city and bring the dollhouse back here?”

Jason crept out of bed and pressed his ear against the door.

He sensed someone standing on the other side.

He swung the door open quickly to find his sister in the darkness. Her long black hair partially obscured her pale face as she clutched at her torso. “Lou! Are you sleepwalking again?” he whispered.

The argument continued from the kitchen below.

“Not anymore,” said Lou. “Can I stay with you for a little while? At least until they calm down?”

Together, they perched on the edge of his bed. Lou squeezed Jason’s hand, and her chilled fingers sent goose bumps up his arm. “Are you okay? You’ve never actually sleepwalked out of the house before. Good thing Dad was up late watching television, or else you might have ended up—”

“I don’t want to think about that,” Lou said, taking back her hand.

“Was it the kids in the dollhouse?” Jason whispered.

“Same as always. But this time, in my dream, I was with them. And the creature … it was chasing all of us.”

“It was just a nightmare, Lou. Those kids aren’t real.”