Author's Note: I know this whole story is a far-fetched concept at best, but I hope you like it. Whether you love it or hate it, please review!

THE HOUSE OF TIME

CHAPTER ONE---THE HOUSE

"Here we are! Isn't the house great, honey?"

Cinder looked up at what was to be her new home. The hundred-year-old house had obviously gone through a lot, and just barely survived. Everything about it was crooked. The roof, the door, the porch... everything. What she assumed used to be white paint had practically left the walls of the house. In short, the house was anything but great in Cinder's mind.

"Yeah... it's just... wonderful..."

"Oh I just KNEW you'd love it," said her mother as she gave Cinder a crushing hug. "And now we'll be able to start all over again, nice and fresh."

But that was exactly the problem. Cinder didn't want to start all over again. She would have much rather stayed in slightly metropolitan Greenville, Pennsylvania, than move to rural Newbury, Vermont. She'd had friends in Greenville. She'd had a life there. She didn't have anything in Newbury. Except for a crummy house...

"Come on, Cinder. Let's have a look inside."

It was hard for her to not resent her mother for making them move... again. Still, she was her mother, and she obviously loved this house. The expression on her face was one of eagerness.

Cinder couldn't help but feel a little of her mother's excitement.

Her mother mother turned the key and opened the door. "Now watch your step. This house isn't quite what it used to be."

That's an understatement, thought Cinder.

The interior wasn't as terrible as she thought it would be. She had expected cobwebs everywhere and gaps in the floors. Instead, the rooms were relatively clean. Everything seemed worn, though... tired with the passing of time.

"Oh my goodness! Look at this stove!" Cinder walked over to the kitchen and looked inside. "It's ancient!" The way her mother said it, it seemed like a good thing. She wasn't too sure. I can't wait to see the bathroom, she thought.

"Hey Mom, I'm going to go back to the car and get my stuff, okay?"

"Sure. You can move into any room you like."

Oh goody.

She walked back to the parked station wagon. After years of traveling, Cinder had learned to own as few possessions as possible. There were just a few things that she could never part with... her books and her camera. She loved taking pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, but, more than that, it captures a moment. It makes one feeling stand still forever, for all to see.

She grabbed her backpack and her camera. Now was her chance to explore her surroundings. She went back inside and went up the mahogany staircase. To her right was the bathroom she'd dreaded seeing. One toilet, one bathtub, no shower. Cinder groaned. She hated taking baths. They took too long. Besides, why would anyone want to soak in their own filth?

She turned left, away from the bathroom. There stood two doors. Cinder opened the first. Behind it was a large, circular room. Windows gave an excellent view of the street she and her mother had driven on moments earlier. In the middle of the room stood an iron-framed bed. Its presence seemed to dominate the room.

Cinder went back into the hall. This time, she entered the second door. This room was slightly smaller than the one she'd just visited, but it was neat and tidy. A sturdy bed leaned against the wall. One window overlooked the backyard. Looking out, Cinder could see the green mountains that were now to be her home. For a second, she felt connected to them, and it seemed they really were her home. However, the moment quickly passed.

She then noticed that the room led to another. The next room was not at all like the previous two. It was dark and dingy, probably from the fact that there were no windows to let the light in. Cinder shivered. The air seemed colder all of a sudden.

Quickly, she retreated back to the hallway. From the base of the stairs her mother asked, "Any room you like?"

"Not really. I think I'll just sleep on the couch downstairs tonight."

"Suit yourself. I think I'll go to the grocery store. Anything you want for dinner?"

"Not really."

"Alright. I'll be back in a few minutes."

After her mother left, Cinder started taking pictures of everything. She took pictures of the exterior of the house. She took pictures of all the rooms. She took pictures of the mountains. But, she avoided the windowless room.

Soon after, her mother returned.

"So, do you feel a little more settled in?"

"A little."

"Oh sweetheart, I know it's hard to move around so much, but it'll all turn out for the best in the end. You'll see."

Cinder didn't reply.

"Anyway, I've decided on pizza for dinner. I went by the diner and got one for us. How about it?"

So, not ready to try out the ancient stove? Come on, Mom, where's your sense of adventure... "That's fine."

"Well, go ahead and dig in."

As Cinder continued eating, one question kept nagging at her brain. "Hey Mom, do you know that room upstairs, the one without any windows? Who's room was it?"

Her mother frowned. "Hmm... actually, I think it was the maid's room."

Well, there's the first chapter. Please tell me what you think!