Chapter 1 - The First Encounter

"I'll race you down the hallway!"

The three, young girls were full of energy, as they ran out of the elevator and headed directly for apartment twenty-two in a large apartment complex, located beside a lake on the outskirts of the city.

They paused momentarily outside the heavy, oak door and regained their composure. To the elderly couple who were getting in the elevator, the girls appeared to be perfectly well-behaved, young ladies, knocking on the new neighbor's door.

"Hello. We are your neighbors," a beautiful, dark-haired girl advised the surprised, middle-aged woman who appeared at the door, a few moments later. "May we come in, please?"

"How nice of you girls to come and visit me!" the woman responded, with a smile. "Oh yes, do come in, please!"

"Thank you," replied the young girl. "My name is Crystal."

"What a beautiful name for such a lovely, young girl," the woman replied. "What are your names?" she asked the other girls. "You look so much alike. Are you twins?"

"We are identical twins," replied the younger girls, almost simultaneously. "Thank you."

"The twins are Dana and Dani," said Crystal. "They are eight years old. Even I can barely tell them apart, most of the time."

"Well, young ladies, let's sit down at the table," said Penny. "I was just about to have a cup of tea. Perhaps you would like some milk and cookies? We can get to know each other better."

"I was hoping you would invite us in," said Crystal, smiling sweetly at her. "Thank you."

"Thank you," echoed the twins.

"My name is Penny," said the woman, who was actually pleasantly surprised to see young girls with such good manners. "It will be fun getting to know each other. I did not know that there were children in this building."

"I live in the apartment above you and the twins live right above me," said Crystal.

"So you were the ones making all the racket at bedtime, last night," said Penny.

"The twins stayed over," Crystal replied, apologetically. "I am so sorry about all of the ruckus. We will be quieter next time."

"That is all right, girls," replied Penny. "I was a young girl once, too."

All three girls giggled nervously.

Penny could not help but smile. Little did she realize that the three girls had targeted her, the moment they spotted her moving in, the day before.