Ten-year-old Leo found it while looking for his old Lego sets. He didn't recognize the name "Princess Polly," but the "Exclusive" tag made his heart race. He dragged the heavy VCR from the guest room, blew the dust out of the slot, and shoved the tape in.

On the screen, the sky began to change. It wasn't the blue of a normal afternoon; it turned a deep, bruised purple. The wind picked up, whipping Polly’s blonde pigtails across her face. Behind her, the suburban fence seemed to stretch and warp, the wood turning into ancient, jagged stone.

"I'm coming!" Polly shouted, her voice suddenly bright and normal.