Nightmares

Part one

"You probably think this world is a dream come true...but you're wrong."

Coraline Jones, an 11 year old girl, had been moved by her parents into a small living area far away from the town she'd grown up in. New life, new bedroom, no friends. So far, it only having been three days since the move in, Coraline didn't seem to be adjusting well to her new normal. Her parents were always working and never really seemed to have time for her. The only other people she'd met were her very concerning lower level neighbors, the circus act on the top floor of the place she was living in, and a boy around her age named Wybie.

Wybie was of a whole other concern. The first time they'd met he scared Coraline half to death. Not to mention the fact that he looked like a murderer. Accompanying the neighborhood, but mostly Wybie, was a small black cat. Coraline had originally thought of him as a stray until Wybie seemed to recognize him. Coraline and Wybie hadn't talked for long till he jumped back on his bike and rode away.

Early the next morning, Coraline was given a doll that surprisingly looked exactly like her! It was a gift from Wybie, saying that he found it in his grandmother's trunk. Coraline didn't think much of it and just put it in her room on a chair.

Coraline went about her day as usual, though she couldn't do much with the rain outside. She tried to talk to her mom who was working from home, but was immediately overlooked by her. Coraline shrugged it off and went to explore the rest of the house.

Upon exploration, Coraline discovered a little door next to the mantle. Now that's when curiosity took over. She'd opened it with a key she'd found but it seemed to be bricked over. That was until later that night when mice drew her back towards the door to which she found a passage.

On the other side of that door she found what looked like where she just was, though lots of things were different. Her parents had button eyes but seemed to be expecting her. A feast had been prepared, along with tons of other things.

This life had seemed great and she'd never wanted to leave. Then everything went wrong. They wanted her to let them sew buttons into her eyes! She said no and, boy, did that take a turn for the worst. This "other mother" had mutated into a horrible monster. Coraline had barely made it out of that world, told Wybie about what was going on, and gotten away from the Other Mother alive!

Guess she should have listened to that cat.

Now Coraline was 16 and still having nightmares about this other reality. Coraline and Wybie were now both in highschool and were pretty much roped into the loner category of students. They'd meet up after school around the gardens in the middle of the circle of apartments and just talk. Wybie tried everyday to help Coraline rid herself of these nightmares, but never succeeded.

Her nightmares included those of her being stuck in the other world, her soul being eaten by the Other Mother, and even those of it still existing and having been opened into the actual world. For five years Coraline had been having this recurring nightmare of the Other Mother's hand ripping out her soul and sewing button eyes onto her, never allowed to escape. She had no solid explanation when anyone asked her what her nightmares were about, afraid they'd think she'd gone mad.

"What's goin' on Jonesy?" Coraline's head turned to see Wybie walking towards where she was sitting on the black bench closest to her home. "Wybie, are you ever going to quit calling me Jonesy? It's Coraline, C-O-R-A-L-I-N-E." He'd never dropped the stupid nickname he'd given her upon their first conversation. "I know what your name is, I just like calling you Jonesy better."

He sat down on the bench next to Coraline, leaning back and putting his leg across the other. Coraline had to admit, he'd changed a lot from that little boy she'd met by that well. Coraline actually thought he was kinda hot, though she'd never tell him that.

"Still having those nightmares?" Wybie looked at her, turning his head slightly with his question, the look of concern coming across his face. Coraline hated having to tell him everyday that nothing had changed from the day before, so today she decided to tell him something different.

"They're not as bad as they have been. I actually think they're getting better. And, you don't have to worry so much Wybie, I'll be fine." Coraline looked at Wybie, trying to confirm that everything she said was true, though she knew it wasn't. Wybie seemed to believe her though.

"That's good, right?" He didn't stop long enough for her to say 'right' though, already asking her another question.

"Well, ya wanna go into town?" A smile splashed across Wybie's face. Coraline knew he wanted her to say yes. "Sure Wybie, why not? Though, where are we gonna go?"

Wybie seemed to ponder this for a while till finally turning towards her. "Why not just go to the General Store, then go get food?"

Coraline didn't really feel like going into town, and especially didn't feel like going to that store, but Wybie seemed so excited to get out of the apartment circle so how could she say 'no'?

"Sure, Wybie...Why not?"