Coraline 2: The Fate of the Beldam

A New Beginning

13 yeas had passed and Coraline and Wybie's family had grown. Now living in a 4 bedroom house in Portland, Oregon, Coraline and Wybie were now raising their three kids, 11 year old Phoenix, 9 year old Cypress and 5 year old Archer. Coraline had started working as a very successful real estate agent supervisor, and Wybie was a carpenter. Summer vacation was coming up, so their kids were wrapping up their school year, and getting ready for a trip to Ashland for Archer's birthday as well as Coraline and Wybie's anniversary.

Coraline was finishing up some work on her computer when Phoenix and Cypress walked through the door. "Mom, we're home!" Phoenix stopped by the office to say hi to Coraline. "Hey honey, how was your day?" "Great! I got a few new signatures in my year book, and we're cleaning out our lockers on Friday! I'm so excited for summer!" "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Any luck on that family tree of yours?" Phoenix was great at research since he did it as a hobby. He decided as a side project that he would research his own family tree. So far, he's made it up to his great-great-great grandma Helene Smith.

"It's going great! It turns out a lot of our ancestors lived in Ashland at some point! Most of them moved around the united states, but there were some in the same area as Grandma and Grandpa." "That's nice! Where did your sister go?" Coraline asked, looking past Phoenix. "She's probably upstairs playing with her dolls." "Alright. Will you tell her that we're leaving in about 30 minutes to pick up your brother? I gotta finish this report." "Sure thing Mom." Phoenix walked away and went upstairs. Coraline smiled and went back to working.

After 30 minutes, it was time to get Archer from school. Phoenix got in the front seat in Coraline's cadillac escalade while Cypress got in the back. Coraline pulled out into the neighborhood, and made her way to the main road. The school her youngest went to was only a few minutes away. This was Archer's kindergarten year, and to Coraline and Wybie, it went by so fast. They both remember when Archer would cry when Coraline or Wybie dropped him off, and he would cling to them or try to follow them out of the classroom, but then it got to the point where Archer was looking forward to school, and ran into the classroom with full energy at drop off which made Coraline and Wybie proud.

As Coraline drove by the school, she saw Archer on the playground. She stopped since no one was behind her to wave to him. "Mommy!" Archer yelled. He ran to the gate. A teacher came by and told him to get his stuff so she could walk him out to her. Coraline pulled around and parked next to the sidewalk. She always picked up Archer in the 'grace period' time. Kindergarteners got out 30 minutes early and played outside so their parents could come pick them up before the rest of the school released. By the time Coraline parked, Archer was already reaching the car with his teacher.

The teacher opened the door, and Archer climbed in. He sat next to Cypress. "How are you doing Mrs. Brookes?" Coraline asked. "Doing okay. We've only got a few days left. Archer tells me you're going to Ashland?" "Yeah, Wybie and I are considering it an anniversary trip, and also for Archer's 6th birthday. You got any plans?" Mrs. Brookes smiled. "I'm on my way to Florida Saturday morning." "That sounds great!" Coraline and Mrs. Brookes bonded over the school year because of how well she treated Archer, and helped him get used to school. It was with her help that boosted Archer's confidence in being in school. The line of parents started growing by the time Coraline and Mrs. Brookes were done talking, so Coraline pulled away, waving to Mrs. Brookes, who waved back.

"Mommy, look!" Archer pulled out a painting from his backpack, and Coraline looked in her rear view mirror. "Aww, it's gorgeous sweetie! We'll put it on the fridge when we get home." "I made another one for Grandma and Grandpa too." Archer put his painting back, and pulled out another one. "You're so creative my love." Coraline drove home, and pulled into the driveway. Wybie would likely be home in a few hours since he normally got off at 5:00. Coraline put Archer's art work on the fridge, then got back to her work. Since she worked on her own schedule, Coraline worked from 7:30 to 5:00. She took an hour lunch break, then another 30 minutes to get Archer.

When Wybie got home from work around 5:30, Coraline was starting to cook dinner. "Hey, Lovey." Wybie says, kissing her on the cheek while she stirred peppers, onions, meat, and tomatoes in a pan. "What's for dinner?" "Beef stirfry with white rice, garlic bread, spinach, and oranges." "Sounds delicious. Where are the children?" Wybie asked. "Phoenix is in his room, and Cypress and Archer are in the living room watching some TV." Wybie left the kitchen to say hi to the kids. Once dinner was ready, the whole family gathered. "Does everyone have outfits picked out for Ashland?" Coraline asked. "Yes, Mom." Phoenix answered. Cypress and Archer nodded. "Great! After dinner, I want everyone to bring it to my room so I can put it in the suitcases."

After dinner, while Wybie did the dishes, the kids put their outfits for the trip in Coraline's room while she packed them. "Are we driving again this year, Mom?" Cypress asked. "No honey, your father and I saved money for us to fly this year." That clearly made Cypress happy, and Coraline knew how she felt. When Coraline moved from Michigan to Oregon, her parents hauled her in a car because they couldn't afford to fly at the time. Cypress was much like Coraline in that case. At bedtime, Coraline and Wybie went around their kids' rooms, saying goodnight. Wybie read to Archer while Coraline read to Cypress. When one parent did their goodnight kiss, they went to the other rooms to do the same. Phoenix was getting to the point where he felt too old, but he didn't mind Wybie and Coraline poking their heads in the door to tell him goodnight.

A few hours later, Coraline and Wybie got ready for bed. The last day of school is rapidly approaching, and they were flying out on Monday morning. "You excited for the trip?" Wybie asked. "Yeah. I just hope my dad's okay after that fall." Wybie turned on his side and stroked Coraline's hair. "He'll be okay. The doctor said he just needs to rest and that he can't work in the garden anymore. Plus, those new neighbors have been a great help. Your mom also says that he's been doing great." "Yeah, you're right. Are you going to be okay?" Coraline asks. When Wybie's grandmother passed away, they went back to Ashland for the funeral. Ever since then, every trip to Ashland included a visit to Wybie's grandmother's grave.

Wybie fell asleep, but Coraline took some time. She loved visiting her parents, but the little door was still there. Anytime she walked by it, she felt like the new wallpaper covering it wasn't enough to keep the beldam from returning. When Coraline finally fell asleep, she had a nightmare. She was back in the pink palace, facing the little door. She saw the tunnel that once had a blue and purple glow. The beldam's voice called her slowly and quietly. Suddenly, the beldam's face appeared and she screamed. Coraline could hear her own children screaming. In a panic, Coraline sat up with a gasp. Wybie was still asleep, and it was only 2:00 in the morning. Out of fear, Coraline went to check on her kids. Luckily, Coraline's answer to their curiosity about the door seemed to work.

She always told her kids that it was connected to a room that is no longer apart of their grandparents' apartment. The size of the door wasn't an issue either since Phoenix thought it was a crawl space, so he told Cypress and Archer that it was. The next morning, Coraline helped the kids get ready for school while Wybie was getting ready for work. Coraline wanted a bit of overtime so she could get the extra pay for while she was gone. It was only a matter of time before her trip with her perfect family. After the last day of school, it was time to prepare for another family reunion.