Coraline 2: The Fate of the Beldam

Confronting the Beldam

Coraline almost screamed. The beldam had taken on her appearance, including her work outfit. "How did my kids wind up here?" She asked, angrily. "With the key of course. I couldn't have been happier when you returned it to me." Coraline's blood ran cold. She didn't really think about it that way when she was younger. The well was a portal to the other world, so of course she would be giving it back if she threw it down the well. "If you hurt my children, I will end your life in a heartbeat. Let them go!" Coraline demanded. "Still talking to rudely to others I see. But I no longer care, Coraline. I'm not your mother."

"You're sure right you're not, and you're not their mother either. If I don't see them in their beds in the morning, you will never get another soul." Coraline turned to the kids. "We're all leaving, now." None of the kids moved. "I said now!" Coraline repeated. Archer began to yawn. "I'm getting tired guys." "Of course darling, come along." The beldam says, picking him up. "Put my son down!" Wybie growled, but the Beldam didn't listen. Coraline stayed with the other two kids while Wybie followed the beldam. Not too long after, there was a light coming from a window in the pink palace. Wybie came running down. "He disappeared. He might be back in the real world."

"You see? We'll come home as soon as we go to sleep here." Phoenix protests. "Phoenix Sterling, it's 2:00 in the morning, and I am your mother! I want you to go to bed, now! You two Cypress River." Coraline pointed towards the house. Phoenix rolled his eyes and reluctantly followed Coraline's orders. Cypress followed behind her brother. When Coraline saw the lights go off in the window, she and Wybie stayed behind to confront the beldam. "You stay away from our children." Coraline says, in a demanding tone. The beldam's disguise melted off, and Coraline saw the terrifying form she once battled. "Those children are not happy with you, just like you were not happy with your life. I did everything I could to make you a better life and give you loving parents, but you were an ungrateful little brat!" The beldam yelled. "You were going to keep my soul!"

"Your eyes in exchange for a good life! Something your parents couldn't give you, but I can give your children something you can't. Parents that don't fight, and pay attention to them! Archer is going to have the best birthday he could ever wish for!" Coraline got closer to the Beldam, leaning towards her face. "I'm warning you. Stay away from my children, or I will do away with you myself." The beldam just chuckled with an evil smirk. "I'm not the one you need to fear, Coraline and Wybie Lovat." Coraline and Wybie just scoffed, and walked away. "I'm always watching you all." The beldam says. Coraline and Wybie ignored her and kept walking.

Coraline and Wybie made it through the door, and immediately went to the kids' room. They were all asleep. Wybie went into the room and took the key off Phoenix's nightstand, and went downstairs to lock the door. Coraline took the key and held onto it. "Where's the doll?" Wybie asked. "Somewhere the kids won't find it." She answered, thinking about the box of Mel's old stuff under the master bed. However, the doll was outside the house, floating outside the window of the living room, watching Coraline and Wybie walk out.

The next morning after breakfast, Coraline took Phoenix and Cypress to get party decorations for Archer's birthday. Phoenix got Archer a race car lego set, Cypress got him a bubble machine, and Coraline got him a remote control helicopter that she and Wybie were talking about. Back at the pink palace in the storage room was a bike from Charlie and Mel. Coraline then stopped at the grocery store to get the ingredients for Archer's cake. She noticed Phoenix's annoyance, likely because Coraline said he couldn't go through the little door again. To make up for it, she offered to let him get something for himself, but he refused. Coraline felt sad, realizing that this is what Mel was trying to do when she was upset for the same reason at Phoenix's age.

When they got home, Phoenix and Cypress hid their toys for Archer so they could wrap them. Coraline put the ingredients in the kitchen, as she planned to bake the cake after lunch with Mel. Wybie and Coraline both felt sad that Phoenix was ignoring them, but they knew they were doing the right thing. They both found Archer in front of the door. "Archer, honey why don't you go play?" Coraline asks. "I wanna see my other mother and other father." Wybie and Coraline looked at each other with concern. "Why?" "They don't fight." Coraline wanted to cry. How could one small argument between her and Wybie cause her kids to feel so upset?

"Look sweetie, we love you more than any other parent could, trust me. And you know what? Your father and I are going to make sure you have a blast this year." Coraline answeres, ignoring her emotions. Archer looked suspicious at first, but then hugged Coraline. "I love you Mommy." Coraline hugged him back. "I love you too Archer." She kissed him on the cheek, then picked him up, and brought him away from the door, looking at it with mistrust. Normally, Coraline liked baking birthday cakes when the child it was for wasn't around so it would be a surprise, but this time, she let Archer watch her, and lick the spoon.

When it was done, she let him watch her take it out of the oven. "It's so cool!" He says, excitedly. "I'm glad you like it." Coraline says. "Now it's gotta cool before we frost it, so I'm going to give it about an hour." Archer nodded, then decided he wanted to watch cartoons. He joined Cypress in the living room, facing away from the door. Coraline and Wybie still felt uneasy about the kids now having access to the door. Though the key was hidden, Coraline was afraid that either the beldam or one of the kids would find the key or another entrance to the other world.

After dinner, Coraline and Wybie cleaned up the kitchen while Mel and Charlie played with the kids. Phoenix was in his room on his computer the whole evening, likely playing games or working on his family tree history. When he finally came downstairs, Coraline felt a bit of relief. "Mom, who's Aunt Florence?" He asked. "I'm not entirely sure. Why?" Phoenix brought his computer to her and showed her a picture. Coraline felt like her heart stopped pounding. She remembered the time she went into the other world to save her parents. For a split second, she saw the beldam with real eyes, and that's exactly what the picture showed. The same short black hair, round brown eyes, and same exact face.

"Grandma Judy's sister." She whispered to herself. "Well yeah, but the article says she disappeared in this house after entering a strange portal. It was reported by Grandma Judy herself." Coraline couldn't think straight. It couldn't be true, could it? Is Florence really the beldam? "Phoenix, you need to listen to me. You too, Cypress and Archer. You are to never go back into the other world, is that clear?" "But why?!" Phoenix shouted. "Don't you dare raise your voice at me! You have no idea what you're up against!" Coraline yelled back. "No Mom! You're the one who doesn't understand! Cypress and I want to have a fun summer vacation and Archer wants a fun birthday! All you care about is work, and not letting us have fun! This is why we want to stay with our other parents." Phoenix's words stabbed Coraline in the heart. When Phoenix walked away, she glared at the door. "I know you're listening you wicked witch! You stay away from them!"