Pills and Needles: A Fran Bow and Coraline Crosover

Chapter 2: Part 2: A Warning

"Chamomile or Honey Lemon?"

"Chamomile, please." Fran answered as she scratched Jock's fluffy head as he panted, tongue lolling and tail wagging. Wybie was playing with another one of the dogs, rubbing his stomach. The three were seated on the couch in the somewhat dim room that smelled of tea and moth balls.

As Miss Spink served them their tea, she told Fran of their old adventures as actresses.

"Gave us quite the rush it did!" She sighed longing as she thought of the past. "Wearing those beautiful costumes, having a nice dinner every night...those were the days."

She finished and brought the pot back into the small kitchen where Miss Forcible had appeared, approaching them with a bowl of taffy. She set it down on the table saying, "Help yourselves, dears."

Fran looked down at the taffy but upon trying to pick one up, it seemed to be glued to the rest of the candies in the bowl. So she decided she wasn't that hungry for taffy anyway. Coraline spoke as Wybie attempted to pluck a taffy from the bowl.

"Are you going to read her tea leaves, Miss Spink?"

"Of course, of course! I would if I could only find.." The woman was looking high and low for the hat she usually used for the occasion. Miss Forcible smiled and produced it from behind her back, then placing it atop her head. She gestured to Fran to lend her her cup for a moment. Fran did I so, intrigued as to what they'd find.

But before she could even begin tipping the cup, Miss Spink snatched the hat off her head, putting it on her own. "There it is!" She beamed as she casually took the cup from Miss Forcible's hands. "Now we shall see...ohh yes...hmmm..."

Wybie, who had actually succeeded in getting a bit of taffy, looked a bit weirded out and turned to Coraline who only nodded as if she dealt with this as an everyday thing.

"Hm. That's strange. I see.. A skull." She gasped and quickly looked to Fran. "My dear, you aren't thinking about killing yourself or your friends, are you?"

Fran was taken aback by the suggestion, as was everyone else in the room. "What? No! Never!"

"You're scaring the poor child! Give it here!" Miss Forcible took a look at the chamomile flowers at the bottom of the cup using her spectacles. "Ha! Do not be afraid, my dear! What awaits you in the future is an incredible adventure!"

Fran still didn't look at ease much as Miss Spink shook her head. "No, look." She tilted the cup in a direction, making it resemble a sort of cow skull that would be in the cartoons when they took place in the desert. "See? A skull equals murder."

"Don't be daft!" The other ex-actress tilted the cup at about 90 degrees, the horns sticking out. "I see a rocketship. Adventure."

"Well, what can she do?" It was Coraline who had spoken.

"Never wear feathers at night."

"Choose paper, not plastic."

"When feeling down, go to your friends."

"If you do have such thoughts, which I highly doubt, see a therapist."

"And watch out for twins at this time of year."

"Twins?" Wybie asked, his teeth caught in the candy that he had pulled out.

"Oh, Miriam! It's winter, the time to do that is in August. It's only January!"

"...quite right."

~~~~~

Me. Midnight's fur poofed up a bit. He stared up at the other cat, motionless.

The other black cat pushed on the window lightly with a paw, letting himself inside. He sat atop the sofa, looking down at the younger feline on the cushions.

Before Mr. Midnight could even open his mouth, the cat leapt off the sofa and hurried across the room. He stopped before a wall and looked back at him.

Mr. Midnight hesitated to go after him. He gently let himself down from the couch and scurried after him, limping a bit at first. Once he had catched up to him, the black cat moved aside, showing him a small door. Immediately, Mr. Midnight's tail fluffed up. He could feel the presence of another entity. The same feeling when going on that treacherous adventure to get back home.

"Your friend," the cat spoke, "is the key she has been looking for.."

"She?"

"It is best if you did not meet her or know her. But with a mind as open and broken as your friend's, she is bound to get herself into some trouble with her." The cat gave him a serious look, tail lashing and ears held back. "I will do my best to assist you in getting her home, but you mustn't ever allow her near this door. Never leave her side."

Mr. Midnight flattened his own ears out of respect. After all, he seemed to know what he was talking about. "I understand."

A third sound was made to indicate their understanding.The sound of a nail being dragged across the door could be heard, long and ghastly against the wood.

Mr. Midnight's eyes widened in response, backing away.

The black cat looked up at him, almost no fear in his eyes at all.

"Hurry, go to her now."

And he was left alone with the beast, only a wooden door keeping them and their worlds apart.

Sorry guys if that took so long but I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the story! Wait till...