Coraline (The Story Continues...)

Chapter One: The Well

   Sadly but surely I had gotten rid of the key to my favorite world... at least that's how it felt in the beginning. I had wished for a way to spice up my boring life as an adolescent. I had hoped and dreamed of eating good food and having a nice room. Being spoiled by my parents' love and attention was something I had longed for since... god, since I can remember. That world was so infatuating that this very brief moment it took to be rid of the key, be rid of the door, be rid of the world, be rid of... the beldam... was an instant regret... if only there was a way to get it back...
   As I ponder next to Wybie Lovat, I think about expressing my regret to him, but I realize quickly how bad an idea that is when I remember he had recently called me crazy for trying to explain how much danger I was in... I wonder how crazy he would think I am if I told him I wanted it all back. He is a fragile and simple spirit. He doesn't understand the slightest bit about being a girl and all the complex feelings we go through when we're under a vast amount of stress... or maybe he does and I just want to convince myself that I'm not crazy... or find a logical explanation for my strange remorse other than insanity.
   We sit on the ground feeling the crisp chill of the night. We are still trying to catch our breath. There are no words... nothing in my racing thoughts seems appropriate... but what is considered appropriate in this situation? I'm not sure there's anything either one of us could say to make things better. We both nearly died tonight and the only thing we can do is focus on the fact that we didn't. After a moment of utter silence, Wybie speaks: "Are you okay?" It's embarrassing to me that he asks because not once did I even wonder what he felt about everything that had happened within the past ten minutes. Wybie had saved my life.
   "Yeah... Are you?"
   "Um, I-I'll be... I'll be okay..." Wybie stuttered failing to mask his fear. He sighed and said, "Let's get you home, Jonesy." I had always hated when he called me that, but at this point, it was starting to grow on me. Wybie stands up really fast and reaches his hand out towards me. At first, I look at his hand in hesitance, but then I grab it letting him pull me to my feet. I let out a sigh of relief and say, "Thank you..." He laughs and shrugs it off as we set off back to the pink palace. Right as we begin our venture, I hear Ms. Lovat yell for Wybie's return. "Wyborne! Come home!" Wybie stops in his tracks and groans with irritation. "Grandma..."
"You can go. Don't worry about me... I'm safe now," I reassure him. He looks at me with eyes of concern. "Y-you sure? I can handle that later if-"
"Go home Wyborne... Get some sleep."
"Okay... but what am I supposed to tell her?" I laugh slightly and smile at him. "Bring her by the house tomorrow... We'll tell her together." He nods and sighs. He begins to walk away until I say, "And you know, I'm glad you decided to stalk me," and I punch him in the arm really hard. "Ow!" He half laughs and holds his arm in pain. He smiles at me and says, "Wasn't my idea." He gestures his head forward and I look to see the black cat run around a rock. He pops up on top of the rock and meows really loud. He tilts his head to the side and I do the same. Wybie tilts his head with us and we sigh once again letting out the last of the anxiety. "Wyborne!" Ms. Lovat's voice echoes throughout the woods. I pick my head up and look at Wybie. "Better get going, Why-were-you-borne..." Wybie smiles and laughs. "Yeah, I guess I should. See ya tomorrow, Jonesy." I wave at him and then I make my way back to the Pink Palace. The cat decides to follow me. I'm glad he does because I'm rather frightened still. I need someone to accompany me home otherwise I might freeze to death. I let him walk by my feet until he starts to paw at my leg. I look down at him and frown. "Excuse me!" I scold him. He meows innocently at me and sets his ears back in guilt. I sigh once again and say, "You want me to carry you?" He meows back in response and I pick him up carrying him down the hill.
   Finally when we make it back to the apartments, I walk through the creaky door as quietly as I can. I don't want to wake Mom and Dad... my real Mom and Dad, I take into mind. I'm really home... I think silently. I set the cat on the floor and we walk through the darkened house and up the creaky stairs. I figure if they hear me, and this point I can just say I was using the restroom. I go to my room letting the cat in first and then I hop on my hard mattress and relax. It takes me a moment to gather the strength to wrap myself in the blankets. My whole body is pulsating from the cold. Mom and Dad have the heater set to 80° all the time so the sudden change of temperature is shocking. This makes it difficult to sleep but I still shut down quickly. I finally get comfortable in my blankets and the cat cuddles up to me. My thoughts are everywhere and quite disturbing but I still manage to fall asleep. I let myself drift away into a deep, deep slumber...