Button Eyes, Clock Hearts

Fearful Circus

"Coraline!" The girl flinched and looked around, the colorful area of the dream world around her. "Coraline, we don't have much time!"

Coraline blinked, recognizing the cute ghost girl with the braids. One of the ghost children?! What were they doing here?!

"W-what do you mean?!"

The boy appeared next to the little girl, "The key to the door is in Wonderland!"

And instantly, the tall girl was next to him, "And there is a copy of the door in one of the territories!"

Coraline blinked and stared at them, feeling the tears coming on. "N...no, that's not possible. This can't be happening, it's over!"

The ghosts exchanged a sad look before the sweet ghost girl put her hand on Coraline's trembling shoulder, "We had to warn you. Please, be careful." And then they were gone. Coraline sank to her knees as the tears flowed freely. Each territory was big, so finding the door was a problem, but to find the key!? In this big, open-world?! It was impossible! A hand touched her hair, a girl with short dark hair and buttons for eyes looked back at her. The rims were dripping with Blood. Coraline was horrified.

"I sent them here, for they are free. My sister wished to capture you. She wants to have everyone who might interfere with having her prize. You are her food, and Alice her desire. This is all I can do for now. She will never let me go."

She vanished, the bluenette stared into space. Who was she? Was she a child victim? Coraline stiffened as she felt arms wrap around her shoulders. She turned her head up to see Nightmare. He smiled down at her, "Don't you worry. We'll help you find that key, and the door!"

Coraline wiped at her tears and managed to give a smile, "T...Thank you Nightmare!"

Nightmare smiled and conjured up a happy dream for Coraline. A field with lots of flowers. The poor girl needed some happiness in this bleak situation. At least...at least until she woke up.

Coraline started awake and looked around, slightly confused. Then, remembering what had happened, she shook Cat awake, "Cat! the ghost kids were in my dream and they said that there was another door and that the key is somewhere in Wonderland!" Cat had to shake himself after that.

"...No wonder she appeared in your dreams. There is a way for her to access this world. Coraline...she might come back." Coraline shuddered and ran her hands through her hair, "I know, but why?!"

"The Beldam lives off of children. Off of their love, and of their souls. It's simply what she does; she takes a child, loves it for a while, and then eats it when she grows bored of it. You were a prize that she lost, so I suppose she may be trying to reclaim her prize."

Coraline's widened in horror, "She'll come here! And then no one will be safe! Come on, we've got to find that key before she does!"

Coraline threw on the first outfit she found and raced out of her room with Cat hot on her heels. Nobody noticed as she and Cat left the tower. "oh, Cat, I forgot to tell you. I saw another girl. She looked about my age too. She said something about her sister being the one capturing people who would interfere with capturing her prize...I do not remember much but it had to do with Alice"

"I see..."

As Coraline and Cat walked, she noticed many arrow signs and warped doors on every tree. How was she able to miss the past times?

"Ack!" Coraline suddenly landed on her hands and knees, trying to figure out what just happened.

Cat sniffed, "Clumsy girl. Don't look so dazed, you tripped."

"Well, thanks, Captain Obvious! As if you were any help!" Coraline pulled herself to her feet, sneering at her slightly scraped palms, "Plus, what did I trip on?!"

She looked down...and her eyes widened in horror. There, sticking out of the dirt, was a black iron button, tied through a hole with a piece of string. The bluenette fell back to her knees, dug out the object, and unearthed the terribly familiar item. She was terrified, not even noticing the concerned gaze of Cat.

She swallowed and pulled the worn string around her neck, the black button key resting on her chest, "Well...we found the key. That wasn't too hard."

Cat nodded, "Yes, but we can't start singing victory yet. We still need to find the door."

Both flinched and whipped around as they heard a rustling in the bushes near them. That's when they heard Joker "Are you lost miss?"

Coraline nodded hesitantly, "Y...yeah, I think I am. I just...needed to find something"

Cat put his ears down, "Calm down Coraline, the door may be near!"

Coraline nodded, still feeling awkward. Joker walked over and helped up off the ground, "Is there a way I can help you both with? Any season change you need?"

"Yeah, actually. By any chance, have you seen a-" Coraline was interrupted by some nearby bickering.

"We need to keep looking for her! She might be in danger!" Coraline recognized Alice's worried voice.

"Ah, calm down Alice!" the blue headed girl frowned at the unknown, carefree voice.

"Ace, this situation is dangerous! If Coraline explains the situation to the Joker by accident...they'll use it to their advantage! They don't know! Or at least do not understand!"

Not liking where this conversation was going, Coraline ran forth, hollering, "Hey guys! I found the key!"

All of the Role Holders and the foreigner girl turned to the teen and grinned. Pretty much all of the Role Holders were helping at Nightmare's request. Honestly, she never thought there were so many!

Joker smiled from behind Coraline, "So, I see you brought your friends. Never thought you both would befriend them so fast"

Coraline looked back and up at him, "Well yeah, all though I have no idea who that Ace dude over there is."

"Well I do believe this isn't the time for a show, now, is it?" said Joker politely. Though Coraline and Cat could feel the tension between the redhead and the others. What even was their problem? Joker had only been helpful to them! So why would they be so hostile towards him?

"Yea! So fuck off!"

Coraline decided to ignore the situation, scanning from the ground towards the top of the trees. To Coraline's horror, she could see signs of the Other Mother's hand. Scratches on bark, hear rustling, and the like. Then, she froze and gasped in shock and terror as she stared frozen at a branch. There was a hand made of sewing needles perched in the leaves. As she stared, the Role Holders had stopped arguing and looked at each other worried.

Coraline's gaze was locked on it. The only people who could be taken by the other mother were children. Upon that realization, she felt her heart grow cold as a terrible fear overcame her. "D...d-Dee, D-d-Dum...is there a little door somewhere in the mansion?" Cat's eyes widened in horror as he looked a the two. Blinking, Dee tiled his head, "...Yes."

Coraline swallowed, "Have...you gone through?"

There was a long pause before Dum answered, "...Yes. We did. Why?"

"Did you forget my story?!"

"Oh...we went before you came!" answered both confused. "But we didn't go in again! We swear big sis!"

Coraline felt a sob come to her throat and she turned to them, hugged the boys, and cried. The Other Mother didn't just find her. She found a pair of new victims. And now, she wanted to get her and maybe Alice. How would she solve this?! It was too much. The Role Holders looked at each other, Alice in the arms of Blood, both concerned for the boys they considered sons.

"I believe we will have to make our show another time. Let's go to jail, this way, nobody outside will know"