Twisted Fates

Chapter 8

This was impossible.

Other Wybie had died.

Coraline broke into tears as she looked back.

But her friends were gone.

"Hey, Jonesy," her best pal chirruped.

"Y-you can talk now?"

"Yep. Mother said you'd like me being able to talk now."

"I'm so sorry that she killed you."

"Killed . . . me? She saved me. Gave me life. My hero."

No. No. This isn't Other Wybie. At least, not her Other Wybie. He would never say that about the Beldam. That was why she took his voice, Coraline realised, so he couldn't tell me about her plans. She likely promised to return his voice if he obeyed her. This Other Wybie was her puppet, one that is simply unable to deviate from her orders.

She knew. She knew so well. Knew that Other Wybie hated the Beldam.

"So, what do you want to do now, Jonesy?"

Coraline kept the smile on her face. Schooled her features into neutrality.

"I was thinking . . . maybe we should go talk to 'Mother'? I'd quite like to see her now," Coraline gave him a faked smile, her stomach doing turns now, making her quite dizzy.

"Of course! We'll go now."

She was uneasy about this, though she kept it quiet.

Her eyes shone with tears, and her nose ran slightly. Using the sleeve of her already-dirty blue shirt, she wiped off any trace of that.

She could not let the Beldam know that there were more people down here. This Other Wybie hadn't seen them, and she planned to keep it that way.

Be strong, Coraline.

"Mother. Coraline is here."

"Ah! My daughter. How'd you like some food?"

"What have you done to me?"

The Beldam shrugged, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Tricks. She's used them all before, and she'd use them again.

"The vomiting? The headaches? The feeling of constant exhaustion and weakness? What is your game this time?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

That was when Coraline realised, to her surprise, that the Beldam really had no clue. It was written on her face, and it was shown in her body language.

"You . . . really don - Argh!" Coraline collapsed onto the floor, her vision swimming and her head spinning.

"Coraline. Coraline?" The Beldam sounded . . . concerned. Was this all part of another sick game she's playing?

No. If it were a game, the Beldam would've told her.

Maybe . . .

Coraline wasn't able to finish the thought when a wave of black swept her away into oblivion.

She awoke in her bed, the room no longer pink, but several shades of blue. She was sure that she was still in the Other World.

She pulled open her door, and saw the Beldam standing there, readying her hand to knock.

"Were you actually about to knock the door?"

"I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

Coraline just stood there. She remained silent.

"I really do love you, Coraline."

"Love me? You locked me behind a mirror, kidnapped my parents, and even tried to eat my friend's soul! What kind of a 'Mother' does that? Just to sew buttons into my eyes?"

"I just wanted you to stay here so I could love you."

"What about putting me in danger? Scaring the living daylights out of me?"

"It was just a game, dear." The Beldam, still in the form of Mel Jones, approached her, arms outstretched.

"Could I at least have my 12-year-old look back?"

"That . . . I have no control over."

Coraline stared at the Beldam. "Tell me; are the ghost kids still here? Are their eyes still here?"

"You freed them, and killed me. Your friend only revived me, the dead ghost children are forever haunting the real Pink Palace."

"Why don't you come downstairs? I swear I'll make you good food. Food that doesn't contain poison. Food that will only make you feel full and make your stomach hurt less."

Coraline didn't want to accept this offer, but her belly said otherwise. "Fine."

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you something; your friend is here."

No. Wybie and the others escaped. She couldn't have gotten to them.

"Is it . . . Wybie?"

"Of course, who else?" The Beldam snapped, reminding Coraline of her real Mother.

~Flashback~

Coraline clambered for the little door, her body aching, from the Beldam's 'web'. 

"You dare disobey your MOTHER?" The Beldam snarled, climbing upwards at twice her speed. Coraline kicked her. Hard.

But the Beldam held on. She hissed, a malevolent smile on her face, obvious even without her button eyes. The ghost kids' hands appeared, as the girl begged, "Please shut it!"

They tugged on the door with her, the Beldam reaching her needle-hand for Coraline. As they finally shut the door, her hand, from her wrist, popped off.

Coraline locked the door.

A huge bang sounded on the door. The tunnel shrank behind her as Coraline ran for her life. The Beldam's voice echoed throughout the tunnel. Words Coraline would never forget, "Don't leave me, don't leave me! I'll die without you!"

She locked the door behind her. Suddenly, a crash so loud and hard sounded that the key flew out of the keyhole.

Just then, she heard the lock click. "Coraline! We're home!"

"Mom! Dad! I missed you so much!" The girl ran and embraced her parents.

"Missed us?"  Mel looked on the mantelpiece. "Oh no, you broke my favourite snow globe." 

Coraline smiled at her Mother, "I didn't break it; It must've broke when you escaped."

Charlie and Mel ignored her. "And cut your knee."

Charlie stooped to Coraline's height, "Coraline, I told you to count all the windows, not put your knee through them."

Mel just gave a triumphant smirk, "Well, get yourself cleaned up. We're going out tonight." She playfully punched her husband's shoulder. Charlie responded, "We've got a lot to celebrate."

Coraline looked disappointed, "You're talking about . . . your garden catalogue?"

"Of course, what else?"

"But look at the snow on your clothes . . . " Coraline began, but trailed off as the snow rapidly melted, as if it didn't want to be seem by her parents.

"What's gotten into you, Coraline?"

She knew that she had to do something.

But she was was scared. Frozen and scared.