Twisted Fates

Chapter 19

"Got you . . . !"

The grins on their faces scared them.

One by one, the children were hauled back by their partners.

Coraline, at the top of the stairs, watched, horrified, as the Beldam caught her friends.

They stood no chance, now.

She looked down, willing her power not to be sensed by the witch.

"Well, you are just sneaky, aren't you? Your tactics are sly, but I won't fall for that again. You children are all cheaters."

The Beldam kept silent, the malicious grin back.

She knew that she had to play the Beldam's game to her advantage . . . but how?

Coraline watched as the Beldam morphed her form. It was the form between the loving mother and the creepy witch.

She stared at them.

"Oh, Coraline!" Her 'Mother' sang in a singsong voice. "Your friends are here!"

She saw Wybie wrest free from . . . Other Wybie? He then looked to the Beldam and snapped. "She probably left already. Or she's found a way around you!"

"Oh, I don't think Coraline would leave without her precious friends, especially Wybie!" The Beldam reached her long fingers for the boy, grabbing his ear.

Coraline began to race down the steps. She pulled Wybie down the dark corridor and toward the mirror that she was trapped in.

"Let him go!"

The Beldam smiled. "Gladly." Then, she released him, causing the boy to fall into the mirror.

"Wybie!"

She hopped over the railing of the staircase, ignoring the pain that shot through her leg.

"Let him out!"

The Beldam just smirked. "I think he'd quite like his new friend. Or rather, your reformed friend."

Coraline felt her heart drop. Kubo or Norman was in there.

With a shock, she realised something else.

Most of her other friends had also turned.

"What do I have to do for you to let my friends go?"

"Stay here, darling." The Beldam advanced on her. "And be my daughter."

Coraline gulped audibly, "And I need to sew the buttons? Will I become one of your victims?"

The Beldam kept her mouth shut, grinning, "Hmm."

"Are you going to answer me?"

The witch just stalked back to the room where the rest of the children were held. She waved a hand before Eggs Trubshaw, who had his partner restrained. His eyes were glossy, as if he couldn't really see what was before him.

"Looks like your time is up, daughter."

Coraline made to run, but the Beldam tripped her. "Ah, ah, ah . . . Don't play dirty, sweetie."

"What have you done to Eggs, you witch?" Coraline turned her head to Winnie.

"I haven't done anything . . . he just decided to help me."

Coraline had to get somewhere safe. She had to save Wybie and whoever else was in there with him.

Deciding to test her theory, Coraline reached into the mirror. Her hands wrapped around something, no, someone. Deciding not to go too far in, she pulled.

Wybie.

"Th-thanks, Jonesy . . . " He stuttered, obviously scarred.

"What happened to you?" Coraline observed the scratch that had formed on Wybie's cheek.

Her friend shrugged, "Norman's in there."

"Then we've got to help him!"

She lunged, but Wybie held her back. "He's wild. Not sure what's happened."

"I'll get him out first. Then we'll figure out something."

Coraline took a deep breath and stepped into the mirror. It was as dark as she'd remembered. There was a human figure hunched in the 'room', and by the looks of the red hoodie, she knew it was Norman.

She approached slowly. Tapping his shoulder, Coraline whispered, "Norman. Please."

He turned around, and Coraline backed away. His arms were flung out. "This is all your fault!"

"Norman! Calm down! Get ahold of yoursel"

He stumbled backwards. "L-leave! Th-the evil! He'll h-hur-"

He leapt for Coraline.  She dodged.

"I'll be back, okay?"

She turned.

"Coraline."

"Yes?"

"I . . . I remember everything.