Coraline X Reader

The Game

The candle casts huge, flickering shadows along the wall. The cat, his voice returned, speaks to her. "You know, you're walking right into her trap." "I have to go back. They are my family." She said. "Challenge her. She may not play fair but she won't refuse. She's got a thing for games." (Y/n) thinks about it.

"Hmmm, okay." The door at the end of the tunnel opens, the candle blows out and the cat vanishes in the dark. (Y/n) tenses when a voice calls out. "(Y/n)?" "Mom?" She asked. "(Y/n), you came back for us!" "MOM!" (Y/n) runs forward eagerly and her arms out to hug her Mom. "Darling." Her voice shifts. "Why would you run away from me?" (Y/n) sees her mother's hand grow as it wraps around her. Alarmed, she pushes away and sees the mom grow into the tall Other Mother. The room lights up with the glowing bug furniture and a fireplace fire. (Y/n) tries her best to be brave. "Where is my family?" She demanded.

The Tall Other Mother's button eyes glitter. "Gosh, I have no idea where your "old" parents and twin are. Perhaps they've grown bored of you and run away to France?" She asked. "They weren't bored of me. You stole them!" Other Father, a foot shorter than before, his sagging face a pale pumpkin color, his hair vines, comes up behind (Y/n). "Now, don't be difficult, (Y/n). Have a seat, won't you?" Other Father, gurgling happily, herds (Y/n) onto the walking bug chair. The Tall Other Mother, standing by the little door, turns to it and claps her hands. A moment later,

a huge rat skitters out of the tunnel filled again with spider webs and children's things, carrying the key. The Tall Other Mother takes the key, locks the door, and while the armoire bug assumes guard position, she swallows the key. "Why don't you have your own key?" (Y/n) asked. "Only one key-" The Other Mother pulls a vine growing from his ear, shutting his mouth. "The garden squash needs tending, don't you think, pumpkin She turns him around, her hands under his arms and drags him out.

"Squish squash, pumpkin sauce... " (Y/n) hears the very faint sound of a finger on glass, just like when her twin wrote HELP on the mirror. (Y/n) jumps to her feet, looking around the room for a sign of her them. "Sis, Mom, Dad, where'd she hide you?" A muffled screen door slams and Other Mother calls to her from the kitchen. "Breakfast time!" (Y/n) leaves the room. She pauses in the doorway. 'Be strong, (Y/n).' She sits at the kitchen table in her regular place, her back to the sink. Other Mother, humming happily,

prepares a mushroom omelet and bacon. Fragrant cinnamon buns bake in the oven. At the table's center, (Y/n) sees the box with her button eyes with needle and thread. A bead of sweat rolls down her forehead. "Why don't we play ... a game? I know you like them." The Other Mother's button eyes flash. "Everybody likes games." She replied. (Y/n) nods. "Uh huh." Bacon sizzles on the stove. "What kind of game would it be?" "An exploring game ... a finding things game." (Y/n) said. Other Mother tries to act disinterested, but her fingers drum with excitement. "And what is it you'd be finding, (Y/n)?" She hesitates.

"My twin and real parents." She said. "Too easy." She folds the omelet over in the pan. "And, and the eyes of the ghost children." Other Mother smiles: now it's getting interesting. "Huh." The meal ready, she turns from the stove and takes the food to (Y/n). "What if you don't find them?" She asked. "If I lose, I'll stay here with you forever and let you love me. And I'll let you sew buttons into my eyes." (Y/n) said. "Hmmm... And if you somehow win this game?" Other Mother asked. "Then you let me go. You let everyone go, my twin sister, my real father and mother, the dead children, everyone you've trapped here."

The Other Mother smiles a malicious not in a million years smile. She holds out her hand. (Y/n) doesn't take it. "Not till you give me a clue." Other Mother snorts, her smile sours. She slowly circles (Y/n). "Oh, right... In each of three wonders I've made just for you, a ghost's eye is lost in plain sight." She said. "And for my twin and parents?" (Y/n) asked. Other Mother stands behind her in front of the sink, smiles wickedly and starts tapping her button eye with her finger nail. "Fine, don't tell me." (Y/n) turns away from her and crosses her arms. Then sighs. (Y/n) turns around and puts her hand out. "...it's a deal—" But the Other Mother has disappeared and the tapping now is the faucet dripping in the sink. (Y/n) exhales, walks to the sink, stares at the dripping faucet.