The Cat was back.
And somewhere within the house.
Her abilities were far more superior than she'd thought, if Coraline could feel the magic of the Other World, like a partially slumbering beast. She could feel any presence of life, real or fabricated, that was in the world with her.
"You didn't hurt him, did you?"
"Of course not, darling. I was a ghost for the past year."
Coraline just nodded. "I know. I never acknowledged you because I was traumatised by what you had done to me. I could still understand the Cat."
"I wouldn't dream of hurting your friend . . . "
"But there was no issue with kidnapping my parents." The Beldam grinned evilly.
Coraline began feeling a little dizzy. Had the Beldam drugged her?
"You want to take his place? Go ahead."
Coraline stumbled up the stairs, rushing into the bedroom. There, she collapsed onto the bed. Her head pounded, as Coraline struggled to focus. Her vision swam as she blinked furiously. She was sick to her stomach as she leaned over the side of the bed and vomited.
"I'm going to rest!" Coraline called down to her 'Mother'.
Then, Coraline fell asleep.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Coraline sneezed as she awoke. She hoped it was all a dream.
No way would she have returned to the Other World.
But the room around her was pink, and not the wallpaper of her room back home. "Ugh, I hate pink."
The only message it conveyed was that she was still in the Other World.
She heard a soft meow.
"Cat! You're here!" Coraline whisper-exclaimed. The Beldam probably thought she was still sleeping. The Cat nodded.
"You can talk, you know."
The Cat gestured to the open window, and the tree trunk that bent in such an awkward manner.
Coraline picked him up, "Great thinking!"
With that, the girl climbed up the ledge and out the window.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Her boots thudded as she hit the floor.
She had to find a way to leave the Other World. But how?
She could feel several presences, apart from her, the Cat, the Beldam, and her artificial creations. No, this energy, these essences - they felt real.
She walked away from the house.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Jonesy?"
"Wybie?"
~Flashback~
"Wybie?"
She pried his hands away from his face, as the Wybie who couldn't speak shielded his face. She gasped. His face was sewn to give him a permanent, forced smile. She wondered how much it hurt.
"Did she do this to you?"
He didn't respond to the question. Tugging on the seams, she pulled the thread out. Other Wybie relaxed his face.
YOU ARE READING
Twisted Fates
FanfictionIt has been a year since the incident with the Beldam, otherwise known as the Other Mother, and Coraline Jones has been living peacefully with her parents. They have chosen to move out of the Pink Palace Apartments and into the countryside as Corali...
