Coraline's Nightmare: Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Into the Spider's Web
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As Coraline watched the denizens of Halloween Town gather around and praise Jack, though they gave her some thanks as well, the teen knew that their endeavor was far from over. Oogie's shadow announced not too long ago that its creator is in Christmas Town and the Christmas Door was nowhere to be found in Halloween Town. Having searched all over the town, Coraline's stomach turned sour as she made a pretty good guess on where the door was: in the possession of the Other Mother.

Looking at the key in her hand, Coraline knew that there was no other choice but to return to the Other World, find the Christmas door and the items the latest ghost child told her about, and get out with the Other Mother locked inside once again. For even if they defeat Oogie first, it won't be enough with the Beldam still capable of walking freely from her world and into the holiday realms and, to a frightening extent, the mortal world.

But the question is…where was the Other World's door? The teen knew that if anyone would know, it would be some of the oldest residents of Halloween Town. Amongst the praise and cheers of the creatures of the town, Coraline forced herself to approach the Vampire Brothers once more. Clearing her quivering throat, she managed to gain the attention of the elder of the four brothers, whom then acknowledge her warmly…for a vampire.

"Ah, young Coraline. I see that you have an important question to ask us."

Coraline nodded as the other brothers turned towards her in attention.

"Yes, I do. We-as in Jack and I- know that Oogie is in Christmas Town and I have a feeling I know where the last holiday door is. And I was hoping you can tell me the location of where this place was."

"And what place is that, young mortal?" The second eldest brother asked.

Coraline answered grimly.

"The door…to the Beldam's world. I believe that if anyone has the Christmas door, it's her."

The vampires became sympathetic to Coraline's plight, not doubting that the human had a past with the most twisted of all witches. The eldest brother spoke again.

"We do know where the door is. But even if you were to find it, you cannot get in without the key."

Coraline showed the brothers the button key that she took from the Trio and spoke.

"I got this off of Lock, Shock, and Barrel just before I got separated from Jack back on the Mayor's rooftop."

The brothers inspected the key after Coraline handed it to them, all four of them familiar with the little key.

"This is indeed the one our late king imprisoned her with." The youngest vampire brother replied.

"I'd never thought I'd see the wretched thing again, yet here it is." The second youngest brother spoke.

"None of us thought to see it. But with her scuttling around Halloween Town causing such havoc with Oogie, it shouldn't be a surprise that we should see it at least once." The third youngest brother spoke.

"But what happened to its mate?" The eldest brother asked.

Coraline answered that with a proud smirk.

"It's at the bottom of a very deep well."

The vampires showed faces of approval at Coraline's choice of disposal of the second key.

"Wise choice, little one. Once this is all over, we suggest you do the same with this key." The second eldest replied.

"I agree, but I need to use it at least one more time." Coraline answered, grim once again.

Knowing that both their current king and the mortal would have to face her eventually, the Vampire brothers agreed to divulge the location of the door.

"Before the events of last year, we vampire brothers knew of the Holiday Grove, but not of the holidays they contained. But it is in the center of this grove that the door to her web is located. Far from the delightful darkness of Halloween Town, past the graveyard and Spiral Hill, the Hinterlands hold the door. Jack can take you there, but we advise that you come up with a plan of attack. For it is certain that She would not fall for the same trick twice." They spoke in unison.

Coraline agreed. After what happened four years ago, the Other Mother would be wise not to be lured into another game with Coraline. Of course, last time she was fighting for her life, the ghost children, and her parents. Now, it was for the residents of all the Holidays and her life.

"I'll have to think of something else, then. I've already used her love of games against her four years ago. I'll have to find another weakness."

The Vampire Brothers immediately took notice at Coraline's constant use of the word "I" and immediately did not like where this was going.

Coraline Jones was going to challenge the Beldam…alone.

"Child. We do not advise that you should face her on your own. If anything, you should bring Jack with you." One of the brothers advised.

Coraline didn't say anything. While what the vampire brothers said was true, Coraline was the only one she knew who had been to the Other Mother's web and escaped. If anyone had a chance against her, it was Coraline.

If Jack's late father was still around, then maybe she could ask him for advice.

At least she had an adviser hidden somewhere.

Once Coraline left the presence of the vampire brothers, she turned her attention to the town gate. It was there that she saw Sally, who was motioning for her to come. Making sure no one was watching, she approached the ragdoll.

"Sally?"

"Walk with me." The ragdoll replied.

Curious, Coraline followed Sally out of town and into the graveyard. Once they were amongst the tombstones, Coraline spoke.

"Is everything alright?"

Sally looked up to the golden moon that hung in the sky, a small gust of wind blowing.

"You are going to confront the Beldam, right?"

A moment of silence passed between the two before the teenager spoke.

"I have to. The child in the latest eye told me that she has the Christmas door. If we are going to go to Christmas Town, I have to go."

"And Jack?" Sally asked.

"He's not coming." Coraline answered bluntly. "If anything, he should stay away from her. It's not just me she wants revenge on. If she's like I think she is, she wants revenge on Halloween Town's former king and she will get it through Jack. Which is why I'm going alone on this."

Another deafening silence was exchanged between the two before Sally gave a sigh.

"Then you should have this."

She then approached Coraline with a canteen and a covered package.

"Something for your travels. But I have to warn you. The Hinterlands, where the Holiday Doors were supposed to be, is like a maze. Just keep going straight and you will reach them."

"Alright." Coraline spoke. "Anything else I need to watch out for?"

"Only that in order to even reach the Hinterlands, you must enter the graveyard and climb Spiral Hill. When you reach the peak of the hill, just keep walking and it will grant you passage." Sally answered.

Coraline wondered what the ragdoll meant by that, but just let it go for now. Time was running out.

"Ok. Thank you, Sally. For everything. And could you tell Jack I'll see him soon…at the grove?"

Sally nodded as Coraline headed off in the direction she had pointed to. As the blue-haired figure disappeared into the night, Sally spoke once more to the wind.

"Good luck, Coraline."
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Coraline headed down the path she had taken before until she reached a gate she never crossed. Looking ahead, she saw a surprising sight. A spiral-shaped hill silhouetting in the golden moonlight.

"That must be the hill Sally told me." Coraline muttered.

Her hands touched the icy-cold iron as she moved it forward, a new path opened to her. She thought about changing her mind and waiting for Jack. But logic proved to be a better argument as she walked down the new path alone. At least until she heard a meow.

Looking down, she saw the Cat walking at her right, much like that day so long ago.

"And what do you think you're doing." The Cat asked with his usual snarky remark.

Walking, Coraline spoke to him.

"Well…I'm going back. What we need to get into Christmas Town is in the Other World. Where she is. I have to get them and get out as quickly as I can. Then I can finish what I had done back then."

"You do realize that there is a very slim chance she will fall for the same tricks twice? Do you even have a plan?" the Cat asked her.

Keeping her gaze on Spiral Hill, she relayed Plan A.

"Well, Plan A is to sneak in, find the door and those objects, and get out before she even knows I'm there. Once I'm out, I lock the door behind her."

"And if she's there, waiting for you?"

"Then Plan B." Coraline responded as she lifted up the arm her Soul Robber rested on.

She may no longer have her sickle, but at least she was still armed. She had observed Jack using his Soul Robber to fight off the monsters and flung her own around a bit for some practice. She got a great amount of practice in the underground caverns, but not much in a real fight. The closest was the spider monster where the Holiday Leaders were imprisoned.

But she knew the Other Mother won't go down without a fight.

It was then that she took notice at how empty the cemetery was, save for the gravestones that littered the place.

"That's weird. Shouldn't there be monsters here, too?" Coraline asked.

The Cat, using his senses, looked around as he kept up with Coraline.

"I don't smell them. But even if I did, there is no doubt they won't attack you."

"But why?" Coraline asked.

"Because they know who really created them. And if they disobey her…" the Cat trailed off, not that Coraline needed to know what he was talking about.

"So…that means she knows I'm coming. Or at least anticipates it. She wants to deal with me personally."

Nothing came from the Cat's mouth this time.

"What about when Jack comes by?"

The Cat then gave his own inkling on the probability.

"Most likely they will still attack him. Oogie wants vengeance on him, as well, for what the king did last year. She targets you because you were the only one who inflicted the most damage upon her. You took her hand. You closed off her only exit. You tore down her web."

"I basically destroyed her…or came close to doing so." Coraline finished. "The former King of Halloween Town may have exiled her, but I cut off her food source. I was starving her to death."

"And now she wants retribution for such agonizing pain. If she succeeds, she will relish greatly as she consumes your life." The Cat spoke.

Reaching the hill, Coraline walked up the hill to the hilltop. From there she could see the area around her. She could see Halloween Town to the north, the Graveyard between her and the town. She could even see the glow of the giant jack-o-lantern in Behemoth's pumpkin patch. And ahead of her she saw a thick forest of dead trees.

The Hinterlands.

Remembering what Sally had told her, Coraline walked forward on the hill, praying that she would not fall and impale herself on the iron fence below. To her amazement, as she moved forward, the hill uncurled for her before connecting with the soil in front of the timberland.

"Wow! This is fantas-tonishing!" she exclaimed as she held out her arms to keep her balance.

For the first time in a while, she was enjoying the strangeness of the Holiday Realms. Granted, there were some high points to her adventure, but never had she witnessed since the appearance of the trees near the Pink Palace the landscape becoming alive before her. Were it not for the monsters, Oogie, and the Other Mother coming after her and her friend, she would probably be exploring the entire area for such wonders.

But she had a mission to complete.

Once her feet touched the ground, she turned back as the Cat did the same. To her surprise, the hill began coiling back into its original spiral shape.

"Guess we'll have to find another way back." Coraline spoke as she let the Cat climb into her bag.

She then walked on into the Hinterlands, following the directions Sally had given her.

"Go straight. Just keep going straight."
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The passage of time became a blur as she walked on. Nothing but the sounds of the night creatures filled the air. Even with what the Cat had told her earlier, Coraline was still wary. With every step, she kept anticipating an attack. No surprise there. Ever since she got to Halloween Town she had been beset by monsters with little rest.

Aside from the nocturnal animals, the silence irritated her. She wasn't a psychologist, but she knew that it was human nature to fear the unknown. And what better way to empathized that fear than with silence. With each step she took, the fear grew. She knew what was ahead of her. She knew what she had to do.

What she didn't know was if she was going to succeed and survive, or fail and die.

"There." She heard the Cat whisper.

Her gaze cast onto a familiar set of trees. The difference was that there were empty shaped holes in them. She couldn't fill them since Jack had the Holiday Doors in his possession, save one. It was then she noted the one unfamiliar tree in the center of the grove. On it was a single black button.

The Door to the Other World.

A part of Coraline wanted to run away and get Jack. But there was no turning back. It would take too long to get Jack and bring him back. By then, who knows what Oogie would do to the leader of Christmas?

She reached into the bag and pulled out the key. Her gaze returned to the door as she muttered to the Cat.

"Be prepared. We're going back in."

She figured the Cat would follow her back. Might as well give him a hand.

As she walked to the door, her heart began to beat even faster with each step. The nightmare she experienced four years ago came flooding back through her memories. How the dream world she had found deteriorated within three days into what it really was.

Coraline shook her head back to the present. No way was she going to fail. Everyone was counting on her to get that Christmas Door. Jack and Sally were counting on her. She had to succeed.

Soon she found herself three feet in front of the door. In the center, she could see the keyhole thanks to the light of the moon. Taking in a deep breath, she inserted the key and turned. The click sounded off that it was in position and ready to be opened. She then pulled on the turned key and opened the door. To make sure she didn't repeat the same mistake she did as a kid, Coraline removed the key and put it back in her bag.

She then peered inside the tree and jumped in.

The inside of the tree as she fell resembled the tunnel that led to the Other World from her apartment. Well, when she had to find her parents. There were broken toys and cobwebs everywhere. She was still unsure what was it that kept her from plummeting to her end, but she didn't care now. All she cared about was what she was here for.

She landed gently at the bottom and saw a familiar-looking small door. It was the same door she came through as a child. Looking above, she developed a theory.

"Maybe depending on where the outer door is open is the tunnel like this…"

Kneeling down, she turned the knob and crawled through into a very familiar setting. One that reminded her of home greatly.

She was in her web once more.
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Meanwhile in Halloween Town…

Jack was used to being thanked this way. It happened every time when they had a successful Halloween. The countless praise, the adoration, the celebratory cries of the townsfolk. But while he was happy Halloween Town was free from Oogie and the Beldam, they were far from safe.

No. The only way for that to happen is if both Oogie Boogie and the Beldam were defeated. Once and for all.

As the crowd dispersed, he noticed that Coraline was not among the crowd. But before he could investigate, he heard a strange sound. At first he thought it was the wind. But as he listened, he realized that wasn’t the wind.

It was whispers.

Following the sound despite the noisy townsfolk, Jack found where the sound was coming from: the Town Hall. Curious and wondering if Coraline was there, Jack entered the building. Inside he found the meeting place of Halloween Town spotless and repaired in comparison to what he had seen in the morning.

“The townspeople must have fixed the place up while I was traveling with Coraline.” Jack muttered to himself as he began to walk down the aisle.

With each step, the sound of the whispers grew, but there was still no trace of Coraline.

“Curious. Where could she be?”

Jack followed the sound until he found himself backstage. It was here that the whispers became coherent.

“Please… Please help…”

Jack scanned the entire backstage, hoping to find the source of the sound. He paced up and down the stage until he got to the back wall. There, on the floor, was a grate. Used normally for ventilation during the colder days. Was it possible? Despite not having any ears, Jack placed the side of his skull to the vent and listened.

“Help me…. Please…”

There it was again. The sound. It sounded like a child’s voice. Looking around, Jack found a candle and, using his Pumpkin King form, lit the candle. He then removed the vent’s grate and held the candle aloft. Inside amongst the dust and tiny debris was a tiny object that shone in the light.

“Get me out of here! Please!” the object begged, flashing a soft green as it did.

Jack realized what it was. It was an eye. But before he could do anything, he heard a new sound. The sound of something pitter-pattering on metal. This was followed by a new sound. A frightening sound.

There will be a little tussle,
You will topple from your throne!
We will nibble on the muscle,
We will nibble on the bone!

A foreboding chill ran up Jack’s spine as he heard that. He didn’t know what it was, but one thing was for sure: he needed to get the eye out. Jack shot his arm into the vent and grabbed the item before feeling a series of painful sensations on his arm. He pulled his arm out to find his arm covered in disgusting rats. The rats’ glowing red eyes glared at him as they bite at his hand, wanting him to drop his prize.

We have teeth and we have nerves-es,
We have tails and we have teeth,
You’ll all get what you deserve-es
When we rise from UNDERNEATH!

As the creepy rat chorus sang their creepy tune, a horde of rats exploded from the vent and charged at Jack. Thinking quick, Jack remembered that he had not reverted from his Pumpkin King form, called upon his fire to burst, quickly roasting the rats on his arm and the ones that were charging him. Jack then used his fire breath to burn the remaining rats back from whence they came.
Once the sounds of the rats had been silenced, Jack reverted to his old self and looked at what was in his hand. Upon closer examination, Jack saw that the item was a Cat’s Eye marble with vanes of teal, turquoise, and cyan inside.

After he cleaned off the dust to get a better look, the marble flashed and a figure appeared before him. It was a child. A boy no older than 9, dressed in a cream-colored shirt, dirty brown overalls, and boots.  The boy had a newspaper boy’s hat on his head and a bag of what Jack assumed was marbles in his pocket. Do doubt that this boy was from the Depression era, Jack thought.

But what caught Jack’s eyes the most were the button eyes sown where the boy’s eyes should be.
Another victim of the Beldam, no doubt.

The boy tilted his hat upwards, smiling softly.

“Thank you for saving me from those rats, sir. If you hadn’t come along, they would have taken me back to Her.”

Jack didn’t smile, but he didn’t frown, either. Coraline was the one who saw these children. To see the Beldam’s handiwork for himself was unnerving. Did his father witness these poor victims when the Beldam was brought in for her trial?

“Why were you in that vent?” Jack managed to ask, uncertain on what to do.

The boy looked to the grate, his body shaking in fear.

“The Beldam gave my eye to that shadow. Said that I would give him power and form. When you defeated him, he dropped the marble, my favorite in life, my eye in death; and it rolled into some fallen beams. I was swept into the vent unknowingly.”

Jack didn’t say anything. In truth, he pitied the poor boy. His life, reduced to this. Who knew what he would have been had he grown up. Now, he was all but forgotten. Dust to sweep away.
Looking at the marble, Jack spoke.

“Well, you’re safe now. I have a friend who is finding others like you. She’s the one who will set you free.”

The boy looked up at Jack, his covered eyes displaying a renewed emotion: hope.

“You mean… You mean I can finally be with my true mother?”

Jack nodded, struggling to hide his sadness.

“Yes, my boy. You will be with her soon.”

With that, the boy smiled and faded away. As he did, the marble’s light faded until it looked like an ordinary marble again.

Jack’s hand shook in both sadness and anger. He didn’t understand what the Beldam did as a child.

But now as an adult and having seen one of these victims, he felt banishment was too light of a punishment for the Beldam.

Clutching the marble, he decided to find Coraline and give the item to her.

Quest was...where was she?

Unbeknownst to Jack, Coraline was entering the spider’s web once more.