The Shimmering

Chapter 1: Regret

Rated: T

A/N: Hi all! It's been a while since I've posted anything. However, I've been working on this for almost exactly a year. I've written a lot of it, including the ending however it's far from finished. Figured I'd start posting it anyway, to give me a kick on the path to actually getting it finished. Enjoy!


Regret.

"Well that's just.. Unexpected.." Wonka's voice quivered, much like a child's, eyes shimmering all shades of blue and violet that expressed an unreadable mix of emotions. Regret tinged his features most, followed by surprise? Dismay? Violet shifted uncomfortably in her mother's tight grip, unnerved by the disarmed chocolatier.

The atmosphere grew tense in the quiet room, silence punctured only by a constant fizzing and bubbling sound that surrounded them.

"I- um, s'pose that means you've won?"

Momentarily forgetting the events that had just passed, Violet grinned up at her mother, searching for indications of approval on her face. Her mother's piercing gaze was trained on Wonka.

"Oh, how wonderful! Violet, you've won! So what's this prize, Mr. Wonka?" Her voice was slightly breathless with greed.

His eyes did not leave Violet. "My entire factory." Came a weak voice.

Another toothy grin, chomping down on a squishy piece of gum that sounded similar to the squeaking of Wonka's gloves as he nervously fidgeted. "I told ya I would win the special prize at the end! So, what, I'm the new owner? How's this thing gonna work?"

He crouched down so that he was level with her. Violet seized up once again as Wonka's eyes met hers. They were the type of eyes that made her want to shrink further into her mother's arms. The type that made her believe he was looking through all of her thoughts, picking out all the rotten ones.

"Are you really gonna leave everything behind and come live with me at the factory?" There was a slight emphasis on the word 'everything'.

Wonka hadn't planned for her to be the winner. He hadn't planned for Charlie and his goshdarn grandfather to 'help themselves' to the fizzy lifting drinks and get themselves trapped on the ceiling. He had planned for her to take the gum, not for her to listen to him. Although he recognized certain parts of her that would undoubtedly be good for business, she was far from what he'd imagined would one day take over the factory. That slight emphasis was his way of giving her the option to leave if she wanted to.

"Live with you?" Squish. Squish. Nose wrinkled and eyes wide as she chewed her gum.

"Yah."

"Mother?" Violet looked up to her grown doppleganger, a frantic expression on her features.

"Uh, little girl.. Yer mother is included on the list of things you hafta leave behind."

Ms. Beauregarde's smile dropped briefly, but it picked up again after a split second. "Oh, Violet! How wonderful! Of course.." Nudge. "..She will come and live with you."

"..Marvelous." Came another weak response. "Well, we best move along. Lotsa stuff to do before the day's out."


"This is yer new room.." Wonka's hands fluttered around the side of his hair again. "Do you like it?"

Violet walked in, scanning the room. There really had been a lot to do before the day was out. Forms to sign, things to prepare and finally a mother to say goodbye to. A mother who looked quite happy to be leaving her in a strange country with a strange man in a strange factory all alone.

The bedroom was a dream come true. Almost like something you'd see on one of those really over the top interior design magazines, but even more spectacular. A bed on top of a platformed structure sat in the centre of the room, with a ladder to go up and a slide to go down. Underneath the platform was an 'office' type area with a desk, whiteboards and a fluffy purple couch. Toys and teddy bears were arranged around the room. Large bookcases that went from the ceiling to the floor. Full length windows, half covered by thick curtains and walls spattered with quirky decorations and paintings. In one corner of the room, there was a telescope to look out at all the stars.

Hesitantly, Violet walked in further and cleared her throat. She had barely uttered a single word since she found out what she was in for. The young girl was overwhelmed by everything. The room, the factory, but it still couldn't distract her from the one thought that was at the forefront of her mind.

"Wonka?" She asked.

"Yah?" He answered too quickly. Violet turned around to look at him, tilting her head to the side as she looked over to the strange man standing in the door frame.

"Why didn't Charlie have a song?"

Wonka's eyes widened slightly, and a sudden giggle burst from his mouth. "Oh, that. I dunno, guess the Oompa Loompas didn't really think anything was wrong with him. Who knows?" His words were pointed, and Violet caught his implications. She glared.

"I'm not stupid, you really think I'd believe that?"

"Maybe. If you're not stupid, then you can go ahead and figure it out for yerself then." His grin widened. Violet felt a thrill of fear, she thought he looked like an alligator right before it snatched up and chomped down on it's prey. He suddenly raised his eyebrows, teeth still fully revealed. "Hungry?"

"No." Violet felt sick.

"Too bad, kiddo. I've already organised a congratulatory dinner. Let's not waste it."

The two made their way to the dining room in the Wonkavator. The room was well-lit, with huge windows that overlooked the vast expanse of nothingness that sat behind the factory.

A long table sat in the middle of the room, with one chair on each end. Wonka sat on one end, and Violet sat on the other. An Oompa Loompa came out and whispered in the Chocolatier's ear, who nodded in response. The Oompa Loompa scurried away. Violet would still have to get used to the sight of tiny little humanoid figures.

Wonka rested his elbows on the table, fingertips resting on each other. He watched Violet with an emotionless expression. The young girl's throat tightened as the realisation that she was really and truly alone with him. The lack of any distractions and dialogue drummed that into her, and she shrank into her seat and squeezed her eyes shut.

I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go home.

The thought repeated in her head, as if it would come true if she said it enough. Click her heels three times, and be magically transported home.

She opened her eyes. Nope, she was definitely not home. The chocolatier across from her now wore a slight smirk.

"I'm not the enemy, Violet. You are free to stay, or leave, as you please."

Violet inhaled deeply. She couldn't leave. She knew she couldn't. Not on his account, but her own. She was far too proud for a bit of fear to get to her. She had been in many competitions, won countless trophies and awards, but she was no stranger to anxiety and fear. The only difference was that she had an adult to guide (or push her forcefully) through that fear to get to the prize. Violet was on her own now, so she'd need to give herself that push.

"I'll stay."