Disclaimer: All the characters in Coraline belong to Neil Gaiman, Wybie belongs to Henry Selick, and Wybie shows off his "motor" bike.

Wybie's House

Coraline never tasted lemon flavored cookies before. At first the thought of the bitter sour tasting fruit flavored cookies sounded unappetizing. But since Wybie assured her, she ended up popping one of the miniature lemon shaped cookies that Wybie's Grandmother made into her mouth. The flavor was buttery with a citrus taste, almost like lemonade - only in a cookie form. Needless to say, Coraline found herself frequently going back for more.

With a handful of lemon cookies Coraline followed Wybie as he gave her the "grand tour" of his home. The houses furniture was worn and comfortable, the complete opposite of her deceased grandmother's furniture. She'd seen his attic, (bats & all) where he kept his telescope, and then down to his basement which reminded her of a cave, and where Slug-zilla resided. Coraline liked Wybie's house, including his mother's old room and office where they weren't allowed. They went in his grandmother's bed room with the pretty stained glass window - it was a picture of beauty and the beast. The house was bigger than it looked and so there was much to explore. Finally they ended up in Wybie's room where Coraline sat down on a bean cushion.

Wybie was sitting on his bed going through his book bag and pulled out two fruit flavored juice boxes and handed her one. Coraline in return gave him half the cookies still in her hand. The two sat enjoying their snack as Coraline looked around the room. I was big, much bigger than hers, and had a small TV in the corner of the room. There was a desk complete with chair that had dusty text books piled on it, an unmade bed, two bean chairs, a dresser, and a PS2 game console. Motorcycle and rock band posters covered over whatever paint or wallpaper there was. If you really paid attention to detail there were miniature basketball hoops on all the trash bins, which were surrounded by missed shots. With the exception that there was a classical and rather expensive looking light fixture that hung from the ceiling, it was the typical messy bedroom of a ten year old boy.

"So, Coraline what do you think of my pad."

"I don't know, I never thought you were much of a frog."

Both children broke into laughter at the silly joke. Finishing off her juice and cookies, Coraline made a slam dunk in one of the trash bins, while Wybie had to go pick up his missed shot.

"Now what should we do?"

"Hmm, I could show you my motorcycle."

"You have a motorcycle?"

"Well, Grandma classifies it as a moped, you know, a bike with an engine. But I like to think it's the real thing."

"Cool, I'd love to see it!"

Getting up Coraline followed Wybie down the stairs, though his living room, passed the kitchen, and out into his back yard. Outside a short distance from the house was a small work shed. Walking over to it, Wybie unlocked and opened the rusty door revealing a beat up old red bike with an uncovered motor in between the seat and handlebars. Next to that and further in the back was another bike, only that one was a dirty red dirt bike. Wybie brought the moped out of the shed. It looked like one of those old 50's bikes and had a crudely strapped motor to the center of it.

"Well, this is it. Isn't she a beauty! This used to be my grandfathers; he put the motor on before he died. But I fixed all the welds by myself."

"Whoa, that's amazing! Um, but what's with the one back there?"

Coraline pointed to the back of the shed and Wybie's face instantly lit up.

"Oh, that's the dirt bike I'm working on! I bought it for five bucks two years ago from a high school kid down the road. I've been fixing it up ever since."

"Does it run?"

"No, not yet. I don't know what the problem is, so I can get it started. Other than that it's done. Hey, want to go for a ride on my motorcycle?"

"You mean your moped? I guess so, just don't tell my mom ok. I already got in trouble for hoping our property border."

Coraline enjoyed the ride around Wybie's house, it was fast, exciting, and she was sure that if her mother had seen her she'd have been in a whole new world of trouble. When the ride was over and the bike stopped Coraline had been so focused on not falling off she'd forgotten to let go of Wybie. This in turn caused his normal fluid dismount from his bike to be one where he ended up on his rear. Coraline had followed suit but had landed on top of him, squishing him even further into the hard gravel road. Sitting up Coraline looked down at her new friend, their eyes meet for a moment, and then in a hurry they were both up off the ground faces turned to hide their blush. Wybie put his bike away and telling his grandmother he was going over to Coraline's, the walk to her house was silent.

Reaching the porch they passed Mrs. Spink and Mrs. Forcible taking their dogs for a walk. They waved at the two old actresses as they whispered and giggled with one another eyeing her and Wybie. Coraline could only wonder why they would be blushing while they did so. Who knew maybe they found some nice old navy men they met at their last bingo? Taking Wybie's hand Coraline lead him around there house, she wanted to show him her garden that she'd use in the future. Mister Bobo was out stretching his legs when the two walked past him.

"Hello, Coraline. Lovely day isn't it."

"Yes it is Mister Bobo. No fog for once."

"Wybie? My goodness I haven't seen you in ages. Just look how you've grown!"

"Heh, thanks Mister Bobo."

"Oh, Coraline. The mice say that you should check the well, or whatever that means. Silly, why would a little girl want to check a well? Oh well, I best be going. The mice have finally started to perform together!"

Coraline watched Mister Bobo happily climb up the stairs to his flat. Not taking her wide eyes off him. Just before the old circus performer entered his home he turned around and looked over the balcony at her and Wybie.

"I forgot! The mice also wanted to congratulate you on your new relationship! Good day, Coraline! Good luck, Wybie!"

Now both Coraline and Wybie stood staring wide eyed at the spot where Mister Bobo yelled down at them. A cool wind blew past the two and Wybie cough trying to ease whatever tension filled the air. Soon the silence was broken as Coraline rushed over to the boarded up well. She heard Wybie follow her as she slid to a stop on the edge of the boards. There sitting patiently was Cat.

"Cat, the key!"

Cat only blinked once. It was his way of speaking to her; two blinks for no, one blink for yes.

"A-and the h-hand?"

Another lone blink, another yes.

"Coraline what's going on?"

"Wybie, I think something bad has happened."

"W-What? What do you mean? Someone didn't fall down the well or something?"

"No, no. Worse! Something came out of the well! And with the key!"

"Coraline, what are you talking about?"

"I'll explain later. Cat, come on, Mom and Dad aren't home yet."

"C-Coraline, please tell me what's going on!"

Coraline felt his hand on her arm stopping her from entering the house. Turning around she looked directly at Wybie.

"I. I'll tell you as we go, ok Wybie. But right now I got to go see if something very bad has happened."

"Well, then I'm coming with you!"

"Wybie…"

The boy in front of her put on a pout and still yet managed to look determined. She'd only know Wybie for a few hours and already he was willing to follow her into the unknown. Her eyes softened as she took his hand. Walking into her house she began to explain the secret adventure she'd had no more than a month ago. She was sure that Wybie would think she was making it up, or he'd not want to be friends with her after this. So it was a bit of a surprise when after she'd finished her tale that he didn't looked freaked out at all.

"That explains a lot actually."

"Y-you mean, you believe me?"

"Yeah, it makes since. I heard stories about this place you know. That's why my grandma never wanted me to come over here."

"You got in trouble?"

Wybie nodded, and Coraline felt guilty. He was risking getting in trouble for even being in her house and now she was going to take him into that horrible Other World with her? She couldn't do that.

"Wybie, maybe you should go home…"

"No way! Ever since I met you Coraline, nothing has been this fun!"

"Wybie! This isn't going to be fun!" She turned away from him. They were now in the room where it all started. Everything was the same, none of the furniture had been moved, and the only thing that was touched was the door to other world.

It was open, and Wybie was just inches from the spear of light that spread from the passage way. Before Coraline could say anything, a hand – one paper white and bony – grabbed Wybie's coat sleeve. With a horrifying scream from them both Coraline watched as Wybie was pulled into the tiny corridor, and with an echoing thump the door closed. Coraline was left alone in the room. Cat who had gone to search for her special rock had come into the room to find her crying on the floor. When the feline pawed at her arm she turned to look at him and then towards the door. The cat understood her gesture.

The Beldam was back, and now she had something she could use against Coraline: Wybie.