It's been awhile since I've posted, trying to juggle real-life responsibilities, trying to work against writer's block as I am participating in this year's FMA BigBang challenge, and just in general trying to get my writing flow going.

Halloween is looming over us, and I thought it would be fitting to at least post another chapter of a story that's been a fun idea in my mind a few months ago. Inspiration can find its oddest origins and I hope this horror-themed interpretation is well received.


Journal date, September 5th, 2007. Madeleine, Coco, Rocky, and I are about to embark on a mystery that not even the cops are too concerned with. The mysterious case of Bucket and Wonka vanishing off the face of the earth. I mean, whoever this person is just has to hate candy that much. Heck, I feel bad for people are allergic to chocolate or similar sweets, but this is just insane. We aren't too sure where to go from here, but I think Madeleine is pretty intent on interviewing Violet and Mike. Word is that the two are in a relationship, but of course we don't know how deep that relationship goes. Like with anything, gotta do a little bit of digging and interrogation to get what we need. I just hope nothing bad comes out of this. It would be nice to see who the perpetrator is, but I don't want anyone to get hurt. I know I can be a little reckless, but I'm gonna make sure my friends aren't reckless.

/

For the past couple of days, Madeleine and the others wanted to try to focus their energy on gathering the materials necessary for the crime of the century. Coco sent out a message to Mike, he was actually in her chemistry course, to try to talk to him about a "class assignment." Rocky and Madeleine went by their uncles, whom both were retired cops and totally believed their story, to grab some "special" items. A couple of knives and smoke grenades most young adults could handle.

They all wanted to spring right into the fray, but it was more important to get the evidence. The interviews with Violet and Mike could reveal something even the others weren't aware about.

More and more students just carried on their day like nothing happened. Chip was up to his studies and journaling in the library. As much as he enjoyed putting himself out there in front of his friends, to get them to laugh, even he needed to ground himself back into reality. Writing was one of his biggest passions, something he could pour everything he loved dearly into physical form.

Words painted across his documents, he wanted to desperately journal more but even the due date for his sociology paper loomed over him. Ugh, this is a death paper. I don't want to do this at all. Stress lines and dark circles were on his face, the past few days for Chip weren't the easiest. As much as he wanted to stay on top of his work, Chip wasn't exactly the best at handling pressure which is why he found himself investigating online.

Suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder with a strong grip. The lack of sleep caused him to have a mild freak-out. "GAH! You don't grab people like that."

He nearly clocked Madeleine in the face.

"Sorry Chip, normally I'd give you a little bit more notice, but look at this article that both Coco and I found while doing some digging."

Across the newspaper article read, VERUCA SALT, HEIRESS OF SALT AND NUTS EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES.

"Wait a minute, the bitchiest of the kids expressing condolences? Sounds like an oxymoron. I mean, even other articles I've found about her talk how ruthless and cold she is. I mean, don't get me wrong, she does get business done where her father couldn't, but yikes she could lead an army with that face." He had such a confused look on his face, he wanted to cry. "Seriously, it's almost as if she thinks Wonka and Bucket are already dead."

"Huh, why do you say that Chip?"

"Well, think about it. If Veruca so desperately wanted to get that chocolate factory, like she did a few years ago when the news broadcasted her being the third person finding the golden ticket. Except, she must've been that much of a brat to get her just desserts and Charlie was the one to get it all in the end. Something tells me, each of the kids who went in there had something happen to them to change their tune. Violet used to be so prideful about everything, but over the past few years she's been very reserved." Articles plastered Chip's monitor, photos showed how Augustus changed as a kid to an adult was quite drastic. "Huh, looks like August went from being the fat kid to someone who tries to stay in some kind of shape. He talks about during his experience with Wonka's factory how eye opening he let himself go. He's traveled quite a bit giving lectures about self-image acceptance. He could probably go toe to toe with Veruca's ruthless business tactics." Chip continued to scavenge the wide web for anything about the original five. Although, trying to find anything about Violet was nearly impossible.

Until one obnoxious click from Chip's mouse found something rather particular about Violet. "Well then." He spoke softly, almost at a loss of words.

The glare on the monitor wouldn't let the leader get a good glimpse of it. "Well what?"

"Looks like Ms. Beauregard did write about her experience in some way in one of her e-books. Not that it gained a whole lot of traction, but in her story she notes how she almost felt a prisoner in her own body. She wants her character to realize the choices she makes and ultimately, faces a life or death situation with what the character's body experiences. I don't know if I would call this some sort of epiphany or something, but I think Violet is trying to tell us to be careful if we go into the factory."

Green eyes scanned some of the passages, phrases like "I had a choice to make things right, but my pride got in the way" or "Every part of me wanted to swim away, but I couldn't" just punched Madeleine in the gut. It was almost as if the gum chewer made a choice for the better, but it had its own consequences.

"Chip, we can try to dissect every sentence for whatever meaning the reader gets, but we need to talk to her and Mike ASAP. If there is something in that factory that can change people and Veruca is the mastermind behind it all, we have to be the ones to stop her." There were papers with scribbles and doodles that Chip try to draw out, but a heavily circled container from the Salt Factory peaked the leader's interest.

"Before we go, Chip, why do you have that shipment circled? Do you think she's trying to smuggle Wonka and Charlie?"

"No, I don't think she's smuggling humans. However, recently her stocks had a boost in sales as soon as she had a couple of shipments of Wonka's chocolate so she could make her chocolate covered nuts. Whatever chocolate she was using before wasn't exactly popular with the crowd, a lot of people used to complain that the chocolate was just bitter. Not even a bitter that let's say the average Joe might like, but when you bite into it it's just blech. This was just before Wonka and Charlie disappeared."

This was just alarming; Veruca wasn't always subtle with her business strategies. Which it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but she'd make her competition know that she was there. The Salt Factory was not afraid to tackle its competitors and critics head on, both literally and online. The ruthless brat would be more than willing to write a scathing piece or if someone crossed with her, a quick punch changed things pretty quickly.

However, Chip needed to make sure he'd get a passing grade in his course. "Maddie, I think we may have a lead somewhere, but I gotta focus on this paper. My professor 'says' that this will help for our final paper which is only a month or so away. I just…" his words trailed, anxiety starting to overtake him. His breathing changed to a more rapid pace, eyes twitching.

"Chip, you'll do fine. Just remember, even in the end, it's just a paper and you've wowed your professors before. Don't let this one thing hinge your whole life on it. Just show your determination and effort, which weighs more than anything else in life. We may fail or may not reach certain expectations, but in life you have to try."

"You're right, let me kick this death paper into next week." his voice was full of light again, his eyes glimmered with glee.

In a few hours, Chip was able to write to his heart's content and even surpassed the minimum requirements for the paper.

However, even with all of his notes and writing prowess, what could prepare him and the others for the ultimate challenge of their lives?

/

Normalcy somehow managed to carry on in Madeleine's town, but she wasn't by far content with what was going on. Her classes felt like the entire day was being wasted on what she needed to do to show Veruca the kind of woman she truly was. Her professors mumbled about the mediocrity of dead, white, males in her textbooks, but the only thing in Madeleine's mind was forming a plan.

A couple of notes and doodles in her notebooks showed how much detail she wanted to put into this operation. Grappling hooks, backpacks filled to the brim with supplies, and what would be the best way to enter into a factory without being noticed too much.

However, Professor Jacobson wasn't too fond of her daydreaming. "Miss Fortuyn, if you would like to doodle about your fanfiction for later, that's one thing, but please focus on the task at hand." Her nasally tone was just so irritating, Madeleine always wondered where her bizarre accent was from. Like anyone would want to listen to someone who doesn't even follow her own syllabus. Madeleine attempted to follow along, but discreetly wrote her notes making it look like she was writing down what the professor wanted them to "learn."

The clock struck loudly, with haste and minimal effort, she ran to the campus quad waiting for the others.

Short brown hair contrasted against the yellow, red flowers; something made Coco float on cloud nine, as if she struck a mine of gold. "Hey Madeleine, you're gonna be pretty happy because I was able to get Mike and Violet to talk."

Just as Madeleine wanted to jump for joy, she quickly interrupted. "However, we must be in the presence of their parents. Not so much Mike's, I talked with them over the phone and they have no issue, but for Violet, not so much. Plus, let's just say Mr. Beauregarde still has a little bit of a grudge what Mr. Wonka did to his 'precious little daughter.'"

"Yeah, but there's one contingency that both Violet's parents want in the end," Rocky added.

"What do they want Rocky? Money, chocolate?"

"No, none of that, some kind of cure or medicine that could help Violet. Apparently, after she went through the factory she undergone a drastic change to her personality and she's been so afraid doing certain things that not even a doctor could give her the medicine for. Wonka might have something, but who knows when we'll see that man again."

"Mr. Beauregarde acting like the sleazy car salesman he truly is." Disgust could only describe Madeleine's tone.

The four were ready; it was time for a couple of truths and lies to be shattered. This veil of fallacies that Veruca casted over everyone, but it missed its marks.

Coco quickly called Violet on her gaudy flip cell-phone, charms showing off her favorite sweets. "I hate this phone sometimes. The service can be just god awful."

Chip's eyes were wide open with delight. "You know, I've seen Violet pass by me a couple of times in the hallways, but I never had the courage to talk to her directly. She always looked like she was preoccupied with something else."

"Hey Coco, what's up?" Violet shyly asked, but Coco had the phone on enough of a loud volume so that the others could hear it clearly.

With a few nods from the others, Coco pressed onwards. "I know you and your parents spoke to me in length, but now you would be okay if I brought a few of my other friends with me? Do you know about Madeleine Fortuyn?"

"I- Yes, I have no issue with you bringing your friends as long as my folks are there to listen to the conversation. If you really think something this bad has happened to Wonka, then I want to try and tell you what you can do. With Madeleine, I know of her, I think she might be in one of my psychology classes. Jacobson pointed her out during a lecture and I can't blame Madeleie for wanting to doodle, those woman's classes are a bore. Actually, can I talk to her for just a few moments? Privately?"

Coco had the most confused look on her face, Rocky was at a loss for words, and Chip didn't know what to say in the moment.

"Coco, hand me the phone- Hey Violet, what was it that you want to ask me specifically?"

There was silence on Violet's end, almost as if she couldn't say what she truly wanted to.

"It's alright Violet. Don't feel afraid to tell me and only me." Madeleine quickly ushered the others to cover their ears.

"I have a fear that Veruca might be after an ingredient in the factory, an incredibly addictive kind. Something that I made the mistake of putting into my mouth and that's forever changed my life."

"What do you mean 'addictive?' Like is this something that can change a person entirely?"

Once again Violet paused for a prolonged period of time. A few breaths could be heard, almost as if a panic attack was about to take place. "I just wanted to say that for now, if you want more details then come over to my parents' house. Mike will be there too, he and I have been dating for quite a bit if you really want to know and he can provide some other info too."

"We would definitely want to talk to you and Mike. Coco tried to get a comment from Augustus about Veruca, but the only thing he would say is that she's a cold-hearted bitch and that actually speaks volumes about her."

Rocky was still a little unsure with the entourage and underground interview, but Coco made sure that nothing could happen to them. "Look, Rocky, don't worry about it. I got this, Madeleine's got this, Chip's been super helpful, and I've done my job. We need you as our solid ground; you know people who can help get us what we need and I think we're ready, for real."

The four were that sure of their success, to uncover the bitter truth that Veruca has tried so desperately to hide from the entire world. They were ready to show Veruca's true colors, she was more than just a ruthless business woman. Underneath that façade laid something a bit more wicked, what could money and power really do to millions of people?


I adore Chip so much, he's the young spitfire member of the group and wants to lookout for everybody. Oh man, I made Veruca such a bitch in this fanfic and honestly, even let's say after the events of either the original or remake, she would still be bitchy and not learn her lesson.

For Violet, I wanted to play out just how traumatic it was for her when she chew the fated gum and how it changed not only her body, but her attitude and part of her personality. Also, I think it's cute to see Mike and Violet in a relationship.

Something sinister is brewing and how will the main four be able to handle it? Stick around for later chapters to come.

Please R&R! ^o^ Have a safe and Happy Halloween!