Charlie just couldn't understand. The mirror seemed completly normal when he got it. Just an average, everyday mirror. But it was more than that. Much more.
He and Willy had spent a long time staring at the images in the glassy surface. Willy mostly, through Charlie couldn't think why. Of course, if anyone would see images in something that images shouldn't be shown in, they would stare at it alot. Willy was looking at it differently.
There were hours wasted just sitting outside Willy Wonka's office, waiting for something, anything. Did Willy know of the mirror's origins. Did he know what he was looking at? Charlie was at a complete loss. Once in awile, he would put his ear to the crack of the door to listen. All he heard though, was the ticking of a clock and the sound of pacing back and forth.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the door opened. Willy was holding the mirror in his hand so tight, that Charlie could imagine his knuckles a pure white colour under his latex purple gloves.
"I know where it is." Willy had told Charlie. His face was turned toward the floor, his face holding no expression. Charlie bit his lip.
"Do you have any idea where the mirror...?" but the young boy didn't have to finish his sentence. Willy shook his head.
"I know where it is because I was there." he said.
"Where is there Mr. Wonka?"
There was a long pause where Willy just stared at the floor.
"The Rutledge Asylum."
Charlie took a few steps back at that moment. An asylum? It wasn't possible. Sure, he thought his mentor was a little crazy at times, but not that crazy! The boy tried to think of Willy being imprisoned in some cold dark room. All Alone.
"Why...?" He couldn't bring himself to speak. "Why didn't you tell me?"
The honest truth was that Willy didn't want to tell anyone. He was a famous chocolatier, not an abused child. At least, Willy told people he wasn't abused. Or a child for that matter.
At that moment, Willy felt something on his arm. A small burning pain.
No! You promised you would put this behind you. You promised you would not tell anyone.
Willy turned his beaming smile toward Charlie.
"Charlie, I..I have to show you something."
The heir looked quite frightened when he saw what lay under his mentor's purple silk sleeve.
The wounds were deep, but they appeared to have been inflicted quite a long time ago. The healing process had taken place and all that was left was thin pink lines.
"You..tried to commit suicide?" Charlie said breathlessly. Willy yanked down his sleeve when he heard the response.
"No. They tortured me."
"Is that why you afraid of touch?"
That's exactly why. But I'm not telling you that Charlie.