A/N: It's a bit short, I know. Second edit, and for those of you who've seen it already just look for the passage with the leaning to the side fond (I don't know what it's called). You know, originally I wasn't planning for it to be a Father Daughter sort of relationship between Jack and Coraline, that's just what it became. Hey, why don't we try something new and leave a comment? Yeah I know, I shouldn't be demanding, but it's a little frustrating when a chapter gets fifty views and one review, ya know?
I opened the door to my bedroom, flinching at the expected creak. My black leather bag was comfortably slung over my shoulder, filled with what I'd figured I would need.
"Where do you think you're going?" a smooth voice came from behind me. I turned to see the familiar black cat sitting on my bed, green eyes peering into mine with his head cocked to the side.
"How'd you get here?" I asked.
"I thought you would have put together by now how easily I can walk between worlds, like stepping into another room,"
I leaned on the doorway, glad for something to distract me from what I was about to do, "How's home?"
"Your parents are panicking, in fact the whole town has been looking for you. Now with Wyborn missing eveyone's even more worried. You will be bringing him back, right?"
I turned the sword that I'd taken over in my hand, "I have to, you know that,"
"He'll try to stop you,"
"I know,"
He looked at me calculatingly, "Let's go then," he jumped down to the floor. I took one last look at the bedroom and started down the dark hall, running gently down the stairs to keep my footsteps from echoing, and went through the kitchen to the door that I knew faced the woods, the cat following me.
As I found the handle a bony hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. Jack was looking down at me with an expecting look that told me he knew I'd try this.
I grinned, "Hey, how are you?"
He didn't humor me, "No, Coraline,"
Fine then, "I have to, Jack,"
"Absolutely not," he grabbed my arm and began to pull me away. My feet scudded against the wooden floor and the cat seemed to have disappeared. But I'd been expecting this. I flipped open my bag and produce a jar that I'd taken from Doctor Finklesteins laboratory earlier that week. With my free hand I popped it pen and a black smoke poured out and twisted its way around the Pumpkin King, his grip loosening.
"Coraline!" he yelled, falling to the floor. I took a step back and watched him somberly.
"I need to do this; I need to end it. You really shouldn't have let me learn so much from Sally. It only lasts an hour, and by then she'll have me. I'm so sorry," I turned, ignoring his protests, and began to crunch my way through the leaves straight into the forest. She'd find me soon enough.
And find me she did.
She came almost like one of those old fashion tractors, with their spinning row of blades. Long, silver legs, too many to compare her to a spider. Her face was the same though, long and narrow and fractured. Black hair, expecting smile, a man sized box in one of her hands. Red cocktail dress that I recognized from one of the shops back home that my mother had admired.
Mom. It felt like years since I'd seen her.
"Why don't you get this?" she'd told me that last time we were together, pointing to a black cat costume.
I'd rolled my eyes, "I already told you, I'm not dressing up as anything tonight. And really? I went as a cat when I was seven,"
She'd shrugged, placing it back on the rack.
Later we'd picked up apple cider and walked home together.
Would she ever forgive me for this?
I stood alone, not moving toward her or away. Ready, I was so ready. Dread was there, yes, but relief too. It would be over soon, and she'd have me, and Wybie would be safe.
Wybie. I needed him away from her before she took me.
The Other Mother reached me, crouching over so she blocked the moon, "Hello, daughter,"
"I need to talk to him,"
She raised an eyebrow and I glared into her beady button eyes, "Why should I let you, dear?"
"We had a deal," I didn't want to negotiate, "You've waited three years and you'll wait a few more minutes. NOW,"
She glared at me, but surprisingly set the long box at my feet and backed away.
I pulled off the wooden lid, and my mind registered that it was a coffin, ornately carved with a pattern of looping string with a black finish. Inside was a tall boy, pale, with dark curly and hair and wild eyes. His lips were stitched together, and a small squeak escaped my mouth. For the first time since I'd realized that I had to die, I cried.
"I'm sorry," I told him, "Wybie I'm sorry she did this to you. It's my fault,"
His eyes turned from panic to recognition, and he silently took me in. Then before I could say anything he pulled me into a hug. This was the last hug, and I knew it. The last brush of human contact. So I cried softly into his shoulder and hugged him back, taking in the smell of his leather jacket for a moment before whispering something in his ear, "Run. Get out of here now. There's a town on the edge of the forest west of here, and you'll be met with a castle. Go inside, don't fear the skeleton. Tell him I'm sorry, that I'm gone, that it's over,"
He pulled away, his stitched lips trying to say something. I shook my head and leaned forward to his ear, "Goodbye, Wybie. You have to leave me,"
He shook his head, and I stood up, dragging him to his feet, "Go,"
He stared at me in the same way the Other Wybie did when he was forcing me through the little door and showing me his hand, which made my throat hurt, "Go," I shoved him in the right direction, "Please," he seemed to decide something, then took off into the trees. I watched him disappear forever, until his leather coat was gone. Then I closed my eyes, feeling the expectation trickling from behind me. Time to die.
