As the sun spilled into Coraline's window, she sat bolt upright, shivering. It had all been a dream; she reminded herself as she got out of bed and checked her clock. It was 7 in the morning. Her parents were probably still asleep. Coraline sighed and draped her blanket around her shoulders. She got up and walked down to the kitchen. Ever since she'd escaped her other mother, Coraline had terrible nightmares. In this one, she'd seen herself with buttons for eyes.

Coraline poured herself come cereal and a glass of orange soda- her parents weren't awake to say she couldn't. She took her breakfast into the living room and watched cartoons. None of the cartoons that were on were very good, but it was better than the news or TV church. It was about 9 when Coraline heard her father coming down the stairs. Coraline looked out the window. It was an overcast, foggy day, the kind that was perfect for exploring.

"Morning, Dad" Coraline put her cereal bowl in the dishwasher as her father poured himself some coffee.

"Morning, Twitchy witch girl" her father messed up her hair affectionately.

"Can I go outside?"

"As long as you go before your mother wakes up, because she'll say no." Her father winked at her.

Coraline smiled from ear to ear.

"Thanks dad!" she called as she ran up the steps to get dressed. She quickly put on jeans, a t shirt, and her boots. She buttoned her coat and pulled on her explorer's hat as she ran out the door.

Coraline looked out into the hills and woods. It was the kind of day that Wybie would be out, looking for newts and snails and slugs and little snakes in. She was trying to decide where to go first, when she felt something rubbing against her leg. It was Cat. Coraline knelt down and scooped him up.

"You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?" Coraline scratched between cat's ears and walked inside with him. Wybie usually fed cat breakfast, and Coraline fed him dinner. She poured him a bowl of milk and stared out the window while he finished it.

"Let's go up to the woods" Coraline finally said. She turned and headed out the door. She walked for what seemed like forever. She'd almost forgotten how much of a pain it was to have to walk through these hills. At this point, she rode on Wybie's handlebars everywhere. She remembered the first time she'd done that. She'd been absolutely terrified…

"Hey Jonesie."

"Hi, Wybie".

"What are you hanging around school for?"

"I think my parents forgot me, they were supposed to pick me up right after classes…"

"Well, do you need a lift?"

"On your bike?"

"Jonesie, Frankenstina is not just a bike. She's a custom built motor bike. Made her myself."

"Well, where would I sit?"

"On the handlebars, of course"

"Is that safe?"

"Trust me."

She'd been terrified that she would fall off, but it was actually fun. It didn't even matter that she was in Wybie's way, because he knew the roads here better than Coraline knew her own room. She sat on a rock amongst the trees. Cat curled up in her lap, and she stroked his neck sleepily. She yawned and laid back to look at the sky…

She was with Wybie. They were running, holding hands, running so fast that the world seemed a blur. She turned to look at him, he was smiling. She smiled too. They stopped in a clearing by a pond.

"I love you, Coraline" he said. Strangely, this didn't surprise her. It made her smile even more.

"And you know I love you" she said. Why was she saying that? What was she talking about? Wybie reached down and picked up a stone to skip, and Coraline looked into the water. It took her a minute to realize what was wrong.

She had big, black buttons for eyes…

Coraline snapped awake. It had just been another nightmare. She sighed heavily and got up off the rock. Cat was gone, and the sun was high in the sky. Coraline dusted herself off and walked home for lunch. Both her parents were working now, so Coraline made herself a microwave pizza and took it into the living room with another glass of orange soda. She watched some more cartoons. It wasn't as fun as watching bad horror movies with Wybie. She put her coat back on and headed outside again.

She walked aimlessly for a while, then looked around and realized she'd walked up to where the old well was. This was where Wybie had almost run her over with his bike when they first met. Coraline had been irritated by everything about him that day, and was certain that she didn't like him in the least. That had changed when he saved her life, though. Coraline's eyes wandered around the hills and fell on the old well.

Her heart stopped beating.

Her mind must've been playing tricks on her. She rubbed them and looked again.

Her eyes were right.

The well was uncovered.

Coraline ran up to it, her heart racing. There was only darkness inside it, but on one side of the well, she saw what looked like claw marks. Coraline got up and raced home. It couldn't be. It couldn't…

She ran inside and opened the door. Her parents were in the front hall, putting their coats on.

"Coraline," her mother said, sounding worried "have you seen Wybie?"

"No," Coraline said "he's in Minnesota for the weekend, isn't he?"

"No" Coraline's dad pulled on his hat "Wybie's grandmother just called us; he wasn't in his bed this morning. She's completely hysterical"

"What?!" Coraline gasped. Her heart stopped beating.

"We're going out to go help look for him" Coraline's mother said "Do you have any idea where he might be?"

"No" Coraline said, but she was lying. She knew exactly where Wybie was. Her parents left and Coraline walked to her room. Cat was sitting on her windowsill clawing at the screen. Coraline let him in. cat's back was arched, his fur standing on end. He seemed to have come to the same conclusion she had.

The Beldam was back.

And she had Wybie.

Coraline sat at the edge of her bed. And put her head in her hands. She'd never wanted to go back. She'd put it all behind her. She was living like any other girl now. She went to school and watched TV and had friends…

…And hung out with Wybie.

Coraline looked up and saw the picture of penny and roger- her friends from home- on her nightstand. Wedged into the corner of the frame was a film strip Coraline and Wybie had taken in the photo booth at the movies. They were laughing and smiling and making faces. He was the best friend she'd ever had…

She had to go back.

For Wybie.