Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for. I'm excited and terrified at the same time.


Three days passed and everything appeared to be the same as before.

A year ago, Coraline would've been trapped on the Other World forever if it hadn't been for the cat and the ghost children. And she would have help in the upcoming night. The full moon was almost here and she was stressed out as it is.

She was, in the meantime, lounging in the drawing room. She was curled up in the armchair, the four ragdolls were sitting around her. 9 and 7 were on her shoulders, and the twins were on her lap. They saw how worried she was. They tried to tell her that it was going to be alright, but Coraline didn't seem convinced. She was reassured, yes, but she was still worried nonetheless.

Coraline glanced at the little door every few seconds or so. To aww if it was still there. It was silly, but she had a notion that told her that if she looked away, the door would disappear. That seemed stupid to Coraline now, but she did it anyways. But where would the door go to if it disappeared? It couldn't disappear, even if the Other Mother made it so.

This was getting all too suffocating.

Footsteps resonated. It was either Coraline's mother or father. Or maybe both. Either way, the stitchpunks jumped off the armchair and hid underneath. Coraline waited and it was her mother.

"Coraline," she said, "your father and I are going to the boss's birthday party tomorrow night. It's last minute and I know you can handle yourself, but I just wanted to let you know, okay?"

"Okay, mom." Coraline said. "Can I invite Wybie to stay over?"

"Sure, honey," said Mel. "Order a pizza if you get hungry."

"Great," the blue-haired girl grinned. Mel Jones walked away. Coraline waited until she was out of sight to let the stitchpunks know it was safe.

"Waht's going on?" 7 asked.

"My parents are going to out tomorrow night." Coraline explained. "So it's just going to be us and Wybie tomorrow."

She stooped down, holding out her hand; the stitchpunks climbed up her arm and perched themselves on her shoulder. Coraline went upstairs to her room, she had this nagging sensation tugging at her strings. She didn't know what it was, but she had to find out. Coraline was about to lounge in her bed when she looked at her calendar. Something was reeling her in. She walked up to it. She checked the date. Today was the thirteenth. Tomorrow was going to be the fourteenth. The fourteenth! The full moon! Coraline had forgotten about the big night, and she hadn't thought of a plan yet. This was going to be a disaster.

"What's going on?" 7 inquired.

"Tomorrow is the fourteenth." Coraline answered. "The full moon is tomorrow and I don't even have a plan yet."

Coraline sat on her bed. What was she going to do? The full moon was tomorrow and she probably had put the world in danger. What if she doesn't send the stitchpunks back home? What if the Other Mother captures them? What if she gets captured too?

7 leaped off her shoulder. The twins jumped off afterwards, and then 9.

"Coraline," said 7, "listen, I know you're scared about tomorrow. We all are. But..." She looked down, as though trying to figure out what to say next. She seemed like she was having a hard time trying to say what she was about to say.

"Listen, when your parents were taken, did you have a plan?" 9 asked.

"Well, no," Coraline replied, "not really. I didn't really plan it out when I went back to the Other World. I just had to choose escape routes when needed. I basically played it out in my head as I searched for the eyes."

3 and 4 flickered to each other, as though talking about Coraline's plan.

"You weren't alone on that battle before." 9 said. "And you're not alone now either." 9 placed his tiny hand on Coraline's large hand.

The twins smiled and nodded to Coraline. 7 looked up Coraline, she gave her one of her encouraging smiles. The blue-haired girl looked down at the four stitchpunks and tried to smile. It was hard when she the Other Mother intoxicated her mind.

"You'll be fine." 7 said. 3 and 4 flickered good luck to her.

Coraline smiled at last. She wasn't feeling entirely alone knowing that she had them and Wybie to depend on.

She picked up the talisman from her nightstand. She held it in her palm, her eyes bore into its arcane symbols. Tomorrow she would be using it in her right against the Other Mother. She would be using it send them back home. Coraline felt on the verge of undergoing her life-changing challenge. A lot of things changed in her life. But most importantly, she changed. Coraline changed without knowing it.

And after tomorrow night, things will still continue to change.

Coraline spent an hour drawing up a map of the orchard and going over it with the stitchpunks. And today she was going over it again.

"This is the orchard," Coraline said, pointing at the drawing with a marker, "and this is the well." She pointed at the drawing of the well. We go out, and wait for the right moment. When the portal opens, you guys enter it as fast as you can and Wybie and me will handle the Other Mother."

"But wait," 9 interjected, "what if the Other Mother blocks the entrance? Let us fight her long enough for you to use the talisman to kill her and then we'll cross the portal."

"But what if she takes the talisman?" 7 asked.

There was that possibility. Coraline lost the seeing stone back in the Other World, and she couldn't do anything about it. If the Other Mother takes the talisman, then it would be all over. But if she could take the talisman away from her before she made her move, then she would be able to send the stitchpunks home.

How could Coraline not see this possibility?

"The Other Mother won't take the talisman," 9 said, seeing her worried face. "I promise you."

Coraline lightened up after hearing that, but she still lingered on that thought.

"Don't worry about it too much." 9 uttered. "We'll be fine."

That's what she hoped.


Today was the day. The fourteenth. The full moon would come out tonight. Coraline was shaking pins and needles. The big night arrived and she was wishing to go back in time and stay in the past.

It was right around noon, and Coraline was lounging in the drawing room. She sat down in her favorite armchair, staring at the little door. A year ago she opened the door and now it was about to happen all over again. Only this time, she was prepared, a little more aware, and a lot more mature. Coraline was sure she would handle this.

The four stitchpunks were sitting around her. 9 and 7 were on the armrest, and the twins were spitting on her lap. They were scared and excited for this night. It felt like they were undergoing a life changing deed. This was more treacherous than the Fabrication Machine. They might end up losing their lives in this fight.

But after tonight, it'll seem like nothing ever happened. But Coraline couldn't pretend like that anymore. She had to face her fears or else they'll take control of her forever.

"How do you guys feel?" Coraline asked the four stitchpunks. They were silent for a moment. She could feel their shakiness. She understood what they felt. And she knew that in the end it was no big deal.

"Well," 7 began, "we've all been waiting for this moment a little longer than we expected. Now that it's here..."

"You want to turn back." Coraline finished for her. 7 tilted her head and just gave her a sort of appeased look.

3 and 4 flickered to each other, having their personal sibling conversations.

"It's going to be alright." Coraline said, she felt uneasy as though some presence was watching her. She looked at the little door and felt that vibe envelope her all over again. She glanced back at the stitchpunks and just hoped for the best.

Around three o'clock, Coraline's parents were getting ready for the boss's birthday party tonight. Even though it was early, Wybie came over as planned. Coraline's parents were leaving at five o'clock, so there was still some time. She and Wybie headed outside just to get started.

"We're just going to go for a walk around the garden," said Coraline to her parents. She and Wybie went on their way to the garden. When they reached the bridge that's where Coraline stopped.

"What's wrong?" Wybie inquired.

"I just need some time to rethink my plan," she answered.

The four stitchpunks looked at one twins flickered at 9 and 7, telling then they should say something. 9 looked over at 7, giving her a soulful look. The white stitchpunk glanced at Wybie and 9 and back, kind of like asking, with her expression, that they should say something. Wybie glances at Coraline then looks at the ragdolls.

Coraline could sense their glances. She knew they were concerned. They wanted to help, but she didn't think they would be able to help. She knew she wasn't alone, but she still felt painfully lonely. She just wanted this day to pass, so she could move on and forget about it.

She looked over at the stitchpunks. She figured that part of the reason she was stressed out was because she had to let them go. She was going to miss them once they return to their own world. But she knew they'd be alright.

"I'm just upset because...," she glanced at the ground, her eyes boring in the tulips below, "I guess it's because I have to see you guys go."

9 and 7 looked hurt; the twins flickered to each other, then looked at Coraline. They looked as though they were trying to hide the hurt, but they had to let it out.

"We know, Coraline," 7 said. "We know you're going to miss us when we leave. And...we're going to miss you too."

3 and 4 nodded their heads to her.

"Really?" Coraline sounded close to tears. She found this so overwhelming, but also it was reassuring.

"Yeah," said 9. "We're going to miss you and Wybie and all this." He extended his arms, referring to the flora and faunal around them.

"I still wish you didn't have to go." Coraline said.

"I know," said 7, "but we have to. But I promise you this: we're not going to forget you."

Coraline smiled.

The sun was setting around eight o'clock. Coraline looked out the window, gazing at the trees. The sky was a dark blue with bright orange, the sun resembled an orange in the middle of the horizon.

Coraline's parents left for the party hours ago, so now she was alone with the stitchpunks and Wybie.

They had just finished eating, and now they were waiting for the right moment to leave. Coraline looked out the window, her heart raced and her armpits sweated and stomach twisted. This was the big night and she was about to face the Other Mother again.

By the time Coraline grabbed her messenger bag, Wybie was already waiting by the door with the four dolls on his shoulders. Coraline locked the door, put the key in her pocket and ran with Wybie. They first needed to get some supplies. They went into the garden shed. Wybie and Coraline grabbed as many tools as they can. The pliers. A trowel. Wybie took a shovel, and he also took the crowbar.

Coraline looked out the skylight, the sun was setting, they had to hurry. Now that they had their weapons, the two hightailed out of there, hearts pounding with anticipation. They ventured into the forest. Along they way they saw the cat, he joined them to the orchard.

Once they arrived they stood over the well, waiting.

"Now what?" Wybie asked. Coraline looked up at the sky. The sky was darkening. She glanced at the moon. It was full alright. The night that would change her life forever. She only had one thing to say.

"We wait."

She stooped down, looking at the knothole on the lid. Wybie crouched, the stitchpunks jumped off his shoulders. They gathered around the wooden lid, looking at it with fear and wonder.

Coraline glanced up, the moon wasn't high enough. Not yet. Now wasn't the time. She would know when.

"Coraline?" 9 said.

The girl looked down, she looked at 7 and the twins. They were sporting the same worried looks whenever she gets like this.

Wybie swiveled his head, looking at the stars. He looked at the full moon. "Hey guys, look!" He pointed at the sky. Coraline looked up again, focusing on the moon. She didn't see anything at first, but after a minute she saw it.

"The stars!" She pointed to the three little stars next to the full moon. Compared to the moon they were puncture marks.

9, 7, 3, and 4 gathered around the well, gazing up at the stars. They saw the three stars that would open the portal back to their home.

"Okay guys, get ready." Coraline said.

Wybie took the crowbar and wedged it under the lid. He used his foot to push the crowbar, opening the lid. Coraline lifted the lid and pushed it aside. The stitchpunks watched from a safe distance. She gazed back at them with worry. She focused on 9, they both knew that this night was going to arrive. And now there was no turning back.

"Hey look." Wybie pointed to the well. A strange green light glowed from inside. The portal was opening. Now was the time.

9 and 7 and the twins were filled with anticipation. This was their moment to return home.

Coraline opened her bag mad rummage in it. She pulled out the talisman. She looked at in her palm. 6 said she could use it to send them back home. And now seemed like the right time.

The blue-haired girl was about to activate the talisman when 9's voice cut through the air.

"Coraline! Look!" The stitchpunk pointed to the glowing well. Coraline looked inside and saw a form climbing up. She knew without a doubt who that was.

The Other Mother.