After that frightful encounter, I finally calmed myself and entered. Despite what had just taken place, my eyes were still capable of lighting up. I'll admit it, I was wrong to not want to come here. The sight of every new room was worth it. A lab that screams "Mad Scientist" may bother some people, but it's never bothered me at all. Besides, the visuals are appealing no matter which way you look at it. I wish I could say the same thing about myself.

But I forgot about all that when I could see inside this one machine. The inner workings (cogs, springs, pistons, etc.) always fascinated me. Within seconds, a red sphere shot directly into the pool below. Wonka took it out and showed it to everyone. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce Everlasting Gobstoppers to you. These suckers are meant for children who don't get that much in allowance. You can suck on it all year, and it'll never get any smaller. Isn't that neat?"

Violet replied, "So it's like gum."

Wonka soured his expression. "No. It's not. Gum is for chewing. The Gobstoppers are extremely hard candy. So unless you plan on getting dentures before your 13th birthday, I wouldn't advise doing such a thing." Violet turned to her mother, who gave her a judgmental stare. Violet turned away and looked rather sad. Normally I'd be trying to get the negativity out, but I might be able to question her later, and find out if she's figured out my... "gift." So I'll hang on to a little.

"And now, coming to this, we have Hair Toffee. If you suck down one of these little boogers, in exactly half an hour you'll get hair on the top of your little noggin. And a mustache, and a beard."

Mike retorted. "Who wants a beard?"

Wonka replied, "Well...Beatniks, for one. Folk singers and motorbike riders. You know, all those hip, jazzy, super-cool, neat, keen, and groovy-cats. It's in the fridge, daddy-o. Are you hep to the jive? Can you dig what I'm laying down? I knew that you could! Slide me some skin, soul brother!"

I understood exactly what he said. And that scares me.

Needless to say, Mike's minuscule negativity was easy to hold on to. That should be enough to talk some sense into Violet without hurting her. You see, there is one little detail I omitted about my power. The negative emotion goes out of me and transfers to the target. It's usually painful, but if it's just a little, it won't hurt at all.

Finally, we all moved over to one last machine. All Wonka said was, "Watch this," and pulled a lever. Within seconds, sirens began to blare, wheels began to whirl, and liquids began to boil. The machine lurches forward and out pops a tiny tray that extends out a stick of...gum. All that for just one stick? Violet grabs the gum and holds it while chewing her own.

"You mean that's it?" Mike asks in disbelief.

"Do you even know what it is?"

"It's gum," Violet answered.

"Yeah. It's a stick of the most amazing and sensational gum in the whole universe. Wanna know why? Because this gum is a three-course dinner, all by itself! It will be the end of all unnecessary cooking! All you'll need is one strip of Wonka's Magic Chewing Gum! And that one right there happens to be tomato soup, roast beef, and blueberry pie!"

"It sounds weird," Veruca said.

"It sounds suspicious," I said with a huff.

Wonka replied, "Now let's not be so negative. But you are right, though. It's definitely not ready for consumption."

Violet, beaming at the chance, started to unwrap the gum. She completely didn't hear Wonka's warning. "It sounds like my kind of gum."

Wonka soured his expression once more. "I don't think you heard me. I said the gum isn't ready to be eaten."

Violet scoffed. "I can handle it. Prepare to be impressed."

"So why exactly are you chewing it anyway? Wonka clearly said it isn't ready," I explained.

Violet haughtily replied, "I don't need your input. I can do this by myself, thank you very much. Now, if you'll ex-" She immediately stopped in her tracks. She suddenly felt an eerie chill behind her, prompting her to turn to me. Her face looked beyond unnerved. But hey, you'd be worried if the guy you threatened earlier was glaring at you with bloodshot eyes and his head tilted back. My eyes practically filled the room with a dark aura.

"I don't like it," I spoke in a creepily calm tone. "Why bother chewing the gum? What does it gain you? You know nothing about it, and you insist on trying it. Why be so reckless?"

"It doesn't gain me anything."

"Then what purpose will it serve?"

"I don't know."

"I think you do know. Your gum chewing is much more than just a habit, is it not?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then you must know your record will be stopped, right?"

"Yes! Now please stop with-"

"So why does this matter so much?"

She couldn't take it anymore and blurted out, "Because Wonka hates me! I'm trying to get back in his good graces! But it won't do me any good, because I'm just making it worse! But maybe if I help him with this, maybe he'll like me again!" Realizing what she just said, her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with both hands.

The dark aura around my eyes was gone. "You'll have to excuse me. People can't help but spill their guts around me."

Wonka took the gum from Violet. "I hope you know he just saved you. Firstly, I don't hate you. Secondly, this gum is way too dangerous. I have yet to find a piece that doesn't mutate people."

Veruca asked, "Mutate?"

"Yep. It starts with the skin, then it elevates to your digestive tract. Causes you to quite literally inflate until all that's left is a ten-foot-tall human blueberry. Well, a human probably isn't the correct term."

Violet was speechless. "But, I..."

"We should carry onward to the next room," Wonka interrupted. "I think we've had enough negativity for one moment. Don't you agree, Simon?"

I paused for a moment. What did he mean by that? But I'd rather not dwell on it. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Let's proceed, then."