"Now, now, please remember to stay behind the railings," ordered Mr. Wonka as he joined the back of the group.
They were in a large, circular room with railings all along the outside edge. A narrow, metal staircase situated to the right of them led down to a shallow pit, obstructed by a small metal gate.
Em watched in amazement as she looked down upon hundreds of squirrels working furiously, all sat neatly on small wooden stools around the edge of the room, a large, dark hole in its center. She joined Charlie who was gripping the metal railing tightly, leaning over for a better look.
"What're they doing?" he questioned, his eyes locked on one of the small creatures. Em placed a steadying hand on his shoulder as he leaned further forward.
"They're shelling nuts!" declared Mr. Salt, clearly not believing his eyes.
Em took a closer look, watching in disbelief as one of the squirrels picked up what looked like a walnut, gave it a hard tap on the edge of its stool and cracked it open with ease, depositing the contents into a small basket at its feet.
"These squirrels are specially trained to shell walnuts without breaking them," announced Mr. Wonk proudly, coming to lean nonchalantly on the railing next to Em.
"Why not use Oompa Loompas?" queried Mrs. Teevee, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the scene. Mike mirrored Charlie, stretching up on his tiptoes to get a better look.
"Because only squirrels can get the whole walnut out every time," shrugged Mr. Wonka. "And an Oompa Loompa would never be able to tell a bad nut from a good nut without shelling it in the first place."
Em watched a squirrel toss a walnut into the center of the room without a second glance, the nut bouncing slightly and disappearing down the deep hole. The squirrel reached methodically for another one and cracked it open.
"See?" Mr. Wonka grinned, gesturing, "aren't they wonderful!"
"Daddy, I want a squirrel," ordered Veruca, looking up at her father expectantly, her impudent hands clamped tightly round the railing. Em resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Here we go again," muttered Mike under his breath, Charlie shifting uncomfortably beside Em, releasing the railing and dropping his hands to his side.
"All right, sweetheart, all right," simpered Mr. Salt, dusting a speck of dust off his immaculate suit. "Daddy'll get you a squirrel as soon as we get home."
"No," her voice was full of hostility, her hands balling into fists as she glared at her father, "I want one of those squirrels."
"Very well," he nodded, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. "Wonka, how much for one of the squirrels?"
"They're not for sale," Mr. Wonka replied automatically, his eyes locked on one of the squirrels as it discarded a bad nut.
Mr. Salt sighed and took an authoritative step towards the chocolatier.
"Name your price, Wonka."
"She can't have one." He shook his head simply and looked at the man, a pleasant smile on his face. Em felt the group tense, waiting for the explosion that was sure to follow. Her and Charlie took a subconscious step back.
Veruca took a step towards Mr. Wonka, her grey eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Who says I can't?" she challenged.
"I do," answered Mr. Wonka, turning to face her, his confidence unwavering.
"But I want one," she insisted, taking another step forwards.
"But you can't have one," he responded, locking eyes with her as he placed his hands behind his back.
Em watched the stand-off warily, unsure of who would relent first. The chocolatier's blue eyes didn't waver, Em wasn't even sure he'd blinked, but Veruca was a girl who always got what she wanted.
After an excruciating silence, the unthinkable happened.
"Fine."
Em had to stop herself from gasping in surprise as Veruca took a step backwards, defeated.
"Thank you," nodded Mr. Wonka, turning to the rest of the group, a smile on his face. "Shall we?" He motioned to the door they had entered through and began to usher them out. Em felt his hand come to rest ever so lightly on her lower back as he guided her out, and she resisted the urge to grin stupidly.
"Boy, I was worried for a second there," whispered Charlie as he made his way out, Em nodding in agreement.
Just as the group reached the door she heard the faint squeak of a metal gate, the group turning in unison at the noise, curious. She felt Mr. Wonka's hand disappear as her eyes widened and Mr. Salt let out a shocked gasp.
The small gate at the top of the stairs was ajar, swinging slightly as it squeaked, and Veruca could be seen slowly climbing down into the pit of squirrels. They had yet to notice her approach, but Em had a horrible feeling that their obliviousness wouldn't last.
"Veruca!" her father yelped, rushing towards the gate and making a grab for her.
She quickened her pace and jumped the last three steps, landing out of his reach with a soft thud at the bottom.
The room grew eerily quiet as hundreds of tiny, whiskered faces turned to inspect the noise.
"Uh oh," whispered Charlie as Em raised a hand to her mouth.
"Veruca," called Mr. Wonka, walking forward to lean over the railing. "Come back up here and they'll leave you alone."
"Leave her alone?!" barked Mr. Salt. "Wonka, if they so much as touch my daughter you'll be –"
"Hewwo gorgeous!" simpered Veruca in a sickening baby voice as she approached the closest squirrel. "I've come to take you home viw me!"
"Oh no," groaned Mr. Wonka, taking a step back from the railing.
Mr. Salt made to follow his daughter.
"Mr. Salt," motioned Mr. Wonka, "I strongly advise that you do not go down there."
"The only time I'll take your advice, Wonka, is when I'm looking for the quickest way out of here," he hissed, pushing the gate open and descending after his daughter.
"Down the garbage chute'll be pretty quick," mumbled Mr. Wonka to himself, unaware that Em and Charlie could hear. They looked at each other uneasily.
Mike had retaken his position at the railing, watching the events unfold eagerly.
"Veruca, sweetie, come back here," placated Mr. Salt as he finished his descent. He balanced on the final step, his arm outstretched.
Veruca shot him a withering look before turning back to her chosen squirrel. She approached confidently, a huge grin on her face.
"You're so fluffy!" she squealed. "You're going to have so much fun living with me."
The squirrel regarded her with polite interest, its ears twitching as she spoke.
Em noticed Mr. Wonka disappear suddenly out of the corner of her eye. She glanced around and spotted him crouched down, whispering into the ear of an Oompa Loompa. The worker wore a baggy red jumpsuit, the legs and sleeves rolled up several times, with goggles perched atop his tiny head. His eyebrows drew together as Mr. Wonka continued to whisper.
"She's crazy!" squealed Mike, drawing Em's attention.
She watched as Veruca's small hands slowly reached up to the squirrel, its bushy tail trembling as her hands closed in.
Mrs. Teevee sucked in a breath as the squirrel bolted off its stool and onto Veruca's shoulder, her father rushing forward angrily.
"Get off her, you rodent!" he spat as Veruca began to wail.
"Daddy get it off! I don't like it!" She flailed her arms around wildly, the squirrel scuttling down her front and around onto her back.
Mr. Wonka stood up once again, the Oompa Loompa hurrying back out of the room.
Em glanced at him in panic.
"Are you going to do anything?" she asked as Veruca began to stumble backwards.
"I don't think –"
"Wonka, for god's sake, help her!" cried Mr. Salt as he tried to bat the squirrel off his screeching daughter. With one well aimed blow from the back of his hand, the squirrel flew off Veruca's shoulder and onto the floor, skidding to a halt a safe distance away.
Em sucked in a shocked breath as Mr. Wonka's eyes narrowed, his eyebrows drawing together.
The squirrel shook its bushy tail, dusting itself off as Mr. Salt attempted to calm his daughter.
Within seconds, however, chaos ensued.
Every single squirrel in the room moved as one, descending upon father and daughter in a lighting fast, grey wave of angry fur.
Charlie let out a frightened yelp as Mrs. Teevee wrenched Mike away from the railing. Em heard Mr. Salt cry out just before he was enveloped by the mass, him and his daughter disappearing from sight.
"Mr. Wonka," she pleaded, "you have to do something!"
"I can't!" he shrugged despairingly, holding his hands up, powerless.
They watched on helplessly as the couple were buffeted around, Em's eyes widening in horror when she realised where they were headed.
"Em!" gasped Charlie, "the hole! They're heading for the hole!" Charlie was right, and Em could only nod silently. The squirrels where moving the duo towards the large hole in the center of the room, where all the bad nuts disappeared. Charlie gripped her arm in fear.
"Wonka, where does that hole go?!" demanded Mrs. Teevee, her arms clenched tightly around her struggling son.
"Hmm?" Mr. Wonka was watching the squirrels intently. He glanced at the group. "Oh, you mean the garbage chute?"
"Garbage chute?!" challenged Mike. "Wicked!"
"It leads to the furnace," he added simply.
"The furnace?!" chorused the group, Em rushing forward involuntarily, looking for some way to help. Veruca may have been a spoilt brat and her father may have been a deeply unpleasant man, but she didn't want them to burn!
"Em, no!" cried Charlie, reaching for his sister once more.
"Stay there Charlie," she ordered as she searched the room helplessly. There had to be some way to help them.
"Please, Ms. Bucket, stay away from the railing," called Mr. Wonka, taking a cautionary step forward. "There really isn't anything you can do to help them now."
Em glanced back at the man.
Unlike the other children and parents who had disappeared before her, he seemed to show genuine concern for her safety, and whilst the prospect of that ignited a warm glow in her heart – much to her repugnance – she couldn't shake off the fact that this situation wasn't like the others. These people could die if someone didn't help them. They'll be burned to a crisp, she thought fearfully.
Her eyes locked with Mr. Wonka's and she searched them pleadingly, hoping that this time he'd step in and help. She instead found only concern and confusion upon his face, and with a deep breath she turned and headed towards the gate, so carelessly left open by Mr. Salt.
Em was not a brave girl, she'd freely admit that. She was shy and often anxious and very rarely stood up for herself, but in this moment she banished all her fears and self-doubt with a deep breath and descended the metal staircase nimbly, Charlie's pleading voice a distant hum in her ears.
The large jumble of flailing limbs that was The Salt's was precariously close to the garbage chute by now, Veruca's shrieks and her father's threats mingling with the chatter of the angry squirrels.
Em realised, once she had reached the bottom of the stairs, that there really was nothing she could do; Mr. Wonka was right. She glanced back up to the group for inspiration, hardly noticing that Charlie wasn't the only one pressed up against the railing, watching on fearfully, knuckles white.
She glanced back to the squirrels and saw her time was almost up. Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest object to her and hurled it at the grey, furry mass. Despite the urgency of the situation, she couldn't help but be slightly impressed by the accuracy of her throw and sighed in relief as the squirrels stopped and turned as one to regard their new visitor.
The small basket of nuts she had apparently thrown came to a halt on the floor, its contents scattering across the room just as Veruca let out an ear-splitting shriek. Em watched in shock as the girl began to topple backwards, her arms flailing through the air as she tried to regain her balance, apparently closer to the hole in the ground than she had realised.
Mr. Salt moved quickly, grabbing his daughter's arm just before she disappeared out of sight.
"Daddy's got you, Veruca sweetie!" he bellowed, stumbling under her weight. Em rushed forward before the two could disappear once again, the squirrels watching on in silence, engrossed by Em's sudden appearance.
She grabbed the girl's other arm and, with Mr. Salt's help, heaved her out of the ominous hole and safely back onto solid ground.
Veruca burst into tears as Mr. Salt began to brush her off, his hair dishevelled and his suit ripped in places. Em glanced up once again to the balcony, relieved to see Charlie's grinning face peering down at her. She was slightly taken aback by the expression on Mr. Wonka's face, however, and couldn't help but think that he looked annoyed, almost irritated that she had intervened and, ultimately, saved the couple's life.
Just as her eyebrows began to draw together in confusion, she felt a forceful hand on her arm, swiveling her away from the group.
"My Veruca's been through enough," hissed Mr. Salt quietly, specks of spittle hitting her flushed face.
Not quite the thank you I was expecting, thought Em, dryly, as Veruca glared at her, her eyes puffy and red.
"I was only trying to help, Mr. Salt, I didn't want you both to get –"
"Veruca's winning this competition," he whispered menacingly, his lips barely moving, "so say goodbye to your chances."
Before Em could even contemplate his words, she felt an elbow connect sharply with her stomach, her feet stumbling backwards in shock.
Her scream got lost in her throat as all the air left her lungs. Her foot stepped back into nothingness and she felt herself falling, blackness swallowing her as if in slow motion; she flailed her arms in the hope that she could grab onto something, anything. Mr. Salt's dangerous smile disappeared into the distance, along with the squirrels, Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and any hope she had of getting out of there alive.
She tumbled further and further into the depths of the factory, her eyes wide in shock, her scream still stuck in her throat. She could hear a rushing in her ears and she prepared herself as best she could for the furnace, for the painful lick of the flames that would be the last thing she ever felt. The walls felt like they were closing in, like they were going to crush her.
In fact, the walls were definitely closing in; the endless void that was the pitch-black tunnel was slowly becoming a slender chute, smooth against Em's back. As she suddenly careered headfirst around a sharp corner she let out a yelp, her startled silence finally breaking. She screamed as she rounded another corner in complete darkness, her stomach flipping uncomfortably before she came to an unceremonious stop, dropping a small distance onto something very squishy and slightly sticky.
She squeezed her eyes tight shut, waiting for the fire to engulf her, her lungs sucking in their last moments of air before the smoke started.
He watched in disbelief as the small basket flew through the air. He prayed the squirrels would stop; they were harmless, yes, but he couldn't control that many of them. He'd meant what he said, there was nothing he could do – if they wanted that girl down the chute then that's where she was headed, and as far as he was concerned that was where she belonged, hopefully her father would follow straight after.
But not Em.
Ms. Bucket, he corrected himself, absentmindedly.
He was unaware that he had moved to the edge of the railing to stand next to her brother, both of them gripping the railing with vice-like fingers as they watched the exchange.
The squirrels paused in their barrage to observe the young lady and he had to stop the grin from spreading across his face; she'd done it, she was safe. The squirrels wouldn't start up again – they may be dedicated workers, but they were blessed with awful short-term memory, and thanks to this new distraction they would have already forgotten about Veruca, unfortunately.
His eyes were quickly drawn from Em as Veruca's arms began to flail, her small frame toppling towards the hole. He willed her to fall, willed her father to jump in after her, willed Em to climb back up the stairs to safety.
Mr. Salt made a grab for his falling daughter and Willy was, he was ashamed to admit, disappointed when Em rushed to the man's aid. He watched as the two pulled her to safety, his eyes meeting Em's as she looked up to the group breathlessly. He tried to hide the disappointment from his face as Em looked at him in confusion.
Mr. Salt, ever the gentlemen, snatched Willy from his reverie as he pulled Em around, presumably to give her a very backhanded thank you.
Willy abstained from rolling his eyes, choosing instead to clap his hands together and prepare for the rest of the tour. He plastered a grin on his face and turned to face the Teevee family. Mrs. Teevee was, presumably, just about to speak when her eyes went wide and she let out a shocked gasp. He followed her gaze and felt his stomach drop.
Em was nowhere to be seen.
"Did he just –" Willy's question was cut off by and anguished cry.
"He pushed her!" screeched Charlie, scrambling at the bars. "He pushed my sister! She'll burn, Mr. Wonka! You have to save her, please!" begged Charlie, his panicked eyes filling with tears as he worked himself into a frenzy.
"She'll be fine, Charlie," assured Willy automatically, fighting to keep his composure as he shot daggers at Mr. Salt.
"What? But the furnace! How will she be –"
"Don't worry Charlie, your sister will be fine," he stressed, his lips thinning and his temper rising.
"Wonka, I'm so sorry, the poor girl just fell," lied Mr. Salt too easily as he called up to the group, gesturing innocently to the garbage chute. "Come on, Veruca darling, let's get you back up those stairs," simpered the man as he ushered his daughter through the sea of squirrels, the small animals watching, almost obediently, all thoughts of Em forgotten.
Willy could hear a roaring in his ears as he watched the two ascend the staircase. Ms. Bucket would be fine, yes; he'd already requested they redirect the chute away from the furnace as soon as the little brat Veruca had tried to get her hands on a squirrel. But they didn't know that. As far as Mr. Salt was aware he'd just sent an innocent young woman plunging to her death.
"Well, very unfortunate business Wonka," muttered Mr. Salt as he closed the gate behind him. "Nothing to be done about it –"
"Out."
The group looked at him in silence; Charlie's eyes swimming with tears, Mrs Teevee still gripping on to Mike, Veruca's face pulling down into a glare.
Mr. Salt looked at him, his bushy eyebrows shooting upwards.
"I beg your pardon? It sounded like you said –"
"Out," Willy ordered again, taking a step forward, his blood boiling and his anger rising. He never lost his temper, that was something he prided himself on, but in this moment he wanted these vermin gone. Mr. Salt took an alarmed step backwards, his mouth opening and closing uselessly. "Get out of my factory, right this minute," he hissed, his voice steady and his eyes blazing, an Oompa Loompa appearing gingerly at his side. "Get them out of my sight."