Nutty For Wonka

by Jadyne Farrow

Matilda Prescott, ten going on eleven and a dedicated Wonkarer. For years, she's idolized Mr. Wonka. And with her notebook of ideas inspired by him and his factory being located in the city she lives in, what could be better? But one day, things begin to turn dark. Classmates have been disappearing one by one; and the last place they were seen was near the Wonka factory...

33. Flying Fizzies

(Matilda's POV)

I struggle against the hypnosis as I stay stuck in partial trance. He's pretty powerful, but then again, I am as well, just in different respects.

"Gotta….break….free…." I groan.

I try to think of things to keep me alert, but his spell is stubborn. I begin to feel beads of sweat form on my forehead and fall on my eyes, stinging. I try to blink rapidly, but it feels like my eyelids are made of heavy steel.

But soon with a groan of persistence, I break free. I pull the IV out of my arm, trying to block out the pain as I struggle against the straps.

"Hey!" I yell to one of the Oompa-Loompas.
"You!"

"You're supposed to be in trance, mistress," she squeaks.

"I can't," I whimper.
"The straps are too tight. Can you loosen them please?"

I give her my best puppy dog eyes and she complies.

"They're still too tight."

She loosens them.

"A little more," I say as I feel my legs and arms beginning to have more room to move. I just need to make it so that they're loose enough for me to pull them out of the straps without struggle. They're almost there.

"Just a bit more," I say.

This is it, I think as I prepare to bolt to the door. She loosens the final time and I jump out.

"The mistress is escaping!" the Oompa Loompa squeaks.
"All Oompa-Loompas report to the conversion lab. The mistress is escaping. I repeat! The mistress is escaping!"

I click the handle and bolt out of the lab. My heart pounding in my chest, I make a snap decision and start to dash to the left.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

And then left again.

Wait a second. Isn't this the exact same hallway I just went down?

I suddenly hear Wonka laughing maniacally through an intercom.

"I figured you'd try to get out. You thought you could escape, my dear?" it asks.
"Well, you're wrong. I am in control of this factory and I can bend it to my will even when I am not inside."

All of a sudden, the room starts to spin.

"Round and round and round she goes," he taunts in a sing-song voice.
"Where she stops, only Wonka knows!"

i begin to feel dizzy when I spy the door to the nut room. As if it read my mind, the room speeds up, sending me flying in the air. How am I flying?

"This is insane!" I scream as my eyes dart around for something-anything-to hold onto for support.

"You'll get used to it, daughter," Wonka laughs maddened.
"Now I must get to the tour. You be good and I'll let you help decide who you marry out of the three boys who won the tickets."

"Wait. What?" I gasp in disbelief.
"I'm too young to get married!"

"Not if your father says you can get married. And who might that be? Oh, that's right. It's me!"

His laugh begins to borderline-in fact somewhat cross the line-on pure insanity.

"Now sit back and enjoy the flight. It's going to be a good one.."

My eyes dart around when I suddenly see the nut room door handle again. It passes me by and an idea strikes me.

"Alright," I say breathing.
"On three. One."

It passes me by again.

"Two."

And then again.

"Three!"

I launch myself towards it, timing it just right in order to grab onto the handle. The force Wonka activated blows against me, but I persist in spite of it. I push down on the handle and the door goes flying inward. I push myself inside and grab onto the other side. I drop to the floor as I push the door shut.

"Phew!" I breathe with a sigh of relief.
"Now to find…..all of…..my…friends."

Immediately two Oompa Loompas walk out of the conversion chamber I saw Sophie and James in earlier. And their eyes are locked dead onto me.