(Charlie's POV):
After Matilda's taken away, I pop out from behind my hiding place. All I see is a tray propped against the door, leaving it open slightly. Taking advantage of this, I pop my head through the door and look around.
"I don't see anyone," I utter to myself.
Stepping outside, I try to figure out where to go next. With Matilda in danger, I can't just leave the factory, And apparently, there are other people as well.
Another problem? I don't have a clue what the factory layout is like, so I'm sort of wandering an endless labyrinth.
"Think, Charlie. Think," I groan.
"What else did Matilda mention?"
I think back to our conversation earlier.
"It seems Wonka's not as great as I imagined him to be. He's also turned our friends into squirrels and has attempted to kill the other four ticket winners."
"Squirrels," I whisper.
And at that moment, I stop in front of it. From inside it, I hear loud cheering and footsteps.
The Nut Room.
All of a sudden, the door swings open.
(James' POV):
Sneaking inside of the nut room, we find that the squirrels are now chained by one of their legs. We hear small squeaks of sadness as they are forced to open nuts one by one.
"Go on," Violet urges Veruca, giving her a nudge.
Hesitantly, Veruca walks down the steps.
"H-hey there, guys," she says timidly.
The squirrels glare at her, ready to attack.
"Now, I know that I was…really selfish and…..bratty, but I have a way to make up for it."
She sets down the box and takes out a vial, holding it out for the squirrels to see.
"These vials," she continues, now sounding a bit like a public speaker.
"Can turn you back to normal. All we need after this is your help."
The squirrels tilt their heads in confusion.
"See, my cousin, Matilda. She's been taken by Wonka and he wants to not just make her his daughter, but also use her to take over the world."
We hear squeaks of alarm and fear.
"Now you think I'm probably the last person you'd want to trust at this point, and I know that, but you have to listen to me. We need your help. And I'm sorry for being so selfish."
Cautiously she tiptoes over to the nearest squirrel and, with a shaking hand, hands them the vial. The squirrel gives it a sniff and then slowly takes it from her before slowly drinking it. All of a sudden, we hear the sound of metal snapping and the squirrel sprouting up. In its place is a human boy with dark brown hair.
"I'm free," he says as if almost confused.
"After five years of imprisonment, I'm finally free!"
He extends his hand to Veruca.
"Name's Cartwright; Hannibal Cartwright. Sorry about attacking you there, Veruca. Instincts and obedience training kicked in."
Veruca, hesitantly, takes his hand and shakes it.
"Wait," I say shocked and confused.
"You've been here for five years?"
He looks up at me and nods before running over to the box and then to another squirrel and freeing them. I jump over the railing and climb down the stairs to save time and the others follow suit. The squirrels begin to cheer before being turned into human and cheering in their human voices.
Soon enough all of them are human once more.
"Lands' sakes!" one of the girls post-transformation gasps as she looks at us before waving violently.
"Violet Beauregarde? Is that you?"
Violet stares at her confused.
"It's me, Cornelia Prinzmetal! We were the finalists for the Georgia Gum Chewing Contest together when we were eight!"
"Cornelia? How'd you get here?"
"Long story."
"Wonka was kidnapping from all over the world? Geez Louise!" Alfie exclaims.
"Hey. What'd I do to you?" a girl with a British dialect snaps as she puts her hands on her hips.
"'E didn't mean you, Louise," a boy with a Cockney dialect assures her.
"Hey, you look familiar," I realize, pointing to him.
"By any chance do you know William Carmichael?"
He nods eagerly.
"'E's me older brother," he says enthusiastically.
He then bows as her removes his newsboy cap.
"Octavius Carmichael, at yor service! 'Ow's 'e been?"
"He picks on Charlie and I after school now."
"Me big brother, pickin' on yeh and yeh friend, eh? That ain't like 'im."
"Enough formalities," I announce.
"We need to find Matilda and Charlie and then get the heck out of here!"
Turning around, I head up the stairs and jump back over the railing before racing and opening to the door, only to see a familiar face.
(Charlie's POV):
The crowd stops short when they see me.
"Charlie?" a voice in front of me asks.
I look to see James in his outfit he wore to Matilda's party.
"Oh goodness! James!"
We embrace each other.
"You're okay!"
"We found the antidote. But Charlie. What are you doing here?"
"I found the last golden ticket. Wonka told me I had won, but then I felt a blow to the head and I woke up in a chocolate statue. Matilda's been taken. But James. Her father's not dead."
"They know," a voice says as it emerges from the Nut Room.
With his brown hair and tired eyes, I recognize him immediately.
"Mr. Prescott," I say with a little chuckle in my voice.
"It's been a long time."
"Same to you, Charlie, my boy. But you said my little girl's been taken. Where is she?"
"I….don't know. Matilda left a tray in the doorway of the room where we were being held captive so I could escape."
"Well then. Let's go back there."
Once we head back to the room, my eye immediately catches a trail of chocolate pieces.
"Hansel and Gretel," I gasp.
"Classic. But who would leave these behind?"
Dorian steps to the front and takes a brief look at it.
"Daisy Bloom, possibly. It could be her trying to lead us to Matilda. Or it could be Wonka trying to lure us into a trap."
"Or both," Sophie suggests.
"You go on a'ead," a boy with a Cockney dialect tells us.
"We'll be close behind if yeh need any 'elp."
"I thought you said you were gonna help us."
"I didn't say nothin' of the sort. I still wanna get used to being 'uman after 3 years."
There's a ripple of agreement amongst the others.
"Okay," I say shrugging.
And the twelve of us run off, following the trail of chocolate.