CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
It seemed as if they were going for miles and miles. Charlie came to a sudden halt.
"What do you think you're doing?" Merry hissed. "We've got to hurry or else we'll be seen!"
Charlie was panting. "I… can't… go any… further… we must've been going for hours… and miles…"
"Your point is?"
"Where exactly are we going?"
Merry rolled his eyes. "You didn't actually think I was going to tell you, did you?"
Charlie looked confused.
Merry shook his head and tugged on Charlie's arm. "Come now, we haven't got much time to lose."
After twenty-five hours of leaving the camp, Merry had brought Charlie in the depths of the deepest cave he had even seen. It was immensely dark—Charlie was surprised that Merry knew where he was going once they had reached the cave.
"Jump." Merry whispered.
"Where are we?" Charlie said wearily.
"I said, JUMP!" Merry hissed. "On my count. One… two… three!"
And on the count of three, they jumped. And to Charlie's surprise, they were in the greenest of land. The trees and plants were lush, with nice growing fruit. There were buildings in bright colors. It was the most tranquil place Charlie had ever been in—so calm and so soothing. However, the river that ran through the place was a dark, musky, brown color…
"Hello, and you must be Charlie!" exclaimed a high-pitched voice. All of a sudden, a man with a top hat and purple lipstick appeared. He walked towards Charlie with an unnaturally huge grin on his face. "I'm—"
"Park it, Wonka," interrupted Merry. "We're not here because of your golden ticket scam."
"Oh." The man said, disappointed. "Well, then, just don't touch anything. Especially that river!" And he disappeared.
"Where in the world are we?" Charlie screeched.
"Shh, not so loud!" Merry whispered. "You'll disturb the Oompa Loompas!"
"Oompa WHAT?"
"Do you want to know what's going on or don't you?"
"Yes!"
"Then sit down and you better listen up!" The both of them sat down in the oddly feeling grass. "This island that you're on, that you can't get off of…"
"Sure we can! Once the raft is finished…"
"Shut up! And, no you can't. There's no possible way for you to get off. You're stuck."
"What?"
"If you try to get off, it will pull you back in."
"What?"
"Just listen to me!"
"How do you know all this?"
Merry sighed. "You really want me to start from the beginning?"
"Yes."
"You positive?"
"Yes."
"You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes!"
"Really?"
"Just get on with it, will you?"
"Well, then, here it goes…"
Charlie listened intently as Merry went through his story. It was almost as if it was played out for him, like a film in his mind…