Disclaimer: I don't own Coraline. I only own my OCs
Charlie sat at the kitchen table, letting her pencil guide her hand across the sketchbook's page. Occasionally she would gaze out the window and watch the rain beat against it. In this small town, freak rain showers in the summer were not uncommon.
"He wants complete custody over Charlie and money to compensate for all the grievances I have caused him!" shouted Coraline from the hall. Charlie turned her head towards the kitchen's doorway, focusing on her mother's words. Charlie listened to the ancient floor groan as Coraline paced back and forth. "Yes, we had a prenup when we got married! It was his idea!" There was a pause before Coraline shouted: "The reason he wants complete custody is that he believes I am too mentally unsound!" There was another pause, "You want me to do what?" she asked. Another pause, before she said "Build a case against him," Coraline paused again before she said: "I have to go now, Lauren. Good-bye and thank you again."
Charlie heard the floor groan even louder as another set of feet walked across the hall. "Coraline, you know you have too," said Grandma Mel. "You heard didn't you?" asked Coraline. "You were kind of loud," joked Mel. "We agreed to keep it a simple divorce, then he goes around and does this!" "All I know is that you have to fight for Charlie," "Ok, thanks, Mom. I'm gonna go up to my room and finish editing my new novel,"
Charlie listened to the thuds of her mother rushing up to the stairs. "You heard didn't you?" asked Grandma Mel as she walked into the kitchen. "She was kind of loud," replied Charlie with a smile.
"Do you have any questions? Or would you prefer your mom to answer them?" asked Grandma Mel as she rubbed Charlie's back. "No, but if I do I will ask Mom," answered Charlie.
"I know your mom doesn't like you having dolls like these, but I found this in a box in the living room," said Grandma Mel as she handed Charlie a small brightly wrapped box. Charlie tore through the paper and open the box's lid. Inside laid a small doll with dark brown hair made of yarn, light brown skin made of cloth, and big black buttons for eyes. The doll was dressed in black jeans, a white blouse, grey boots, and a bright purple coat.
"A mini-me? Did you have it made just for me?" asked Charlie as she examined the doll. "I don't remember, but I'm assuming I did a while ago," answered Mel.
"I was wondering if I can go over to Junior's today?" asked Charlie. "Did you ask your mother?" asked Grandma Mel. Charlie nodded in response.
"And what did your mother say?" questioned Grandma Mel. "She said it's raining too hard, so no," answered Charlie with a pleading look. "Then I'm sorry sweetheart, but I'm going to agree with your mother and besides rain makes mud and mud makes a mess," "Mom said you would say something like that if I asked you," "Did she also say-" "That it's ironic because you and Grandpa write about plants and you hate dirt? Yeah, she did,"
"How about you talk to your grandfather? He could you use the company while he finishes his new gardening piece," suggested Grandma Mel. "Ok," answered Charlie. She quickly gathered up her pencils when she noticed the image she had been sketching. It was her father being drowned in the pouring rain. Charlie ripped the page from her sketchbook and tossed the page into the trash.
Charlie left the kitchen and walked down the hall, entering Grandpa Charlie's study.
Grandpa Charlie's study was a nuclear bomb site of papers, books, and files. At the center of this mess was her grandfather, facing away from the door, eyes glued to the screen of his ancient computer. All Charlie could hear was the sound of his fingers clicking and clacking against the keys, matching perfectly with the pouring rain.
Grandpa Charlie noticed his grandaughter on the screen and turned to her: "Ah, my second favorite Charlie and-" he looked down at the doll in her hand, "my third favorite Charlie?" "Hey Grandpa, Grandma sent me to keep you company," said Charlie as she sat in the chair next to the door.
"You know your mother had a mini-me doll with button eyes when we first moved here," said Grandpa Charlie. "She did?" asked Charlie. "Yeah, your Uncle Wybie gave it to her. He found it the bottom of his grandma's trunk. She would take it everywhere with her," answered Granpa Charlie. "Then why is she so scared of dolls like these?" "I don't know, you should ask her sometime. But all I know when we asked her about it, she said she lost it. But I'm assuming she got rid of it," Charlie nodded and pulled out her sketchbook beginning to let her pencil guide her.
Grandpa Charlie looked at his granddaughter through the screen, her bored expression was clear. He chewed on his bottom lip for a minute, as he thought of a way to entertain his only grandchild. He turned back to face her and asked: "You said you wanted to be a detective when you grow up?" "Yeah, that or an artist," she answered. "Well, this house is over 150 years old and I need a detective to search this house and uncover all of its secrets. If you find anything suspicious, sketch it and report back to me at dinner,"
Charlie stood up and said loudly: "Sir Yes Sir!" as she saluted him. Charlie was about to leave the study when her grandfather said: "Detective Williams, I believe you will need these?" as he held up a pen and a notepad. "Thanks, Grandpa," as she accepted the notepad and marched out of the study.
Charlie marched her way to her room, which was her mother's childhood room. Across the hall was Coraline's room. The door was open and Coraline was sitting at her desk, typing away on her laptop. Charlie looked down at the doll in her hand and quickly rushed into her room.
Charlie's room was plain and empty, the walls were still the faded pink and the floors were still the ancient brown wood. The small twin bed was still the same one Coraline slept in and was still sitting in the same place. Even the bedsheets were still the same. The same white chair sat on one side and the same white nightstand sat on the other side. The only thing that made the room unique to Charlie was the many sketches and paintings she has done that were tapped to the walls.
Charlie picked up her sketchbook and began searching the room for anything unusual. She was about to give up and move to her mother's room when she opened a small cupboard and found a small cardboard box layered in dust. She opened the box and found shards of red, black, and white glass.
She began sketching the box with the shards inside. When she was done, Charlie felt satisfied that she had thoroughly searched the room, she collected her things and left the room.
For the next two hours, Charlie explored her grandparents' home. All she found was:
Colorful shards of a ball, a ring, and a handle of a tractor
Exactly forty-two traps mousetraps
The frame of a mirror, the glass was missing
Charlie finished her quest in the living room. She sat in one of the comfy armchairs, sketching her version of the painting above the fireplace. Her notebook, doll, and satchel were sitting on the coffee table.
Charlie held her version of the sad boy up to the one on the wall. She was about to pick up the doll and when she noticed it was gone. Charlie dropped to the floor and looked under the coffee table, scanning for the doll. She stood up and muttered: "Alright, you better show yourself. Mom will not appreciate you being in this house."
She turned around and noticed something bright and purple under the giant bookshelf. Charlie walked over to the bookshelf and peered under it. There was the doll laying among the dust and cobwebs. Charlie stretched her arm under the bookshelf and grabbed the doll.
As she pulled the doll from under the bookshelf, she noticed what appeared to be an outline of the bottom portion of a small door. Charlie set the doll next to the bookshelf and grabbed her phone. She turned on the flashlight and peered under again.
Charlie squinted and strained her eyes. Behind the dust and cobwebs, and covered by her grandparents' bland wallpaper, Charlie could see the outline of the bottom portion of a small door. She switched to her camera and took a few pictures of the door.
She reached for her notebook and wrote:
A little door behind the living room bookcase
Charlie set her notebook down and began sketching the little door, using more of her imagination than her sight.
At dinner time, the three Jones and one Williams sat at the kitchen table. As Grandpa Charlie was serving his take on tuna casserole and sauteed spinach and kale, he sang: "Oh, my twitchy witchy girl I think you are so nice, I give you bowls of porridge and I give you bowls of ice cream,"
"Alright ladies, you all know the drill," stated Grandpa Charlie as he tossed his "Roast the Cook," apron, that Coraline gave him five Christmases ago, onto the counter. Mel was the first to take a bite and stated: "Definitely not your worst."
Coraline lifted her fork, swallowed, and stated: "I can second with Mom." She turned to Charlie who reluctantly took a small bite. Charlie gagged and asked, "You sure this isn't Grandpa's worst?" "Either your tastebuds are sensitive or mine have become numb," stated Coraline as she took another bite.
"Detective Williams, what strange things have found around the house?" asked Grandpa Charlie as he set down his fork. "I have found some glass shards in my room," started Charlie before Coraline asked, "What colors were the shards?"
"Black, red, and white," answered Charlie "What were they?" Coraline paused before answering: "The red shards were once a ball with a yellow star on it, the white shards were once a pearl ring, and the black shards were once the handle to a tractor."
"Where did you get them?" asked Grandma Mel. "I was in a treasure hunt and I had to find them," answered Coraline. "And what did you win?" "I don't know anymore," replied Coraline as she took a sip of water.
"I found exactly forty-two mouse traps, the frame of a mirror down the hall, and a little door behind the bookcase in the living room," continued Charlie.
Coraline coughed on her glass of water as she heard the words little door. "Coraline are you alright?" asked Grandma Mel. Coraline reassured her mother as she set down her glass. She turned to Charlie and asked: "Where did you find that little door?" "I was looking around the living room and looked under the bookcase and found it," answered Charlie.
"For now on, I don't want you around that door," stated Coraline. "Why?" asked Charlie. "It's dangerous" answered Coraline. "Why is it dangerous?" asked Charlie. "It just is," snapped Coraline.
"Sweetheart, don't be so cryptic. Charlie, there's nothing behind the door expect bricks. And besides Rats just tend to hang around that area of the house," replied Grandpa Charlie as he took a bite of his casserole.
With the budding tension eased, the family continued their dinner, only having small and awkward conversations.
Later that night, Charlie sat on her bed. She was mindlessly sketching in her sketchbook. She glanced over at her nightstand and looked at one of the framed pictures. It showed a trip to the Central Park Zoo that she, her mom, and her dad took two years ago. There were all standing in front and smiling.
Why did have to go wrong, she wondered. Was it her dad who left them? Was it her mom who drove him away? Was it her?
Charlie immediately slammed the photo down, pulled out her phone, and pulled up Junior's number.
Charlie
You up?
Junior
Yup
What is it?
Charlie
I'm worried about my mom
Junior
Why?
Charlie
She's being weird
More than usual
Junior
How?
Charlie
She's afraid of this house
Junior
When is she not?
Charlie
Fair enough
But more so than usual
And she is being even more secretive
Idk what to do
Junior
Want me to come over tomorrow?
Charlie
Yeah
Junior
Ok
Charlie
There is something else
Junior
What?
Before Charlie could reply, a thundering crash came from downstairs.
Charlie
I have to go
Something just happened
Charlie threw her phone on the bed and rushed out of her room.
"Did you hear that?" she asked Coraline as Coraline raced out of her room as well. "Yeah I did," answered Coraline.
"What happened?" asked Grandpa Charlie as he rushed down the hall, with Grandma Mel on his tail. "I don't know," answered Coraline. "I heard something crash downstairs, it sounded heavy," said Charlie.
Grandpa Charlie turned towards the stairs and led the party to the first floor. Grandpa Charlie went to check his study, Grandma Mel and Charlie went to check the kitchen, and Coraline immediately checked the living room
In the living room, everything seemed alright, until a large dark mass laid on the floor. Coraline held her breath as she turned on the lights and what she saw drained the color from her skin. The large mass was on the ground was the large bookcase that once sat in front of the little door. It was in pieces, the legs were broken off, shelves were snapped in half, and there were scratches all over it. Peeking behind the fallen bookcase she could see the outline of the little door.
Coraline's heart pounded as she slowly crept towards the fallen bookcase. She saw on the back there were scratch marks, in the shape of her single hand.
"Mom! Dad!" yelled Coraline as her heart began pounding faster and louder. She began taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself. But each breath she pulled felt more impossible. She frantically scanned the room, looking for rats or the hand made of needles.
Everyone raced into the room and gasped at the sight of the bookcase.
"Coraline, are you alright?" asked Grandma Mel as she raced over to Coraline. "How did this happen?" wondered Grandpa Charlie as he took a closer look at the bookcase.
"Mom? You look sick. Are you ok?" asked Charlie. Coraline looked at her daughter and her eyes widened in fear. No, no, not Charlie she thought. After twenty-eight years, she shows no signs, but tonight she does. Why couldn't she have died, Coraline cried internally.
The destruction of the bookcase wasn't a simple warning, it was a threat. Coraline's head began to pound at the thoughts that were protruding her head. She stared at the door and it looked like something was banging on the other side, desperately trying to get out. She could hear her screams, "Don't leave me! Don't leave me! I'll die without out you!"
The room began to spin for Coraline. She couldn't feel her legs and suddenly the floor came closer to her head. The last thing she heard was her parents screaming her name and Charlie screaming "Mom!" And then everything went black for Coraline.
Here is chapter 2, sorry it took so long. Quarantine forced me to sit down and finish this chapter. Thank you for all the reviews and constructive criticism. I listened to all your advice and so Charlie Sr. and Mel are now being called Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Mel and I tried to make the speaking parts more readable. I hope you all enjoyed. Leave a review and I'm always opened for constructive criticism.