This chapter is a bit shorter than the rest, but I couldn't think of any more to add that wouldn't make it drag on and on and on...

So...now we're getting somewhere, guys.

I walked into your house this morning
I brought the gun from our end table
Your blood was strewn across the walls
They'll find you on your bathroom floor when I'm done
But should I write it all off?

You should have killed me when you had the chance

-You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance, A Day To Remember


Coraline Jones had never gone to bed so angry.

She was angry at Wybie, that much she was sure of. How could he be so immature? Was it just impossible fro him to accept that she had another friend too? She thought Wybie was her friend, and that he would understand.

'But he didn't,' she told herself, 'what kind of friend is that? And him complaining about how I wasn't listening to him? He's just so…'

There were no words to describe how she felt, so, grabbing her pillow and pressing it against her face she groaned loudly, frustrated and still very angry. Deep down, she knew that it wasn't just Wybie she was angry at. She was angry at herself, too.

Coraline hadn't understood anything Wybie had been trying to tell her, but somehow it made her mad. She hadn't wanted to shout at him, but she couldn't help herself.

If this was puberty, it really, really sucked.

Glancing down at the locket, she was wearing, she sighed. She was so tired, but she had to get up to take it off before she went to bed, lest it break while she slept.

As soon as the menial task was done, Coraline checked to make sure the window was only slightly open, just in case Cat decided to show up during the night. Besides, there were still a few nights left before the weather would turn cold for autumn.

Coraline fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit her pillow, all the sounds outside quickly becoming fuzzy and indistinguishable.

Only when a cold hand was placed over her mouth did Coraline realize that something was amiss, and let out a muted scream as she was wrenched out of her bed and taken somewhere she couldn't recognize, her blurry, sleepy vision doing her no favors.

Neither her captor nor Coraline herself noticed the glowing blue eyes that witnessed it all.

Cat quickly climbed through Coraline's open window, scanning around for any signs of what exactly was going on. If he was going to do anything, he needed to know what to do, and how to do it. Padding around the girl's room, he discovered muddy footprints and shreds of grass. It hadn't been raining that day, Cat knew, so there was only one place where there would be mud.

The old well.

'That's impossible. There is no way that anyone could have gotten the key…'

Despite how much Cat wanted to deny the possibility, all of these clues added up to one thing.

The Beldam had taken her back.

Jumping on top of the dresser, cat grabbed the only item that could help: that accursed locket. Picking it up in his teeth, Cat climbed back out the open window and towards a familiar house.

Cat could do nothing to save Coraline from this captor, not alone. And he knew someone who would be willing to help.

When Coraline finally came to her senses she only knew too well where she was.

This place looked like her house, exactly like it, but Coraline wasn't fooled this time. Looking around, she tried in vain to stand up. A strong, booted foot kept her pinned to the wall, and she looked up to see Sebastian. Only, this Sebastian looked different.

His eyes were completely black, so dark that they looked soulless and empty. His skin was paler, and the crooked grin he gave her was full of malice.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," even his voice sounded distorted, "did I frighten you?"

"Let. Me. Go." Coraline said firmly, giving him a powerful glare, "why are you doing this?"

"Because I'm supposed to," Sebastian said simply, "mother said."

Coraline's blood ran cold, "she's…"

"Alive? I suppose," Sebastians grin faltered only slightly, "only just, but she gets stronger every day, as do I."

"Who…What are you?" Coraline asked, trying to keep her face neutral.

"You don't know?" Now Sebastian's eyes narrowed, "you don't know even when you are the sole reason I exist?"

"What are you--" Coraline gasped as Sebastian picked her up by the shoulders and slammed her forcefully against the wall.

"You are the one that got away, Coraline Jones. Mother hates to lose. Mother hates that you won her game, she hates you, you wicked child!" Sebastian's voice grew louder with every word.

"Do you know what mother does when she feels so much hate, malice, and pain? You don't know. I'll tell you." Sebastian leaned in, close to Coraline's face, "she gives it a body."

Coraline tried to speak, but the words were stuck in her throat. If she could have screamed, both in pain and fear, she probably would have.

"Do you understand now, child? I am one of her living dolls, the very embodiment of her hate, of her rage, and you are the reason I exist. My only purpose is to make sure you pay.

"So I suppose I ought to thank you, Coraline Jones." Sebastian suddenly threw Coraline against the opposite wall, his expression twisted in rage,. Ignoring Coraline's gasp of pain, the monstrous boy continued, "thank you for this patchwork body! Thank you for this incomplete life! Nothing will ever match my gratitude, Coraline! Not even my hate."

Pinning her to the wall once more, Sebastian's wicked, mocking grin returned. His rancid breath choked Coraline, almost to the point where she couldn't breathe at all. Searching this being's soulless eyes, she could almost feel the painful pangs of rage emanating from his body. Before Coraline could catch her breath, Sebastian let her drop to the ground, and he loomed over her threateningly.

"Think of this as a gift, Coraline, another adventure. The only difference, of course, is that you won't be getting away this time."