Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- The Loneliest Abyss

Chapter 13- Elevators and Rooms (Part 1)

Author's POV

"I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner." Mr. Wonka said as he, and the others, came near an elevator. "The elevator is by far the most efficient way to get around the factory." Everyone looked around to see a whole bunch of buttons.

"There can't be this many floors." Mike commented. Isabella looked at Mr. Wonka, "But this isn't a normal elevator, is it?" Mr. Wonka smiled at her and shook his head, "Nope. This elevator goes up, down, sideways, longways, slantways, and any other ways you can think of. You can press any button and whoosh, you're off." He pressed a button and the elevator went off to the right. Isabella kept a hold of Charlie to make sure that he didn't fall or herself. She didn't notice Tricia looking at her from the corner of her eye.

-Tricia's POV-

I had been quiet for most of the tour but now it was time to set my plan into action. Isabella would soon learn to not mess with me and what I want. It was obvious that Mr. Wonka might have some feelings for her, but I would change that soon enough. I had a feeling that Mr. Wonka would let us choose a room we wanted to go to and I would volunteer to choose one. I'll make sure that Isabella is sent home, along with that boy she came with, immediately. This was going to be fun.

-Author's POV-

After the elevator went down, it started to slow down.

"Oh, look! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to fudge mountain." Mr. Wonka said gleefully. Isabella looked at the huge mountain, apparently made of fudge, in awe.

"Wow...impressive." She said to Mr. Wonka who smiled at her comment. Charlie smiled at the interaction and Tricia glared at it. As they went by the mountain, the Oompa Loompas working on it, looked back at them and waved. Mr. Wonka waved back, "Come on, don't be shy. Wave back." He said. No one else waved so Isabella, along with Charlie, raised their hands and waved back at them. Then, just to show how "good" she was, Tricia began to wave as well.

"This is fun, don't you agree?" Mr. Wonka questioned them. Though if you looked at it closely you'd noticed that he was only talking to Charlie and Isabella.

"Yeah, it's fun." Isabella said with a grin. Mr. Wonka grinned back.

"Yeah, I agree." Charlie said. "This is fun."

"I love it all." Tricia said. Mr. Wonka gave her a smile a well, but it wasn't a full one like the one he gave Isabella and Charlie. Once he turned back around, Tricia frowned. Her plan was now definitely going to take place.

Then everyone watched as they went by a room having their wool sheared by some Oompa Loompas. "Oh!..." Mr. Wonka exclaimed making everyone look at him. "I'd rather not talk about this room..." He looked down at this. Isabella patted his back as if to say "No need to be embarrassed." He smiled at her once she placed her hand back down. She then looked down at the next room and tilted her head in confusion.

"Are those the puppets from the beginning?" She questioned. Mr. Wonka looked a little embarrassed now.

"Yeah, this is the puppet hospital and burn center...it's relatively new." He mumbled once receiving an odd look from Mr. Teavee. They then exited the clinic and the elevator stopped suddenly, making everyone crash but Mr. Wonka, Isabella, and Charlie. Isabella, because she was used to these sort of things on rides and what not, and Charlie because Isabella still had a hold on his shoulders.

Anyways, after a quick stop at the 'Administrative offices" and a quick hello to Doris, from Mr. Wonka, they all headed towards a room. It was a testing field apparently. The Oompa Loompas in it were shooting what appeared to be giant gobstoppers. After a while of watching that, Mike made another comment.

"Why is everything here completely pointless?" Charlie and Isabella turned to him, sick of his comments.

"Candy doesn't have to have a point." Charlie said. "That's why it's candy." Isabella nodded.

"I agree and if you don't like it then why are you here, in a chocolate factory of all places?" She questioned. "You're obviously wasting your time here just making unnecessary comments." She then turned around but not before noting the pleased look on Mr. Wonka's face. She gave him a small smile in return before looking away.

"It's stupid. Candy is a waste of time." Mike continued.

-Isabella's POV-

After that comment from Mike, I looked at Willy to see that he was in another one of his trances. I shook my head feeling more sorry for the man. It happened with each little episode that he had, he really must have had a bad childhood. Whilst I tried to get him out his reverie, Charlie continued to defend Willy and what he was doing around here. I was proud of him.

Then, after a moment, I felt a hand curl around my own. I looked at Willy to see him looking down at me.

"Are you alright?" I questioned worriedly. He smiled, "Yeah...I'll be alright, it'll pass." He then let go of my hand and turned around. I did the same, though my hand now felt all tingly for some reason.

"Mr. Wonka?" I heard Tricia suddenly call out. Willy turned and looked at her, "Yes?" He questioned.

"I want to pick a room, can I?" She questioned. I watched as Willy smiled and nodded. I felt a sudden despair rise over me as Tricia hit a button.

"This cannot end well." I thought as the elevator went down, then right, and then it stopped. We all then exited the elevator.

"Oh!" I heard Willy say rather excitedly. I then watched as he looked back at Tricia, "Good eye, this is one of my favorite rooms." He said with a smile. Tricia returned it and I felt rather...off about it. Like there was something behind it.

"Hmm..." I thought as we exited the elevator. "I suppose I'll find out later, if it reveals itself."

"What room is this?" I heard Charlie question. I wanted to know as well.

Willy smiled, gleefully, "This is the Bubble room." He said. I tilted my head, confused and more curious now.

"What is it about?" I questioned. He smiled at me before walking over to the door. He posed like he was presenting something before saying, "Why don't you all go in and see." I stood there and watched as Charlie walked over to the door. He looked back at us, I gave him a thumbs up sign, before he opened the door.

"I don't...cool..." I heard Charlie say.

"What do you see?" I questioned him. He smiled at me, "Come and see!" He said excitedly. I walked over to where he was standing and looked around. Wow is all I have to say. The room was kind of big and you could see these huge, and small, bubbles floating around. They were also different colors.

"Neat, isn't it?" I heard Willy question from beside me. I looked and him and nodded, "Yeah, what can you do in this room?" I questioned. He smiled.

"Well, for starters you can jump around on them, you can make them bigger if you want to, you can lay on them and just let everything float away, or you can play a nice game of tag." He explained.

"That's ridiculous." I heard Mike comment. "You can' touch a bubble, let alone jump on one, without it popping." I turned and looked at him.

"But, you forget one thing Mike..." I said. He looked at me with an eyebrow raised. I smiled.

"Willy here isn't your regular inventor, he's made all sorts of things that the scientific community would prove impossible, you've seen all the intention he's made, even if some don't work to it's fullest, he still managed to get them this far." I said. "So, I highly doubt that this is just a regular bubble room because it would really contradict everything else we've seen so far." I then turned back around to look at the bubbles in the room.

-Willy's POV-

As Isabella was praising all the things I had invented, I couldn't help but feel a strange warmth arise in my chest. I had felt odd with each kind thing she has said about me or my inventions, or any other kind thing she has done. Like in the elevator, when she was trying to snap me out of my...memory...when my hand curled around her own I felt a bit of a shock before it went away.

Anyways looking around at the bubbles for a moment, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on with me.

-Charlie's POV-

As Isabella was talking about how great Mr. Wonka's inventions were, I looked at said man to see pink cross his face before it quickly went away. Then he turned around and looked back at the bubbles. I now knew that there was definitely something going on between my cousin and Mr. Wonka, even if they didn't realize it. I think it would be cool if they got together, it would mean that I get to spend time with my cousin more, I mean she doesn't live here and just before she arrived I had only seen younger pictures of her, none of recent, and we only communicated through letters. My other family members, besides the ones I live with, all don't really want anything to do with us. She's the only member who really cares. That's one of the reasons for why she's my favorite cousin, she would be even if I knew the others.

Anyways, as I was thinking about all this only one worry came to my mind...Tricia. It was obvious that she didn't like Isabella for I've seen the glares and expressions she sent her way. And I believe that Isabella has noticed too.

"I just hope nothing happens." I thought worriedly. It had been calm so far but who knows what will happen now...

-Tricia's POV-

Disgusted, and Angrily, I listened as Isabella talked about how great Mr. Wonka's inventions were. I saw the blush that went across said man's face and that only fueled my desire to get him to myself and to get rid of Isabella long enough for me to "woo" him. It was obvious that he was getting rid of the naughty children and seeing who would be last. If Isabella got into an "accident" in this room she would have to leave, along with that boy, and since the Teavee kid was obviously annoying Mr. Wonka I can tell that he won't last much longer. That'll leave me with the prize and a chance to get what I came here for.

"Now, let's get this party started." I thought before walking over to Mr. Wonka. He looked at me, somewhat nervously, out of the corner of his eye. I smiled like I didn't notice.

"Hey, how are we supposed to jump on them?" I questioned. He grinned before watching as a bubble came pass him. He then jumped on it and it didn't pop. He started to dance on it, which was odd, then when it came back down he jumped from it.

"That's how." He said. I nodded, "Nice." Then I frowned, "But what if they do pop? Not say that they will, but what if they do?" Everyone turned to look at him at this point. He sighed.

"Well..." He started. "The bubbles are poppable, but only if something really sharp pokes them or if one of the other bubbles bumps into it at a certain speed level." I nodded, "And what speed level would that be, exactly?" He, and the others, looked at me oddly as I asked this. I raised my hands, "I just want to know incase one comes flying at me."

Mr. Wonka was silent for a moment, "I suppose around maybe 3 or 4..." He said before turning around and motioning towards the bubbles. "Anyways! You're all welcome to jump around on them, just try not to hurt anyone..." I could see his eyes glance at me quickly before looking forwards. He's already suspicious of me? I guess he's not as oblivious as I thought.

"Now it's time to set my plan into action." I thought watching as Isabella and the boy she came with jump onto the bubbles. Then the Teavee boy, surprisingly, but his father stayed on the ground along with Mr. Wonka. Then another bubble came down near me. I jumped on it.

-Isabella's POV-

I watched as Charlie jumped from bubble to bubble, it was amusing to tell you the truth.

"Are you having fun Charlie?" I questioned as I got nearer. He nodded, "Yeah! This'll be fun to tell mom and dad about." He said. I laughed, "They'll probably look at you like you've cracked. I can imagine their faces." Charlie then laughed too. Whilst we were doing that I didn't notice someone getting nearer to my bubble. I then saw another bubble so I jumped onto it and another.

"Hey!" I heard a voice making me jump a little. I turned around to see Willy sitting cross-legged on a bubble. I glared at him, "Don't do that. You scared me." He chuckled, "Sorry, I just wanted to see your face when I did it." I rolled my eyes whilst shaking my head. I then looked off to where Charlie was, to make sure he was alright, before looking off to where Mike was.

"I'm surprised he's joining in all this." I commented.

"You aren't the only one." Willy responded as we both looked at Mike. We then saw him push a bubble towards another one, making both of them pop. Well that explains why he's up here..

Anyways, turning back to Willy, I smiled "So, Mr. Chocolate Man, why are the bubbles different colors? Why not keep it one color?" I questioned. He smiled, "Well, you can eat the bubbles if you want...wouldn't reccomend it...but you can." I raised an eyebrow.

"Reccomend what?" I heard Tricia question coming near us. I looked at her, "Willy said that you can eat the bubbles." I siad. "But he wouldn't recommend you try."

"Why?" She questioned looking at Willy. He sighed, "Well, an Oompa Loompa once ate one of them and it took a week in a half to get it out of his system and along the way well...let's just say that it's not something you want to see...or hear...everyday." He said before looking down. I had nothing to say about that. We all then sat there, in silence, before Willy looked down, "Oh!" He said. I looked down and saw an Oompa Loompa motioning for him to come down. He looked at us, "I'll be back." He then went down. After that I looked at Tricia, who was staring at me.

"Well..." I started, feeling the tension in the air. "I'm going to go over to Charlie." I then led my bubble over to him. I didn't see the menacing look she sent my way. Neither did I know what was about to happen...