Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the movie Paranorman
Omitted Memories Chapter 2
It was a quiet morning at the Babcock house as Courtney sat on the couch holding her phone up to her ear as she used her other hand to paint her toenails.
"I know, I mean I like Susan a lot but she and Josh do not have anything in common. I mean I honestly don't even see this relationship lasting more then a week" She said into her phone as she carefully painted onto toenails. She suddenly saw a shadow come over from behind her as she looked up to see who it was. "Jill. I'll call you back later. I got to go bye." Courtney said as she hung up the phone and turned to look at the person behind he "What do you want dad?" she asked.
"Well, honey the thing is Normans not in his room, so that must mean he stayed the night at Neil's. So I was wondering if you could go and pick him up." Her father asked as he looked at his daughter.
Courtney let out a loud groan as she sat up and glared at her dad. "Do I have to, why can't you go and pick him up yourselves. I mean its Saturday and I'm busy with stuff."
"Listen I need to help your mom in the kitchen, and besides you and your brother have not really spent time together so in your mother's opinion you should spend some time with him." Her dad said as he turned and headed back into the kitchen leaving Courtney staring in shock and annoyance before she let out another groan.
She then hopped off the couch and stomped over to her sandals and opens the walked over to the door and threw it open as she walked out slamming it behind her.
Courtney walked to the front door of Neil's house and quickly gave it a knock. She waited for a few seconds before she heard it open to see Mitch standing at the doorway.
"Hello Mitch, I'm here to pick up Norman." Courtney said as she looked at Neil's older brother who looked at her with confusion before he turned his head back into the house and let out a yell.
"Hey, Neil come over here." Mitch shouted as ne turned back to Courtney with a slightly nervous look when Neil then made his appearance.
"Yea, oh hello Courtney." Neil said as he stood next to his brother and gave Norman's sister a big smile.
"Hey Neil, I was wondering if you could get Norman for me I need to take him home." Courtney said as she watched Neil's smile suddenly quickly fade.
"What are you talking about?" Neil asked in confusion.
"Norman he stayed the night here." Courtney said as she looked back at Neil.
"No. Last time I saw him was after the movie. He left me here and started walking back home." Which is were he is right?" Neil responded with a look of slight worry.
"No, he was not in his room this morning my mom and dad said." She responded.
"Then where is he?" Neil asked in a worried tone.
"Don't worry little bro, he's probably just somewhere around the town talking to ghost or something like that." Mitch Responded as he gave his brother a pat on the back.
"Well regardless I need to find him." Courtney said as she looked at Mitch, who in turn have her a nod before he opened his mouth to speak. "Okay, me and Neil will help you find him just let me go and get my van, and don't worry little bro I'm sure Norman is fine." Mitch said as he walked back into the house before he came back holding his keys and he walked over to his van and opened the door and watched as Courtney and Neil got in before he got into the driver seat and turned on the ignition and then backed out of the drive way to begin there search for Norman in Blithe Hallows.
The small group scanned the town as they drove through in Mitch's large van. The three of them scanned the streets for the spiky haired boy.
"We have been around this street three times and we have not seen any signs of him." Neil said in a worried voice as he looked at his brother and Courtney.
"Do you think we should like tell your mom and dad?" Mitch asked as he looked at Courtney.
"No I think we should look around more out of town, Neil you're his friend where does he like to hang out when he is by himself." She said as she looked behind her at Neil who rubbed his chin as he was trying to think of possible places Norman could be.
"Well, he told me he just liked to walk around and think when he wants to be by himself. So he could be anywhere near the town." Neil said as he looked at Courtney who starred back at him for a second.
"Damn, okay so lets just do a scan around the outside of the city and see if we find him walking around. She responded with a hint of worry in her voice as she looked out the window trying to spot any sign of her younger brother.
"If we don't find him soon are we going to go to your mom and dad for help?" Neil asked as he looked at Norman's sister with pleading eyes. Causing Courtney to turn her head and look at her brother's clearly worried friend before she let out a sigh and she nodded her head.
The group drove around the entire town searching all the streets for a sight of Norman but did not have any luck and as each minute passed Courtney became more and more scared on where her younger brother was. They spent about an hour driving before they pulled up I front of Courtney's house as she slowly got out of the van and walked up to the door and gave it a knock as se soon heard the door open to see her Mother standing there.
"Your back so I take it you and Norman had a good long walk then." She said with a smile as she looked past Courtney in confusion. "Where is your brother?" her mom asked.
"Mom, I'll just cut to the chase. Norman was not staying at Neil's house and we have no idea were he is." She said as she watched her Mother smile fade as she turned her head back to the house.
"PERRY, GET OVER HERE!" She screamed as her husband suddenly appeared in sigh.
"Sandra, what are you yelling about this time?" Perry said in annoyance.
"Normans missing." Sandra responded in a worried voice.
"What!" Perry responded in shock.
"It's true and we have been looking for him for over an hour." Courtney responded as she looked at her parents who then quickly turned and looked at her.
"You mean you knew he was missing and you didn't tell us." Her father shouted at her in disbelief.
"I thought he was just walking around talking to all those ghost people he knows." Courtney responded in a worried voice. "As soon as we searched the entire town and could not find him we came back here to tell you guys."
"What do we do?" Her mother said in a scared voice as she turned to look at her husband.
"Okay, Courtney, you Mitch and Neil are going to search the west side of the town. While your mother searches the east, and I will start calling people to help us get a wider search going. Don't worry wherever he is we will find him." Perry said as looked at his family and Norman's friends before the group scrambled out the house to perform there given duties to help track down Norman. Forgotten to all of them was a floating green older woman who quickly disappeared with a look of horror on her face.
For the numerous ghosts standing on their usual street it was a quiet and slow morning as it was not a weekday they doubted that they would see Norman walking his usual path to greet them. So they all just floated about watching as car after car speed down the road as if numerous towns' people were going for a mass meeting in the center of the town. When suddenly a bright green flash appended in front of them and an elderly ghost woman stood before them.
"Ah your like Normans grandma aren't you." The ghost Hippie said as he stared at Norman ghostly grandma.
"What's the matter you look worried." The ghost pilot hanging in the tree said as she stared at the newly appeared ghost.
Norman grandma looked at them in shock for a few moments. "Normans Missing." She said as the other ghost stared at her in silence.
"What?" the mobster ghost flatly said.
"Yes, my granddaughter came by the house saying that they have spent at least an hour looking for him and could not find any sign of him so they are starting a wide search for him and I was thinking all of us should do the same." She responded as she looked at the ghost pleadingly who all nodded in agreement.
"Okay then, I will take in charge and I think the best plan of action is to go and search the entire town and tell every ghost you see to help with the search as well." The dead confederate soldier on his horse said as he looked at the surrounding ghost who nodded in agreement while the greaser ghost suddenly spoke up.
"Not to add like complications to anything but what should we do about you know... her." He said as the other ghosts stared at him before they understood whom he was talking about.
"I think we should not inform her of this development as well who knows how she will react. I fell she should not be informed since there is no need to get her angry or scared when we are going to eventfully find Norman." The soldier said as he looked at the greaser and all of the ghosts who had look's in their eyes showing they agreed with and understood those orders.
Alright men and women lets move out. The wounded ghost "soldier" commanded as all the ghosts" suddenly vanish to help in the search for the young hero of Blithe Hallows
As the day progressed more and more people both living and dead joined in the search to help find Norman. Though as the town and surrounding area was explored no one found any possible signs as to were the young boy has disappeared to. Norman's family and friends became much more worried on his location.
"We have been looking for hours were could he be?" Perry said as he looked around the old cemetery.
"I don't know, I'm getting scared." Sandra said as she frantically checked behind every grave marker she saw hoping Norman was resting behind one of them.
"We've checked every inch of this town from all the streets to even Uncle Penderghast old house, and no sign of that little dweebe." Courtney said in frustration as she looked around to see her parents staring at her in shock.
"Your brother is missing, watch your mouth." Her dad said.
"Well maybe he wouldn't be missing if one of you were watching him last night" Courtney yelled back giving them a glare.
"No, this is my fault." A voice said as the three Babcock's turned to look at Neil who was standing there looking scared beyond his mind. "I should have asked him to stay over with me for the night when we got back from the movies." Neil responded in guilt as he stared at the family
"We should have been watching him." Courtney responded, as she looked down at the ground in shame. "Where is my baby brother?" she said in barley a whisper.
"Yes, we should have, but don't worry honey we will find him, lets head back to the town center maybe someone has found some clues as to where he is." Her mother said with a worried smile as the group slowly got back together and made its way out of the graveyard.
The sun began to set as all the ghosts and humans were still looking for Norman... except for one. In the forest near a large dead tree floated a young female ghost who was looking up at the stars.
"I haven't seen Norman at all today, wonder what he's been up to. Well where ever he was I hope he had fun." Agatha Prenderghast thought to herself as she floated around the tree. She closed her eyes and began to remember the times her mommy would sit her right here and read stories as she listened. How the area used to be covered by luscious green leaves and grass. Back when she was alive.
It all came to a sudden halt when she heard someone coming out of the woods. "Normans here!" she thought letting out a huge happy smile as she turned to greet her living friend. Her smile soon faded when she saw that it was in fact not Norman but two adults who were holding lights and walking around as if they were searching for something.
"Norman, you out here?" The man on the left said as he flashed the light around.
"I doubt it, the whole town was been looking for that boy for hours, where ever he is he is long gone." The man of the right said causing Agatha's eyes to shoot open in shock.
"Do you think he's okay?" His partner asked.
"I honestly have no idea, I heard on TV somewhere that once a person goes missing beyond 24 hours and there are no traces or where they went. The chances are very slim." He said as he turned to his partner who gave a sad nod before they both turned around and walked back into the forest. Unknown to them Agatha stood there in shock and worry.
"No, no, no Normans not missing, it's just a cruel prank." She thought to herself as she floated as fast as she could towards the town. When she floated into the town she was not in anyway fond of, Ignoring the billboards and familiar places that had supported her execution or as what Norman called a tourist attraction. Agatha looked at the frantic citizens of the town all shouting Norman's name.
Agatha stood there in shock as her mind processed what was going on when her eyes caught several ghost searching around as well. When she saw this, her mind suddenly realized it was true and Norman was indeed missing and none of the ghost told her. Feeling of both fury and sadness crept over the ghost girl as she let out a loud scream causing all the ghost in the area to stop what they were doing and look in her direction.
Agatha looked at all the ghost standing in front of her and saw the looks of worry and fright that were given by them. Slowly realizing they were all afraid of her, tears began to fill the ghost's eyes as she turned and floated away as fast as she could. Accepting the fact that her only real friend was missing and no one had told her, she continued on for miles until she stopped in the surrounding forest of Blithe Hallows. She stood there in silence before she slowly broke down in tears.
Anger and confusion filled Agatha as she let the tears run down her face. She slowly sank to her knees and curled herself into a ball as she sat there collecting her thoughts.
"Normans gone missing, what if something happened to him and he is in trouble." She thought to herself as she looked up. "Norman risked his life to help me and at that time I was trying to hurt him, be brave Agatha, Norman might need you." She said out loud as she stood up and looked around ready to help find Norman. When it then dawned on her she had no idea were he was.
She felt a feeling of uselessness creep over her as she looked down at the ground in defeat. Realizing that she had no information on where here only friend was. "Maybe if I go back to the town the other ghost will let me help them." Agatha thought with a worried sigh. As she turned around something on the forest floor caught her eye causing her to stop dead in her tracks.
The young ghost girl crouched down to get a closer look at what caught her attention and saw that it was a small spike covered in blood resting on the Forest floor. Agatha looked closer at it and she saw there was something written on the side of it.
"Euro Science Inc." Agatha said out loud as she looked at the pin on the ground and noticed a trail of blood that moved away from the pin. Agatha slowly floated up and carefully followed the path of blood in the forest. It looked as if someone had been dragged or carried through the forest. As Agatha followed the tail a though entered her head, "What if this was Norman's." and she immediately froze.
Agatha stood there for a moment before she took in a deep breath and continued to follow the trail of blood before she got to the road were the trail just stopped.
She stood there looking out onto the empty road as she thought to herself. "If that was Norman were on earth did they take him and why." Agatha slowly looked down at the blood trail from the woods, Norman's blood. A rage suddenly came over her as she felt her eyes turn a bright yellow at the though that someone would actually hurt Norman and take him away.
As she floated there she looked out into the distance before she looked up and turned around to look back at Blithe Hallows as all the horrible memories she had experienced flashed before her. Agatha then turned back to face the empty road, "You did not give up on me and you did not even know me for more then an hour, I will not give up on you. I will find you Norman Babcock I promise." she said to herself as she started to float in the down the long road to begin her long search for Norman.