Chapter 8: Coraline's Past Returns

Coraline, Courtney, and Aggie has been searching the entire house up and down. They've even looked everywhere around the neighborhood, putting up posters with Norman's face on it, and on the bottom of those posters was the word, MISSING, along with the house number. Sadly, Norman was nowhere to be found. And of course, Coraline blamed herself for it all. Norman had gone missing somewhere, and would probably never return. It then hit Coraline that maybe he ran away to a far away play, is hiding somewhere that's very hard to find, or even died! It scared Coraline: him being out there alone, who knows where, and was feeling very miserable. Why was life so confusing? No one would ever know.

While sitting in the living room of the Babcock's residence, Coraline begun to cry softly to herself. It was very depressing that the last time she saw the boy was when he got knocked out in PE. This was also partly Alvin's fault as well. If Alvin hadn't said those things about her and Norman, Coraline wouldn't have said all those things to break Norman's heart. As much as Aggie was disliking Coraline a little bit, she decided to comfort her, knowing what it's like to never see someone that you loved again.

Just then, Courtney came into the room, holding her cell phone to her ear.

"Okay, thank you. Yes, please do; if you see him, please return him here. Okay, thanks. Bye," Courtney hung up, her face looking dreadful. "I just called the cops. They said they'll let us know if they spot Norman."

"Okay," Was all Coraline could say.

Courtney sat down on the floor, next to Coraline. Just like Aggie, Courtney knew what it was like to loose someone who you loved. She thought that Mitch was the right man for her, but after revealing that he's actually a homo-sexual, it broke Courtney a little bit- it still does sometimes. But she's managing; and it's the same with Coraline, except for the fact that Norman got missing, and that he's not a homo-sexual.

"Look," Courtney says. "I know how if feels to loose someone that you've loved. I know; last year, during the witch's curse," Aggie cringes a little in the sofa behind the two girls after hearing that; she gets up, and floats up towards Norman's room. But Courtney continues on, "I've fallen love with a guy named Mitch-"

"Neil's brother?" Question Coraline.

Courtney sighed and nodded before continuing, "Yes. And after the end of it all, I asked him out, but then told me that he's-"

"Gay," Coraline finished. "Yeah, I know the story. Norman and Neil had told me."

"So you'll understand that you can't give up in life. If you really love Norman that much, then do you're best to find him. Heck, all of us will do our best to find him." Said Courtney.

Coraline gave out a tiny smile. Courtney was right: You can't go through life by giving up. And if Coraline really loved Norman, then she knew that she'll have to do whatever it takes. Suddenly, and idea pops into her head.

"Courtney, was there any rooms in this house that we forgot to check?"

"No, we've searched the entire rooms. Well except for the basement, but I doubt that he'll be down there."

But before Courtney could stop her, Coraline went towards the basement. As she gets down there, Aggie floats through the ceiling, holding two objects.

"Coraline, I've found two items in Norman's room. I think they're clues to where he's gone to!" She exclaimed.

Courtney took one of the objects, seeing that it's a letter of some sort. Flicking on the basement lights, Coraline read the note,

Dear Family,

I'm sorry that I've frightened you with my sudden disappearance, but I'd like you to know, that I'm leaving you all. I'm running away, and never coming back. Something happened today at school, and it made me feel very unloved. My heart got broken very badly. I know that you guys may think it's not something to run away about, but I'll like you guys to know that I don't care. I don't want to see her again.

In fact, I don't want to see any of you again. All my life, I tried to live with my...supernatural ability. But you guys just could never understand. No one did. I think that it's for the best that I head to a place where I can be appreciated and cared about.

Goodbye forever,

-Norman Babcock

When Coraline finally finished the letter, she felt truly dead inside. He ran away, because he felt unloved and uncared for. Aggie then took out the second object, handing it to Coraline carefully.

"And this is the second thing that I've found. Seriously, I didn't know that Norman played with dolls. Especially ones that look like him." Aggie says, creped out by the doll a little.

Coraline's eyes bulged wide open. What did she just say? Quickly, Coraline yanks the doll away from her puritan ghost, gasping in great fear. It was a doll that looked a lot like Norman! And it even had black, button eyes! Coraline then had a suspicion at who was behind this.

The Beldam.

Courtney came down into the basement, seeing Coraline down on her knees, crying on the floor. Concern was filling up in Courtney's eyes as she walks over towards the blue-haired girl, gently placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Coraline...?"

Coraline looks up at Courtney. She then stands up, holding the doll that looked like Norman still. Coraline just glares angrily at it; Norman was now being held by the Beldam, and Coraline felt it in her gut. Courtney just stood by her side, looking down at the doll. Courtney shivered a little- that doll was just creepy.

"This doll...where'd it come from?" Coraline asked seriously.

Courtney replied in a hushed voice, "A week ago..."

"Excuse me?"

"A week ago." Courtney spoke louder.

Coraline looks directly towards her right, seeing a small, little door. She glares at the door; Coraline knew what had to be done. If anyone was going through that door, it was going to be her. Suddenly, they hear a noise, coming from upstairs. Coraline and Courtney makes their way upstairs quickly, and once they reach the kitchen, they see a black cat sitting on the floor.

Coraline gasps in surprise and happiness. She knew this cat.

"Cat!" Coraline exclaimed happily.

Courtney just stands by the doorway as she watches the young girl petting the cat. But the weird thing was how did this cat even get inside the house?

"Umm...how'd this cat get in here?" Courtney wondered, observing her surroundings.

Coraline only shrugged as she continues to pet the cat. "Beat me," She looks at the cat and whispers, "Could you tell us later?", Cat nodded his head smoothly.

"Courtney," Coraline says, getting up to face the teen. "I'm going to head back to my house real quick. Stay here with Cat. Once I come back, well...there's sort of something that I should...um...show-and-tell."

Courtney gave Coraline a weird glance, but only shrugs and gives Coraline an O.K.

A knock comes at the door while Courtney waits for Coraline to get back. Answering the door, Courtney sees that it's Norman's friends, Neil and Salma. Salma fixes her glasses, giving Courtney a one of her famous serious looks.

"Hello, Courtney. We're here to look for Norman."

Courtney sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry to say this...but he's gone. Coraline went back to her house to get something, but when she comes back, I think she may have an idea to Norman's-" She got interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Courtney!" Called a voice behind Neil and Salma.

Everyone looks to see Coraline carrying a hand-bag of some sorts. She also appeared to be carrying a flashlight. The trio gives Coraline questionable glances.

"Ummm...what?" Asked Neil.

Coraline knew that this was the perfect time to show them.

"Look...I know that you guys are going to think I'm all sorts of crazy- much like Norman- but you all gotta trust me when I say this. I know where Norman is, and I know how to get him back. But it's going to be very hard to take in when I take you guys there." Coraline explained.

"What?" They all asked.

Coraline sighed, "Just follow me," And enters the house.

XXXXX

"He's in there," Coraline points towards the small door in the basement.

Courtney, Salma, and Neil gives Coraline weird looks. Has this girl lost her mind? Cat stood next to the door, meowing as he scratches it a little. Courtney places a hand on Coraline's shoulder.

"Coraline...honey, I know that you miss Norman and all, but I think you've really lost your mind," Courtney says smoothly and as mellow as she could be. "I mean, c'mon, a small door that we've never seen in this house before?"

"I've seen this door once," Protested Coraline. "I went through this door one year ago- when I was saving my parents from The Beldam!"

Salam raises an eyebrow. "The Beldam?" She questioned.

"Crrrraaaaazzzyyy..." Neil says.

At this point, Coraline screams in anger, and then opens the door, revealing the tunnel towards the Other World. Once the entrance is revealed, everyone looks dazed, trying to take in what they were seeing. This couldn't be real. Aggie floats through the ceiling, seeing the door. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Slowly, Aggie floats towards the door, wanting to get a closer look.

Courtney, Neil, and Salma continues to stare at the tunnel; amazed in awe.

"OMFG..." Courtney whispered.

Coraline smirked, feeling proud of herself.

"C'mon..." She says, entering the tunnel.

Everyone follows her through the tunnel, the black cat and Aggie following them from behind.

Gonna stop there. I've got some things planned for the next chapter. ;) lol

Well, how will Courtney, Neil, Salma, and Aggie react to seeing this Other World, The Beldam, and all that Coraline was saying was true? Stay tuned for the next chapter! :)

By for now and enjoy,

~Fanwriter9~