[Fanfic] Other Wybie's Story - 4

- An Other Story –
~ Chapter 4 ~
~
My time was ending
I was just beginning to find myself
I was gaining my hopes and dreams,
Although I knew that they wouldn’t happen.
~

“Ah!” Other Wybie’s eyes shouted. He jumped back, afraid.

Three little wisps, ghosts, wraiths, memories, faded into the room. They were barely visible, and they glowed with a dim light. They all looked like they were in pain.

“Hush – the beldam may be able to hear your thoughts.” one said.
“Yes, hush…” another said.
“She’s only come and torture us more…If she remembers us.”
“So you are not a child trapped by her?” the last asked.

“No, I was created by her to trap someone… But I don't want her to be trapped... What or who are you all anyway?” Other Wybie silently thought.

“We are the children the beldam has left here.” One said.
“Yes, we are but wisps of our original selves.” Another said.
“She left us here…And forgot about us in the dark.” the last sadly said.

“I see you all have buttons as eyes... why? You're from the other world, aren't you?” Other Wybie asked.

“She tricked us with sweets and treats –“
“She said she loved us –“
“She said she would make our lives nothing but happiness –“
“So we let her sew the buttons into our eyes…” they said.

During this, Other Wybie looked like he was in shock, the three little children wisps floated about him, and passed through him, he saw what had happened, and the pain they all suffered.  Ghostly buttons appeared on his eyes as afterimages.

“Is this what she does to the children she traps?” Other Wybie sadly thought.

“Yes, she sews the buttons into your eyes –“
“And she slowly steals your life away –“
“She eats away at all you are –“
“And you are forever trapped here, never fading away, never truly dying…Your soul rests here forever.” they said.
"The beldam has done this for hundreds of years..."

“No… she can’t do that!” Other Wybie silently yelled.

“Yes she can, little doll…” one said.
"No one is able to stop her."
"She controls all that happens here -"
"All that exists here is nothing but a spider's web..."

“I have to stop her somehow!” Other Wybie thought.

“Doll, why are you able to rebel against the beldam?”
“Yes, you are her creation…”
“You’re full of dust... from dust you came…”
“And dust you’ll return.”
“She made you…?” they said questioningly.

“I don’t know… Maybe... Maybe I just…I don’t know why…” Other Wybie didn’t continue – he heard something coming near him.

“Wybie – its time to come out – Mother is coming, do you have a nice little smile on your face now? Are you going to be happy again? ” The Other Mother said in a sickening tone. Her voice was as soft as silk, but pins seemed to pierce through it.

“I’ll try and help you all if I can, for now I have to play her game – ok? I need to warn my friend.” Other Wybie quickly thought as he started to force a sweet smile. He found it harder to do now.

“Thank you little doll…”
“May you be able to help us…”
“Yes, thank you…”
“Good luck.” They said.

Other Wybie nodded. “Thank you. I’ll try…no, I will. I’ll do it. She won’t win.”

At that moment, two spindly hands grabbed at him. They forcefully dragged him out into the corridor.

“Are you smiling now, Wybie? Has your happiness returned? Coraline is here now; let’s go down to meet her.” The beldam said.

“Yes, I’m so happy Mother. Let’s go see Coraline right now!” Other Wybie’s eyes seemed to say as he smiled a lying smile. He thought though, “I have to save Coraline somehow… but I guess I should enjoy this time with her…I have a feeling everything is starting to crumble away... I want to be with her.” Other Wybie wanted to frown, but he didn’t, because he knew he wouldn’t see Coraline again then. The Other Mother would just throw him back into the mirror, or worse. If that happened, who would warn Coraline?

The Other Mother then showed him out into the garden. They walked around the house and she showed him a door.

“Now you go into the theater and sit in one of the front vacant seats, ok? Coraline will be sitting next to you, and you too can enjoy the show together, little Wybie. Coraline will be very happy.” The Other Mother said nicely.

“Yes Mother.” Other Wybie nodded. “I wonder what the beldam has planned for me and Coraline this time…” He thought as she walked away.

The Other Mother then went into the Pink Palace, and Other Wybie stepped into the theater, knowing that things were going to start becoming dangerous.