Chapter Text
Moving was no fun. The loud beeping of the moving truck was blaring in your ears as your parents argued over whether or not the family cars wheel was stuck firmly enough in the mud to call a tow truck.
The sky was clouded with heavy fog and perspiration, sticking to your face and making you oddly sweaty. Your brother was throwing a fit in the car, kicking the front seat after he'd scarfed down the last of the m&m's in your trail mix, which apparently were a few short of satiating him.
You waited outside the car, kicking the mud and waiting for the onslaught of yelling and beeping to end. You had the mind to regret wearing the green knit you loved, knowing now that the weather was uncomfortably humid.
It couldn’t be later than five pm but by the time the moving got sorted you found it was nearing eight thirty and that you yourself were ravenous. With a vague sense of urgency you took to nibbling on take out as you explored the new house. The lukewarm cardboard box warmed your hand while the heady smell of peanut butter wafted from your father’s pad tai leftovers from a pit stop on the way.
You scoped the building as professionally as possible The house was made of wood and very creaky, the ominous shadows on the walls along with the wailing winds drifting in through the thin glass of the large brass windows, made it out to be quite frightening. Of course your parents chose a decrepit looking house.
In the sun room a shout and kick alerted your parents of your brothers nearing bedtime and gave you the respite of a few minutes to poke and prod at what looked to you like a very peculiar wallpaper. It was a pale yellow and peeling, old and worn. A direct contrast to the dark sky just out the intimidating windows. The curtain rods above the windows were noticeably lacking curtains and it looked as though mold was invading from the right every corner.
The big stone fireplace was filled with ash and soot , a sign of its disuse (a theme that seemed omnipresent) a few feet away you noticed a square outline engraved in the wallpaper. Picking at the edge you managed to peel up enough of it to see a hidden oak door, hardly big enough to crawl in to, you were astonished at the mystery of the tiny door but after pulling and wrestling with it you found it led to nothing, just the bare brick of the wall, and losing interest in it and subsequently the living room as a whole you found yourself hesitantly making your way to what would be your new bed room.
It was small but comfortable, musty and peeling but not too bad all together. It’s furnishing was sparse with only a bed, dresser and ceilings fan to keep you company in its confines. In the left corner was a single socket and a small bared window. Resigning yourself to your new acquaintance and residence you ran off to grab your spotted blue sheets and comforter. After wrestling with the slightly too small fitted sheet and the wholly too big comforter you'd managed to make your bed. Stomping off to shower quickly and change into pajamas. you found yourself in a t-shirt that skimmed your knees, sinking down into the mattress of your bed while the metal frame creaked at every disturbance. A fitful sleep awaits, you thought bitterly.
Eventually you'd exhausted yourself of tossing and turning, resigning to a night of wakefulness you crawled out of the heavy bedding comforted by the pitter patter of rain hitting the glass windows you passed while stumbling down the hallway. You thought you saw mice, making little noises that were undeniably mouse-like. After picking up pace and stumbling multiple times over the scratchy carpet a squeak alerted you to your surroundings and to the now open door, only a few feet tall etched into the wall. The inside of which was a dazzling array of blue and purple, like an indefinite kaleidoscope beckoning you further into its depths.
Crawling through the portal was bliss, it was warm and comforting and with it came a sense of wonder that had been laid dormant since you'd last remembered embracing childhood. The tinge of melancholy came back when your reality briefly crossed your mind but with enough determination you tried to shake it and focus on crawling through the winding walls of the tunnel.
Emerging out of the tunnel you felt a warmth settle in your body, loosening your clenched jaw and braced posture. The smell of pancakes wafted in along with a hint of cinnamon and cream. While your body relaxed you couldn’t help but wonder what this place was and looking around did nothing to familiarize you with this new environment. It looked like your living room, yet slightly different and in far better shape. The sofas were soft and noticeably lacking holes and tears, likewise the curtains were clean and lovely. The wallpaper was fresh and laid properly and the absence of mold solicited a sense of cleanliness and begrudging comfort. Your knees, now tender from crawling protested briefly as you straightened up.
“Why hello pumpkin! Welcome home-“ called a man’s voice, its cadence calm and steady with a hint of playfulness. You tensed instinctively when the man’s voice drew nearer. From the kitchen came a tall lanky man, wearing a navy sweater over a button up shirt, khaki pants and wool socks “Oh my, now who might you be? Certainly you couldn’t be our dear Cora-line?” His black button eyes peered into you.
Unbeknownst to you this was the other father of Coraline Jones. This kitchen was a reflection of the pink palace preserved and rebuilt out of the remains of this other dimension, after the other mother was destroyed. It was oddly peaceful now without her around. Wybie was still mute but used sign language with Charlie, the cat came as it pleased. The rest of the neighborhood carried on with their lives as if contained in a little bubble. A much smaller, safer (and less malicious) one. Coraline no longer visited as it had been years, she’d grown up and after much help and love settled and had a family of her own. She lived a happy life, but while she aged the other world remained the same.
“W-who are you?” You mumbled hesitantly, picking at the peeling skin of your cuticles, so similar now to the peeling wallpaper of your real home.
“Well it’s a bit of a doozy- you see I’m the other father - Charlie! , but- hm I’m not your other father. There was another girl who came before you- I’m her other father!” He smiled, though it didn’t fully reach his eyes. He was clearly baffled by the new company.
Looking at him hesitantly you noticed he seemed to be giving you a worried look over, like he could see through the messy hair that fell in your eyes and the big hoodie you’d tugged on after your attempts at falling asleep failed.
“Oh” you mumbled lamely in response to this revelation. What the hell was an other anything? Noticing your confusion his expression softened.
“This reality was parallel to Coralines reality, sure had her parents at home, and she had her parents here. But you see, things were not so good then. They're much better now, yes much better” he smiled, hoping to ease your apprehension (to no avail)
Crouching on one knee he looked at you more clearly “it’s alright if you’re a little shy, no need to rush. Would you like to stay for dinner? it’s pancakes” he said, his tone remaining patient even in the face of your continuous indecision.
This seemed too elaborate of a scheme to just poison you, so the pancakes should be fine… you hoped. Charlie seemed nice, but strangers meant danger and this stranger had buttons for eyes.
As you climbed into a big wooden chair he pushed a towering stack of buttermilk pancakes to you “are you new in town?” He asked carefully. When you nodded he frowned a little “must’ve given you a fright, scary old town hm?”
“It’s quiet” you mumbled, picking at your sleeve, the pancakes smelled good but you remained weary. Though if Charlie had ill intentions he could’ve just acted on them, it’s not like you knew how to get home to begin with.
“Yes, it’s… lonely. In that big old house” he said slowly
“C-can I go back?” You mumbled.
Charlie quickly shook his head “of course! Of course! I mean in no way to keep you here! Goodness no, I just- I don’t know how to send you back..” Charlie added apologetically.
At the door came a very sudden three knocks, slow in secession. A small boy with button eyes and a few scars around his mouth looked at you in bewilderment. In what you assumed was sign language he motioned to you and then sighed something to Charlie.
“Yes, very peculiar. She just appeared!” Charlie said, he looked to you. Noticing your slight discomfort he quickly introduced the boy as Wybie, who was mute.
You waved at him, he waved back