CORALINE (THE MISSING CHAPTER)

MOTHER
KNOWS BEST

CHAPTER X
THE ALTERNATIVE ENDING
CJ AZCUNA

CORALINE

Chapter X

In the nick of time, Coraline closes the door shut,
saving not only herself, but her parents and the
ghosts as well. “Mother, strangely doesn’t remember
anything? Father too, what is going on?”, Caroline
thought to herself. Not that she’s complaining, after
all the trouble she went through fighting Beldam,
everything should be back to normal, or is it?

Her heavy head couldn’t fathom what just
happened, what Coraline needed was to sleep. This
time, she made sure to hug her parents before going
to bed. What is this familiar feeling? Why does it feel
different yet, eerily still the same? In her dreams,
she met with her ghost friends. Both a thank you
and warning they gave. “Be careful Coraline. For as
long as Beldam is alive, she will never, ever let you
go.”

1

CORALINE

Coraline awakens. A sweet scent transverses
through the air, which she recognizes immediately.
“Turkish delight, how could it be? We don’t usually
have this for breakfast!” Down the hallways she
goes, passing through her father, not working, but
playing the piano. Coraline doesn’t notice of course,
Turkish delight was what she wanted. When the girl
finally entered the kitchen, her mother was near the
counter, preparing the dish. “Mom! What’s the
occasion?”, Coraline says. But before her mother
could even respond, Coraline sees their reflections
in the windows. She froze. Her mother, still
standing. Coraline stutters, “It’s you again. Beldam!”
“Mother” tells her story.

They instantly flashback to the day before. Just
when Coraline thought she faced the other mother’s
true form back in the other realm, she was appalled
at the revelation. Back when Coraline was
beginning to destroy the other world, Beldam
needed to think of a backup in case things go south.

2

CORALINE

It turns out that as the daughter frantically tries
to retrieve the eyes, Beldam revived her real
parents.

Unable to fight back, they were immediately put
under Other Mother’s control. Using her deadly
needle, she pierced the life out of their eyes. Blood
was spilled, and Other Mother was in possession.
With her remaining magic and powers, she sent her
new minions out to get their target, their own
daughter. These were who Coraline battled, and
eventually, defeated. Other Mother fetches her
spouse, watching as Coraline desperately tries to
survive. They hide inside the snow-globe, which was
unknowingly taken by their enemy.

She fell into their trap. “You see dear, this is
exactly why you should listen to your parents”. As
she finishes her sentence, Beldam turns around and
reveals her true nature, complete with the eyes
made of buttons. Coraline stutters, the shivers down
her spine she felt, but she can’t move! Try as she
might, it’s as if a hypnotic tune wouldn’t allow her. 3

CORALINE

The music played faster, Other Father’s piano
growing louder and louder, and with every uproar
echoed into her ear. “What’s with the look Coraline?
Your smiling, and yet, I can still see the fear in your
eyes.” Coraline couldn’t do anything, is this the end?
In the most ominous voice she’s heard, Beldam
screeches. “This won’t do, my dear Caroline. How
about we replace those eyes with a new pair of shiny
buttons? I’m good with my needle you know!”
Unconsciously, Caroline replies. “Agreed. After all,
mother knows best!”.

THE END

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