Coraline heard Trisha but part of her knew that even if they did fight the Other Mother that they might not win. They had no friends here, no one but themselves and it would be hard. They might not succeed. They might be trapped here for ever in the dark.

That thought made Coraline shiver.

Coraline turned the light looking around the room in the dark. As soon as the light moved from the Other Father, she heard his glooping shuffling in the dark. Turning the light back on him, she almost screamed when she realised he was closer to Trisha. And closer to her.

"Do you know where it is?" Coraline asked, watching as the man who had been her other father broke into a wide smile.

"Of course I do C-Coraline," The Other Father said, his hand trembling as he struggled to contain himself. Coraline knew he wouldn't last long. He wasn't like her father. Not her real one. Her real one was brave, a fighter like his daughter.

"Where is it?" Coraline asked, dreading the answer. She knew where the Other Mother would put it, she knew exactly where but she didn't want to touch him. Didn't want to go near him.

"Inside me," Her Other Father said proudly pushing his hand inside his chest and pulling out the marble that oozed with a goo that smelled foul.