The more time she spent in this corridor, the less safe Coraline felt. It was cold and quiet, too quiet except for the ticking. That awful ticking. It was horrible. Coraline ran to Claire, skidding along the floor as she came to a halt.

"Claire are you o...kay," Coraline said, slowing down as she watched Claire push her broken bone back in. She wanted to tell her no, that she'd hurt herself but then she was fine. It was... healing. "Your... foot? Erm, Peter? I don't know. There was a house back that way but then it was gone and I don't know how to get back. There was- something bad there and I think it's coming Claire, we need to go."