Coraline Jones

There had been a newly forged path, leading away from civilisation. There had been a grumpy, grizzly boar minding it's own business. There had been a beautiful, smooth Artefact lurking innocently in the jungle. And there had been a teenage girl not minding hers, poking things she shouldn't have poked. That was how it began but not how it ended. At least Coraline hoped that was not how it ended.

She was hungry, she was thirsty. She hadn't died, that much was clear but she was starting to fade not in appearance but in energy. She couldn't touch anything which meant she couldn't eat anything or drink anything either. She was tired, really tired and she just wanted to go home. She didn't care if that made her sound childish because she was afraid, she was scared and she didn't know how much longer she could last like this. She didn't think very much longer.

She licked her lips, sitting on the floor in the corner. Maybe they could fix this, maybe they couldn't. She didn't know. All she knew was...

"Can you- if this doesn't work can you tell everyone that I loved being here?" Coraline asked, feeling more like a child than she had in years. "I just- I don't want them thinking that I didn't."

Coraline counted the scones (8). Four had mysteriously gone missing. Stupid Jacob Black. First ruining her card and now stealing her scones. Or it could have been Cat. Or the pair of them, Coraline was convinced those two were in cahoots.

Then Coraline counted the cups and saucers (2). One for her and one for Miss Helen. Coraline had wanted to invite Mister Will too but well, Coraline didn't want to talk to Will. Will wouldn't understand. Will was a boy. Miss Helen wasn't. Miss Helen was clever and smart and British! Coraline was sure she'd know what to do.

And then Coraline counted all the confused little girls in the Homestead Kitchen (1). Coraline was so confused how to feel and what to do. She wondered if this was how grown ups felt all the time or if this was something just made especially for her. Coraline was angry and hurt and worried and confused. Coraline didn't know who to believe. She wanted to believe Percy but she didn't want to believe that of Luke. And Luke was... was... confusing.

Coraline sighed, shooing Cat away as he jumped up on the table to sniff around the remaining scones. Coraline picked up her haughty black cat and dumped him on the floor as she waited for Helen to show for their afternoon tea. Coraline was sure Miss Helen would know what to do.

Coraline was thirteen years old, she was independent and brave and smart but right now, right now Coraline didn't feel like any of those things. Coraline felt rather small actually, small and weak and hurt and what she really wanted right now was her daddy and her mum. Or rather what she wanted was Adam and Sarah. Everywhere hurt from her head to her toes. Her head hurt the worst thought, it made everything hard to focus and she'd been sick earlier. She didn't like being sick.

And the worst thing was Coraline knew that Adam was going to yell at her. Or worse he was going to be disappointed in her. She hadn't meant to get hurt, she hadn't even seen the monster but it had been there and it had hurt her. It had hurt her friends. And now Adam was going to be cross with her. She wasn't sure what was worse; being hurt, knowing Adam was going to be cross or being unable to help her friends because she was weak. Weak and tired and hurt.

Coraline winced at the bright light in the clinic and slowly lifted a scraped and bruised arm to cover her eyes and protect them from the light. It hurt, everything hurt.

Coraline was having a rather strange dream. She was dreaming that she was home, fast asleep in her own bed. Turning in the thick blue and pink bedspread Coraline snuggled up to her strange octopus teddy and bolted upright. Looking around her room Coraline smiled happily and threw back her covers. Pushing her slippers on Coraline ran out of her room and down the steps. Coraline jumped from the last of the steps, landing on the old wooden flooring with a loud thump.

"Mum? Dadddy? I'm home!" Coraline called out. Stretching her arms above her head, Coraline stretched and yawned and turned in her rabbit slippers skipping towards the kitchen before she stopped suddenly.

"Coraline? Darling?" a woman called. Stood by the doorway to the kitchen, a little ahead of Coraline, was a tall woman with dark hair.

"Mum!" said Coraline, running forward eagerly. Throwing her arms around her mother Coraline hugged her mother happily. Long red fingernails brushed blonde hair back from her face and Coraline froze in her place as she felt the other mother's cold arms wrap around her. She stood, trembling and rigid as the other mother hugged her tightly.

"Where am I?" Coraline asked, trying to sound not as quite scared as she felt. Coraline pulled away from the other mother's strong grip and looked up at those cold button eyes.

"You're home silly." The other mother said simply. Her sharp red nails tapped Coraline on the nose. Her button eyes gleamed.

"No, I'm not. And I'm not scared of you." Coraline said. The other mother's button eyes gleamed in a challenge. She was taller than she remembered. And her skin was white and felt like paper. She scared Coraline but Coraline would never admit that. "Where are my friends? Where are my family?"

"Oh, around here somewhere." The other mother said dismissively, humming to herself as she walked to the kitchen. Her heels clicking on the wooden floor. "You're such a good daughter Coraline coming home to me, to us and bringing us a friend."

Coraline followed, freezing in place when she mentioned a friend. Coraline swallowed and looked at her scared.

"What friend?" Coraline said watching as the other mother cracked an egg into the pan. A bug fell from the shell into the pan and screamed as it was cooked in the hot iron.

"Oh, the most delicious little girl. Just like you, I put her in the woods. I think she might enjoy that," The other mother said with a smile. It was the smile that made Coraline's insides freeze.

"Trisha, where is she?" Coraline said moving forward to hit the woman but her hands were caught. The other mother took hold of Coraline's shoulders forcing her into a chair as she served her breakfast. A plate of fried bugs, foul smelling meat and what looked like rancid milk in a glass.

"Here I made you breakfast, eat it like a good daughter. You'll need your strength," The other mother said smiling at her. "That is if you want to find your family."

"I'm not hungry," Coraline said pushing the plate forward. The other mother's buttons flashed and she leaned in to kiss Coraline's cheek. Turning to whisper in her ear.

"Well, I am." The other mother said, grinning at Coraline and smoothing her hair. "But I'll give you a chance. If you can find four souls, your friends and your family then I'll let you and that little girl go. If not..."

"What?" Coraline said looking at her.

"I'll eat you both," The other mother said simply. "Do we have a deal?"

Coraline stared intently at the plate in front of her before nodding.

"Yes," Coraline said turning around to face... an empty room. Pushing her chair back Coraline hugged herself and slowly made her way out of the kitchen and down outside. Pausing only to pull wellington boots on over her pyjamas.

Coraline hadn't really expected to win Cain. She'd bid on him because he was her very important island person. The news that she had won him, though unexpected, had made her extremely happy. Not as happy as she was to win Bill but still very happy. She was going to make him play dress up, maybe have a tea party and line dance with her. Cain was probably going to hate her but she didn't mind because she was going to have lots of fun.

Pulling on the apron over the blue dress, Coraline tied the string in a nice neat bow. Coraline pulled her wellington boots off and put on the neat black shoes from home that her mother had bought her for school. Finishing her hair with a black ribbon, Coraline picked up her catbag and headed off towards the Compound where she had asked him to meet her.

Today was going to be Brilliant.

Dale Cooper
Five star candidate.
Answered very well, even if the other mother had to be explained to him.
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO MISTER COOPER:
Child care and education, construction, security, health care and nutrition. Also open to the issue the FAIRGROUND Issue.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Worked as an officer of the Law. (Possibly as a cowboy but he doesn't have the hat.)

Marian (As in Maid Marian)
At least six stars. Four for her answer on Fairgrounds and a two star answer for her reply to the 'Blank Slate' Issue.
Much prettier than the fox although that shouldn't count towards votes. However singing foxes are pretty brilliant people to vote for.
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO MISS MARIAN:
Developing the Island. And stuff.
Very interested in the Fairground Issue.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Helped her father when he was Sheriff. And then helped the people. AKA Robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. With Robin Hood.

Guy:
Used a lot of big words. At least three stars for what he said about security even if I didn't understand it all.

Teyla
Teyla receives five stars.
Seems very nice and very worthwhile. Very strong and pretty and her ideas are Heroic and Noble. She was also very logical and calm. A well rounded candidate, except she wasn't really round- she was human shape.
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO MISS EMMAGAN:
Building, Si-col-oh-gie, School, Weapons and Training.
Teyla raised some very good points about second chances. Although I don't think they'd work in every case.
Knows John of Fluffy hair, so has access to the Ferris Wheel. Interested in the Fairground Idea.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Helped against a threat on Atlantis and led her people.

Jill Langston

Works in Canada. Is not a Mountie.
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO MISS LANGSTON:
Lab, Medical and Weather work.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:

The Doctor
TEN STARS. No, all the stars!
ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE DOCTOR:
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
TIME LORD.

Chris Cutter
Chris built the playground. And is Canadian. Although still, not a Mountie.

ISSUES IMPORTANT TO CHRIS:
School, Building, Law, Justice,
PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Worked as Leader of the Building Crew.

Coraline turned restlessly in her sleep.

She dreamt of a well. Coraline stood at the edge, holding her breath as she looked into the darkness. Something moved within the well and stared at her hungrily. Coraline fell back, running to the house surrounded in mist. Tiny red eyes followed her.

Coraline kicked the sheets off. Her hand let go of the wooden horse she had been holding.

Coraline ran towards the house and up the stairs. “Mum! Dad! Let me in!” Coraline called out, her fists pounding on her front door. Something was coming out of the well. “Please, please let me in!”

“Who’s at the door?” Her father’s voice called out from inside the house.

“Dad, please it’s me. It’s Coraline,” Coraline called out, looking behind her frantically. Long red nails clung to the edge of the well.

“Oh, it’s just some girl,” Her mother replied from behind the door. “Shall I let her in?”

“Please, please she’s coming.” Coraline said, trying to push the door open.

“No dear, we’re too busy remember. Far too busy to be dealing with a girl,” Her father replied as her mother locked the door firmly.

“No, no, please!” Coraline said, turning around and stared into the cold, hungry button eyes of the other mother.

Coraline woke screaming. But she wasn’t in her bed. She was alone in the darkness. She put out her hands to touch the space in which she had found herself in. It was the size of a broom cupboard: tall enough to stand in or to sit in, not wide or deep enough to lie down in. One wall was glass, and it felt cold to the touch.

She was in the mirror room.

Somewhere inside her Coraline could feel a sob welling up. This time she didn’t let it go, this time she couldn’t be brave. Inside the cold, dark mirror room Coraline screamed.