Chapter 90: Button Eyes, Will You Stay Forever?
The Other Mother's smile seemed to freeze for a moment when she heard Edward's words.
Her button eyes lingered on Edward's face for a full two seconds.
It was a look of scrutiny, an assessment.
As if a precise instrument was scanning its prey, analyzing his composition, and judging his threat level.
But very quickly, she returned to her enthusiastic demeanor, even smiling more brightly.
"Of course! I promise, this will absolutely be the most delicious meal you've ever tasted!"
She turned and walked toward the long dining table, gracefully waving her hand.
On the table, several covered silver platters appeared out of thin air, accompanied by gleaming silverware and crystal goblets.
"Please, have a seat, guests. Oh, and my little sweetheart Coraline, come over here, sit by Mother."
She beckoned to Coraline, who was hiding behind Alan.
Coraline buried her head deeper, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Edward's voice, through the Mind Link, clearly entered the minds of Coraline and Alan.
"Alan, protect her. This witch is more cunning than we thought—she's testing us."
"Got it." Alan replied briefly, "Her scent is nasty, like dead spiders mixed with moldy cotton candy."
Edward pulled out a chair and sat down casually, also pulling one out for Alan.
Alan understood and sat down beside him with Coraline.
Seeing this, a flicker of imperceptible disappointment seemed to flash in the "Other Mother's" button eyes, but she maintained her perfect smile and sat at the head of the table.
"Well then, let's begin!"
As she spoke, she reached out and lifted the largest silver dome in the center of the table.
"WHOOSH—"
A burst of colorful light erupted from the platter!
It wasn't ordinary light, but an energetic aura composed of pure joy and satisfaction.
As the light dissipated, a huge, golden-brown roasted turkey, glistening with juices, appeared on the platter. Its skin was crispy, its aroma wafted, and steam still rose from it.
Immediately after, the Other Mother successively uncovered the other domes.
Mac and cheese flowing with rich cheddar, a mountain of sweet pudding, steaming cream of mushroom soup, and glasses of cherry juice as clear and sparkling as rubies... Each dish was like a work of art, perfect in presentation, aroma, and taste, exuding an irresistible allure.
"Can these things... be eaten?" Coraline swallowed hard, asking in a whisper through the Mind Link.
"They can be eaten," Edward replied, "but they're more than just food."
He picked up his knife and fork, skillfully cut a piece of turkey, and put it in his mouth.
The meat melted on his tongue, the delicious juices bursting in his mouth, and an indescribable feeling of euphoria instantly surged from his taste buds to his brain.
The taste was even better than the food he conjured with the "gourmet tablecloth."
Because this food contained magic.
Magic that directly acted on the soul, amplifying feelings of happiness.
Ordinary people who ate these things would quickly become addicted to this false sense of bliss, their mental defenses completely collapsing, eventually willingly accepting everything, including having button eyes sewn on.
But for Edward, this bit of magic was like throwing a pebble into the ocean; it couldn't even create a ripple.
He even savored it with interest, not forgetting to nod to the Other Mother: "The taste is excellent. Ma'am, your culinary skills are truly impressive."
The "Other Mother's" button eyes stared intently at Edward.
She watched Edward eat her carefully prepared "magical food" without changing his expression, not showing any signs of euphoria, but rather critiquing it like a true food critic.
This wasn't right.
Very wrong.
Just then, a slightly clumsy piano melody drifted from the corner of the living room.
The three turned to look, only to see a thin man with glasses sitting at the piano, playing a cheerful tune.
His fingers danced on the keys, but his movements seemed stiff and unnatural, as if he wasn't playing himself, but invisible strings were pulling his hands.
On his face, two black buttons were also sewn.
It was the "Other Father."
"Oh, darling, don't just play the piano, come over and say hello to our guests!" The Other Mother called out in a saccharine voice.
The "Other Father" stopped playing, stood up from the piano bench, and walked somewhat unsteadily to the dining table.
"Hello..." His voice was low, with a hollow echo.
His button eyes passed over Edward and Alan without lingering, but when he saw Coraline, they seemed to shift slightly.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.
But the "Other Mother's" icy gaze fell on him like a physical weight.
The "Other Father" immediately closed his mouth, pulled out a chair, and sat down silently, his hands on his knees, motionless, like an exquisitely crafted puppet.
"He's asking for help." Alan's voice sounded in the Mind Link, "His soul is more 'alive' than that woman's."
"He's just a controlled puppet." Edward responded, "The real 'Other Father' was devoured by the witch long ago. This is just a toy she created with a fragment of soul."
The atmosphere became eerily quiet.
The Other Mother also seemed to lose patience with her performance.
She dabbed her non-existent mouth with a napkin, her button eyes refocusing on Coraline.
"Coraline, my dear. Do you see? Here you have a loving Mother and Father, endless delicious food, and countless fun things to do. As long as you wish, you can stay here forever."
Her voice became coaxing, full of allure.
"What's so good about the real world? Your parents only stare at computers, they never have time to play with you. It's boring and dull there. Stay, stay here, we'll love you forever."
As she spoke, she took out a delicate black box from her apron pocket.
"Click."
The box opened.
Inside, red velvet was laid out, upon which lay a curved needle, a spool of black thread, and two shiny black buttons, identical to those in her eye sockets.
"The only condition is very simple."
The Other Mother pushed the box toward Coraline, her smile sweet yet sinister.
"Let us sew these beautiful eyes onto you too. That way, we'll truly be a family."
Coraline shivered with fright, almost falling off her chair.
Alan quickly steadied her, her eyes instantly turning cold. She stared at the "Other Mother," saying word for word to Edward in the Mind Link: "Can I rip her apart now?"
"Not yet."
Edward remained calm.
He looked at the box containing the needle, thread, and buttons, even reaching out to pick up one of the buttons, examining it between his fingertips.
"An interesting proposition."
He spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly echoing throughout the room.
"But, we decline."
The moment his words fell.
The air in the entire room seemed to solidify.
The fire in the fireplace instantly extinguished.
The paintings on the walls rapidly faded in color, turning into black and white sketches depicting agony and screaming.
The delicious food on the dining table rotted and molded at a visible rate, emitting a nauseating stench.
The warm light vanished, replaced by a cold, sticky darkness, like cobwebs, emanating from every corner of the room.
The "Other Mother's" smile completely vanished.
Her body began to undergo a terrifying transformation.
Her neck elongated impossibly, her body became as thin as a stick, her limbs became spindly and twisted, and her fingernails sharpened like razors.
She slowly "stood" up from the chair, her entire form almost touching the ceiling, like a giant, deformed humanoid spider.
From her button eyes shot out malevolent and icy light.
"Decline?"
A voice no longer sweet, but sharp, raspy, like nails on a chalkboard, squeezed from deep within her throat.
"Foolish children... Do you think this is a place you can come and go as you please?"
She opened her mouth, revealing a set of sharp teeth, like sewing needles.
"Since you've come, stay forever and become part of my collection!"
Before she finished speaking, the world's disguise was completely shattered!
The living room they were in rapidly disintegrated and twisted, transforming into a giant cage made of grayish-white, viscous spiderwebs!
[Community Goals Ongoing]
500 PS = +1 Extra Chapter
10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter
Reviews are always appreciated.
P2treon DarkFoxx (30+ advance chapters)