WONKA'S LEGACY *prologue*

After the golden ticket competition, the children’s parents sued for damages. As the lengthy court case continued on, Wonka enterprises was forced to declare bankruptcy and close the factory indefinitely. The final day of production was a sad one, with many people waiting outside the factory protesting to keep it open. In the end, the company agreed to pay each victim $25 million dollars in order to settle the suit; given to both parents and children. This money proved to be pittance in comparison to the total cost of the legal fees and the pause of operating the factory to settle the suit, however, Wonka enterprises would never able to financially recover. So, the chocolate factory was forced into administration and close its doors forever. The abandoned factory loomed over the town for next several years, slowly becoming decrepit and falling into disrepair. For a short while people believe Wonka would come back to rebuild, returning stronger than ever before. But as soon as the factory was gone, so was he. No one had seen or heard from the mysterious enigmatic man, people wildly speculated what happened to him. Some believe he went into hiding, some say he died, some people believe he lives in the factory amongst the rubble and rusted machinery. No one can really know for sure. One thing is certain though, when the factory closed its doors forever there was nothing left behind but broken glass, scattered packing crates and old equipment. Throughout the years there were multiple news reports that big companies expressed interest in purchasing the old factory and demolishing it, however there wasn't any real progress or headway. Any company who would feign the slightest bit of interest was met with protesters, who wanted to keep the factory preserved or in the hopes that one day Wonka would make his glorious return.

As years passed by, the factory deteriorated more and more, until finally it was completely unrecognizable. The facade of the factory still stood, however it was now covered in graffiti and littered with garbage and debris It was also infested with rats and other vermin. Most tourists and visitors have been driven away by these horrific conditions, however a few brave souls were willing to risk their life to go inside the once magnificent factory. While it may look like an eyesore, the interior of the factory still remains intact. It's not surprising considering how long it has been since the last time anyone had stepped foot inside. There are rumors that in the bowels of the factory, you can find a small room filled with dozens and dozens of chocolate bars, as well as barrels of various flavors. These rumors are false, however. There is no such room, and there never was. It just became an old wives tale that the children of the town would tell each other. The truth is, when the factory closed down, the entire supply of chocolate and ingredients were either discarded or destroyed. Any remaining supplies in the factory would've been cleaned out long ago. And even if they weren't, there wouldn't be anything worth taking anyway. The factory was mostly stripped bare, only a few items or parts of machines remained. With all the rumors and stories surrounding the factory, one can only imagine what secrets hide beneath its walls.

Despite the rumors and gossip, the dilapidated factory is still occasionally visited by scavengers and thrill seekers alike. People come here to take pictures of the decrepit structures and attempt to explore the decaying building, to the dismay of the local police. Many try to sneak in through the windows, or crawl in through the broken glass and other entrances. They're usually caught and arrested for trespassing, yet it still regularly occurs. Many are eager to get their hands on anything that hasn't been taken already, even if it means breaking into the factory illegally. To most people, this place is a curiosity, something to be photographed and documented by the world at large. But this doesn't mean that the factory is gone forever, it lives on through the memories of the people of the town. The sheer joy the confectionery company brought to the world was a point of pride for many of the older locals, like they were a part of something bigger. The fact that they witnessed the source of something all the world could point to and say, we all love this and it makes us happy. Those days are long gone now, and yet, the pride and respect for Wonka’s legacy still remains.

Millie grew up obsessing about the chocolate factory. She heard all the stories from her parents and older relatives, as a child she dreamed about exploring the mysteries of the factory. After the incident with the children, and the factory was forced to shut down Millie felt devastated. She remembers helplessly watching Wonka’s empire crumble under the lawsuits. She remembers the day the factory closed; she felt an all-encompassing grief as many others did, almost as if she lost a close family member. Millie missed the taste of Wonka’s chocolate; nothing could ever replace the mouth-watering flavor. Her father would buy her a bar every now and then, when she had been good. She remembered watching the smoke of the factory bellow everyday on her way to school, and how the security was so prominent around the gates it almost felt like a prison or a bank. Millie couldn’t understand why they had to shut the factory down. Everyone in the town knew the real story, the children messed up. It wasn’t Wonka’s fault that they didn’t listen to him, they had their come-uppance. They were lucky to even be allowed to enter the factory, to witness the pure magic of Wonka’s factory. Millie was so jealous of those kids. She knew if she was there; she would have treated Wonka’s legacy with respect and reverence, unlike those spoilt kids who ruined it for everyone. 

Millie's childhood dreams of going inside the factory faded after the closure. She would often cycle past the factory on her way to her part time job at the local supermarket, and she'd always wonder what it was like. The thought of seeing the factory up close and personal was enticing; she wondered if perhaps Wonka would come back to reopen the factory. Perhaps he would bring the factory back to its former glory, and allow the people of the town to appreciate his work in person. As she grew up she watched as the factory fall further into ruin, the security guards were replaced with CCTV cameras and the entrance was boarded up, preventing anyone from entering. The factory was abandoned and left to rot. In the years since the factory closed, Millie worked hard to save up enough money to move out of her parent's home. She started to rent a small cozy apartment, with a clear view of the factory in the distance. Millie would sit outside on her balcony, and gaze upon the factory. She couldn't help but to feel nostalgic and melancholy. The factory reminded her of a happier time in her life, when things seemed so much simpler. She missed the days when candy and sweets were plentiful, and the factory was bustling with life.

One day as she was relaxing at home, she received a text message from her mother. She opened up her phone and the message read "Turn on the news! Absolutely shocking!", as soon as she read the message she grabbed her remote and turned on the TV to the local news station. The reporter was standing in front of the abandoned factory, and he said: "We are live today at the abandoned Wonka factory, where after 12 years of closure the local government has decided to demolish the factory". Millie sat in shock and disbelief. She had never expected to see the factory demolished. She was heartbroken, she didn't want to accept that the factory was going to be gone forever. She quickly called her mother and asked what was going on. Her mother explained that the government wanted to sell the land to some company to make it into some gentrified shopping and apartment monstrosity. Millie was angry and upset, she couldn't believe what had happened. Why would the government destroy it? It was such an important piece of the town’s history. How could they allow such a beautiful landmark to be destroyed, without a trace? At that moment, Millie came to an epiphany. This was possibly the last chance she would get to see what was inside the factory, she needed a plan. She realized that she needed to get into that factory, one way or another.