Chapter Six
Dipper walked through the endless hallways of Sorcha's second home. His legs were a little wobbly (after all, he hadn't used them in two years) and he was a little dizzy (his body functioning wasn't too great either). He was always extremely deep in thought, and never really wanted to talk.
Dusty candelabras hung on the moldy walls, and dead flowers in cracked vases sat on tables. The house was dim, lit only by rusty oil lamps. With a lurch, Dipper noticed fat spiders crawling along the walls, across the stained floorboards, over his feet. It didn't help he was barefooted. What were they feeding on?
He got his answer shortly afterwards. A sealed off door let out a putrid stench and Dipper had to block his nose in disgust. Still, he couldn't help but kick the door down to see what was inside. There wasn't anything better to do.
"Eeugh!" he cried. The rank was worse inside. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tiny flashlight that he had found in his room, only let out a low moan. Coffins littered the reeking and stained floor, with corrupted bodies splayed out in an unceremonious manor. Dipper covered his eyes in terror. But he couldn't help himself. He could never help himself.
He took a step forward, and after a period of silence and utter horror he realized his own barefooted feet were crunching the body of a young female corpse. Her tight, leathery skin had rotted, blank eyes set in an expression of absolute terror. Her brown hair spread around her head like a fan, and one single finger reached out; hard and cold and blue. It raked Dipper's leg with one sharp claw, drawing startling red blood. He let out a silent scream, and stood in place, eyes squeezed shut and tears spurting down his cheeks.
"Please let this be a dream, please let this be a dream," he muttered. But when he opened his eyes, the girl was still staring at him with those dead eyes, and Dipper finally found his voice. His bloodcurdling scream could be heard miles away.
Mabel gasped. Something was wrong! It was Dipper. She just knew it. She had to find him, now that she knew he was out there.
She jiggled Ryan awake, and explained everything about the cat to him, and told him she had to find her brother, who was somehow alive. Ryan's eyes filled with understanding, and Mabel gave a sigh of relief when he didn't chide her for imagining things.
"You would do the same for me if it were Mel," was all he said. Mabel turned away and grinned to herself. He didn't say Piedmont.
"Ryan, we both know Sorcha is behind this. We need to find her, and kill her before it's too late." she stated in determination, now turning back to face the boy.
Ryan gritted his teeth. "Who knows what she's done already to him!"
"Exactly. I know how to get to her. Hold onto my arm," Mabel said hurriedly. He did so, and Mabel snapped her fingers. The power of the fatalis flower had more effect on her than she had ever known. In an instant, the pair was gone.
Dipper charged and threw his shoulder against the door for the hundredth time. Nothing. It was stuck. Panicking, he slammed his whole body against it and pushed with all his strength. It didn't budge.
"Help!" he screamed. "Help me!" Defeated, he fell to his knees. "Mabel... please... I don't know what's going on. Everything feels like- a dream. I didn't know we were fourteen. I know you're out there, just- if you hear me, please come now and rescue me!"
Mabel opened her eyes. They were there. Sorcha's second home. It was completely eerie. There were no traces of life.
"Sorcha! Sorcha! We need to talk to you!" she called out warily. Footsteps sounded through the room, and to Mabel's surprise Sorcha appeared through a little door to the left of the pair.
"We?" she asked with delight. "Who's this handsome young man?"
Ryan cleared his throat uncomfortably. "You know."
"Oh my!" Sorcha let out a gasp. "I remember you!" She stroked his shoulder, although Mabel could see the fury gleam in her eyes like a brightly lit torch. "Pity you can't be with Mabel," she added.
"What?!" Ryan asked in surprise. "There's no reason I can't-" He stopped abruptly when Sorcha pulled out a knife.
"Mabel, I should have warned you not to be in love. It defeats the whole purpose! You'll understand later. You'll be a lot happier with me, when we both have the power of the fatalis," she said softly.
"No, no please. Sorcha stop!" Mabel whispered, absolute dread seeping into her soul.
"Stand back!" Sorcha hissed. "I know it hurts! I know how it feels! But it's for the greater good. You will help me, Mabel. You will." She raised her knife and brought it down before Mabel could say or do anything. It lodged deeply in Ryan's heart.
"No!" she wailed. "No!"
Sorcha smirked, then disappeared without a trace.
Mabel sank to the ground, and felt a lump rise in her throat as she stroked Ryan's chest. "It's okay," she whispered. "You aren't going to die." Blood spurted from the wound like a waterfall and made the floor red and sticky.
"It's- okay -Mabel," Ryan whispered. "I'm ready."
"No! I failed you! I failed you, and Mel, and- and Dipper! I failed all of you!"
"No, you didn't," Ryan said softly. He reached up to run a hand through her hair. Tears sprung at his eyes. Mabel wished she could cry, too. This was Mel's brother. Why wasn't she crying?! Ryan opened his mouth, and Mabel guessed he was about to speak more words of comfort. But out of his lips tumbled a strange set of words that she could barely understand.
"He will awake no more, oh, never more-
Within the twilight chamber spreads apace
The shadow of white Death, and at the door
Invisible Corruption waits to trace
His extreme way to her dim dwelling-place;
The eternal Hunger sits, but pity and awe
Soothe her pale rage, nor dares she to deface," the dying boy recited, straining to speak. "Kill Sorcha, Mabel. Soothe her pale rage. I love you." And with that, his hand fell limp in hers.
A/N Ryan's death wasn't supposed to be too sad; he's not really a major character. So, what do you think? This is one of my favorite poems of all time, plus I use lines of it for all of my stories' titles. I thought it went well in this chapter :). Please review and tell me what you think.