"Escape by Arabian Nightfall"
Chapter 6:
Meanwhile, Pacifica was running through the forest, dodging branches and jumping over mud puddles. The rain, combined with her tears, were starting to fog her vision, however. Suddenly, she tripped over a tree root and found herself face down in the mud. She slid down a steep hill and into a nearby river. Pacifica struggled, confusion clouding her mind, before finding the surface. She tried keeping her head above the water, but the current kept slamming her down to the floor and into the rocks. Next, a large log floated by. Her eyes widened and she began paddling as hard as she could, chasing the log. Pacifica latched onto the log and pulled herself onto it, resting on her stomach. She coughed the water out of her lungs. The woman then fell asleep, exhaustion taking over.
Pacifica woke up when the log bumped into something. She looked up to see a boat dock in front of her face.
" Ugh…Where am I," she questioned then looked around.
It was dark out, so it was difficult to tell. The rain stopped, though. Pacifica pulled herself onto the log until she was sitting on it then began looking for a nearby ladder or post to grab onto. Fortunately, she was able to find a ladder. Pacifica paddled the log over to it then snagged the rung of the ladder, pulling herself up and off of the log. She climbed up the ladder and onto the dock. Pacifica whipped her phone out of her zippable pocket and turned on the flashlight feature.
" Good thing this is waterproof," she murmured as she tried figuring out her location.
She walked from the deck and onto the shore, shining her flashlight everywhere.
Pacifica stopped scanning the area when she saw a familiar sign.
" Lake Gravity Falls," Pacifica read, surprised. " I'm still in Gravity Falls?"
" Pacifica," a male's voice shouted.
" Pacifica," a deeper voice yelled.
" Pacifica," a more feminine voice hollered.
" Pacifica, we've got money and jewelry," a gruff voice bellowed.
" No, we don't, Stan," the feminine voice scoffed.
" Dipper," Pacifica had a puzzled look on her face then gasped, shouting as she waved her arms in the air. " Dipper! Stan! Ford! Wendy! Guys, over here!"
A flash of light peered from around the corner of the boat rental hunt. Pacifica continued waving her cellphone in the air, keeping the flashlight on.
" Over here," she shouted.
The group rounded the corner.
" There you are," Wendy stated, relieved.
" See, Stanley," Ford elbowed Stan in the ribs, glaring at him. " I told you that river would lead down here."
" Yeah, yeah," Stan rolled his eyes, rubbing his side." You want to deposit a quarter into the smarty show off jar?"
" Pacifica, are you alright," Dipper asked, worried.
" I'm fine," Pacifica replied, putting her phone away. " Nothing my body can't replace. Lost my purse, though."
Pacifica then started coughing, followed by a sneeze.
" We better get you back to the Shack," Wendy draped her jacket over Pacifica's shoulders.
The group headed back to the Shack in the Stanley Mobile. Soon, they arrived and went inside. Stan and Ford went into the kitchen to warm up some hot chocolate, Dipper and Wendy went into the living room to watch TV, and Pacifica went upstairs to sleep. The following morning, Pacifica's purse was found by the police and reported to the local news station.
" This just in, former resident Pacifica Northwest was reported missing several weeks ago by her parents," Shandra announced. " She was last seen by her roommate at the University of Geneva. No evidence of her whereabouts has occurred until this morning."
A picture of Pacifica's purse appeared on the television screen. Her purse was saturated in water with mud stains all over it.
" Police have found Pacifica's photo ID and a large sum of money inside, suggesting she planned a trip here," Shandra continued. " Pacifica, however, is yet to be found. If you have any information, please contact the Gravity Falls Police Department. Back to you, Toby."
" This just in, the Northwests have decided to throw their annual Northwest Fest at the Beaver Lodge Inn in honor of their daughter's return," Toby announced. " Everyone is invited this year. Invitations go out today. The party is tomorrow. Tad Strange with the weather."
" Today's weather will be partly cloudy," Tad Strange started, but Stan turned off the TV.
" Northwest Fest," Dipper raised an eyebrow. " I thought they stopped doing that after losing the manor."
" They did," Pacifica retorted.
" Gotta be a trap then," Dipper uttered.
" We're going," Pacifica stated after pondering a moment.
" What," Dipper turned to her, bewildered.
" We're going," Pacifica repeated, standing up. " I've been hiding for way too long. Time to put my disguise to the ultimate test."
The next day, the gang dressed up in their fanciest clothes and went to the party. The entire town was there, along with the millionaire and billionaire friends of the Northwests. Three of them were the Hosseinis. Mr. Hosseini and Preston were over by the fireplace, chatting and laughing. Mrs. Hosseini stood quietly by her husband's side, hidden under her burqa. Raja was standing next to her, arms folded and glaring at the floor. Preston looked over at the Pines family, smiled and walked over to them.
" Ah, welcome," Preston greeted. " Glad you could make it."
" We're just here to take pictures for Mabel," Stan prevaricated. " She's in Wales and couldn't make the party, so we're filling in for her."
" Splendid," Preston chimed. " So, have you seen Pacifica yet?"
" No, I haven't," Stan replied.
" Not yet," Ford retorted.
" Nope," Dipper answered.
" Nuh-uh," Wendy shook her head.
Pacifica shook her head. Preston noticed the stranger standing next to them.
" And who is this," Preston gestured toward Pacifica.
" This is my cousin," Dipper wrapped an arm around Pacifica's shoulder. " Penelope Pines."
" Penelope Pines," Pacifica tweeted. " Nice to meet you, Mr…."
" Northwest," Preston finished. " And nice to meet you, Mrs. Pines, is it?"
" Yes, it is," Pacifica fibbed. " Just got married into the family not too long ago."
" Ah, so by cousin, he meant cousin-in-law," Preston stated.
" Exactly," Pacifica fake grinned.
" So, where are you from," Preston asked.
" I'm from Seattle, Washington," Pacifica spoke the first place that came to mind. " Figured I would pop by Gravity Falls and get to know the Pines side of the family a little better."
" They are a, um, interesting bunch," Preston hesitated then looked around. " Now where on Earth did Priscilla run off to?"
" Who," Pacifica raised an eyebrow.
" My wife," Preston answered then began walking away, troubled. " Excuse me."
Pacifica's fake smile faltered into a death glare. She hissed something under her breath then turned to the group.
" Well, what are you standing around for," Pacifica shrugged then grinned. " Let's party."
Dipper and Wendy took off to the dance floor, while Stan and Ford went over to the snack table. Pacifica began walking around the lodge, looking at the decor. Her parents got the most expensive and fanciest decorations, as usual. They even managed to get the guy who played music for them at the other Northwest Fests. The food selection, however, was upgraded to make up for the less-than-luxurious location. Her parents certainly regained their wealthy status while she was gone, but could not get McGucket to sell Northwest Manor back to them or put them in his will, so they had to make do with what they could get. Pacifica grabbed a fondue fork, poked it into a strawberry, and dipped it into the chocolate fountain. Next, she dipped the chocolate coated strawberry into the cheese fountain. After that, she began eating the cheese covered chocolate strawberry. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around, her mouth still full. It was Raja. Her eyes widened, but she continued chewing.
" Excuse me, Miss," Raja chimed then held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Pacifica glanced down at his hand, looked back up at his face then swallowed.
" Get in line, Pal," Pacifica snapped then turned back to the fountain, getting another fondue dipped strawberry.
Raja stood between her and the fountain, arms stretched out.
" I can't help but be enchanted by both your beauty and your bold spirit," Raja tweeted then bowed. " It would be an honor to dance with a woman of such taste."
" Look, Buster," Pacifica poked him in the nose.
" It's Raja," Raja stood up, rubbing his nose.
" Maybe nobody told you this, but I'm happily married," Pacifica huffed. " Sorry."
" Hey, I'm married, too," Raja uttered. " Maybe we could work out a compromise. I am looking for a second wife, preferably to cook for me and provide me with lots of heirs. My first wife is, uh, bad at both. I don't think she'll mind the extra set of hands. What? It's Afghanistan. It's what we do."
Pacifica gave him a disgusted look then slapped him across the face, knocking him to the floor. Raja placed his hand on his cheek, feeling a familiar sensation. She turned around and stormed off. Pacifica went into the ladies' room and looked into the mirror, sighing. She turned her head when she heard sniffling coming from a nearby stall. Pacifica saw a purple dress with black high heels underneath. It was her mother. She rolled her eyes.
" Excuse me, Ma'am," Pacifica feigned concern. " Are you okay?"
" No, I am not okay," Priscilla sobbed. " My daughter was supposed to be here, but I don't see her. I think she drowned in the same river they found her purse in."
" Oh, you must Pacifica's mother," Pacifica said. " I'm Penelope Pines. Nah. I'm sure she's fine. Probably just running a little late, or couldn't come because she lost her purse."
" Yes, that is probably it," Priscilla hiccupped. " I still can't help but worry, though."
" Speaking of worrying, your husband is looking for you," Pacifica stated.
" Oh, as if he really cares a wit about me," Priscilla scoffed as she exited the stall and approached the mirror, checking her hair and makeup. " The man never listens to a word I say. And what's worse? He only talks to me if he needs something. If I refuse, he forces me to comply. He used to be so much nicer when we first met."
Priscilla pulled her makeup out of her purse and began fixing her face. Pacifica's face saddened.
" I'm really sorry to hear that, Mrs. Northwest," Pacifica paused then widened her eyes. " Why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you be out there giving him a piece of your mind?"
" I've tried," Priscilla admitted, re-curling her eyelashes. " It's his way or the highway. That includes Pacifica's upbringing. I've had no say in anything about how to raise her, except for when it came to clothes, hair, and make-up."
" What a shame," Pacifica sighed. " I hope it all comes back to bite him some day and he'll, in return, become a better person."
" I hope the same," Priscilla said, putting her makeup back in her purse.
" Well, I better get back to my family," Pacifica began, making Priscilla turn to her. " They're going to think I fell in and try to rescue me. Talk about embarrassing."
Priscilla started laughing then turned back to the mirror. Pacifica chortled as she left the bathroom. The wealthy woman stopped chuckling when she heard Pacifica's laugh, raising an eyebrow.
" Hmm," she pondered then shook her head. " Nah. Couldn't be."