Chapter 6- Damian And Michelle

Author's Note: Hey guys hope that you enjoy the current story as much as I enjoy writing it. Just as a side note though, I would love any feedback on the story's progression to ensure that I'm keeping you guys as riveted as possible! :) Onwards with the story!

Heading out of the grand parlor, Dipper walked towards a door on the far end of the corridor, this brought him to a underground walkway that seemed to be carved straight from the rock itself. Water dripped from the stalagmites above and the walls were covered in soft, damp moss. Further up the path, Dipper suddenly noticed a boy dressed in a yukata. It was the same boy… that looked just like himself, Damian… "Michelle… why did I leave you…" Damian whispered before fading away. Heading towards the end of the walkway, a locked door blocked the path. Using the researcher's key, he opened the door that led straight back the entrance of the manor. As soon as he reached the entrance, the flashlight suddenly sputtered back on. Somehow… the flashlight can only work outside the manor.. Odd Dipper thought. Heading out of the manor, he crossed the same bridge again, but this time he saw the apparitions of Damian and Michelle. But this time, Michelle looked more benevolent, her hair smooth and wavy, her dress a pure white, untouched by blood. "Brother… do you think we can escape, the ritual will begin soon." Michelle whispered. "I have a plan.. but we have to consult with Tasha first, she may know the way out…" Damian replied. "As long as we're together… I don't care…" Michelle said as she placed her head on Damian's shoulder, their spirits slowing vanishing into the night.

Heading back to the house where they encountered the spirit of Alice, Dipper headed back inside, guided by the researcher's map. The map led him into the same study where Dipper found the Camera Obscura. According to the map, a secret trap door led to a pair of stairs that led downstairs to an underground area. After some scanning, Dipper found a slightly loose floorboard that he proceeded to pry open, revealing a narrow flight of stairs. Armed with only his flashlight, he headed into the depths, unsure what he'll find below. Reaching the landing of the staircase, he arrived at an underground cellar filled to the brim with various trinkets and old books. Studying a bookshelf led him to find a torn diary with butterfly impressions on the cover.

Father has decided to choose us to become the next sacrifice. Damian and I plan to escape a few days before the ritual starts. We first need to consult with Tania who is held up at the old storehouse, supposedly she knows the way out of this damn village.

No matter what… Damian and I will be together…We promised that we would never stay apart no matter apart.

Please keep your promise brother.

Please.

Michelle

Searching the cellar, Dipper found a chest and with some effort managed to pry it open. Inside laid another piece of the butterfly diary as well as a ying yang key nestled gently in some rough cloth. Picking up the key and the diary, Dipper found it was a continuation of the previous entry.

We plan to escape tonight. We have the key to the shrine and the passage. Now its only a matter of getting there without arousing the suspicion of the villagers. As Damian and I walked through the nearby forest, we rested on a nearby stump. At that moment, I finally felt that everything was right.. I wish that time…would stop and it would just be Damian and I . We've been through so much with the ritual… Damian said he could never bring himself to kill me, and he wouldn't abandon me for the world.

To be forever at each other's side… to escape the nightmare…. Damian, we can finally be happy.

Together.

Michelle

A key to a shrine? Maybe that was the way out, if he could rescue Mabel and bring her to the girl.. Tania, they could finally be free. Dipper thought excitedly as he pocketed the diary and the key. All of a sudden, Dipper felt the surroundings blacken and the air dropped suddenly in temperature. Aiming his camera, Dipper tried to find the source of the happenings and out of the shadows, a being so horrifying that till today sears in the back of Dipper's head. A man, with his entire body in tattoos, dressed in a long skirt like clothing, his upper half exposed to reveal more tattoos, but his most gruesome feature was that his eyes were gouged out, rope tied through the sockets, he muttered something incomprehensible and lunged forward at Dipper. With a flash of his camera, Dipper sent a white blast that lit the entire cellar, causing the man to shriek in agony. Repeating shot after shot, Dipper edged closer and closer to deal the final blow but suddenly the man lashed out grabbing at his throat, the camera slipped out of his hands has the breath was slowly being squeezed out of him. Dipper scrabbled to free the quickly tightening grip but it was all in vain as the man sneered as his iron grip constricted Dipper's neck. "You… shall now be a Mourner for all eternity." The man hissed. In a last resort effort, Dipper reached for the camera and miraculously he managed to bring the camera closer and with a flash, the man's grip was loosened as he recoiled backwards. In a final shot, the symbols around the lens flared as a final bolt of energy was released, causing the man to scream in pain before slowly fading. Left behind was a research journal and a diary which had to do with "Mourners"

Mourners

Mourners are a group of people that deal closely with the preparations of the Crimson Sacrifice. The are the ones who work near the gateway of the Rift, ensuring the strangling process and ritual as a whole goes according to plan. Due to the forbidden nature of the Rift, Mourners have their eyes gouged and lips sewn shut. Below is a code of which by the Mourners follow

To see the Rift, is blindness

To talk about the Rift, is eternal silence

To hear about the Rift, is deafness

To become a Mourner, is eternal damnation

To guide the butterfly into the new world,

Generally convicts and slaves usually end up as Mourners but people who talk about the Rift in public and closed door will result in punishment as a Mourner. This is a clear example on the paralyzing fear the Rift has on the village, truly interesting indeed.

Researcher's Diary

I was just about to leave and suddenly the village chief apprehends me. Apparently, I have committed a heinous crime by illegally documenting the Rift. I'm currently held captive in the cellar of one the houses. I pray I may leave soon.

Oliver Ramon

This appeared to be a different researcher from the usually logs I find… Dipper thought. Maybe he became a Mourner…and that was his spirit? Dipper shuddered at the thought and quickly left the cellar eager to get back to the manor and rescue Mabel. Heading out of the house, Dipper trudged his way back to the manor. Just before he reached the door, Dipper saw Damian and Michelle staring at the double doors to the manor with melancholy. "Brother… will we ever come back…" Michelle asked. "For the better, we shouldn't. Even though it may cling to us like a shadow, this village will bring us nothing but unhappiness…" Damian replied woefully. "Well brother…lets do this… together…" Michelle said grasping Damian's hand gently before fading with the wind.

Heading back inside the manor, Dipper retraced his steps leading back to the cell hoping that Mabel hadn't been waiting too long inside the cell. As Dipper reached the cell, he couldn't seem to find Mabel inside. Assuming she may be behind the bookcases that were inside the cell, Dipper used the key and unlocked the door. Inside, Dipper found Mabel gone. His heart raced, how could Mabel have escaped without the key…Suddenly, on the floor Dipper saw carved on the floor, the words "Sorry" and "Are you leaving me brother…" were repeated, each one more frantic than the other. Also on the floor was a note and a photograph that was attached to it.

Tania… I'm sorry about her… You could have ran but you didn't.

The photo attached was of the girl Tania in the cell, looking as sad as ever. All of a sudden, Dipper's mind blanked as a vision formed in his mind. It was Tania, Damian and Michelle deep in the forest. "Now remember don't look back…" Tania said clasping Damian and Michelle's hands. They both nodded in unison and began to run, leaving Tania in the distance. Faster and faster they ran, "Wait for me!" Michelle panted as she tried to keep with Damian's pace. "Hurry up, who knows if they discovered us?" Damian urged her on. As they distanced themselves from the village, Michelle's leg suddenly slipped on a cliff. Screaming, she tumbled downwards, her last image of Damian screaming her name…

The vision changed to Michelle back in the village surrounded by villagers discussing in absolute frenzy. He'll come back… I know it… Michelle thought. Several images flashed, Michelle being tortured and beaten and finally strangled and thrown into a pit. Damian whispering he was sorry. The vision altered to Mabel at the double doors to the manor, walking away in a daze, chasing a cluster of crimson butterflies. As the vision ended, Dipper came to a horrifying conclusion…

He abandoned her…