Chapter 11
Later than usual sorry. Wrote half of the chapter then didn't like where it was going so scraped it and restarted. I rushed the story making the plot feel rushed and forced, so went back for the better story. Thanks for the positive support. The comments that I get really help.
(Dipper POV)
The sound of small clicks edged at the corner of my sub consciousness. Prying open my eyes had to deal with the glaring sunlight shining down on me. I tried to raise my arm to block the light to allow time for my eyes to adjust but I couldn't. After waiting a few more moments than usual my vision was restored to the point where I could see the thing holding my arm down. Wendy lay curled up with her head laying across my arm. Her red hair covering patches of her face looking graceful as always. A small smile was visible on her freckled face looking calm in the bliss of the morning sun.
"You two look so adorable." The sudden voice shattered the near silence of the morning as I carefully looked over to where the voice came from.
"Mabel!" I hissed, seeing a camera held in her hands where she was obviously taking pictures of us. "Stop that."
"We both know that's not isn't going to happen." A massive smile exposing her white teeth, grinned back at me "Don't worry these are only going in the scrapbook. Mum and Dad however, are going to LOVE this."
"When I get my hands on you…" I was going to make a couple threats about destroying her sweaters or something if she didn't delete them, when Wendy stirred.
"Dipper… what's all the noise about?" sounding weary lifting her head off my arm and gazing confused into my eyes.
"It seems we have ourselves a stalker." Throwing an annoyed glance at Mabel.
"It's not Tambry is it?" As she rolled off my arm to get a look at who was there. "Thank god. Just Mabel."
I stared at the back of Wendy's head in amazement "Thank god? What do you mean 'Thank God'? Mabel's been standing there taking pictures of us for lord knows how long, and you're fine with that?"
"Look on the bright side" twisting her head to face me "It could be Tambry."
I contemplated this for a while. If Tambry did catch us, this news would be all over the town like wildfire. Especially after how our first relationship post went down. "You got a point." I said hesitantly "But you can't deny what Mabel is going is creepy raising my other arm to point at her once again taking pictures.
"Yeah" facing Mabel again "Can you please stop taking picture?" she said calmly. I rolled my eyes at the attempt knowing Mabel would just continue snapping pictures till I got up.
"Sure thing Wendy." Lowering her camera to her side. I just lay there in amazement.
"So when I ask you, you continue your little photo shoot, but when Wendy asks you listen?" Annoyance and confusion apparent in my voice.
"She said please." She simply stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"When I get my hands on you." I growled hauling myself to my feet getting ready to chase her as she dashed down the ladder.
"Give her a break dude. She's doing what any sister would do. Find a way to extort her brother and twist him in her fingers." I glanced at her while she stared blankly back at me "What? It's true."
I simply turned away briefly trying to comprehend the mind and logic of a girl's mind. "Let's just go downstairs." Giving up on the enigma of women.
"Sure. Just let me get ready." Wendy much slowly pulled herself to her feet before leaning back as far as her back would go, allowing me to hear several cracks and sore bones. Quickly brushing herself down she swiped her to one side of her head before stating she was ready. I led the way downstairs keeping an eye out for Mabel as I held my hand out for Wendy to steady herself with.
"Thanks." As she made her way down before standing next to me in a silence. "Well I should probably get to work now."
"Why not spend some more time with me? We could go out and do something?" a little surprised by her reluctance to spend more time with me.
"As much as I would love too, I actually have to do my job for the extra cash needed for other things. While Soos wouldn't mind me taking more time of work, Stan does. And we both know how much Soos still follows Stan's instructions." I groaned out in annoyance knowing that she was right.
"Well maybe later today or tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, maybe not today. Have to check in with the fam at some stage every 24 hours so no promises but I'm open for it. But first I'm going to get changed." Grabbing a small backpack, I didn't notice Wendy bring in last night hidden behind the counter.
"Cool then. Guess I'll leave you to that then." Walking backwards gingerly before entering the kitchen to make myself some breakfast. The usual talkative room was quite as everyone seemed to be up and about doing their own business as I made myself some cereal and ate in silence. Finishing up, I placed my bowl on top of the growing number of dishes. Having nothing better to do I reluctantly set myself to work washing and drying them.
Five minutes passed as I placed the last of the bowls into the cupboard. Brushing my hands by my sides I could feel the wrinkly texture to them, making everything feel so soft. I slightly shuddered at the unsettling feel of them. I wandered around the house, hands in pockets trying to find something to do. I thought about seeing Wendy and talking with her, but the number of voices I could hear in the gift shop suggested she was busy with tourists.
I walked up to the back door gently twisting the handle exposing the forest in all its colour standing there almost staring me down. For a moment I just gazed into the blackness of the forest getting small vibes running through my body. Against all my bitter judgement telling me to head inside and sit in front of the TV. I stepped onto the grass hopping as I flicked on a pair of sneakers wandering towards the thick blackness. I had no idea what on earth I was doing but it felt somehow like there was something I needed to see. I don't know how to explain it well, I just had an icy chill going through my body edging me on.
Stepping into the forest I walked through the trees looking around as if something was just going to be there. As if something was going to leap at and present itself to me. As usual nothing did though. I continued my walk trying to spot anything out of the ordinary, looking at every bird twice, ears open for the slightest snap of a twig, anything. I was so on edge looking up and about, I failed to spot the hole at my feet as I catapulted forwards into a pit.
I stuck my arms out to keep me up but the shock of the fall caught me off guard as I heard a sharp click as I fell onto my side. I gasped as pain rushed through my left arm "Oh Crud." I said through gritted teeth as the pain sunk in. I gently pressed it with my other arm, wincing as the pain was triggered every time I touched it.
"Please lord don't be broken." Silently whispering up to the sky. Thankfully the pain didn't seem to be at the point where it was worth screaming about so it was probably fractured. Standing up on my feet taking care not to bang anything, I hauled myself out using my good arm to get a grasp of the ground for help.
Out of the death trap, I finally got a decent look at it. Actually it was pretty easy to of missed it. Being surrounded by ferns and tall trees, there was actually a ring of shade surrounding the hole making the area look quite ominous. The hold itself was nothing special anyway. Looking one-metre-deep with a similar radius it looks like someone might have been searching for something specific. I quickly had a glance around confirming my suspicions. What the person was looking for they knew it was here. Not some random search by the lack of other holes even though it must have been very well hidden.
Maybe because it was visible above the ground and just needed to dig the rest of it out? That still doesn't make sense though. What could be hidden out in the middle of the forest worth digging up? I stood there contemplating the options for a bit longer in my head but unable to come to any conclusions. Giving up I mentally took a picture of its location and how I got here and walked out of the circle. Sound flocked back to my ears with birds chirping loudly in the branches above.
Huh. Weird how the just started up like that. Almost like magic… I froze where I stood spinning around to glance in the ring. I didn't once notice how quiet everything was in the hole. Must have been my imagination. Wasn't it?
Walking up to the rim of shadows I tenderly placed one foot into the circle, half expecting something to grab my leg and haul me away. Nothing happened. Stepping into the circle fully the difference was immensely noticeable. Sound wasn't gone, but muted in a way where you had to strain your ears to hear anything.
I felt my heat increase rapidly as the revelation took me by surprise. That means whatever was here was linked to something paranormal. If only we still had the journals I could maybe link this together. I cursed myself silently for my mistake all those years ago, but turned around and began to walk away, excited to get to the mystery shack and tell Ford about the revelation I'd found. I took my time wandering back thinking I was on the right path only to somehow end up on the main road into town.
"Ok, maybe I don't know this place as well as I though." Rubbing the back of my head awkwardly, realising the long walk to the shack ahead of me. I trudged onwards down the road being carefully not to swing my sore arm into myself. A good while passed with me just walking on, beginning to regret bringing an IPod or something to keep myself occupied as the sun beat down on the back of my neck.
After what felt like forever the shack began looming out of the distance to my relief. I had to force myself onto the side of the road as cars roared pass me heading both directions. I never took into account the amount of people who actually fell for the tourist trap. Every so often a fellow would walk in however and not be fooled by the tacky objects and cheap merchandise and leave in a huff, but never did it damage the stores credibility, or whatever credibility it had in the first place.
A bus flew out of the parking lot throwing dust into the air, momentarily blinding me as I squinted through the yellowish fog blinding everything for a moment. I ended up pushing through the front door bent over in a coughing fit and the dust particles filled my lungs.
"Good to see that you've been getting some fresh air sport." And there was the voice of the devil. I tilted my head upwards to look at my tormentor. Of course there he was leaning on his mystery ball cane looking down at me.
"Why torment me like this?" straitening my back to look him in the eyes.
"Because it's fun." Smiling even more "What else is an old man meant to make fun of?"
"Tourists?" waving my arms around me to the masses looking at badly made shirts and printed cups.
"Kid, when you've been doing this for as long as I have there is only so much fun to make of them. You on the other hand come once a year, gives me a chance to blow some steam onto someone new. Plus, they don't ever react as well as you do."
"Wait a sec. You mean to say, the only reason you tease me and wind me up is for our amusement?"
"Not the only reason but its high on the list."
I threw my hand into the air "There's a list? Why am I not surprised?"
"Because you shouldn't be. Kid I'm now going to ask you to stop your tantrum now, you're getting looks from potential customers."
"Sure, because I don't want people getting pissed by the fact the cornicorn is actually a fake."
"That's the spirt, but keep that last one to yourself or I'll get you back in the wolf costume." He turned around to face the people in the room "EVERYONE WHO PAID FOR THE TOUR, FOLLOW ME!" He left the building in my guess towards the small carriage train leading a small group after him.
"He had a point you know." Turning to my left I saw that Wendy looking down as she placed multiple items into a plastic bag for the customer in front of her. She had gotten changed out of the clothes from last night into her usual getup with the addition of the name tag on her shirt.
"What do you mean?" Slightly shocked that she would stick up for Stan than defend me.
"People were giving you bad looks. Can't have my boyfriend being looked down upon by the local populace." Still not taking her attention of the person in front of her as she wrapped up another sale.
"Fair enough" taking a look at the line at had formed trailing to the other end of the store "Any chance you will get time off soon?" hoping she would say yes but doubtful by the mass of people still flourishing into the store.
"Sorry dude, with this many people, I might not even get break for the next two hours or so. No clue why there are so many of them, but not today." Quickly looking at me and frowning at my appearance "Bro what happened to your arm?"
I quickly looked down to see that I was cradling it in a weird way. "I might have fallen in a hole or some sorts." I said quietly trying to not let anyone overhear my failure.
"Dumb move bro. Doesn't look to bad though, might just be a sprain. Let Ford have a look though; he seems to know nearly everything."
"Yeah, speaking of Ford where is he?" Looking around my immediate surroundings trying to spot the old man.
"He's just come back from his wanderings, he's in the house somewhere. Mate, I don't mean to be rude though but I'm going to need to ask to leave me alone. I'm holding up the queue even more now." She looked truly looked gutted in saying that but I got the jest.
"Nah, I got ya. See you later then?"
"Sure, I'll find you when I get off, before I go."
"Cool" taking a few steps back "See ya Wendy."
"Later." Turning back to an impatient women tapping the desk counter with her nails. I went off then in search of Ford, making my way through all the rooms to find him passed out on the chair in the lounge, snoring his head off.
"Grunkle Ford. Ford wake up." I started nudging him gently trying to stir the man but he just continued snoring peacefully not even acknowledging my presence. "Oh man, please don't let me regret this." I reached over and grasped his nose squeezing the nostrils shut. A few grunts and a snort later I had a wide eyed uncle glancing around the room before focusing in on me.
"Dipper, whatcha want?" voice quite low and gravelly obviously a tad annoyed by being awoken.
"Sorry just needed to ask you a few things."
Ford rested his head back and took in a deep breath "Sure, fire away."
"First is my arm badly injured?" This seemed to light an unsettling look in his face. He swept his arms out and grasped the sore one I held out for him, wincing slightly at the pain.
"It's just a sprain, don't use it for any heavy lifting and you'll be all good." looking angrily at me "Word your next questions carefully. I've been out in the woods all night looking for hints to the latest anomalies you and Wendy described. So if this next one is about something stupid like a sore arm, you're in trouble."
I nodded my head in acknowledgement. It wasn't often I got to see Ford like this and I was never a good sight so it was always best to take things slowly. "What do you know about enchanted circles and holes?"
"What?" all the rage visible in his face being dropped in an instant to be replaced with confusion. "What do you mean? Like an ancient burial ground?"
"No." I began describing the events leading up to my discovery and realization about the magic capability of it silencing all the noise out. The whole time Ford just looked confused. No signs of worry or excitement just confusion.
"Could you take me to this spot now by any chance?" I mentally groaned thinking about all the walking I had to do. "Yeah, I'll give you a moment to get ready first."
"Yeah, if I'm going out again I'll need a flask of coffee." Hauling himself out of the seat and stretching. I heard the multiple clicks of protest his body made as he entered the kitchen. I stood in the same spot however, just getting to grip with the close call of avoiding a fierce scene. I reluctantly made my way to the back door and waited for Ford to finish up. A few minutes later he joined me with the plasma rifle in one hand and a flask in the other.
"Sure we'll really need that?" pointing at the gun dangling down by his side.
Taking a quick swig from the flask he just looked through the window off into the distance "You never know, better prepared than not."
"Sure…" trying to think what on earth would even think about attacking the two of us. Ford can look fierce enough without it to ward of any of the small creatures of the forest. Letting those thoughts die, I pushed open the door and lead the way into the dark void of the forest.
