Problems In The Preparations
- Mabel's POV -
I picked up the phone, seeing that Cole was calling me. I wonder what he wants. "Hello, Mabel! I'm glad I got a hold of you." He said from the other side of the phone.
"What is it, Cole?" I said, turning my body as I glanced at my brother who was raising a brow at me.
"... Something bad happened. When you guys were out for the week ... I've decided to check out that abandoned warehouse you guys mentioned. I did that with Percy. I wished I didn't. But he was useful for the first couple of days. We begin searching the entire warehouse once we got there." He said.
"What did you guys find?!" I said excitement rose within me as I smiled.
"Well. We found some old boxes... newer ones that seem to have more of those shirt pins. Though... it was strange finding blood in one of them. In one of the boxes that were found in the darkest corner of the warehouse, we found a box, that was full of rotten flesh. It seemed so recent too! But ... what was in there...? Something ... disturbing..." He said.
"... Oh gosh. That is not good." I said, looking horrified. Soon my brother was looking at me with a concerned expression. "You don't have to say anything about it. So... did you guys find anything else off in the warehouse?"
"... Yes. Percy and I came across a trapdoor. We opened it slowly and quietly making sure each squeak wouldn't give away our position. The smell that left that trapdoor was horrible. The basement already looked like hell with all of the dried-up blood on the stairs and walls. Neither me nor Percy wanted to go down there. So we decided to grab the proof and runoff. Unfortunately ... the white-haired kid caught us and decided to attack us. Percy told me to go ahead and run forward while he deals with him." He said.
"... Did Percy made it out alive?" I asked.
"I don't think Gideon would have killed him. However, I have a bad feeling that Percy was forced under the mind control spell. Because of that, he's not answering none of my calls or our texts."
"... Percy ... Great." I hissed.
"Yeah... we must solve this case as soon as possible. But ... that might have to wait until after New Year."
"Why?" I asked, looking confused.
"My family decided at the wrong time to go out and see our other family who lives outside of this state. And I was forced to come. I'm sorry, Mabel." He said, sadness dreaded in his voice.
"It's alright! It's... that time of the season to see family, friends, and loved ones. I understand the reasoning." I said, frowning slightly. Does that mean we have to hold off on ours?
"I'll send you guys the pictures in the group chat. For now, I hope you and Dipper have some good holidays. See you." He said.
"Happy holidays to you too." I said before we both hung up. I blinked at my phone, staring at the time. 2:23 PM. I sighed as I looked panicked.
"What ... happened?" I heard my brother ask.
"Well. Cole just called in and said that he and Percy explored the abandoned warehouse." I answered.
"... That's great. What did they find?" He asked.
"Cole will- Ah." I heard the phones of both of ours go off at the same time. "Cole sent the pictures in, hoping that that'll be proof for the police."
"... Okay. This kidnapper is messed up." He said, staring at his phone with wide eyes.
"Don't mind the bloody ones. Anyway, Percy ... got caught by Gideon." I said, frowning.
"Of course he did. Did he do a stupid move?" He asked, looking up at me with an annoyed expression.
"No. Cole told me that he dealt with him while he fled away from the place." I said.
"Oh. I didn't expect him to do that." He said, looking surprised.
"Don't doubt Percy. I know he's ... dumb. But don't think harshly of him. He did this to put those two in jail!" I said.
"And ... for the ladies." He said, rolling his eyes.
"... and that..." I grunted. "But I think he did a good job searching the warehouse with Cole."
"That is good at least. All we gotta do is get close enough to remove all of the enchantments from the shirt pins now. And after that, we can finally report this mess to the police!" He said.
"What about the shirt pins that people are wearing on themselves?" I asked.
"Oh... I don't know how to do that." He said, frowning.
"Then we must! We are almost done with this case, I think. So we must come up with something to do with people's Gideon's shirt pins." I said.
"Hmmm ... You know what, I think I know what we can do." He said.
"What is that?" I asked, looking curious.
"Remember Grunkle Stan's bag of disappearing items?" He asked.
"... Yes ...?" I said, tilting my head.
"Well... I was wondering if we can ask him to convince the customers to hand over their Gideon's shirt pins and place them in the bag. They already place their money in it to the point they believed that all of their money was gone or "disappear." When reality, Grunkle Stan took it." He said, grunting. "They should be convinced and fooled enough to hand them over."
"... That allows us to collect all of them, right?" I asked.
"... Probably not all, but it should be enough for half of the town to slide over to our side." He said.
"Yeah! I like that idea!" I said, nodding. "We just need to ask Grunkle Stan about it. Although ... I think he could care less about the case."
"... I'd doubt it." He said.
"So, is that our plan to get all of the shirt pins?" I asked.
"... Yep. Though I do want to find a way to get the ones in the newer boxes in the warehouse." He said.
"If we are fast enough with how long each shows lasts, we might be able to put those two in jail!" I said.
"Don't they last like ... 3 hours?" He asked.
"I meant how many days they're far apart." I said.
"Oh. Never mind then." He said, shaking his head.
"Well... that is all I guess- no wait." I widened my eyes slightly.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's nothing about the case at all." I said.
"... Then what is it?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Since Christmas is almost here, should we relax and enjoy these few days up until ... after New Years'?" I asked.
"... That's like a week." He said. I narrowed my eyes. Excuse me, where is the Christmas spirit?! I stood up from my bed and walked over to him. Infact, where's the holiday spirit?! I sat by him as he looked at me confused. "... Why-"
"Don't you want to spend the holidays with the family?" I asked.
"... Not really." He said.
"Oh, so you rather be out there, trying to figure out a way to this case while at the same time, you're gonna be stressing your mind out?" I guessed.
"... Yeah." He said, nodding.
"Well. That ain't happening on my watch!" I said.
"Why not?" He frowned.
"I won't allow you to stress your mind out!" I said, glaring at him.
"Oh, no! I won't stress my mind out." He said, shaking his head.
"You will, Dipper." I said, eyeing him.
"... I won't." He grumbled.
I huffed, a bit annoyed. "... It'll be... it'll be my 18th year celebrating Christmas without you."
"... Really-"
"PLEASE? I didn't share any holidays with you when we grew up separately!" I said, cutting him off.
"... Fine." He grumbled.
"Jeez, I don't know what's wrong with you with holidays." I said.
"That's probably because I had a bad Christmas last year." He said.
"No gifts?" I asked.
"... Yeah... sort of." He mumbled. "I don't want to talk much about it."
"Alright. Well. I will remind everyone to give you a gift this year." I said.
"... You don't have to do that." He smiled softly.
"I want to make sure you have a good Christmas this year." I said, smiling widely. I really want to. Hearing that you had a bad Christmas last year makes me sad.
"Thank you, Mabel." He said.
"No problem, Dipstick." I said. "So. What should I get you..."
"Really...- You know, to be honest, I don't know what I want." He said, looking down to the ground.
"Then it'll be a surprise! Wait- you don't know what you want?" I asked, looking at him.
"Nope. I only have future plans for my career." He said.
"Nothing you ... really want right now? No new books?" I asked.
"Not really." He said, shrugged.
"Hmmm... I'm still getting you something." I said.
"Well, whatever it is, I'll be ready to see it when the morning comes." He said, smiling.
"Yeah!" I chirped. "Should we get something for our family? Our loved ones?"
"... OH." He said, shock appeared on his face as he seemed to realize something he has forgotten. I wonder what that is. "Uh... you remember that time when we were getting my skates?"
"Yes?" I said, tilting my head.
"Well... you mentioned something on the lines that I needed to repay Kahlil back?" He said.
"Oh. That was a joke." I snickered.
"... Well... now's the time to think about that repayment." He said.
"Dipper, that was a joke." I said, giving him a look.
"I know. I want to give him a gift this Christmas." He said.
"AWWWW." I said, pulling him into a hug.
"MABEL-"
"THAT'S SO SWEET OF YOU!" I chirped.
"MABEL LET GO OF ME-"
"Okay!" I giggled before letting him go. He glared at me before scooting away. "Don't be like that! So, what do you want to get for him?" I put on my smug looking look and stared at him.
"... First off, I... don't know ..." He looked nervous.
"I could ask him for you if you want me to do that." I said.
"... Really?" He said slowly.
"Yep! I can be sneaky about it." I snickered, smirking afterward.
"Well, I guess I can have you do that." He said, nodding.
"Alright! I won't let you down!" I said.
"Just do it before Dec. 23rd." He said.
"I will! Don't worry, brother." I smiled.
- Dipper's POV -
I walked into the next two days, staring down at the sidewalk. Mabel and I decided to visit Pacifica today and see how she is doing. I hope she is doing well, and ... nothing was damaging her mind. Though I might be wrong with that second statement. I sighed, staring up at the white building. I just hope she is well. "Come on, Dipper!" I heard my sister say as she walked in first, holding the door for me. I went through there and thank her for it. We walked over to the counter as the nurse took us to Pacifica after we ask for a visit. The hallways were pretty quiet, there were nurses and doctors around ... though... it's giving me the creeps. It was never like this when I was in the hospital. What changed?
We arrived at the room as we were told we had 15 minutes. Enough time for us, though for Mabel ... probably more. Mabel went into the room, walking over to the bed with the curtains around it. I frowned, worry started to build within me as I followed behind slowly. "Pacifica! It's me, Mabel!"
"... M-Mabel?" I heard Pacifica's voice from the other side. Her voice felt so ... broken, as if ... something or someone drained the emotion from it.
"Yep! I'm also here with Dipper." Mabel said, smiling.
"... It's ... nice... to s-see you guys." Pacifica said.
"Well... it's nice to see you too!" Mabel chirped. Well, can't see anything when the curtain is there. "Are we allow to move the curtains?"
"Yes! ... I mean yes, you are." Pacifica said. My sister went ahead and pulled them back slowly. I turned around and grabbed some chairs for us to sit in. Mabel grabbed the chair that I handled for her as I sat in mines, scooting closer to the bed. I frowned at the sight of the blonde, seeing her covered in bandages. Though ... only her arms, legs are. Her face seemed like it was left untouched. "How have you been?" Mabel asked.
"... G-good... w-well... f-fine.." Pacifica stammered. "... o-okay..."
"That's good!" Mabel chirped.
"... y-you ... g-guys?" Pacifica asked, looking over to us with a sad look. I don't want to look at her while she is like this. What made the kidnapper do this?! Why did they need to kidnap her?
"I'm doing well!" Mabel answered, smiling.
"I'm doing fine here." I answered, revealing a small smile.
"... g-good." She smiled sadly before turning over to the cup in her lap. She picked it up and held it in her hands.
"Oooo did your parents give you that?" Mabel asked.
"... n-no... someone ... e-else did..." Pacifica said, handing it over to my sister.
"Like who? If you don't mind me asking." Mabel said.
"..." Her eyes went wide as she drops the cup on the bed. It bounced off of the bed and onto the floor. My sister managed to catch it before it hit the ground. She soon stared at her friend. Concern spread across my face as I stared at her. I think I know who gave her the cup. Is Gideon just visiting his victims?! What a disgusting piece of shit. "... m-master ... d-did."
"... Master?" Mabel asked in confusion. Oh. So he just forces his victims to call him master? Another disgusting thing he did.
"... yeah ... he ... h-he ... w-wanted to ... apologize ... so he ... g-gave me this ... cup." She said.
"... Well ... it looks like a good well, fancy cup!" Mabel said, the nervous tone presented in her voice. He doesn't want to apologize, he just wants to try and manipulate you into his side or whatever he's trying to do.
"... y-yeah ... uh ... M-Mab?" Pacifica said.
"Mhm?" My sister answered.
"... w-will you ... c-come back t-tomorrow?" She asked.
"I will! I definitely will! Though I may not come on Dec. 24th. But I will return on December 25th!" Mabel answered.
"... i-isn't ... C-Christmas ...?" She asked.
"Yep!" Mabel chirped.
"... I... I ... I wish I ... g-got you a g-gift..." She said, frowning. " ... does this ... m-mean I'm a ... bad friend?"
"No, no! You're not a bad friend! Let alone, bad best friend! The only gift I've gotten from you is how you are alive still. As well as being safe and sound." Mabel said.
"... I feel like ... it is ... like everything that ... my life has been ... created for." Pacifica said.
"... What do you mean?" Mabel asked. I looked confused, looking at her.
"... I ... I was created to be ... punished ... thrown away ... abandoned ... any of the things ...-"
"No, you weren't. You came into this life to live a life of your own." I said softly. "You do deserve none of those things."
"... M-Master says ... I do..." Pacifica said.
"Well ... this "master" isn't here now. He's far away from here." I said softly once more.
"... b-but ... m-master comes to visit..." She said. Why the hell is he visiting his victims?! If we were to count the people he released from his hell, it would be her and Kahlil. I widened my eyes before leaning back. Wait ... should I be worried about him? I'm ... I'm sure he's fine. Is he?
"... Why does he visit you?" I asked.
"... m-master ... worries ... he ... worries about me." Pacifica said. Worry? I'm quite confused. Why would your kidnapper worry about you? Isn't he cruel?
"Well ... do ... you appreciate ... his visits?" Mabel slowly asked.
"... I don't ... I-I don't know ... I ... I want ... to get away f-from him ... b-but ... I c-can't." Pacifica said.
"Don't worry, I'll be here as fast as I can." Mabel said.
"... t-thank ..." She said, staring down at the cup in my sister's hands. "... d-do ... you want ... it?"
"No. I don't. You can keep it." Mabel said, giving it to her. Pacifica grabbed it and flinched, both of them dropped it as the cup broke on the floor. I widened my eyes slightly, looking at the two.
"... I... I-I'm sorry... I ... I won't do it anymore... I won't." She said in a panicked voice. For some reason, her voice becomes clear as her stutters disappear. I frowned and hugged myself.
"It's okay, Pacifica! It was an accident." Mabel said.
"... n-no-"
"What's going on in here?" I turned my head over to the nurse.
"Don't worry! We just drop something, that's all!" Mabel said.
"... Well, your time is up." The nurse said. Has it been 15 minutes?
"Aww, alright. Well, it's time for us to go, Pacifica. We'll be back!" Mabel said. I looked back at the blonde and nodded with a smile.
"... p-please... v-visit soon." She said.
"We will." I said before we both got up and moved the chairs back. We were soon escorted out of the room and down the hallway to the lobby. We said farewell to the nurse before leaving the hospital.
"It felt like it was ... under 15 minutes ..." Mabel said.
"Let's just guess that they wanted us out of there." I said.
"Yeah... I can't wait until we set this town free of this mind-controlling. Didn't you feel strange in there?" She asked.
"Yea... the place was giving me the creeps." I said.
"Hospitals aren't supposed to feel that way. And also... she mentions and this ... "master" is visiting her." She said. "Why is he visiting her?"
"I have no idea. Maybe because he wants to put more fear into her? I don't know!" I said, fuming slightly.
"He should stop!" She said.
"He really should. However, he has the whole town with him so ... nothing can change that." I said.
"Expect for us!" She nudges my side.
"Expect for us. Exactly." I smiled at her as she smiled back at me.
"We will put a stop to this mess and bring Jungle Falls back to normal!" She said, raising her fist into the air. I snickered and nodded, agreeing with her. We will at least make everyone safe here again when the kidnapper and his minion are locked behind bars. We walked quietly down the sidewalk, getting called from someone. I looked over quickly, stopping a familiar figure. "Soos!" Mabel said before rushing over. I frowned and followed behind. Don't tell me he has Soos under his control.
"Hey dudes!" Soos said, leaning on his counter. He was standing inside this workshop where he had a lot of things set up on display, etc. "How have you been doing?"
"We've been doing great!" Mabel chirped.
"Yeah." I said, nodding.
"That's good! It looks like I'm just about packed up!" He said.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Oh, I'm not going anywhere! I can't when my family is here in town." He said, waving his hand in the air.
"Oh, makes sense." Mabel nodded.
"Anyway, I gotta show you, dudes, something." He said, walking to the back of his shop before pulling out something. He then walked back over to us, showing off a shirt pin. I widened my eye slightly when it was one of Gideon's. Great. Great. Of course, you got Soos too. Poor guy. Ruining his dreams like that. I crush my hands into fists, anger rising within me.
"Oh? A shirt pin?" Mabel asked.
"Yep! I heard it gives you luck when you put it on. Since I won't be needing this anymore, I was wondering if you like to have it." Soos said.
"Really?" Mabel said. Don't fall for it, Mabel. It's a trick. I turned to give Soos a look, my stare soon turned into a glare. I watched my sister grabbed it from his hand.
"Yep! Just put it on and see it for yourself!" He said. She was about to, but she did the opposite that shocked both of us. Mabel slammed the pin down onto the countertop, breaking it after three good hits. I watched the purple smoke float upwards in the air as I widened my eyes. I didn't expect her to do that. I looked over at Soos, who blinked constantly.
"Who are you? Also Hey, Dipper! How you been, dude?" Soos asked me. His bright bubbly expression came back on this face as I smiled.
"I'm doing good!" I said, happily.
"I'm Dipper's brother, Real Soos!" Mabel said.
"Real Soos? I've been the real me this entire time!" Soos said, looking confused.
"You haven't been." I said. I'm glad that worked. Wow, I never knew I missed the old Soos.
"... Can you explain little dudes?" He asked. Mabel and I both nodded before explaining the whole thing about this mind-controlling, the cold case, etc. "Oh. So you guys are try- wait is everyone mind-controlled?!"
"Yes. Most of everyone. There are a few of us that is not." I said.
"You need me for this case." He said.
"We do?" Mabel said.
"Yes! I'll go snatch every one of those pins and destroy them! That will help everyone be freed right?" Soos asked. Uh... I guess.
"Yep!" She nodded.
"Good!" He turned around before looking at his surroundings. "We were not at the Mystery Shack?"
"No... we were not." I said, frowning.
"Wait. What do you remember?" Mabel asked.
"I remember being at the shack, helping Mr. Pines out!" Soos said.
"Fixing the ceiling leak?" She asked.
"No. Actually working for Mr. Pines!" He said. Damn. That was four years ago... probably around the time I was 12 years old. Okay, that isn't four years ago, that's six.
"Oh... well with your help, we can get this done fast! But don't get yourself caught." Mabel said.
"I won't little dude!" Soos said, looking determined.
"Well good luck, Soos." I said.
"Oh and Dipper. However long we were gone apart, we have a LOT to catch up!" He said.
"Indeed. After this case has been solved, we can hang out." I said, turning over to my sister.
"Y-Yeah. Also, I need to go somewhere!" Mabel said, looking nervous.
"Go ahead then." I said, eyeing her.
She nodded and waved at us. "See you later, Soos!"
"See you later too, little dude!" Soos said before she left us. "Okay. Is it too late for me to aim for the manager of the Mystery Shack?"
I chuckled, smiling at him. "It is not, Soos."
End of Chapter 59
Lord, I forgot to upload these two chapters today. That's sad.
Anyway, uploading these chapters is gonna be changing once again because we're nearing the end. I want the story to at least catch up to where I am at since I ended up writing a lot for this story. The next three chapters will be the last break with some wholesome stuff in them until it goes into the ending phase of the story. ^^
I am not ready for this story to end, but good stories have to end someday.
So, that's my last update for today!
Stay safe, have a good day / night! See you when the story ends! ^^
Also, Happy Pride Month!