Chapter 7: The Dark Truth
Darkness was everywhere as Mabel came back around. First thing she felt, her hands were tied, so were her legs, and a blindfold over her eyes. She heard footsteps approaching. Then an arm started to remove the blindfold from her eyes. She stared up at the figure. It was a tall guy, looked to be in his late 30s or early 40s. "Well, I did not expect you to be asleep for that long. I guess my son gave you the greater dosed knockout pill" he said. "Wait what, who are you" Mabel said. "I'm surprised you did not realize already Mabel, recognize me" he said turning on a light. "Mr. Hewden" said Mabel in shock.
"I must admit, it was my fault for giving Henry the older picture of me, I was once more well mannered looking then I am now" he said. "Oh, please dad, you still look a day under 25" a voice said. Into the room, walked in Henry. "Henry, you creep what are you doing" shouted Mabel. "Oh, I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet Mabel, your brother sure knew. Too bad he mistook me for the wrong type" he said. "Oh please, I'm not sure she even knows what a newspaper is, we were on the front page though" Mr. Hewden said. The two laugh. The front page, Dipper knowing, being taken away, it all added up. "You two are the kidnapper creeps who've been taking kids all across here aren't you" screamed Mabel.
"Oh, it took you, hmmmm lets see, 5 minutes from you waking up to figure that out" said Henry. "Dipper was right to not trust you, I should have listened to him" said Mabel. "Too late for that missy, you're not gonna be able too, although maybe if we decide to ransom you, maybe he'll write back" said Henry's dad. The two start to laugh. "What are you guys even up to taking kids away like this" asks Mabel. "Its simple really kid, you're a kid, cheap labour" says Mr. Hewden. "We can't cut trees down by ourselves and I'm sure we'll find someone who may take you in after we're done here. Hope you know how to use a washing machine" added Henry.
"You two are insane if you think you'll get away with this" says Mabel. "Dipper probably has all of Gravity Falls looking for me and Grunkle Stan probably has the armed guard sweeping the state by now. And once they find me and eventually you two, let's just say you'll be lucky to be alive after he's done with you". "Oh, but that's where your wrong Mabel." Says Henry. "While you were asleep, I already rang your brother up, BTW change your ringtone, Several Timez is overrated anyways". "And to think I thought you liked Several Timez, as if kidnapping me was not bad enough" says Mabel. "See Dipper thinks you were dropped off by me at the shack, so I'm basically off the hook here" Henry says. "All I got to do now is go back to that run down old termite hub you call Gravity Falls, and play witness. Eventually everyone will gain my trust and once your basically labelled lost forever, ill sneak out and no one will be the wiser".
Mabel watched as Henry smashed her phone, and headed down stairs. She could hear the van start up and drive off back towards town. Henry's father then untied her feet and escorted her downstairs. Mabel was in for a shock. There sleeping on nothing but the floor with a small blanket each for warmth, were the 9 other children that had gone missing. Mabel was on the brink of tears. "Now get some sleep, you and all these other brats have got a lot of work to do tomorrow" says Mr. Hewden. He throws Mabel a torn up blanket and walks away.
Mabel looked around. Every door was locked, window boarded up and she had no clue where she was or how far away she was from home. A small clock on the wall was all that was visible. 12am. Dipper would probably be asleep by now. Mabel could only imagine what he and Grunkle Stan were going through. She laid down onto the hardwood floor. She was tired and sleep began to settle in quickly, but the thoughts of what maybe happening back home kept her awake. By the time she did fall asleep, the sun was already peering up from the horizon. A difficult day lay ahead.