Chapter 28
It was a funny sort of clock, and as the effects of the anesthesia left Mabel with extremely sensitive hearing, the ticks were loud and beating like a drum inside her ears. Its rythmic ticks kept Mabel from sleep, and hours (or minutes) could be heard ticking away. She turned her pillow to the cool side for the thousandth time, her eyes drooping but too awake to sleep. The bandages covering her head smoldered her scalp, making her head stuffy and burning. She snuggled farther into the covers of the hospital bed, and eventually sleep found her.
"I've got you now!" A voice screamed. A scream that wasn't Sorcha's. It sounded more... human-like. "You're going to regret trying to kill me now! I tricked you, you see. You won't make it for war. I'll already be even!"
The gleeful shouts ended. Was it real, or a dream? The clock was louder now, and Mabel knew she couldn't sleep.
"Dipper!" she whispered hoarsley.
"Whnmshl Mbl..." came the reply.
"Wake up!" Mabel urged.
"What!?" Dipper asked grumpily.
"All I was asking was if you could turn off that clock!" Mabel said defensively. Dipper fumbled with the switches of the digital clock on the bedside table. "Not that one! I think there's like, an analog clock on the wall or something." Mabel said. "Listen. The ticking is driving me crazy." Dipper looked around and listened. His eyes shot open all the way and a look of horror replaced his frown.
"Mabel. We need to get out of here. Now," he said, voice rising.
"What's wrong!?"
"Mabel. There is no clock!" The next sequence almost seemed to happed in slow motion. Beeping replaced the ticking, and in a loud explosion the wall busted open in flames and plaster. Mabel shrieked and hid under the destruction as she heard more beeping and explosion. Dipper pulled her out and she squealed.
"No!" Wordlessly Dipper pushed her out of the hospital room and quickly led her past the rubble. Bodies littered the floor and hospital workers were tending to them. More explosions- and the place was on fire. Mabel screamed as a body fell in front of her through the open ceiling. People in bandages, casts, and amputated arms ran to evacuate, more bombs exploding in their wake. "Dipper- where's Grunkle Stan!?" Mabel asked in alarm.
"He's fine. Went home to get some sleep- and breakfast. Says- hospital food and chairs- suck-" Dipper replied through heavy breathing. Mabel heaved a sigh of relief. The twins tried to escape through the only exit- the entrance. Most of the patients had escaped, and were each calling 911 outside. As they neared the door, a heavy beam aglow with fire dropped out of the ceiling and blocked their path. Soon the whole door was engulfed in the flames. The people outside shouted as they saw two children trapped inside, trying to break free. Finally, the fire trucks arrived, and hurriedly some onlookers tried to explain there were still some doctors and patients trapped inside. The firemen hosed the place down, and soon there was nothing left but charred remains of a destroyed building. Early morning sun shone on the mourners with loved ones killed inside. A man- an older man- could be seen pushing aside the people with three take out boxes.
"Has anyone seen two kids- a girl and a boy...?" he asked worriedly. "The girl was wearing bandages on her head-" A fireman clapped a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.
"I'm sorry, sir. A lady explained it to me. They were trapped. They didn't make it."