WARNING:
This story contains prolific use of swearing, blood and gore, sexual and graphic content. If you are not comfortable with this, then consider this warning before you continue reading.
Then again, you're not really supposed to be comfortable reading a horror story.
Viewer Discretion is advised.
Chapter 4: The Townies
Darkness.
That was all I could comprehend at the moment.
Am I dead?
That would be the ultimate mercy. Finally, rid of that horrible wasteland, those terrifying creatures, that sickening girl that called herself his sibling…
...Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Spots of white dotted my vision as I slowly began to open my eyes.
"Dippie? Dippie, please wake up!"
Faintly, I could hear someone screaming my name in desperation. In my disoriented mindset, I felt a wave of relief flood over me, thinking that I had awoken from a long-standing coma.
"...H...He...Hello….?"
"Dippie! Oh, thank GOD you're awake, finally!"
Eventually, my vision evened out, and my vision was filled with Mabel's distraught expression. Tears were making their way down her cheeks and dropping onto his shirt.
"Wh-when I saw you d-drop to the ground, Dippie, I-I thought you were dead!"
I wish I was.
She wiped her tears, smiling down at me sweetly. It didn't fool me one bit. I could see the depravity behind her eyes, the broken mind that had swept away whatever she once was.
I began to stand up, and she scooted out of the way as I did so. I took a look around the area. We seemed to be at the entrance of some town, in which the town itself was a bit far off in the distance. I looked up at the sign, which was posted up on an arch of sorts.
G av y Fal s
The sign had fallen apart, leaving me to wonder about the name that had been bestowed on this town before this wasteland manifested.
I noticed Mabel was looking towards the town, a skeptic expression on her face.
"Let's keep going, Dippie."
"What? Why? We could find other survivors here, people who could help us stay alive."
"Or they could be killers out to rob and murder anyone who comes close to this place. I don't want to take that chance."
I felt my anger begin to rise in my throat.
"Mabel, I know why you're so damn distrusting, but I'm not just gonna pass up the opportunity to seek refuge from the hellhole out here!"
I noticed that she seemed to feel hurt by what I had said, but I wasn't going to give up my argument for her sake.
"Look, we're gonna go in that town, whether you like it or not. If I have to stay out in this wasteland for another second, I'm gonna shove a sharpened stick into my skull!"
Mabel looked up in horror at that statement.
"No! No…"
She hesitated for a few moments.
"...Fine."
I saw it then. For the first week, I was too busy being stuck in constant feeling of fear and terror while Mabel lead the way, letting her take control of this duo. However, with her fanatical obsession with me, it occurred to me then that the solution was to simply take control. Of course, she wouldn't protest, because why would she dare talk back to her…
I rubbed my forehead. This wasteland really was getting to me.
But while I was making demands, I decided to go the full length.
"And stop calling me Dippie. Call me 'Dipper' from now on."
She seemed to want to protest that, but decided to just nod.
"Okay, but...we need to sneak in if we're going in at all."
I nodded my head. That made the most sense. After all, I'd be stupid to think that every non-monster out there was just another friend with a batch of cookies at the front door.
"Makes sense. You lead the way."
I saw her eyes sparkle when I said that second sentence. She seemed to think I was beginning to trust her more. Really, though, her being the lead meant that if she got caught somehow, it would give me a chance to slip away if things went awry.
I felt a bit guilty for thinking that way, but as cruel as it was, the thought of potentially ridding myself of another monster was a relieving one, even if she was...my sibling.
As these thoughts raged in my head, I began to question my sanity. Truly, stooping to the level of manipulation for my own personal gain…
This world was getting to me.
"Alright, then, Dippie- er, Dipper. Follow me."
With that, she went into the forest, following it along the main trail and up to the town entrance. I followed suit. Upon getting closer, the first thing I noticed were the barricades. 3-meter tall metal fencing with barbed wire on top circled around the entire town. At the entrance of it, there were several sharpened sticks put together in an X formation, tied together by rope. It was clearly a defense, intended to provide safety against bigger beings than them.
In this case, monsters.
I shivered at the mere thought of that word. Ever since I had been thrusted into this world, I had to live with the reality that there were evil beings walking this earth. I hadn't seen too many since I had come to learn of them the first time, but the encounters I did have with them were bone-shaking. From scales to fur, from two-legged to four-legged to six-legged, from small, skittering critters to gigantic atrocities of nature, I had seen plenty. Maybe too much.
Of course, whatever we could avoid, we did. It didn't stop me from developing an innate fear for those...things. I hoped that there were only a few type of those monsters.
Yet I'd soon learn that I was wrong.
Terrifyingly wrong.
"Dipper, we have a problem."
I looked at Mabel, who was pointing towards the entrance as we were ducked down, hiding among the bushes. Two guards in riot gear were patrolling the front entrance, moving left to right with machetes in their hands. Above the fence, ramparts ran along the barricade, allowing for people with bows to patrol up on there. I was a bit perplexed as to why they didn't have rifles, but I didn't question it.
"Dipper, look."
She pointed along the line running around the side of the town, along the treeline. I squinted and eventually noticed a hole in the fence. There was broken metal wiring where the hole was.
"Let's head over there."
"Okay…"
I had wondered about just walking up to the townspeople at first, but decided against it. I wanted to first see what these people were like before I just suddenly decided to expose myself to them.
As we went over towards the hole, I continually glanced towards the fencing to make sure there were no guards looking in our direction. There were plenty keeping on the ramparts, so it was difficult to ensure that we stayed hidden.
Finally, we managed to reach the hole, standing across from it in among the forestry. The hole was just big enough for a child to crawl through. I looked to Mabel, who made eye contact with me. I was surprised that rather than the usual unstable look that she almost always had in her eyes, instead there was focus and wariness. Though it wasn't exactly telling of anything, it was a far better sight to look at then the one of a mentally broken individual.
"Alright, i'll head in first, Dipper, then you come in after I make sure it's clear."
I nodded. She was taking the initiative, and I had no problem with that.
We watched one of the rampart guards pass by, and as soon as he had gone a bit down the line, Mabel darted in, crawling through the hole quickly. I had to admit, I was impressed by how agile she was.
After a few moments, I saw her peek through the hole, gesturing frantically. Looking up, I made sure no one was standing atop the ramparts looking down, and when I ensured there wasn't, I darted for the hole, sliding through the opening rather than crawling.
"Ah!"
I groaned quietly as my chest skirted along a rough patch of dirt. Though it ached, I was glad that I had made it inside. We were behind a building and the ramparts above us covered our view from the guards walking atop. With that, Mabel gestured to follow, and we began to make our way behind the buildings, looking in on the town. I could hear a storm brewing overhead, and light raining commenced as thunder bellowed from above.
As we made our way along, I observed a variety of different things. The most prevalent one was the blatant wariness and caution that every single one of the town members displayed. Everyone was wearing some form of body armor and sporting weapons of all types, from lead pipes, baseball bats and shovels to spears, bows, and even slings for throwing stones.
Yet not a single firearm.
As I brewed over this odd phenomenon, I noticed Mabel suddenly stop at the corner of a building, peeking around the edge into the back alley behind it.
"What is it?" I whispered. She didn't answer for a moment. I decided to creep up beside her and view over her shoulder.
A couple meters away, a few guards were standing in front of a man with his hands and feet bound with rope. One of the guards stepped forward, pointing a tire iron at the man's face. Faintly, I could hear their conversation.
"...And you're gonna tell me what the fuck you were doin', prowlin' our gates and such, or i'm gonna make you talk."
"And i'm telling you, dipshit, I got run out of my damn shelter when this monster came rolling up! Had bright eyes and everything! I thought I was gonna die!"
I recognized the second voice. Gruff and coarse, it matched a certain rough character that I had gotten to know quickly before I passed out.
I was about to tell Mabel when I saw her looking back, nodding. She recognized Stan's voice as well.
"Let's keep moving."
"Wait, what? No! We need to help him, somehow!"
It was about the first time I saw Mabel look at me in a negative way, as if I was insane. Ironic.
"Dipper, if we try to save that old fuck, we're gonna end up in the same situation!"
I was put in a dilemma. Should we try and find a way to save Stan, or do we abandon him?
One thing was clear, and it was that this town was definitely not good news. I came to a decision.
"Alright, well then let's-"
"Now what do we have here?"
I froze, fearing for the worst. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw Mabel try and stand up, bringing up her carving knife. I heard the unsheathing of blades from behind me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, cupcake. Lest you want to end up as a carcass for the monsters."
I saw Mabel hesitate, her carving knife at the ready. I took a look behind me to see a short, black, pudgy individual in riot gear pointing a machete at my face. Beside him stood a tall, lanky, dumb-looking hick holding a spear at his side.
"You, boy, tell your friend there to lower her weapon before she's turned into a pincushion."
I heard Mabel snicker.
"You couldn't touch me even if I was a pack of donuts, you fat fucking lard."
DAYUM, I thought. I had forgotten how brutal Mabel could be to people, both verbally and physically.
However, that didn't seem to make the situation better. I noticed the man's face turn red in anger. He lowered the machete and grabbed me by the scuff of my collar, pulling me up and holding me against him, then bringing the tip of the machete up to my neck.
"How 'bout I cut this boy's throat, then?"
"NO!"
I saw Mabel about to launch herself at him with unbridled fury, but at the last second, she paused, holding the carving knife above her head. She hesitated for a few moments, then lowered it, staring at the man, a deep, broiling hatred for him burning in her eyes.
"Drop it."
Shink.
Mabel threw the knife into the ground, point first, leaving it to stick out of the mud partly.
"Fair enough. Lieutenant Durland, go tie her up."
"You got it, Blubs."
"It's Captain Blubs to you, Lieutenant."
"Sorry, sir."
As this exchange went on, Durland walked over with a coil of rope in his hands and binded Mabel's hands and feet, much to her struggle.
"Keep still, you little bitch!"
He smacked the back of her head, to which she cried in pain. She stopped struggling as Durland finished tying her up.
"Now you, boy."
I felt Blubs launch a swift kick to the back of my leg, causing me to fall to my knees. Durland came over and tied my hands and feet as well.
As he finished, Blubs dragged Mabel and I together, then looked over us for a couple moments, tapping the blunt edge of the machete on his shoulder.
"Looks like we got a lot of people prowlin' around these parts, eh, Captain?"
"Yer damn right about that. I'm not sure why these people think that trying to sneak into a heavily fortified town is a smart thing to do, but they must have had some malicious intent in mind if that was their plan. Anyways, get 'em moving, Lieutenant."
Durland nodded, then moved over to pick us up by the ropes that bound our hands together.
"Come on, now."
With that, we were pulled along, out into the open street. Among the sidewalks and buildings, I saw several eyes focus on us as we were herded. I felt fear begin to take hold of me as I thought about my fate.
Am I gonna die?
Only a minute or two had passed when we arrived at the town center. It was a small town, for sure.
In the middle of the square, I noticed that there were several wooden poles hammered into the ground, lined up next to each other. Four people, including Stan, were already tied up on the poles, their bound hands tied behind the poles, as if they were getting ready to be executed.
Hopefully, that wasn't the case.
As we were brought up to our own poles and our hands were bound behind the poles, I noticed old bloodstains matted against the pavement below, as well as the pole I was tied against. A chill ran up my spine as I envisioned what happened here before.
After another minute or so, the majority of the townspeople came up, dozens of denizen, looking us over with judgemental eyes as they held their weaponry in intimidating manners. I saw Captain Blubs walk out a couple feet in front of the sizable crowd and turn towards them, sheathing his machete as he began to speak.
"To all of you gathered here today, we are here to discuss the recent...troubles that have entered our town of Hershbury."
As Captain Blubs went on with the speech, I looked to my right and left. To my direct left, Mabel was tied up, struggling against the ties she was bound in. Beyond her, another pole down the line, a young adult was shaking violently, fear evident in his eyes. He looked around frantically, on the verge of crying as he searched for a way out of his predicament.
"...For today, we must decide the fate of these troublemakers, as they have dared compromise our wonderful sanctuary for their own personal gain!"
I looked to my right. On my direct right, Stan was looking around, analyzing the environment, as if he was looking for an opportunity. Beyond him, a teenager was with auburn hair was slumped against the pole, offering no resistance to her predicament whatsoever. It was as if she was giving in to whatever fate was in store for her. Beyond that girl, a fat man-baby was smiling in an unsettling manner, looking around as if he was in some sort of dream. He didn't seem to be processing the situation happening currently.
"...So now, we must take a look at our first parasite…"
Blubs turned around, approaching the shaking young adult to my far left, who began trying to plead with the Captain as he came up to him.
"Please, please, sir! I was just trying to get food! I was starving for so long-"
Smack!
The man cried in pain as he was backhanded across the cheek by Blubs, whose face reflected no mercy.
"Quiet, scum! Attempting theft at our resources is an irredeemable action, especially considering that it was food."
The shivering young man looked back up at him, fear more prevalent in his eyes than before.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir! Please, just let me go! I'll leave and never come back here again! I swear!"
Captain Blubs turned around, looking towards the crowd. He raised his voice as he addressed the plea.
"Unfortunately, that is not for me to decide. The townspeople themselves must decide your fate."
The crowd jeered at the young man, raising their weapons as their eyes reflected hatred and utter contempt for the young man, who tried to shrink further against the wooden pole.
"Should he be punished for his actions?"
As Blubs asked the question, the town responded with resounding denial, some even shouting insults and slurs at the young man. At that point, the man, upon hearing about their calls for his death, began to break down crying. I noticed a dark stain begin to envelope across the jeans he was wearing, a trail dripping onto the pavement below. Blubs noticed this and his face turned beet-red. He brought the handle of his machete into the poor man's face.
CRACK!
The young man jerked to the side, yelling in pain as the handle fractured his cheekbone. He groaned in agony as a bruise welled up on his cheek.
"I can't fucking believe you had the audacity to not only try and steal from us, but now desecrate our sanctuary with your piss, you scum!"
The crowd got noticeably louder, with most of them yelling in rage at the young man, calling for his death. Blubs looked back at the crowd.
"I think we should give him a suitable death, don't you?"
The crowd cheered, malicious intent coating every single one of their guttural yells.
"Well then, why don't we fix his hunger problem once and for all?"
With that, Blubs brought back the edge of the machete and-
SCHLICK!
I gazed in horror as Blubs sliced open the man's stomach. The crowd cheered, deafening my ears to the sound of the young man screaming in horror. I watched as the young man's guts spilled out from the open wound, intestines hanging out from the opening. The young man, without any more words or sounds, save for his quick gasps, looked down in absolute agony as his insides were exposed for everyone to see. Blood spilled out of the wound, staining the pavement below.
After a few moments, the young man slumped against the pole, sliding down the remainder of it as he began to die. Finally, the young man's eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and his head fell forward as he died from shock. His guts continued to drip blood onto the pavement below, laying across the front of his t-shirt in display.
"Judgement has been passed, and justice strikes once again!"
I was speechless. I was shaking violently as I envisioned myself to be in his shoes, my guts hanging out from the open wound.
Eventually, a ringing was audible in my ears as I tuned out the cheering of the crowds and the sounds of my own screams of horror. I watched on as Blubs moved onto the next pole, in front of where Mabel was standing. She glared at Blubs with fury in her eyes.
"Well, this one certainly has a temper on her! Of course, though she hasn't done anything severe like stealing from us, she still passed into our camp unauthorized! Breaking into our secured paradise away from the wasteland! That is definitely worthy of some form of punishment!"
The crowd cheered on Blubs' words, being riled up into a frenzy as they were entranced in the horrifying display of passing judgement down on others.
"Now, what shall we do with-"
CrRrRrEeEeEeEeAaAaAaAaAkKkKkK!
Without getting a second further, a terrifying sound, as if the sky itself was being opened up, emitted from above. Immediately, I felt a sense of utter confusion, as if I had no idea to what was going on. I could barely comprehend as a bright, red light haze casted a shadow across the town, and from above, I just barely made the outline of some wispy, dreadful entity float down to the square.
"nOw IsN't THiS iNtErEsTiNg!"