The night was dark. No stars shone their radiant light upon the Earth. No moon was their to guide a fifteen year old set of twins through the thorny brambles of the devious forest. They had been under the impression that tonight would be perfect for a stealth mission to track down some mischievous vines that had been terrorizing the town. After so many failed in the dark missions, you really think the two siblings would learn. But alas, children who had spent time with the world famous scientist, Stanford Pines have picked up his recklessness. So it's no surprise when this dark night opens up to spill the light of chaos.
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((Mabel's POV))
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Fear freezes me in place as another branch snaps behind us. Through this whole walk, the distinct sound of something dragging on the ground had followed me and Dipper. I had suspicions it may very well be the treacherous vines we were searching for. By the way Dipper tenses up, I can see he is thinking the same thing. Before he can shake off the feeling I grab a hold of his jacket, he looks back towards me, "What is it, Mabel?" His voice is shaky as he uses his flashlight to scan our surroundings, in hopes he could spot what is following us.
"I-I think we should turn around, Dipper"
"But Mabel-" Dipper begins in protest. My resolve grows stronger,
"No 'buts' Dipper! This is getting too dangerous! Stan warned us about this just last week!" Stan's concern for our safety in this wacky town had only grown since we were twelve and ever since Stanford-well. Anyways, Dipper and I aren't little kids anymore and I think that's what scares Gruncle Stan the most. At this age it's normal for teens to rebel (well that's what all the hallmark movies show) and I think Stan is worried we'll rebel against him by ignoring his warnings. He's worried we're going to keep up these monster hunts to the point where one day we'll leave and never return. 'His worries are actually well founded' I think as I hear another stick snap. The paranoia within me only increases, "Dipper!" I plead.
At this point Dipper sighs, "Okay, okay," he relents, "Let's go home." We hardly take a step in the direction of safety when I feel something wrap around my leg. Breathing quickly I look down to see a black vine wrapped around my ankle. Oh no. The vine pulls back, jerking my leg from under me. I land hard on my face, crying out as the sticks and thorns littering the ground stab at my face. I am being pulled back by the vine and the forest floor snags my sweater and irritates my skin. Before the vine can pull me completely back into the woods, Dipper's hands wrap around my wrists. In that next moment it becomes a tug-a-war with Dipper and the vine starring me as the rope. It quickly becomes apparent that Dipper and the vine cannot keep this up. Not because they're weak or getting tired, but because my waist is starting to hurt like I never knew it could. Its time to do something that hurts my heart more than any physical pain I going through right now.
"Dipper...let go." His eyes widen, " I don't want you to be pulled with me."
He reacts...pretty much how I had expected him to. "I'm not letting go of you Mabel!" he says frantically. "I can't do that!"
"Just let go!" I cry, as the vine gives my ankle a tug, causing Dipper to walk forward a few steps. He shakes his head and grips my wrists tighter, a feat I thought would have been impossible. With a heavy heart, I realize I have to go with my last resort plan. I force a smile on my face,
"You're right Dipper! Let's fight this together!"
He smiles too, "Now that's the Mabel I kno-" I jerk my hands away from Dipper's grasp in his moment of distraction. I close my eyes tight as I hear his shocked scream of my name while I am quickly dragged away. 'I'm so sorry Dipper!' Thorns scratch me, sticks stab, bark from trees just adds to the agony. Pain overstimulates my senses and I can hardly process when the vine stops dragging me and instead advances from my ankle, to my torso, to my neck. Panic is a faint emotion in the fogginess of my mind. I move slightly, and am shocked when the vines tighten around me. Is this how I die? Yells echo throughout the woods and I feel regret that Dipper and I will never be able to grow up together.
"Dipper!" I choke quietly. Apparently the vines saw that as enough motion because the next thing I know I feel stabbing pains before my world fades to black.
