The AfterLife [ON HOLD]

8

MABEL

We’re here.

I can’t believe it.

We’re actually here.

Back in Gravity Falls.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

Dipper and I stood at the front of the Mystery Shack for the past 15 minutes trying to take in the sight before us. It looked the same, not much changed. Not that Grunkle Stan would ever get up off his usually lazy butt and do something about it. Heck, of course he wouldn’t. Now that Grunkle Ford’s back, they couldn’t do a lot to change the shack. Especially with what’s in the basement.

Both of our Grunkles stood at the front door watching us, probably in as much shock as we were in. In a way, I don’t know why, though. Last time we saw each other, it was two months, not two years. But yeah, I kinda get why we should miss each other a lot.

“KIDS!”

We we’re running before they shouted.

The hugs were so tight I swear my supply of air was getting cut off.

Dipper, I bet, was feeling the same way.

"Air…" he choked out.

I said nothing as I continued to hug the life out of them, squeezing out whatever air I thought I was squeezing out.

Oh gosh, how I’ve missed them both.

★

Word got around quick that we were back and I couldn’t help but wonder how tomorrow’s reunions are going to go.

I mean, by my current condition, I don’t think I have any more ribs left for people to crush.

Grunkle Stan, Grunkle Ford, Dipper and I were sitting in the living room, casually catching up.

Dipper said, “So how are you guys? We thought you went on your sailing adventure with that boat you call the ‘Stan-O-War’.”

“Oh we did, we did,” Grunkle Ford nodded, not taking his eyes of his coffee. He’d been pretty ‘interested’ in it around the time we finished talking about how school’s going for us.

“So,” I prompted. “What's the problem?”

Ford looked up. “Of course.”
He pushed his coffee aside and leaned forward, fingers laced. “So obviously there would be something wrong, seeing that we had to call you during the school term – and for your parents to let you go, well, I’m shocked. Didn’t think they’d agree, but I guess surprises come in different forms. Anyway, yes, we called you here because we have some information we thought you need to know.”

“Okay,” I said slowly.

“What is it?” Dipper asked.

Stan cut in, “Ford and I came across something we thought was completely off. It somehow ties in with what was going on when you two were staying here for the summer. At first we’d barely given it a second glance, but when Ford looked at it a second time, he realized this could be a major problem.”

Dipper and I exchanged a glance.

But when Grunkle Stan took out the oh-so-dangerous item, we both lost interest.

“A compass,‘ Dipper deadpanned.

“We know what you’re thinking,” Ford started, “and we don't blame you. But as you may have already guessed, this compass is a problem—”