Gravity Rises (S3)

PP: Part Twelve

Mabel woke up with a pervasive feeling of dread. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, tracing the early morning shadows on its wood. She was still trapped in Gravity Rises. Still separated from her parents, who had no idea what she was going through. Still hiding like a refugee from a demon who wanted to kill her.

It was January eleventh. One day before Mabel and Dipper were supposed to go home. What would happen tomorrow when the bus tried to come and pick them up? Would there be another car crash, but on the other side of the barrier? Mabel hoped somebody had had the idea to put warnings next to the barrier so that nobody else would get hurt.

She turned her head and looked at Dipper, who was sleeping peacefully with an arm draped over Waddles and a thread of drool dripping down his cheek. Was he as worried as she was? He didn't seem to be. But he had been comforting her a lot this past week; maybe she was too selfish to notice that he was also scared. She made a guilty mental note to spend more time asking about his needs and less time demanding that he meet hers.

Her bed was warm and comfortable; she didn't want to get out of it. But she also felt restless. So she leaned over, picked up her socks, pulled them on, and got out of bed. Her socks kept her from feeling the cold wooden floor as she crept out of the room. She wondered if Ford was awake yet.

A glance across the attic told her that Ford's air mattress was unoccupied. Mabel went down the stairs, wondering if she'd find him in the kitchen. He wasn't there, but Janice was, cooking breakfast. Mabel gave the woman an awkward "good morning" and retreated. She headed for Ford's room to find Melody.

Melody came out from Ford's room when Mabel knocked. "Good morning," Melody said quietly.

"Morning," Mabel said. "Where's Ford?"

"Already with the minotaurs," Melody said. "June came early and said that something had happened with Stanley."

Mabel's eyes widened. "Is he okay?"

"She said he's safe. I don't know any more than that. Ford left with her, and I don't know when he'll be back."

Mabel sighed inwardly. Ford was spending a lot of time in the minotaur village with Lee. It made sense, given that this last week was the first time the brothers had seen each other in thirty years, but Mabel still felt a little left behind.

At least she and Dipper had gotten to visit Lee last night. It had been a relief to see him again.

"Melody, do you think. . ." The words were out of her mouth before Mabel realized that she was talking. She pressed her lips together and glanced to the floor.

"What is it?" asked Melody. Before Mabel could answer, though, the woman seemed to understand. "Are you worried about tomorrow?"

Mabel nodded, forcing herself to look up at Melody. "Do you think there's any chance of me and Dipper getting home?"

Melody didn't answer at first. She put an arm around Mabel. "I hope so. We'll figure something out."

"Will we?" Mabel asked, frustration leaking into her voice. "We haven't been doing anything. We've just been sitting here, hiding, while Ford makes plans with the minotaurs — but apparently they haven't figured anything out, either. It's hard to keep hoping when magical creatures tell you that their magic isn't strong enough!"

"Who said their magic wasn't strong enough?" Melody said.

"They did!" Mabel moved away from Melody. "June said there was nothing she could do. Andrew said he only had theories for how to help. And nobody's gone to get Pacifica, even though Gideon said that it was the next thing we should do!"