Fairytale - A Blue Lake Falls Novel

Chapter Seven

Mabel groaned in frustration as she walked back down the well-trodden forest path to the back of her garden dragging the wheelbarrow behind her again. The last 3 days had her shifting her time between what was currently sprawled out on her bed with the windows open on the off chance it might wake up and leave on its own accord and cleaning the area where she had found it. Its blood had soaked the earth and even though she knew enough about them from Grandpa's lessons she didn't know if the blood would draw other things out which may walk these forests, better safe than sorry was her new motto. She didn't need any more creatures coming her way, that one in her house was big enough. Touching the length of white wool above her head she stepped underneath and unlocked the gate bringing her last load of soil and leaves in. The first night after she had ceremonially tipped the creature onto her bed was spent packing its wounds and stemming the blood flow. It had taken about four hours and went past midnight until she got it to stop enough for her to leave it still unconscious and face down but alive and breathing. Next was her second task, the mess.

Mabel collected the rugs, hanging them outside for a good bashing and soap wash. Once done she had then started on the wooden floorboards, every inch of the floor was brushed, sponged and mopped until it sparkled like new. She moved into the hallway and repeated her actions, taking the long runner outside to join its friends. It was about 3am in the morning when she had finally finished and everything was back to where it belonged, before she could finally crash out face first onto her old bed in her old bedroom and get some rest. Checking on her house guest one last time and seeing that the creature hadn't moved a millimetre or had bled out bringing all her efforts to save it crashing to a big fat zero she trudged back through the cabin towards her slumber palace. With two pillows under her head and a thick winter duvet over her body had her asleep within seconds. Not before one last thought went through her mind, a thought she should probably of had hours ago when she started this act of madness, what if it attacks? Sleep had taken her too quickly for her to act on that question but it had her up on her feet by 7am and on the phone to her Grandpa, the only one she could trust at a time like this. Mabel just hoped he was having one of his good days, they were becoming few and far between this year but she had her fingers and toes crossed, he answered after five rings. 

"Grandpa it's Mabel" she held her breath awaiting his reply.

"Mabel my darling how are you? Arrived at the cabin all OK I hope?"

She released her breath, her happiness growing at knowing he was here with her. Dementia was a cruel mistress.

"A-OK Grandpa, how are you? I'll be over to see you before driving back home alright".

"Yes, yes I can't wait. It’s here on my new calendar one of the nurses got me. It's one of Canadian landscapes. Beautiful. Got your visit written down here, in a Sharpie too. You know they write on anything? The tricks they use these days".

Be quick Mabel thought, we can't lose him when he starts about what is new otherwise we'll have a full hour conversation about how the Internet works again.

"I can't wait to see it. But there is a reason I've called Grandpa. I've found one" 

"One what my darling?" 

"One of them"

She then proceeded to explain the full list of events from her drive up to the forest, to finding the creature to its wounds, to now with only the odd interruption when Grandpa asked a question to understand things more. Once she had finished he was quiet for a while. 

"Grandpa?" 

"Under the window in the kitchen is a wooden slat you use as a window sill for those stones you like. Lift it up and what you need is inside. Keep it clean, keep it loaded and shoot where I taught you".

"I don't want to kill it Grandpa. It was alone, in that trap. I've never seen one built that way, something isn't adding up and if I'm in danger in my own forest then I want to know what's out there so I can be ready" 

"I know my darling which is why I'm telling you this. Ring me when it wakes up, do as I say for now..... Please" 

"I will, I promise. I'll ring you tomorrow morning shall I with an update?" 

"That would be wonderful, and I'll see you soon won't I? I've got your visit here all written down. Did I tell you the nurses got me a new calendar Mabel. It's beautiful..." 

She had lost him again, "No you didn't. Tell me all about it".

She never had the heart to explain to him or any of the fellow residents at his home for the elderly who had dementia that she already knew. So she listened again and asked lots of questions leaving them saying goodbye and wishing lots of love to one another, their earlier conversation already long forgotten. He had moved into the home on her say so three years ago after a hard winter when he got trapped alone for five weeks in the cabin. He always kept supplies for 'situations like this' was his excuse for not calling for help until it was too late. She had made an emergency trip up to check on him after he didn't return her calls for three days, she knew something wasn't right. She had grabbed her truck and an emergency supply kit for snowy conditions and raced north. After about two hours she chained her wheels and set off slowly  towards the cabin at the end of the forest road. She made slow progress but after about an hour she had made it. Breaking through the door using the small axe she kept for emergencies if she broken down on a back road alone at night, she had found him on the sofa cold and unconscious. The fire department were there within twenty minutes and a rescue helicopter airlifted him to the hospital where he had gone straight to the senior home once he started to make a good recovery. He was her safe place, her home and she couldn't lose him, not now after everything they had been through. Not now Mabel thought. 

Mabel had headed straight for the kitchen to find whatever Grandpa said she needed, she walked over to the window and took her Grandma's favourite ornaments off along with her new crystals where they sat soaking up the sunshine and tried to lift off the piece of wood. Surprisingly it came off straight away in her hands, she placed it lent up against a cupboard on the wooden floor and peered into the fabric lined compartment. Inside was a broad two barrelled shotgun with a pump action for easy reloading. She carefully picked it up out of the hole and took it over to the kitchen table for closer inspection. It looked like the magazine that was lying next to the shotgun could hold ten shells with a one shell release per shot, she deemed upon closer inspection. The barrels weren't as long as those used by the locals here who go and hunt various wildlife for meat or sadly for sport but they obviously did the job. It was already quite clean but she decided to give it a once over in any case, walking back over to the hole she found three small boxes which she assumed held the shotgun cartridges she needed. Placing the wood back and her trinkets in their precise places she opened the boxes next to the weapon on the table. Each box held twenty rounds and all were the same however they were not the normal type of cartridges she expected for a shotgun. The flat disks at the end were made of solid silver with a hole drilled right through the side where she could see a glass chamber was placed. Inside the chamber was a metallic liquid, of what she wasn't sure but she trusted her Grandpa and she followed his words to the letter. It took two hours to clean the gun using his special gun kit she still stored under the sink along with each round, she didn't want to take any chances with that massive creature still in her room. She hid one box of rounds in each room, one went in the biscuit barrel, for easy access she decided whilst of course removing two of her favourite treats. One behind the TV where no one but spiders go and the other one in the first draw of the hallway five drawer chest. Once they were all hidden she checked on her guest, unmoved since last time so she hung up the gun, loaded and c****d as per Grandpa's rules on the wall outside the bedroom doors where she could easily reach it. When she had finished she realised she had to try and wake the creature and tempt it to leave or she needed to stitch its wounds closed and properly. She decided to make her breakfast first along with her morning ritual of a decaf Earl Grey tea and her quarter measure of colloidal silver, "For all those nasty ailments my darling". Grandma would not be pleased at what she had gotten herself into now. Packing away her natural remedy box full of tinctures and herbal remedies she ate her simple cornflake breakfast with gusto since she skipped out on dinner last night all thanks to the lump of muscle she rescued. She washed up and collected her medical kit from where she left it the night before and headed into the bedroom. She stood just outside the doorway to her bedroom debating on how she could wake it or at least find out if it would wake up if she ventured inside the room. Going over different scenarios in her mind she thought she struck gold when she decided on how she could attempt it but still be outside the room. She walked outside and went into the shed in search of her garden broom which was left just inside the doors leaning against the side. Taking it back inside to the kitchen she hunted for her next items, fly swatter and tape. Grabbing her pink extendable fly swatter from the utensil pot next to the hobs on the sideboard and the tape from the kitchen drawer she proceeded to tape the two items together. Once her task was complete she headed back towards her bedroom with her new build, a large garden broom with a shiny pink fly swatter taped to the end with leopard print gaffa tape. She stood with her feet in the door way with broom in hand and slowly reached it into the room towards the creature on her bed. It didn’t reach even halfway up his torso from where she was stood. Huffing out an annoyed breath she pulled back her poking device and extended the fly swatter, giving her an extra 2 foot in length. Holding the broom steady and the brush end she once again reached it inside her bedroom seeing that this time the fly swatter reached its shoulders. Carefully Mabel, carefully she instructed herself as she tapped it lightly on its left shoulder. Nothing. Three, four times she poked it but it didn’t move giving her a wave of hope but she wanted to be sure. Moving her feet a little to get a better stance she forgot to bring the broom back to her and over balanced causing the whole contraption to bang the animal harshly with a resounding ‘thwack’. Nothing. The creature remained unmoving, reassuring Mabel it was still firmly unconscious. Retracting her swotter back into the hallway she quietly entered her bedroom. Quickly picking up all the dirty towels and sheets she used the night before and taking them outside where she dumped them into a large tin kidney shaped water trough along with half a bag of salt and a two scoops of washing powder. I’ll deal with that later she told herself as she paused to catch her breath and calm her speeding heart after what she had just done.

Once calmed she went back into the shed for what she needed next. Whether they would work or not she wasn't sure but she needed a backup plan because she wasn't going to get herself killed after everything she had done to try and save its life. After locating the box she needed, she went back inside ready for part two, operation 'Save the Beast.' She had named her little adventure into mental insanity after waking up every hour the night before to check she hadn't dreamt the whole thing, alas she was firmly stuck in this nightmare situation.

Carrying the box back through the cabin into her bedroom, she carefully place it down at the foot of her bed. Mabel opened it up carefully to avoid any crawling surprises, she got lucky this time and just had the one visitor which she dispatched on a flying course out the open window. Taking out the metal shackles and chains as quickly and quietly as she could she paused to catch her breath for the next bit. She never knew why Grandpa had these until this very moment. Threading one chain under and around each corner of the bed, she took each chain end upwards towards one of its ankles that hung off the end. Just as Mabel got ready to clasp one around each ankle the creature moved, her heart stopped. It made a succession of small movements, groaning with each twitch of its body. Now! Got to do it now, was all Mabel could think. With quick twists of her wrists Mabel had the shackles attached to each of its ankles and each other as well as the bottom of the bed. The creature stopped its abrupt movements and settled down, although this had caused the clotted wounds to re-open and to start bleeding out back onto her bed.

She walked over to her first aid kit, the bowl of boiled water she had brought in from the kitchen and after grabbing the loaded gun went towards the top of the bed where her next task was waiting. Working with shaking hands was never an easy task at work if a vintage motorcycle needed repair work but this was on another level. Mabel got prepared as best she could before starting her needlework.

With a slow deep breath she took a clean cloth and dipped it into the warm water before ringing out the excess liquid. From her position on the floor she looked up into the animals face, luckily it was turned the other way making her job a fraction easier but not by much. She very lightly pressed the cloth against its fur and dabbed at the small cuts first. Mabel constantly flicked her eyes back and forth from the animals head as she cleaned its small wounds from its ribs to its shoulder. It didn't move a muscle which had Mabel concerned it was in fact dead, however when she took a new cloth and started to clean the larger wounds that would need stitching it decided then to let out a massive breathe making not only the bed quiver under its weight but Mabel’s legs tremble in pure solid gold fear. 

"f**k me this is madness. I am officially insane. I couldn't of just found a hedgehog with a broken leg could I. No! I just had to find one of the biggest things in the bloody forest, bring it home and stab it a bunch of times in the hopes I save its life and it doesn't kill me. This is worth a thousand good f*****g deeds. I swear". Mabel was too busy ranting away out loud to herself and the creature she hadn't noticed how she was halfway through stitching the first wound. Once she realised what she had done she darted her eyes back to its face, it hadn't moved. The creature carried on its sporadic breathing scaring Mabel shitless each and every single time. She worked tirelessly with simple strokes of the needle she held between her fingers. She had managed to stitch shut every large wound she could see over its side and shoulder. Once done she grabbed another clean cloth and dried its fur over the now closed wounds carefully. She had to get underneath the creature but how, she had no idea. Mabel threw the bloody rags behind her underneath the window edge which formed another new little mountain of dirty cloths. Slinging the shotgun over her shoulder she retreated quietly into the kitchen to boil the kettle again and clean out the bowl of bloody water. How on earth am I going to roll it over? She thought as she prepared another bowl of water whilst grabbing a pot of healing balm from the medical cupboard knowing that the balm heals cuts and grazes on her so she could only hope it wound also work on the creature too. As she walked out of the kitchen into the open plan living area the air around her shifted with a violent shudder as a deep growl came out of bedroom. She couldn't move her body even if she wanted too, it was awake and moving around. Within seconds the tangible tension in the cabin receded as all movements came to a halt after one very loud and long groan. Mabel took tiny slow steps past the sofa and coffee table towards the hallway where the doors to the other rooms were left open. She made it halfway until she was able to lean to one side and peek inside to see what had happened rather than walking straight in to see what's what. The creatures feet were still chained but were now facing up with the chains twisted around its ankles. She took a step closer looking into the room more, allowing her eyes to roam over its figure as she saw it had somehow rolled itself over in his attempts to gain consciousness. It hadn't woken up but instead had just fallen back into its self-induced coma. Mabel entered the room with a truck load of courage on top of very wobbly legs. Walking around the end of the bed whilst giving its feet a very wide birth she placed the fresh bowl of water on the bed side table. Taking off the gun that hung on her back she positioned it next to her spot on the floor, should it wake up she had a clear shot of putting a bullet in its head. Standing back up she now had a clear view of the front of the creatures body and its very large, very scary head. The first thought that ran across her mind was straight out of Little Red Riding Hood and flew straight out of her mouth. "My what big teeth you have" she whispered to no one but herself. Now the creature had moved, its head was turned towards the open window and was no more than two foot away from Mabel’s. Up close she could now clearly see how large it’s teeth were as well as the heads overall structure. Starting at its wet nose she trailed her eyes up its snout and over its open jaws towards its ears. Large pointy ears were separated by two little ridges that ran from above its eyes and around its head to the nap of its neck. The creature was still breathing but slowly and with increased difficulty. She could now see that it had four deep wounds that needed closing and fast if the new blood flow that was making its way through its fur onto her mattress was anything to go by. My bed is utterly ruined was all Mabel could conjure looking around her room. Sighing with half defeat and half renewed courage she knelt down and very quickly repeated the same process as before. Cleaning, stitching and applying the balm to the newly closed wounds she stood putting her gun back on her back and taking the bowl of bloody water into the kitchen.

Pouring the contents down the sink she lent over placing her forearms on the edge and her hung her head low. Taking five deep breaths to steady her whole body she silently let the tears fall. She cried for her Grandma who she needed desperately, for her parents who should be here, her Grandpa who was loosing his soul and for herself. She had done all of this alone (other than Grandpa’s help with the gun), but she was alone. She had no one to cuddle at night, no one to hold her in these dark moments and no one to really talk too. Drying her tears and pulling up her big lady pants which were now her staple go to underwear Mabel washed her hands and walked back towards her bedroom. Standing once again on the threshold she surveyed the creature she had hopefully saved. It felt completely surreal and yet she knew it was truly happening and to her. Stepping quietly up to the large wardrobe she reached up to take down her favourite and only clean throw, her vintage market find. Mabel opened the throw and placed it lightly on the creatures legs and pulled it higher right up to its chest hoping this one last gesture would round of her girl scout brownie points for saving the forest animal.

Two more days passed and after countless checks on her house guest Mabel was just starting her lunch when she felt the shift in the air. It was gaining consciousness slowly and she was terrified, just as she stepped out of the kitchen into the living area a massive crash came out of her bedroom. Steeling herself for what was about to happen she silently walked to the hallway taking off the gun she kept constantly glued to her back. She took her first look inside her bedroom and couldn’t quite grasp what she was witnessing and hearing, the creature was talking.

"Not her crystals, Roman what the f**k have you done."

The creature had obviously tried to leave through the open window but lost balance and fell on her bed if the smashed to splinters wooden bed frame and bed side tables were any indication. Mabel stood silently watching the scene unfold keeping her eyes glued to the ginormous talking creature, or Roman it had called itself, sat on the floor with her large amethyst crystal in its hands. It was trying to fix it but wasn’t having much luck as of course, it was a crystal. She caught herself smiling at the idea of this animal caring for her belongings.

She heard it speak again in a clearer voice, a male voice. It was a sound she couldn’t ever imagine coming out of a creature like this. It held a hint of an accent and was deeper than the roar of a Harley.

“Now what dumbass” he said after she saw he placed the two pieces of her crystal back onto the floor.

Watching him for a while longer she decided she had to introduce herself, she took the plunge and hung up the gun still loaded and c****d back on its hook in the hallway. Stepping up to the doorway again she cleared her throat with a light cough and knocked on the door. It was now or never and from the looks of the fresh wet fur on its side it was bleeding, again. On her favourite throw, again. She didn’t know where the courage or bravery or what ever it was that was urging her into the room came from but her skin tingled with fresh goose bumps as if a light wind had tickled her skin. She felt warm inside from the pit of her stomach and deep into her heart. She had to trust this creature and herself, she had got this far and hadn’t backed out now. And with that, she entered the room holding tightly to her lady balls and hoping with every fibre of her being it didn’t kill her.