Mabel's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Mabel watched the older woman settle onto the bench, her fingers wrapped around the handle of her cane. The clearing felt almost complete now—two people waiting, candy and crystals laid out like promises. But Creepy still hadn't appeared on the mountain path. A small figure darted into the clearing from the western path, moving faster than the adults behind could follow. The child stopped at the bowl of purple crystals, eyes wide. One piece caught the sunlight and threw rainbow sparks across the ground. The child reached down and picked up a smooth amethyst stone, turning it over in their palm. Behind them, voices called out—sharp with worry. Two adults rushed into the clearing and froze when they saw the mountain paths stretching upward into shadow. The marker stone Creepy had placed at the trail entrance loomed dark against the trees. The man grabbed the child's shoulder and pulled them back toward the western path. The woman snatched the crystal from the child's hand and dropped it like it burned. The older woman on the bench stood and held out her hand, saying something Mabel couldn't hear. The parents didn't listen. They hurried away, the child twisting to look back at the glittering bowls. Mabel picked up the dropped crystal and placed it back in the bowl. She sat on her bench and looked at the older woman, who had settled back down with a slow shake of her head. They both understood—fear moved faster than curiosity. But the child had reached for the crystal without hesitation, had held it like treasure. Mabel pulled out her small notebook and wrote: "A child saw beauty first. The parents only saw danger. Start younger." The older woman watched her write and nodded once, firm and deliberate.