PROLOGUE:

How This Mess Began

I put the DVD in the player and glanced over at my younger sister. "Gravity Falls season 1 marathon!" we both shouted.

My sister, Kassidy, and I were rewatching season one of our favorite show, Gravity Falls, because the newest episode of the second season aired later that day.

I pushed PLAY on the remote and we watched the first few episodes. We continued on to my personal favorite, Dreamscaperers. That was when it got weird.

First Kassidy started to laugh. Then everything seemed to slow down, kinda like it did when Gideon summoned Bill. I was seriously starting to get creeped out. Suddenly, Bill Cipher appeared RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

"Hello, Kitty," he said to me. "I see that you like my show!"

I glared at him, for two reasons. The first being that I hate the nickname my dad gave me; the second being that Gravity Falls is NOT HIS show.

"It's not YOUR show, Bill!" I snapped at him "May I remind you that you have only been in two episodes so far!"

"Ahh..." he twirled his cane, which had just appeared out of nowhere. "Those little details..." he trailed off. "Have you not noticed that inkblot on the page of that book that Pine Tree carries everywhere?" he asked me, circling me. "Have you never noticed that I am the one on the attic's window?"

He was really beginning to get on my nerves. No, scratch that, he was really pushing his boundaries; he was WAY past getting on my nerves.

"I know, I know," I said, impatiently "Why are you even here?" I asked, suspicious. "You're not even supposed to exist!"

He laughed. "Oh, really!" he said "If I don't exist, how am I here in front of you?" he asked.

I will admit, he did have a point.

"Anyways," Bill continued "I'm not here to make small talk," he started to twirl his cane again. "I'm here to make a deal with ya, kid!"

I narrowed my eyes. I knew how dangerous a deal with Bill could be. "What's your offer, and what's the catch?" I ask him.

He laughs. "My offer? I'm willing to let you have a little fun with your friends here," he said, tapping the TV screen.

I raised an eyebrow. "And the catch?"

Bill crossed his arms. "Look Kitty-"

"Don't call me that!" I shouted, cutting him off.

"Fine, fine," he said, acting hurt "Kid, I am offering you a chance of a lifetime, I mean seriously, the only reason that I am doing this is because I have seen what a huge fan you are!" He stared at me "So, do we have a deal?"

I knew I would most likely regret it later, but I uncrossed my arms and took Bill's hand. "Fine, whatever," I said "You have a deal."

Bill started to laugh maniacally and the world faded to black.

Time seemed to rewind on itself and a red-haired girl faded from the pictures that were framed in the hallway. Everything went back to how it was before, except it was like Kathrynn never existed.