Welcome back, readers. I'm glad you all seemed to enjoy Chapter 1. Just a note: the majority of this chapter actually takes place in Dipper's dream.
I'm not sure how long this fanfiction is going to go on, so I'll get back to you all on that one whenever I get a general idea. Also, constructive criticism is something I really appreciate, so feel free to leave a comment with any suggestions for me in the future.
I'd like to apologize for the lack of an image for this story. I haven't been able to find one that I'd like to use, but I'll keep digging.
Thanks!
~ Three
After a day of trudging around town with his sister in the blazing July heat, Dipper was feeling exhausted. He nearly whimpered with relief when the Mystery Shack came back into view.
Mabel threw open the door and skipped into the gift shop, not affected at all by the weather and sporting another one of her countless oversized sweaters. The last tourists were starting to migrate out the door, and Stan was counting the money in the cash register. He looked up when he heard the twins enter, but then dismissed them quickly and returned his focus to the day's profits.
Dipper yawned and tried to walk into the Employees Only area, tripping over his own feet and wandering aimlessly in different directions as his vision struggled to keep up with him. Eventually, he found the door and weakly pushed it open.
Dipper stumbled up the stairs, crossed the attic, and collapsed into his bed, panting heavily. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, but it wasn't even close to being dark yet.
Still, Dipper decided to test his luck. His eyelids fluttered shut and he was pulled into what he hoped wouldn't be yet another agonizing nightmare.
Dipper walked along a trail in the forest. It was completely quiet, except for some sort of eerie animal call he heard in the distance. He couldn't quite tell what time it was, or which direction he was headed in. Was he lost?
Suddenly, he stopped mid-step. The path he was on had led to a clearing with a single tree in the middle of it. Dipper was taken over by an urge to rest here. He cautiously approached the tree and sat down in front of it.
Everything was peaceful and calm. Dipper thought he might actually be able to get more than a few hours of sleep tonight.
Wait... Something was wrong. There's no way it was going to be that easy for him. Nothing was ever this easy.
This was a trick.
The boy shot to his feet and looked around anxiously. He had the sensation that he was being watched, and he knew just who it was.
"Bill,'" he said aloud.
As if on cue, a strong wind blew threw the clearing, rustling the branches of the tree and lifting Dipper's hat off the top of his head. The whole world was drained of its color.
And then Bill appeared directly in front of him, and he let out a shriek.
"You called, Pine Tree?"
He smiled down at the boy, who stared back at him in shock.
He looked different than he usually did. Instead of a pyramid, he was now a tall teenager wearing a golden suit, black dress pants, and black shoes. He had yellow-blonde hair that stuck out in several directions and was combed down over his right eye (assuming he had one). The uncovered one was an icy blue and had a sort of devious look in it. He was sporting his usual top hat, bow tie, and cane.
"Well, well, well. Hello there, Pine Tree. Long time no see, huh? How have you been?" Bill leaned forward, a broad grin spread across his face.
"Wha... What are you doing here?"
"I just came to visit my favorite human meat bag in the world," Bill said, placing a gloved hand on Dipper's cheek. The boy smacked it away and looked the demon in the eye.
"Don't touch me," he snapped, surprising both of them.
"Oh, I've made you angry! How adorable!" Bill clapped his hands together and straightened himself again. "So tell me, Pine Tree. What have you been up to lately? How's Shooting Star? How's that search of yours going?"
When he didn't receive a response from the younger, he lashed out and grabbed his wrist.
"Ow! Let go!"
"I asked you a question, kid," the demon replied in a singsong voice, digging his fingertips into Dipper's skin. It hurt a surprising amount, considering the gloves.
"You know how I've been, Bill. Why have you been giving me these nightmares?"
"I told you. You're my favorite. You're fun." He pulled the boy closer to him so that they were inches apart.
Dipper flushed and flailed around, trying to wrestle his arm out of Bill's grasp.
Bill smiled as Dipper made his pathetic escape attempt, then yanked down on his arm and made him drop to the ground without warning. The demon pinned the boy's legs down with his own and kept a tight grip on his wrists.
"I do hope you've forgiven me for our last meeting, Pine Tree. It was nothing personal, just business. We can't have you interfering with my plans, now can we?" Bill laughed, and Dipper cringed, turning his head so he didn't have to look at the demon holding him to the ground.
"Are you still mad at me, Piney?" Bill pouted, one hand grabbing Dipper's chin and forcing him to look forward again. The boy thrashed around pointlessly, eliciting a low chuckle from the other.
"Oh well. You'll come around eventually, I suppose. Until next time, my little Pine Tree. Tell Shooting Star I said hi!"
Bill planted a surprisingly cold kiss on Dipper's forehead, flashed the younger boy one last little smile, and was gone from sight.
"Dipper! Dipper! Hey, bro, wake up!"
"Mabel...? Oh, man..." Dipper woke to a pounding headache and an incredible feeling of nausea washing over his entire body. He looked at his twin sister. She was kneeling on the floor beside his bed, a worried look on her face.
"You look terrible. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."
Mabel pressed her palm to his forehead and bit her lip.
"You feel pretty warm. Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes." Dipper gave her a weak smile. "Just give me a few minutes, okay? I'll be right down."
"...Alright." She stood up and walked out the door, pausing for a moment and glancing back over her shoulder before shutting it behind her.
Dipper let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding and stared at the ceiling. There was no way he could tell Mabel what was going on.
He knew why he felt this way. He wasn't sick, but he certainly wasn't okay.
What did Bill want from him? Whatever it was, Dipper didn't like it so far.
Dim laughter rang in his ears.
You'll learn to like it.
Whew! Okay. So there's the second chapter for you. Hopefully it wasn't TOO terrible.
(I don't know, I've gotten probably 22 hours of sleep over the past week and am kinda deprived.)
Sorry it was so short. I promise the next one will be longer.
~ Three
