Chapter 4
Year 1889

For the rest of the evening until the light of the dawn, Dipper got no rest. He was too panicked to sleep. After all, Bill had somehow found them and was coming to get them.

Dipper debated telling Mabel about what had happened in his dreams. She had every right to know. But as he looked at his twin's sleeping form, Dipper could not bring himself to wake her. After all, it was his job to look out for her. But, despite that small surge of bravery, that didn't stop him from jumping at every little sound.

Whether it was the echoing footsteps of people outside or the creaking sounds of the floorboards in the parlor, Dipper heard them all.

"So," came a voice from behind the boy, causing him to jump. "Are you two ready for breakfast? Eh, heh, heh."

The cackle told Dipper who was behind him. He turned to glare at the man who had provided them shelter for the night.

"I take that as a yes." Undertaker said, the laughter still in his voice. "Wake your sister, while I get something for you to eat."

Dipper silently turned to his sister and began to wake her. Undertaker's look became stern.

"I thought you went to bed after we talked last night." The older man asked, his voice turning cold. "Didn't you get any sleep last night?"

Dipper felt a chill run down his spine. After many sleepless nights in his past, he thought he had perfected not showing that he was tired. How did Undertaker know?!

"I..." The boy began, searching for a reason that wouldn't sound crazy.

"The human mind and body can only last so long without sleep." The older man interrupted, his voice like ice. "Like food, sleep helps nourish the body. And from what I can tell, you are in desperate need of both."

Dipper's mind was racing, trying to figure what excuse to tell the man. He dared not tell him about the spell that put them sleep to bring them here. He'd sound crazy!

"I, uh, I..." The boy stammered, mind still racing.

Undertaker shook his head slowly. It was not his intention to scare the child. After all, the child was lost. It would do the man no good to try and break what fragile trust the boy had in him.

"I'll got get breakfast ready," He said, his tone softening. "Please, just wake up your sister."

Dipper breathed a sigh of relief as he turned back to his sister. It wasn't long before Mabel was awake, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"What's up, bro bro?" She asked sleepily.

He tried to tell her about Bill, but the words died on his tongue.

"Mr. Undertaker says that breakfast will be ready soon." Dipper replied, finally. "How are you feeling."

"I am feeling better." His twin replied with a smile. "I guess all I needed was more sleep to shake off whatever Bill did to us."

Dipper was relieved to hear Mabel was feeling better. As he returned her smile, the smells of something cooking lured the twins out of the room they had just spent the night in. They followed it to its source and found the man who took them in cooking something over a flame.

Undertaker heard them come in and turned to greet them, placing two plates of food on a table in front of them.

"Eat up, little lambs." The older man said. "You are going to need your strength."

The twins began to eat silently, when the sound of a pounding fist came from the door.

"I wonder who that could be?" Undertaker said, going over to his front door. "I wasn't expecting anyone at this hour."

The pounding continued, getting louder and louder. It wasn't until the Undertaker was mere steps away from his front door, Dipper's head shot up in panic.

"No don't!" He yelled, unaware as to why he did such a thing.

The older man stopped and looked at the boy. Undertaker smiled.

"Why not?" He asked, raising an unseen eyebrow at the preteen.

"Because, um," the excuse died on the boy's tongue. "Never mind."

The Undertaker returned once more to his task, while Mabel looked at her brother confused.

"Can I help you?" Undertaker asked, opening the door.

It wasn't until the front door was open that Mabel truly understood her twin's apprehension. Standing outside, was a tall lanky man. The man smiled and with an eerily familiar voice, he spoke.

"Why, yes, kind sir." He said. "I am looking for some lost children. Have you seen them?"

It was then Dipper and Mabel's fears were confirmed. Bill had found them.

End of Chapter 4