A/N I don't have much to say but I hope you enjoy this chapter. School is in full swing so I don't have a lot of writing time, but I'm going to try my best to have this finished by Halloween. It would be fitting, right? I anticipate three more chapters, give or take. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you're all so wonderful!

The hazel-eyed bookworm: Yay! OK I will make this into a series! Glad you like it!

Guest (Aug 6): I LOVE Stranger Things, and feel lucky to have seen it well before the hype exploded, otherwise I might've skipped it LOL. I see similarities with Eleven, but it's purely coincidental. I've had this plot living in my head for a LONG time but hey, I like the comparisons, Eleven is a great character. I'm glad you're enjoying this!

Imissgf: Nope, haven't given up. I'm glad you're still liking this, and it's cool that you're writing now too!

Polachew: Thank you for the kind compliment! I'm glad you like this! Sorry for being so evil to the characters we all know and love. I don't know why I like to put them through the ringer, but I do. ;-)

Rachelle: Cool story. Hope it was worth the wait. Hope your grandma's arm is better.

All the other 'Guest' reviewers: Thanks for leaving a review! I'm glad you're enjoying my story! If y'all would be obliged though to next time use a nickname so I know who's who. I like to know who's reading this whenever possible. I got six reviews for this chapter from 'Guest' and I doubt y'all are the same person. Thanks!

Without further ado, enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen

Mabel looks around in confusion, collapsing to her knees at the jarring sensation of being thrown from one nightmare to…somewhere different.

A moment ago, she was having a nightmare about Weirdmageddon, something she had every night since it happened. The nightmares were always different, but they all served to remind her of the role she had to play in starting it. The most common occurrence being that Dipper would find out and never forgive her, would even grow to hate her. But what she did was unforgivable. She let her own childish selfishness cloud her reason and it nearly cost literally everything.

This particular nightmare was set in the nightmarish remains of Mabelland, where everything she loved and wanted, all the childish things that in a way defined her, were being used against her. Things that were once sparkly, soft and bright now dull, twisted and corrupted into something horrific, reaching from the abyss of her prison bubble like a hoard of zombies, hungry to punish her for her crimes. In this particular nightmare, she was standing on the edge, begging Dipper for forgiveness, but Dipper, his body covered in cuts and bruises, his arm broken, his eyes narrowed into pure rage screamed at her, "You did this! You let this happen, you hurt me, all for your own selfish gain! I would do anything for you, but all you've ever done is hurt me! If this is what you wanted, take it. I hate you!" And with those words he shoved her into the abyss and all her corrupted manifestations of her hopes and dreams grab her, tearing her apart.

Normally, this would've been the part of the dream where Mabel would wake up in a cold sweat, heartbroken, terrified and consumed with guilt, but safe in her room. She would normally stop, catch her breath, go to the bathroom to wash her face, sometimes after a good cry, and eventually go back to sleep.

But this time when she's abruptly torn from her nightmare, she's not safe in her room, but in a cold, dark place, surrounded by a thick fog.

"Where am I?" she whispers, taking a tentative step forward, reaching out to find a wall. Is she still dreaming? "Hello?" she calls out, her voice sounding hollow, echoing slightly. She places her hand on the wall and walks forward, terrified and confused. At least she knows that the Weirdmageddon nightmares are just that: nightmares. But this place…it feels different. Real, and yet not real.

She can usually tell when she's dreaming, but this time not so much. There's a sharp, unrelenting throb in her head that has her wince, squinting her eyes as she tries to see through the fog. She feels dizzy and weak, her body aching from head to toe, her stomach churning with nausea, and the palm of her hand burns like it's on fire, it stings so badly that she's afraid to look to see how bad it is. The pain feels far too real to be a dream, yet her surroundings seem far too surreal to be an actual place.

In the distance, she can hear singing.

"Hello?" she calls into the dark fog, stepping towards the sound. The singing is faint, the words the female voice is singing is barely audible, but the melody…it's familiar to her somehow, yet she doesn't think she had ever heard it before in her life. The tune is catchy, surely if she heard it before she would've remembered it. But she doesn't remember it, though it's so familiar, it's frustrating to try and place it.

The singing is warm and inviting, wrapping around her like a warm blanket and she feels along the wall to follow the sound, unable to see through the thick fog enveloping her surroundings. Visibility can barely reach past her arms-reach and she's afraid to keep going, but she doesn't know what else to do. Perhaps the source of the singing can help her.

Mabel doesn't know where she is, but she surmises that she must be walking down a long hallway, a very long hallway. Every once in a while, she would find a door, but she can't open them, even though they aren't locked. So, she keeps going.

Behind her she hears footsteps and she twirls around to try and see who is behind her, even though she can't see, "Hello?"

There's no answer, but the footsteps quickly approach her.

The singing stops and the same voice echoes through the hallway.

Run, honey, run!

Suddenly afraid of the footsteps, Mabel does as she's told, racing down the seemingly endless hallway as fast as her weak and aching body would allow, racing towards the voice. Suddenly the hallway ends and she's at another door. Unlike the other doors that were unlocked but still couldn't be opened, this one actually is locked so it makes no difference.

She feels around and finds only another wall and she quickly realizes that there is nowhere else she can go. She's at a dead end and the footsteps are getting louder, closer.

Mabel desperately tries to open the door, even if by force but to no avail.

Use the key!

She stops at the sound of the voice and looks down to see a key sliding out from under the door. She bends over to grab it, but when she stands up she's so dizzy she falls into the door and unsteadily tries to open it with shaking hands.

Meanwhile the footsteps are terrifyingly close now and two hands reach out through the fog to grab at her, one hand locking around her wrist as a tall dark figure emerges from the fog. A woman in a long black dress wearing a black veil, her eyes a cold, icy blue stands tall and menacing, her grip on her wrist so tight Mabel fears it will break. "There's no escaping me child, no matter how hard you may try," she hisses, holding up her palm, revealing a triangle shaped scar and violently twisting Mabel's wrist around to reveal the identical scar, still fresh and raw, "you're bound to me, and we are bound to him—there's no going back. It's too late!"

Mabel screams, yanking her wrist free as she turns the key in the lock, opening the door. She kicks out at Elizabeth, pushing her away as she crosses into the room and slams the door behind her, locking it.

Exhausted she collapses to her knees wrapping her arms around her stomach and doubling over. Her eyes close and she lets out a hopeless whimper. She doesn't know where she is now, or if she is safe here but she's too exhausted to keep going. On the other side of the door there is a loud, persistent knock, rattling the door, Elizabeth's muffled screams threatening her, demanding she let her in.

"I own you, child! Let me in!"

Mabel crawls away from the door, terrified and weak. She curls into a ball on her side, nearly jumping out of her skin with a yelp as a hand suddenly rests on her shoulder.

"Shh," a voice, the same voice that had been singing soothes gently. "You're safe for now."

Mabel opens her eyes at the sound of the comforting voice and is met with a familiar face, "Granny May-May?"

"Yes, it's me," she replies.

"Am…am I dead?" Mabel asks.

"No, no you're not."

"Then what am I doing here with you? You're dead," Mabel murmurs.

"You're dreaming," she says, "but this is no ordinary dream. In fact, I wouldn't call it a dream, but truthfully, I don't know what else I would call it."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here because your soul was crying out for help, so now I am here."

"You're here to help me?" Mabel asks, relieved and wary. "How?"

May-May nods, "Yes, but we don't have much time." She takes her by the hand, her touch warm and comforting, numbing the pain in her palm and helps her to stand, moving with far more strength and agility than Mabel had ever seen in her great-grandmother while she was alive.

Once on her feet Mabel falls into her arms, and May-May wraps her arms around her, her touch bringing nothing but comfort, easing the pain in her body, giving her strength. "My," May-May says with sadness, "that evil woman has done such a number on you. You've given up, haven't you?"

Mabel doesn't answer. She doesn't need to. The shame and sadness in her eyes says it for her.

"That's what she wants. The more worn down and defeated your spirit, the easier it is to take. Why do you think she's already put you through so much hell? I know it's hard, but you need to be strong. You need to fight. Don't give into her, no matter what you do."

"I'm trying," Mabel whimpers, "but she's so powerful, and I'm so…tired. I don't know what else to do…I think…I think it's too late. She's won."

"No, she hasn't, not yet. I know that it seems like all hope is lost, but it isn't," May-May says, "I think I know what you can do to stop her. But you can't do it alone, you will need Dipper's help."

"But how? I don't even know where Dipper is, or if he's even OK. Last time I saw him, I…she hurt him badly."

"You and I both know that won't stop him."

Mabel nods, "Yeah. But…that's also what kind of scares me."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I don't want him to get hurt or worse trying to save me," she pushes herself away from her grandmother and turns her head to the door she entered and flinches when there is another violent knock at the door.

"She can't get in here," May-May assures her.

Mabel watches the door warily for a moment and then looks back to her great-grandmother, "She told me that I'm destined to hurt him and only bring him pain…"

"She lies…"

"But…it's true, Granny May-May. He's done so much for me and sacrificed so much for my happiness and safety, and what have I done in return? Nothing. I only make things worse," she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. "Maybe everyone would be better off if I just…died."

"Oh honey, please don't talk like that…"

"I don't want to but…what else can we do? At least this way Elizabeth can't do her spell and won't be set free and Dipper will be safe instead of throwing himself in harm's way to save me. He'll be sad, sure, but at least he'll be alive and he'll get over it and it's my fault I'm in this mess so I need to deal with the consequences, not him—he's paid enough for my mistakes already. Besides, I think…I think I deserve it. I know I do."

"No, you don't," May-May insists gently, "come now, where's my optimist?"

For some reason, the question hits her hard and Mabel starts to cry, "I don't know anymore. I'm trying to be…but…ever since…I did something bad this summer I…I've been trying but… it's been harder and harder to be positive, to be…me."

May-May holds out her arms and lets Mabel cry into her shoulder, "It's OK, honey, it's OK. You've been through so much, I don't blame you for struggling and it's OK to let go and let it all out. You're carrying such a heavy burden of guilt, but sweetheart, you cannot blame yourself for what happened and you can't let it corrupt your beautiful outlook on life."

"I'm trying," Mabel sobs, "but…I'm so tired."

May-May holds her and rocks her gently, "I know, I know," she soothes comfortingly, "but you should understand that this is what Elizabeth wants. Just as the One-Eyed Demon went after you when you were vulnerable and your guard was down to trick you, Elizabeth has exploited your guilt and deepest fears to manipulate you into giving her what she wants. She's trying to keep you down to convince you that she's won, but she hasn't won yet and you can't let her win, understand?""

Mabel nods, but she's still doubtful that it could be possible.

"I think I know how you can stop her," May-May says. "I don't have time to explain everything but when you wake, you'll need to act fast. It's important that you stop her before she can begin her spell."

"I don't think I'm strong enough."

"Yes, you are, and with Dipper's help, I know you two have a fighting chance—she hasn't won yet."

"But I told you, I don't even know where he is."

"That doesn't matter, once I show you how, you can tell him what to do."

"But…how?"

"I think you know."

"With my mind?"

May-May nods, "You've done it before."

"What's up with that anyway?" Mabel asks, "we go through our whole lives not knowing that's a thing and all of a sudden it is a thing! Why didn't you tell us you were a Psychic Medium? And apparently, it's hereditary? I have so many questions Granny May-May!"

"I don't have time to explain everything, but yes, psychic gifts have run in our family for generations. Almost all the women in our family had abilities to some degree, but yours were especially strong."

"But no one has ever mentioned anything like that ever, mom doesn't even believe in that sort of thing—why am I only finding out about this now?"

"Because I had no choice but to lock away your gifts and any memory of having them. I needed to protect you from the curse Elizabeth put on this family," she explains, "you see, she wanted them, she wanted to exploit them and she knew that the only way she could ever permanently take a new body for another chance at life, her host had to have psychic gifts similar to hers. Psychic abilities, true psychic gifts are rare and she had chosen my bloodline, our bloodline as her target.

"By locking away your gifts, I was able to hide you from her, keep you off her radar. The same goes for your mother and grandmother and her sister and it worked for them. But I knew that things were somehow different for you—you and Dipper—but I did it anyway, and I'm so sorry because I fear that in your case, instead of protecting you, I inadvertently made you even more vulnerable."

"What do you mean? How?"

"If things were different, maybe you would've remained hidden from her, but the One-Eyed Demon's attempt at an Armageddon changed everything, unlocking your abilities but keeping your memories hidden," she says, "when you agreed to help her, you unwittingly gave Elizabeth access. She has awoken your gifts because she needs them. But no one is meant to gain such abilities all at once and it has only left you unprepared and overwhelmed. I'm afraid that without training or control, I don't know what kind of toll they may have on you."

"What about Dipper? Dipper has—had—psychic gifts too?" Mabel asks, confused since May-May said it's something the women inherit.

"Not quite, not like yours, but he too possessed some unique abilities to a smaller extent," May-May says. "I think it's because of your father's side of the family."

"Dad's psychic too?" Mabel asks.

"No. However, when I first met your father, I had sensed a paranormal…interference, that I cannot explain. Not with him directly, and no psychic abilities, but something."

Mabel swallows hard, realizing that Bill Cipher was the interference she was talking about. After all, she knows about Ford's history with him, what if he wasn't the only one? Who else would Bill have messed with in the past? Not only that, but Bill mentioned that Elizabeth's intended host would come from two powerful bloodlines… She can't figure out why, but the realization suddenly has Mabel gripped with fear for her brother, and what might've happened to him had they not defeated him.

"But I think the biggest reason that Dipper's a rare case is because you two are twins and you share a powerful connection," May-May says. "Gifts or no gifts, you two were always stronger when you were together. That's why I believe it will take both of you to stop Elizabeth…hopefully."

"But…how?

"I'll show you," May-May replies, taking her hand, "but we have to hurry, we don't have much time—we've used up a lot of time already. You need to stop her before she can begin her spell."

"What happens if we don't?"

May-May hesitates.

"Will it be too late to stop her?"

May-May shakes her head, "The truth is honey, Elizabeth will be at her weakest and most vulnerable during her spell, but you will be too. She can still potentially be stopped, but I'm afraid it might be too late to save you."

"So, if we don't stop her before she can begin, I…I won't survive…" Mabel murmurs.

"Don't lose hope though sweetheart, no matter what happens, keep fighting, all right? I want you to survive to live a full and happy life,but…the most important thing is that you two stop her. I hate to say it, but you need to stop her, no matter what. If she wins, you'll still be lost but she will be free to wreak havoc on the world and resurrect her demon master. You can't let that happen, understand?"

"So, it really would be better for me to die than to let her perform her spell…"

"That's not what I am saying, but…"

"If that's what it takes…"

"Perhaps, as a last resort but honey, you need to fight to live. If you die before she can finish, it's true that would mean she had failed and won't be freed, but sacrificing yourself isn't exactly a desirable outcome, is it? Not while there's still another way. Dipper will need you, and you still have so much potential, so much to offer and to live for… You need to stop her before she can finish her spell, or all will be lost."

"I'll try. So, what do we need to do?" Mabel asks.

"There is an incantation spell I've been working on for decades," May-May says, "a banishing spell."

"Teach it to me," Mabel says, hoping she can remember it when she wakes.

"I already have," May-May replies, "here, in this forgotten memory." She gestures outward and what was once an empty, featureless room shifts into a different room, one that Mabel recognizes as Granny May-May's guest room in the house she had lived in before she had to move into a nursing home when Mabel and Dipper were nine. They used to sleep in that room when they stayed over.

Mabel watches her younger self, along with a young Dipper enter the room, and they can't be any more than four or five. Her younger self looks uncharacteristically quiet, and timid, her eyes wide with fear, while young Dipper holds her protectively, even though he too is afraid. Behind them Granny May-May joins them and lights a bundle of sage and waves the smoke around the room.

"What are you doing, Granny?" Young Dipper asks.

"This will help keep the monsters away," Memory May-May explains, humming a familiar yet unfamiliar tune. There's nothing spectacular or special about the tune, but Mabel finds it quite catchy. "When we're finished here, you will be safe from the monsters."

"And I won't see them anymore?" Young Mabel asks.

"That's right," Granny May-May replies with a kind smile. She sets the burning sage down on an incense holder and then sits on the floor next to her great-grandchildren, her old bones creaking and groaning on the way down, but Granny May-May doesn't seem to let it bother her. "But should they ever come back, I am going to teach you a song that will scare them away. Are you ready to hear it?"

"I love songs!" young Mabel says with enthusiasm and Dipper nods excitedly.

Memory May-May smiles and then starts to sing. The words make no sense to Mabel, but the catchy melody and silly way she sings it to her four-year-old self serves two purposes: to put young Mabel and Dipper's minds at ease with it's silly nonsensical lyrics, and making it easier for thirteen-year-old Mabel to remember.

"What language is that?" Mabel asks. To her it sounds like gibberish, but maybe it means something?

"I'm not certain, but it's not of this world," May-May says.

"Then how…?"

"There was a time I went on a dark and dangerous path in my desperation to protect my children from Elizabeth's curse," May-May says, her mouth in a thin line, "I dabbled in things I shouldn't have, but along the way, I gained the knowledge to create this spell. It's dangerous knowledge, so I had to put safeguards in place to protect you and myself. Once you use it, you won't be able to remember it, but should you need it, you can find it here in this locked memory."

Mabel nods, still confused but watching her younger self along with her twin brother learn the spell-song, Mabel finally feels confident that maybe they can win after all, because now that she's hearing it, even only part of it, the memory is rushing back to her as though she had heard it a million times and she can feel the power of the words.

She watches the scene unfold, as May-May teaches them the spell, and then, treating it like a game, May-May has them close their eyes as she locks away their abilities, but Mabel can see the pain and regret in her eyes as she does so.

"I never wanted to do it," May-May tells her, "but I felt I had no choice."

Finally, Mabel watches the memory of Granny May-May locking away their memories, and when she and Dipper open their eyes, they both think they just finished a silly game and any fear they had before was gone, like it had never happened.

"It's time for me to go now, honey," May-May says, taking Mabel's hand and kissing her forehead, "There's so much you need to learn, and I'm so sorry I won't be there to teach you and prepare you from the oncoming storm."

"Wait, don't go!"

"You need to wake up now," May-May says, "fight her before she can begin her spell. Stall her if you have to. Dipper's coming. Don't let her win!"

"I…I won't!" Mabel replies, throwing her arms around her. May-May hugs her back, but suddenly Mabel is hugging air and the room around her vanishes, replaced with the thick fog. She takes a step but the ground seems to have disappeared from under her and she falls into a black abyss.

As she falls, images flash around her as an incredible sharp pain stabs at her head.

She sees a young girl summoning Bill Cipher, and Mabel knows that it's Elizabeth when she was about thirteen. Elizabeth was seeking answers about her own psychic abilities and Bill promised to make her powerful and that she would rule by his side one day.

She sees her grandpa Sherman as a younger man shake hands with the Triangle Demon, and then the scene shifts and she watches a young Grunkle Ford do the same.

She sees Dipper with that laptop, desperate to find the password and Mabel feels a pang of guilt for being too preoccupied with her stupid puppet show to help. She winces when she watches her brother shake hands with him, allowing Bill to take over his body leaving him to roam as a ghost.

She sees Grunkle Stan grin proudly and then with sad melancholy as the world around him goes up in blue flames and Bill screams as he tries to escape his mind.

The last thing she sees is a young man in his late teens, possibly early twenties standing on top of a tall hill. The air is heavy with a thick smoke, the sun bright red through the orange haze. He's laughing, a twisted maniacal laugh that sends chills through her bones. Slowly he turns his head towards her but before she can see his face, the world goes black.

-/o\-

She gasps awake, choking for air as though drowning. For a moment, there is nothing but pain, every inch of her throbbing, especially the burn on her hand and the relentless pounding in her head. She wants to curl into a ball as she rides this wave of pain but something is holding her in place, preventing her from moving.

It takes a moment to realize she's back in Elizabeth's secret room, lying on the pentagram on the floor. Her wrists and ankles are tied up, bound to four points of the star. The dress that she had made with such love and care is destroyed. Her boots are gone, her feet bare, the arms of the dress had been torn off, and long slits had been cut on each side of the skirt, almost to her hips, the fabric draped between her now bare legs. Candles are placed next to each point of the star, and though she can feel the warmth of the flames, she is freezing.

Dipper… she thinks as loud as she can, even though it hurts. She doesn't know if he can hear her, but in her mind, she sings the song May-May taught them years ago, hoping he can hear her, hoping he understands what it means and what it is for. Come find me in that secret room, bro-bro…we can stop her.

She's inwardly reciting the song in her head, blinking against the intense pain behind her eyes as she does so. But before she can finish, Elizabeth returns and sends a shock of energy to pulse through her, breaking her concentration.

"I know what you're trying to do," Elizabeth hisses, "and it won't work."

Mabel groans, catching her breath from the attack and glares at her ghostly captor, "And your plan will?" she snaps, her voice hoarse from her raw throat, but still full of bite. "You really think this will work? I'll die before you can take over my body."

Elizabeth laughs, "Of course it will work."

"And why would you even want to do this? Did you even think this through?" Mabel hisses, trying to stall her, hoping that Dipper and their Grunkles will find her in time, "You really want to be thirteen again?"

"A small sacrifice for a second chance at life… your youth is what makes you an ideal candidate."

"What do you even… plan to do?" Mabel asks as a spasm of pain wracks her body, "Once y-you have me? After everything you've already done to me?" she chuckles bitterly, "Because I'm in a lot of pain thanks to you, and my pain will be your pain if your dumb spell works and you'll be the one tied to the floor."

"Oh honey, you really are a fool," Elizabeth laughs, "you fail to understand the intricacies of the spell. It's a process. And we're right in the middle of it now that the preparation is complete. Healing this body is the final step, once I've ripped your soul from it and have replaced it with my own."

"And then what?" Mabel asks, "Once you've taken over my body, what do you intend to do?"

Elizabeth grins, "I think you know."

"My family will stop you," Mabel snaps, knowing that she intends to resurrect Bill, "they'll defeat you just like they defeated him."

"They can try," Elizabeth shrugs, rising to stand over her menacingly, her grin widening, "but why would they? They're going to think I'm you. I'm going to let them believe they won."

Mabel's heart sinks at the thought.

"Why do you think, that after all my threats, and despite multiple opportunities, that I haven't killed your brother yet? I read his mind. He'd die to save you, I could see that he wouldn't give up, no matter how broken he is, no matter how hopeless the situation. I gave him a chance to leave and save himself, but I knew he wouldn't take it. And he's a clever boy, and your great uncles are too. Sooner or later they're going to find you—me."

"No…"

Elizabeth laughs wickedly, "They won't know what hit them until it's too late!"

Dipper… she thinks again, calling out with her mind, if you can hear me—

"Even if they figure it out, I've had decades to prepare and have more than one contingency plan. Now, enough stalling," Elizabeth exclaims, "it's time to begin!"

Suddenly, the lights on the candles dim and flare into large, brilliant flames before returning to normal, an eerie wind swirls around them and Elizabeth begins to chant, falling into some sort of trance.

All the muscles in Mabel's body tense, her nerves pulsing with the numbing sensation of pins and needles, her back arches like she's being lifted from the middle by an unseen force, but the binds around her wrists and ankles keep her tethered to the floor, her limbs pulled taut.

An explosion of pain tears through her as she slams back to the ground and a faint pink glow slowly begins to engulf her body.

Mabel screams.

It's too late. The spell has begun.

A/N Ugh, I've rewritten, and rewritten and overthought and rewritten this chapter and I'm still not entirely satisfied. But I hope you guys enjoyed! Either way, please let me know what you think! Your feedback means so much to me! We're almost at the end, just a few more chapters! I'll try to update soon! Please leave a comment, I'd love to know any thoughts, theories, criticisms or questions or whatever. Heck, even if you want to say hi, I'd love to hear from you!