Mabel didn't sleep well that night. Her consciousness was tugged on several times by her family, calling out to her. She could hear them through her sleepy haze but her eyes wouldn't open.
Soon their voices tangled with her nightmares. Her family became encased in the stone walls around her. Trapped together in the dungeon. Except she could move, she walked with disjointed steps. Like her limbs moving like a puppet. She was walking towards her mother with a knife, her limbs glowing gold. They were begging her to stop. She was crying as she slashed at her mother's face, shaving some hair from her head as she screamed. Then she approached Waddles, cute as ever but twice as big as she remembered him. His hind legs and butt were trapped in the stone. He squealed and thrashed as she advanced "shh Waddles it's me, it's Mabel." She cried at his terrified reaction. She stumbled as she moved towards him of her own free will, crouching down beside him and tickling between his eyes. But all too soon her limbs started jerking around again. She tried to crawl away but she was trapping inside her body as it moved on its own accord. She picked up the fallen knife. Dipper was yelling at her to stop.. But she couldn't, suddenly her knife had transformed into an axe and was hovering in the air above the frenzied pig. She screamed and fought to lock her limbs, she had to fight, she just couldn't follow the command her arms were trying to follow. But she brought the axe down. Crying and screaming for forgiveness as the pigs head rolled on the floor. She started being puppeteered towards the next body encased in stone, Grunkle Stan.
She awoke drenched in sweat. Her face crusty with salt from dried tears. She lay there frightened and alone. Hugging her pillows trying to convince herself it was just a dream.
"Lights please!" She cried out, lighting up the room. Movement was painful when she finally swept back the sheets. They were stiff with hundreds of little blood stains. Most were hard and brown, but some were a fresh, bright red. Cuts had opened in her sleep from her tossing and turning.
She took painful steps towards the bath. The soles of her feet dotted with blisters from when Bill had boiled the air around her.
Eager to be rid of her sweaty stench and dried blood she made her way to the bath. Supporting herself against the glass wall. "Hmmm. Hello window, my old friend. Do you know where the plug is? Kinda want a nice hot bubble bath." Water rained down from the head, but didn't flow down the drain. "Oh thanks. Hey how are you doing that?" She hoped into the sunken bath, wincing in pain. Water was sitting atop a layer of air that her finger couldn't poke through. "Neat trick dude. Maybe make the water a little warmer though.. I think these blisters are going to get infected.. Hey can you make rubber duckies? Or soap?" Nothing happened but the steady flow of heating water. "Hmph."
Wet foot prints tracked over the room as she went to the toilet and gargled with some water in the sink. Then she fetched the summoning dish, lying forgotten near the overturned table.
She sat on the edge of the tub. Staring at her hands inches form her face she lost herself in a trance. Her skin was wrecked. It looked like peeling crocodile skin. Cracks cut through the red, leather like surface, creating patterns that surly mirrored constellations. Hmmm. Mabel's mind burst with memories of the moon and stars. They had been her favourite subject to paint for a while. Many scale like sections had peeled off already. Picking at one she studied the imprints of invisible lines that patterned her dead skin. But her crocodile hide was nothing compared to the large blisters that covered her. Most of them had thin, shallow cuts running through them. The grazes themselves seemed to cover her more than anything else. Her skin cracked and splintered around the shallow cuts like they were tendrils crawling out from a tear in time and space.
The peaceful splashing of water stopped echoing around the room. She had completely forgotten about the water yet it had stopped at the perfect, slightly wasteful height.
Stepping in her skin did not like the heat. She gritted her teeth through the pain and decided to distract herself by eating.
Mabel spoke aloud to conjure a stack of blueberry pancakes with Nutella flavoured ice cream and a mango milkshake sprinkled with popping candy. A nice cold breaky; perfect to eat in a hot bath.
Finally her muscles seemed to relax slightly, but her wounds still hurt. She summoned an apple and was biting into it when the familiar chorus of voices sang to her in her head.
A bite of apple fell from her mouth as she cried out the names of her family in relief.
'Oh thank White Diamond! Mabel!' they cried out at her response. 'We've been trying to reach you every three hours for the past day and half! We thought.. When you didn't answer.. What happened to you sweetheart?' Her mother's voice asked breaking, full of worry.
"Oh I'm so sorry mum! I'm fine really! I've been sleeping a lot lately.. Knocked unconscious a few times.. But what about you guys? Grunkle Ford what happened in town? Was Bill there? Is everyone ok? He didn't hurt anyone did he?" She had to hide how torturous her life had become from them she decided. Lies had always filled her with this unchained fury but the truth would only hurt them.. And possibly entice them into building a portal to save her and thus ending reality. Worry gripped her hear that Bill's vow had been fake and he'd been hurting her family the same ways he'd been hurting her. She could never trust that he wasn't lying and scheming. She was glad her family couldn't see her scars. Perhaps she should make herself a turtle neck like Ford.. Wait? Horror gripped her as she wondered how much practise Bill had with human torture.
'Well that's why we've been calling, we knew you'd be worried. But when we called to you just after the attack we couldn't get through. Was he with you? Dipper has this theory that Bill's energy oscillates.. You explain it Dipper, I'm sure she wants to hear your voice anyway.' Mabel could hear the smile in his voice and let herself smile too.
'Yeah ok, hey Mabel! But first are you ok? Why were you unconscious?' His voice held suspicion.
"Oh you know Bill DipDop.. He gets all red and mad and suddenly *BOOP* I'm unconscious! Annoying, but okay I guess!" Mabel hoped the lie would stick, grateful they couldn't hear her voice for the first time. It was sort of based on truth since it was the only thing Bill had actually done to her during all those years of death threats. Although it had actually been a very brief coma..
'Hmmm.. Ok. Well I think Bill's true being of energy extends further than the pyramid body he manifests. I doubt the energy is harmful but when it overlaps your brain, your own energy overlaps with his. So when our minds try to focus on your unique energy.. It's like we can't find it through the interference. You blur out. But I'm probable totally wrong and you've just been asleep and therefore unreceptive to outside forces..' Dipper's voice spilled out his theory in his nerdy, excited way of talking. He always spoke like that when describing the inventions he was working on with Ford. Mabel smiled as she pictured Dipper's smile.
"Actually Bill was talking to me right after Ford called.. So your theory must be right. He wanted to.. Question me about the barrier… You guys are safe though right?"
The deep, clam voice of her father spoke next. 'We're fine, we got the portal up just in time. All he did was beat his fists against the forcefield and disappear. It worried the town, but now I think now they actually feel safer knowing he can't get in. We just.. It's been a while since we'd gone more than 24 hours without talking to you. We've just really missed you.' Her father's voice reassured her. Swirling her head with guilt, relief and longing.
"I missed you two dad." She said hugging her knees to her chest tightly, pleased with the sting it radiated through her.
'Hey pumpkin, you know.. You know you can tell us if you're not okay right?' Stanley's voice always made her what to hug him. Laced with grief and guilt she knew he felt responsible. They all did.
"I'm fine really guys! Aw big hugs to you all! Actually Bill seems to be a lot calmer now.. He locked me in a dungeon for a few days, but I'm out now. And honestly it was pretty nice. First time I've had running water in years! It was way luxurious-" Mabel was interrupted by Dipper's adult, deep voice.
She could see in her mind's eye what he really looked like now since Bill had tortured her with that fake corpse. 'MABEL! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE IN A DUNGEON? That's it! We are getting her out of there!' In Mabel's mind she saw Dipper eyes open, revealing empty sockets. Tarantulas crawling out from the dark holes onto his face and disappearing into his hair.
"WHAT! No Dipper! End of the universe remember! Besides! I really am fine! He already let me out! But then there was a little incident with a couple of the guys.. Now that I'm no longer protected by Bill; Teeth and Paci-Fire kinda tried to eat me.. So now I'm staying in the Fearamid.. This time I have running, hot water! Ford I know you know how great that is! I mean you went without for like three decades! But my room is right next to Bill's study so I wouldn't be too worried if you continue being unable reach me.. It just means he's playing piano or something." Mabel suddenly felt weird about being in the bath. Physically talking to her parents, brother and Grunkles whilst naked.. She got out wishing for towels and walked back to the bed carrying her summoning tray.
"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD SOMEONE TRIED TO EAT YOU! Mabel how are you not hurt!?" Ariel Pines asked getting to her feet in panic.
"They barely touched me, I can handle myself! REAL TALK though. I got a little hurt but Bill healed me right away! Now I am literally on the softest bed I've been on in six year eating.. LETS chips please!" She commanded her platter. "See instant chips!" She talked with her open mouth full of the salty chips.
'Ergh Mabel you know we can't read what you say when you talk whist eating!' Dipper criticised happily, trying to believe the lies.
'Mabel. I know Bill.. Why.. Why did he save you?' Ford asked slowly, clearly in pain.
'Ford!' Ariel gasped.
"Ahah.. Well, don't over react.. But.. He says that if anyone gets to kill me it will be him.. But he's not going to! First I think he hoped he could still use me to get back to the old #46.. But now I think he just nostalgic that I'm the last human he's ever going to see in person or something so he doesn't want to kill me." Mabel tried to reassure her family. Realising she could never tell them of the deal she made.
There was uncomfortable silence for a while. Normally they had to take turns talking, always having a list of unasked questions.
'Oh pumpkin. I am so sorry.' The gruff, manly voice of Stanley openly wept.
"No guys! This is no one's fault!" Mabel's hand clenched. It was someone's fault. It was Bill's.
There was no reply though.
Tears slipped when she squeezed her eyes shut. "Guys? Dipper?"
She looked around worriedly, maybe Bill's energy could reach her from the study. She pulled the smelly sheet around her tightly. "Come out invisible wizard." She told the room in a monotone drawl.
"There's no getting past you Shots!" Bill materialised sitting on the toilet laughing. "Well? DID YOU MISS ME?" He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
"That was rhetorical right?" Mabel spat.
"OOH LOOK! A teenage girl! So rare! They're all about long sullen silences, followed by mean comments, followed by more silence! So what's it gonna be Star? Long sullen silence or mean comment?" Bill hopped of the toilet and paced with each word towards the girl.
"One. Nineteen isn't counted as a teen year.. Although it should be.. TWO. Did you apparate here or did you just walk in invisible?"
"Yes." Bill plonked himself down near her feet.
"Wait what? Oh and Three! Where's my stuff. My clothes, toothpaste! Oral hygiene is no joke Bill! Let my collect my stuff from my cottage."
Bill eyes raked over the bulge her body made in the sheets and Mabel prayed he couldn't see through them. "I'll make you a deal. Next time my dick needs taking care of you do that thing I showed you, and in return I will give you everything you said from your cave!"
Blood boiled through Mabel as she secured the sheet under her armpits. "NO WAY! I am not doing that! You cheat! You already said yes to getting me those things! This is me just trying to be nice! Trying to save you time! You'd probably take hours to find a few things and you'd no doubt trash my home in the process!" Mabel said through gritted teeth, her muscles tensing with anger. Acting like he owned her! Playing god with her life, wasn't it enough to torture her senseless! He had to undermine, trick and control her too!
"Pffft your boring me Shots. Stop being logical. I can just give you new teeth when those ones fall out." He fell back on the bed exasperated and Mabel drew in her legs under the covers.
"I don't want new teeth! I've been through a lot of pain for these teeth! Do you know how much bracers hurt? And before that they each painstakingly grew out. These two top ones beat Dipper's! And these three!" Mabel stuck a finger to each bottom tooth that had erupted victorious over her twin. "I'm proud of these pearly whites!" She said talking through her finger.
Tan hands covered Bills face, "Fine! Whatever!" And suddenly objects rained from above. A mirage of toiletries, sanitary items, clothes and books heaped themselves on the bed.
"Thankyou. But, these aren't my things.. Why did you conjure me new stuff?" Mabel voice held confusion. With a horrible thought she whipped her head around, looking out the window and sighed in relief. Her house was still there.
"Saves me the trek curious kitty."
Mabel pondered his words "Bill why don't you want me to leave this room?"
A groan raked the demon and he sat up in frustration. "Because I am not going to risk your fragile little sack getting killed on the way!"
Pent up, anxious laughter escaped Mabel. Once started she couldn't stop laughing at the bizarre situation. Finally though she controlled her breathing, her face red and her chest hurting. "I have lived here for over SIX years you horrible old tyrant! The only reason you needed to protect me before was because YOU made me unable to move! AND you showed those two that it was ok to hurt me! You lead by example Bill!" Waving her lacerated and blistered arm between them, "do you really think I am safer up here? With you?" She cracked again. Something about it all was just too funny.
Annoyed that the human seemed to be laughing at him he pounced on top of her. His hand coiled around her neck and slammed her into the window behind her and his eyes glittered with malice. "Of course you are not safe. I will kill you. But not till I've done everything I can think of to you. Even then I might just leave you alone for a few years. Rip out your tongue and teeth and see how long it takes you to crack and starve yourself to death. That would break our vow though.. I wonder what it would take for you to sacrifice their safety hmm? Depression, madness, revenge maybe? They will move on you know. You stop answering them all they'll think your dead. Then they will just move on with their lives. Your holding them back did you know? They're stuck in a grief limbo. Forever mourning you. They'll never see or hear you again yet they can't move on. You're really quite selfish little Star."
Mabel was in tears and seething with fury. She kneed him in the crotch, her sheet falling down. Then began pounding into his face. Breaking his nose with a sickening crunch she just kept hitting him.
He laughed like it was the funniest thing to have his face bloodied to a pulp. But suddenly cuffs were tearing her fists away, pulling them skyward. Bill lay on the bed laughing and wheezing.
"Ah my ever burning Star. One day you will go out." He promised darkly as he propped himself up slightly. Blue sparks reset his nose with a pop and he cried in shock. "AHA pain is hilarious!"
"I am NOT yours!" Mabel whispered as she struggled, aware of her nudity.
"Tsk tsk. You are though. I can do anything to you and you can't stop me. Isn't that the definition of a pet?" He kneeled in front of her, looking at her quizzically. "The only option you actually have is suicide.. But you won't 'fall' for that will you Star? Your too 'bright!' to do that!" He laughed at his own puns.
Cringing from the feel of his breath on her face she stared at the bed beneath her. "I hate you. A pet is something you love and protect."
Bill assessed her coldly the snapped his fingers, evaporating the chains. Wondering why that was what her mind had focused on.
Mabel quickly scooted under the covers with a dress tee mumbling something like "you two dimensional Voldemort, you've never felt a drop of love."
Ignoring her disappearing act he started pacing the room. "I had a good morning you know. I used a toilet for the first time, I thought I was going to explode! But turns out this mortal sack hasn't expired just yet. So I'm feeling generous today Shots! Did you know I gave Sixer a lovely surprise back when we worked together? You probably don't he doesn't show people very often.. But he woke up with a tattoo I gave him! Of a star! How ironic is that! But you deserve something truly unique.. Not an embarrassing little cartoon."
Mabel was horrified. She didn't mind the idea of a tattoo, but at least her wounds would heal. She didn't want a constant reminder of this psychopath on her body. "Tattoo yourself you sadistic, sick, INFERIOR shape!" Sitting back up, finally clothed in a long black tee nighty thing and some undies. Still no bra though, not while this jerkface was in the room.
She register his reaction to her words though. Something she had said made his eyes bulge red and engulfed him in flame. Before either of them had time to think Bill was flying, crushing her against the window a few feet above the bed.
"WATCH YOUR TOUNGUE." He bellowed, squeezing her neck between his hands. Her mind spun at the change, trapped between burning palms and cold glass. Bill smiled widely, exposing his sharpened teeth. "Now there's an idea."
Mabel kicked and screamed as the cold glass seemed to slosh over her limbs in an icy, iron grip. Fear pumped her heart and her mind flooded with the memory of being encased in stone, naked and helpless.
The demon was laughing as she struggled to be free from the wall. Materialising a cane that wasn't a cane. It was like his trademark black cane accept for the base which turned into a sort of cookie cutter triangle.
Floating in front of her he gripped her neck, his skin burning hot. "Try to stay still, pet." He was still grinning evilly and Mabel could feel heat radiating near her feet but she couldn't manoeuvre her head to see its source.
He flew higher, sitting in the air in front of her head and he placed his cane in his lap. Its triangular base glowing red. The sight sent her mind screaming in fear.
"Ha this again! Is it too much to ask for a little creativity from kidnappers anymore?" Mabel spat whilst she tried to twist her head out of his grip.
Tears leaked as the scent of barbequed skin filled the air. Her already damaged skin was burning badly in his boiling grip. The relief of cold air hurt her more however as his hand slid over her chin, two fingers poking into the corners of her mouth.
"Open wide!" He sang excitedly as blue tendrils of magic choked her. Pulling her tongue out of her mouth. She tried to bite down, but couldn't even hurt her tongue the tendrils were so strong.
Mabel couldn't see through the blue smoke and couldn't breathe through her mouth. She jerked her head around as much as she could. It was the only thing not encased in solid glass.
Bill smiled at the sight before him. He could see her tongue squirm. See saliva pooling at the back of her throat, dribbly over his fingers still holding her mouth open. Feel her pulse beating wildly under her neck. He could practically feel her terror rolling off her in delicious waves.
Somehow she managed to wriggle and writhe more as Bill brought the burning end of his cane closer to her mouth. Clearly sensing the heat and danger.
Slowly the glowing metal seared into the top of her tongue. She was breathing through her nose and emitted a high pitched scream that somehow came from the back of her nose. Bill watched in fascination as the metal sizzled and steamed against her rough organ. The poker sank into her pink flesh faster than it had done compared to her creamy skin.
He withdrew the poker, pleased with the thick triangle outline melted into her tongue. Fingers and magic left her mouth. She wanted to close it, but she couldn't. She could only scream. Voicing her pain into a rough, agonising howl.
She choked as another shriek overtook her previous scream as the glowing point seared into her collar.
Her voice became hoarse and her face streamed with constant tears. The excruciating, blinding pain radiated through her whole mouth. Almost blocking out the pain from the burn on her chest. She counted the seconds, hoping to find one where the pain would ebb. Drawing in raspy breaths, she tried to pass air over her tongue.
Bill floated above the bed, admiring the triangle below her throat. "I'll try to think of a good tattoo idea for you Shots. Brands are nice but tattoos have such a wide colour range.. So many more possibilities you know?" With that he let her fall and she crumpled into an unmoving pile atop the pillows on the yellow bed.
'Just breathe' she thought. In, out, in, out.. Her tongue brushed the inside of her teeth and she whimpered in pain. The only sign of life she gave the realm.
He sighed bored with her unflinching demeanour. "Whatcha wanna do next Star?" He asked happily, bobbing as he floated. "What don't you have anything to say? Triangle got your tongue?" He laughed at his own joke as he floated upside down, his hair pointing down with gravity. "That's ok. Maybe I can think of a less bloody pass time for us?"
Mabel couldn't get her eyes to stop crying. The pain was just too much. Pain was starting to bloom behind her eyes as she kept them squeezed shut, trying to block her tears. Upon hearing that Bill wasn't done for the day she curled up into a tight ball.