Sorry if Bill seems OOC in this, I was kinda having some trouble writing this chapter for some reason…

And yes, this chapter is shorter. I've been busy lately.

By the time it was all over, Dipper was gasping for air, barely able to breathe from the excruciating pain all around his body. He couldn't speak, or even think straight. He would've blacked out but he was forced to stay awake under his tormentor's will.

"Done yet?"

He wanted to open his mouth and spit out an insult, but he found he didn't have the strength to. He tried to shift from the uncomfortable position he was in, only causing him to let out a loud groan before everything went silent again. He opened his eyes weakly, pupils darting around the room before his heavy eyelids and the sweat trailing down his forehead blinded his vision again.

He tried to answer that, yes, he was done, he was willing to finally give in, but his pride and determination refused to let him too, and he hated himself for it. He had to keep going. He had to keep going for Mabel.

But who even said that Mabel was still alive?

Bill did. Bill had said she was still alive. But he had also said that she was depressed.

Just how horribly had everything affected her in the past 5 years?

And besides, he couldn't trust Bill. Maybe he was just lying to give him a head start into the upcoming agony that was just inches away.

Something in the back of his mind told Dipper that Bill was telling the truth though.

"Since when did I lie to you?"

He knew that Bill always kept his end of the deals he made, always kept his word, but he didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to face what he knew was real because nothing was real. At least, that's what he told himself.

He tried to say something again, but couldn't. He could only inhale and exhale as he tried to bear the pain. He could do this, he'd gone through it before.

But that was years ago. Now it felt just as fresh, just as new, and just as awful, as if he'd never had the traumatizing experience. It should've been easier because the first time it happened was when he was 13, and now he would be turning 18 soon. But it was worse, if anything.

Dipper cracked one eye open again slowly as he continued to try to breathe, glancing up at Bill with a hard look on his face. He wanted to show he was still brave, but his eyes told a different story.

"While I'd love to continue this, I'm afraid we'll have to move on to Stage 2."

God, how could it get worse than this?! He almost died for Pete's sake!

He felt his body be lifted into the air as they floated out of the room. He tried to struggle, but he was frozen and couldn't even move. He sighed, giving up with great annoyance.

Suddenly, gravity took effect on him again, and he dropped to the floor without a warning. He let out a grunt as he got up to his feet, looking around to see they were in the hallways of the Fearamid.

"So you're worried about Shooting Star, yes? Ha, who am I kidding, of course you are!"

"What's your point?" he spat.

"You'll find out."

And he left. No, literally, just floated away to leave him be. He thought it was a blessing from the Heavens. That was, until, he heard the small footsteps of his sister approaching. She looked entirely different; she still wore her purple skirt and pink sweater, but it looked as if it was faded, it didn't look bright and lively anymore. Her skin was pale and fragile, drained of color, and her hair was cut short and tied up into a bun. Her gaze looked down at the floor.

"W- what did Bill do to you?" Dipper just barely breathed out as he looked at her in fear.

That's when she lifted her head. "What did Lord Cipher do to me? What do you mean, brother? I'm fine. My life is perfect. I have everything I could ever wa-"

"No. That's bullshit. What. Did. He. Do."

She paused, her eyes filled with… Anger? Guilt? Regret? He couldn't tell.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about. What else could you ever need?"

Those words hit him hard. Did- Did Bill brainwash her? Oh God, if that was so, then he'd have to figure out how to knock some common sense into her.

"Brother, why? Why did you go? Why did you leave? Our life was fine here. It's better than reality. It's better than living back in what the world used to be 5 ye-"

"Are those your thoughts or someone else's?" he snapped back harshly. "Because you sound just like when you were in Mabeland, and I know for a fact you would never go back there!"

"What's Mabeland? Who's Mabel? My name isn't Mabel. My name is 19-8-15-15-20-9-14-7 19-20-1-18. What are you talking about, Mason?"

"I- I- Wh- H- W- What?"

"19-8-15-15-20-9-14-7 19-20-1-18. They call me 19-20-1-18 for short. What about you, Mason? Don't you have a number?"

"What are you talking about, Mabel?"

"Again, my name isn't Mabel. What's your number?" she asked again, trying to change the subject.

He took in a deep breath. Okay, let's try this again. Just use a different psychological approach, Dipper.

"Mabel, I think you just need to-"

"My name isn't Mabel!" she shouted.

He stood there a moment, shocked. His own sister was convinced that this stupid apocalpyse was better for them?! God, she was worse than Preston! But it wasn't her fault because it was all Bill's doing. It was Bill's fault.

It was Bill. It was Bill. It was Bill. It was Bill. It was Bill. It was Bill. It was Bill.

It is Bill.

She is Bill...

While he wasn't sure he could trust her anymore, he was certain Mabel was right about one thing, though.

He never should have left all those years ago.

One Twin must escape, for her Word and the Safety of the River,

But said Other will bear the Weight of him, her Smile even less than a Sliver.

One Match is all it takes,

They are afraid, but give him aid; for the answer is His Masquerade