I wasn't sure just what all to put in this chapter and what to save for the next one. After some long deliberation, I decided on this. Not too much with the twins and their crew, but more of the happenings at the police station.
As a fair warning, there is one scene in here that gets a bit graphic. I actually rewrote it so it wouldn't be too intense so as to keep it at a T rating.
Thank you to the reviewers of the last chapter: ImpossibleJedi4, Guest, Energy witch, Marisol777, TDICELEBRITY14, Fantasy Fan 223, Kenn, Ella Le Hissy, BattleAngel911, and Berrybanana05. Your feedback is much appreciated.
About an hour and a half before the twin's escape, back at the police station, the guard walked the visitor to the women's cell. The guard's eyes met eyes with Wendy. Towering behind him was the man the teenager most and least wanted to see. Livid green eyes met with the ones resembling his own.
The key unlocked the door. Another look into her father's face she wondered if perhaps the safety of the bars was a better alternative. The drunk woman who shared a cell with Wendy hung on the bars and winked seductively at Manly Dan who only sneered in her direction then with a nod of his head ordered his daughter to move along.
A few feet away at the desk Dan filled out the remainder of the paperwork. Every few seconds he sent a glare in Wendy's direction to which she refused to look him in the face. The police officer thanked the man and reminded him that Wendy was not to leave town until the case was either dropped, or taken to court. Manly Dan gritted his teeth as his decision to send her to the logging camp was now out of the question.
Before leaving Dan marched up to the first men's cell. Soos shied away from the man's glare, but he wasn't the one Dan targeted. For once in his life Stan felt grateful to stand behind steel bars.
"Wendy won't be coming back to your shack," Manly Dan roared. "In fact my daughter won't have anything to do with you or your family again."
"Dad, that's not fair," Wendy cried.
"Shut up," Manly Dan demanded in a rare calm, yet firm voice.
Wendy immediately silenced. It was only the second time in her life he used those words on her, and she didn't need to see his face, for his stiff back and clenched fists were enough.
"Look, ain't none of this her fault," Stan said.
"Well you better make sure the courts hear that!" the robust man shouted. "'Cause my daughter ain't havin' her future ruined 'cause of you." He pounded his fist against the bars leaving a dent.
"Mr. Corduroy, please calm down," the guard said as he gingerly approached.
Soos looked from one man to the other.
"Let's go," Manly Dan said to the girl and turned away. The guard ushered them to the door.
The ride home was silent to the point Wendy wished there was yelling just to ease the awkwardness.
Manly Dan pulled into the driveway, shut off the headlights, and turned off the car. Wendy reached for the door handle when she noticed her father staring straight ahead.
"This is my fault," he finally said.
Wendy opened her mouth to argue, but couldn't find words.
"I never shoulda let you work for that man," Manly Dan said. How much he wished he had sent her to the logging camp as he originally thought best. The teenage girl protested and of course he let her have her way.
"I've been too busy," he continued. "Work and raising four kids and spending too much time at the bar."
"Dad, you didn't-" Wendy began.
"I'm always making time for the boys, but never one-on-one time with you," Manly Dan said. A long pause of silence passed over the two. "It's been hard since your mother died." He looked over at his daughter who so closely resembled the very woman he spoke of. "I didn't think how hard it musta been for you."
Wendy lowered her head.
"She'd a been happy to be a grandma," Manly Dan said so softly Wendy barely heard.
His words surprised her judging by how he stormed over to the Valentino residence the previous night when news of Wendy's pregnancy reached his ears. It was only when Greg Valentino promised to handle the situation that Manly Dan calmed enough that they didn't have to fear for their lives.
Manly Dan straightened his posture and resumed his hardened stare. "But I meant what I said. You ain't goin' back to that Mystery Shack or hangin' with those Pines anymore. They're bad news."
Wendy sighed. She opened the door and closed it behind her, not saying a word to her father. Tomorrow he'd force her to look for another job around town. However, in a small town news of being a lousy worker on top of her recent arrest didn't offer many choices.
Manly Dan ordered her to get ready for bed and go straight to bed; Wendy didn't dare test him.
She snuggled under the familiar covers, grateful to not have to spend the night sleeping on a hard cot having to watch out for the others in the cell.
Her cell buzzed. Wendy flipped it open before her dad heard and remembered he hadn't confiscated her phone. It wasn't a number she recognized, but the urgency with an address caught her attention.
She listened with her ear against the wall as her dad settled in for bed. Her brothers were already all asleep, so she'd just have to wait for the opportune time. Her gaze fell back on the unknown number. It couldn't just be a coincidence.
Silence and darkness-nothing out of the ordinary for Ford Pines. Anyone else in his current condition would weaken under sensory deprivation, but he had thirty years of inter-dimensional weirdness to thank for training him.
He had once visited a dimension completely void of all light. A flashlight was required to maneuver through the caverns. The lesser creatures he encountered skittered away from the light. At first he believed it to be due to the fact they had never witnessed light, but soon discovered that the light attracted the more dangerous beings. It only took four times nearly being consumed until he finally doused the flashlight. From then on he was forced to move in total darkness until he moved into the next dimension.
What did concern him was Bill's safety. After an hour he reasoned with himself that at the very least they'd keep Bill alive until he confessed what they wanted. Immediately he was hit with a sinking feeling that at any moment they'd stumble upon the secret room and any bargain chips for Bill's well-being would be tossed away, leaving him to the mercy of Harrison and eventually government researchers.
In the meantime he could only beg for Bill to endure just a little longer.
However, he wondered if eventually they would change tactics and move onto Stan. With his history no one would question Stanley Pines dead at the hands of the feds. Surely they wouldn't stoop so low as to endanger the children. Ford felt his pinky finger where he knew the bond marks were tattooed onto the skin. How he wished that the bond worked in reverse.
He had tried to keep his thoughts busy by solving equations in his head. It passed the time, how much time he couldn't say. He had yet to feel any hunger. Just once he visited the toilet, using the wall to guide him. Based on that information alone he guessed about three hours at the most. How long did they intend to keep him in there? Powers said she'd give him a few hours, but perhaps hours could mean days, weeks, or even years.
Not to much longer was he left to contemplate his fate. The door opened and Ford stood to see a guard in the cracked doorway. Ford made his way over to the sliver of light and shielded his eyes as he stepped into the sudden brightness. As expected cold handcuffs clamped around both wrists. The guard took hold of his elbow and led him back to the interrogation room where Abigail Powers waited.
Just as before he sat in a hard chair and one of the handcuffs attached to the table leg. Powers smiled as she watched the guard leave. Her stare fell on Ford.
"Did you have enough time to think?" Abigail asked.
"About how I've done nothing you've accused me of, there's no evidence, along with your cruel tactics including use of torture, how long you'll be put away, oh yes, I did," Ford answered with a smirk.
Abigail's smile fell. "Don't try to play smart with me, Mr. Pines," she said. "We've found plenty on paranormal research."
"Which is not a crime, I may add," Ford countered.
"Perhaps not," Abigail said. She sat down in the chair across from Ford and folded her hands on the table. "But when you invite a dangerous creature into our world and use one of those illegal weapons to erase everyone's memories of him, and house that very danger in your own home to this day." Abigail held her arms open. "Well, that's a different story."
"Do you have any idea how ridiculous that story sounds?" Ford replied. He chuckled. "If you dare and tell that to the higher ups they'll only laugh at you."
"It's all in your journal, Mr. Pines," Abigail pressed.
"And what concrete evidence is that?" Ford argued. "How well will that hold up in court?"
"Alone, not much, but when they see Bill themselves and just how powerful he can be," Abigail returned.
Ford glowered. "You never had any intention of letting him go," he snapped.
Abigail grinned. "No, Mr. Pines, I didn't." She stood. "And as for torture, I already made it clear human rights don't apply to someone who's not human."
Ford also stood, the handcuffs forced him to hunch.
"Besides," Abigail said with a laugh. She picked up the folder that contained copies of Ford's journal. "After everything he's ever done." She skimmed through some of the pages. "After he destroyed his home world, tricked you and countless others, tried to destroy our world..." She slapped the folder shut. "Don't you think he's finally getting what he deserves?"
Ford's eyes burned into her.
"He's caused so much pain and suffering, its high time he experienced some himself," the agent questioned.
Again Ford only stared.
Abigail opened up to the section of the journal that detailed Ford's battle with Bill before he was yanked away back to his own dimension. She shook her head.
"You said so yourself this was for the best of the multiverse," Abigail said the back of her fingers slapping the page. Her eyes landed on Ford. "So what difference does it make now?"
"He's not...he's not dangerous anymore," Ford answered.
Abigail grinned. "Then you confirm that everything written in this journal is true?"
Ford grimaced at how she tricked him. He put his hands on the table and turned away, pleading the fifth.
"No matter, once we find those weapons we'll have all we need to lock you up," Abigail taunted. She put a hand on her hip. "But if you tell me I can at least make sure it won't be forever."
"And Bill?" Ford asked.
"The researchers will love their new specimen," Abigail answered. "Of course in order to be beneficial to us, we'll need to keep him within ten miles of you." She stared down at the folder. "Then again, if we can recreate that bonding spell, perhaps Bill won't be so critical after all."
"I wouldn't recommend it, there are too many risks, " warned Ford. "I don't know much about it, it's only a fluke that it worked."
Abigail opened her mouth to speak when an urgent knock rapped at the door. She swiftly turned and made her way outside leaving Ford alone with his own thoughts again.
He stared down at the handcuff that kept him restrained to the table. A quick pull proved that they used a stronger set this time. He glanced up at the clock on the wall just to the above right of the door to see the time read seven minutes to midnight.
"Dr. Powers!" the younger agent cried. "I just received word that Mabel and Mason Pines escaped from child services."
"What?" Abigail hissed. She glowered at the other woman. "How?"
"I-I don't know, ma'am," the younger agent replied. "They're-they're checking the tapes now."
The redhead looked back at the old man who sat at the table awaiting her return. She ordered to the agent, "Have a team out scouting for them now. There's a list of friends and relations. When they're found, bring them straight to me."
Ford looked up when the woman entered the room. The door shut behind her before she approached the suspect.
"Enough playtime, Stanford, where are you keeping those weapons?" Abigail barked.
Mabel and Dipper joined the others at the table. The twins still felt uneasy being in the house of Gideon Gleeful, but at the moment, they didn't have a choice.
Mabel sat with her brother on her left and Candy on her right. Dipper sat with Mabel on his left and Fiddleford on his right.
"Thanks for helping," Dipper said to McGucket.
"I wish it was so," the old man replied. "Turns out 'cause Imma connected with yer uncle's work, they wants to come an' arrest me too. Gideon..." he nodded at the boy who whispered something to Ghost Eyes then took his seat. "let me stay here. Says this'll be the last place they come a lookin'."
Ghost Eyes sat down next to Gideon. He looked at the child then back out at the rest of the group who consisted of: himself, Gideon Gleeful, the Pines twins, Candy Chiu, Grenda, Pacifica Northwest, Robbie Valentino, Tambry, Lee, and Fiddleford McGucket. He shook his head, somewhat angry that he had believed a lie for so long.
The door opened to reveal the rest of their party: Thompson with Charlotte, followed closely by Nate and Torrence. Mabel and Candy lit up at the presence of the youngest newcomer. Torrence smiled at the girls then gave them a wink that made them both blush.
"Alright, everyone, listen up," Gideon called out to the group. "Stanley and Stanford Pines have been arrested."
"What's new about that?" Lee asked.
"Shut up," Tambry hissed and kicked her friend's shin under the table.
Gideon ignored the comment and continued, "So has some others involved, and Dipper and Mabel just barely escaped."
"Wow, so cool," Torrence said and tossed the silver fringe which gave Mabel a reason to smile despite the circumstances.
The twins looked over first at Pacifica who had arranged their escape and then at Robbie who carried it out. Dipper narrowed his eyes, still not sure why the older teen even offered to help. Then lastly at Gideon who organized the whole meeting and devised a plan on such short notice.
"The police are under that woman Avery's control, so it ain't no use goin' to 'em anyway," Gideon said.
"They wouldn't believe us if we did," Pacifica replied.
Gideon noticed murmuring among the group. With a sigh Gideon said, "I think it's important I tell everyone the truth about last summer."
"Whoa! I-I don't think that's necessary," Mabel said as she jumped up from her seat.
"You got a better way to explain what's goin' on?" Gideon countered.
Mabel lowered her head when she didn't.
"I think I should be the one to explain," Dipper offered. Mabel pleaded for Dipper not to say anything to endanger the grunkles or Bill. Dipper assured her he'd only say what was needed for the time being. The brunet looked out at the others. "But first I need everyone to promise what's said here will stay here."
Dipper made sure to get a firm nod from everyone present in the room. He locked eyes with Robbie for a moment and almost asked him to leave as he knew the older boy would use it to blackmail him later. Mabel nudged her brother in the side.
He shut his eyes then began, "Look, I know this is going to sound crazy." He put his arms behind his back. "But my Grunkle Ford built this portal that can go to other dimensions." He opened one eye to see half the group staring at him in disbelief and the others eager to hear more. "Just to keep it simple, Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford fought and Grunkle Ford got sent into the portal."
"Whoa, is that for real?" Lee gasped.
"That must be what he's hiding in that secret basement," Nate said.
Lee and Tambry nodded.
"What secret basement?" Thompson asked.
"Later," Dipper said. He continued, "When Grunkle Stan opened the portal to bring Grunkle Ford back, well, some government agents found out and we had to erase their memories to keep Stan from being locked up and having everything taken away."
"How'd you do that?" Robbie asked.
"With, um...with..." Dipper lowered his head.
"With a memory erasin' gun I made thirty years ago," Fiddleford intervened. Dipper looked up to see the old man stood atop the table despite Gideon's orders for him to get down. He held his hands against his temples. "If they ever find that thing I know fer sure they gonna' lock me up for the rest'a my life."
"We won't let that happen," came a voice from behind. Everyone turned to see the red-haired teen standing against the doorway with her arms crossed. "Sorry I'm late, I had to wait 'til my dad went to bed. Then I had to bribe David not to tell him where I was going." She shoved her hands into her pocket. "Don't know where I'm gonna get thirty bucks a week without my job."
"Wendy!" the other teens cheered.
"What's it like in the slammer?" Nate asked.
"Did they make you do anything weird?" Lee added.
"Shut up and give her some room," Charlotte demanded.
"Nah, I was just there 'til my dad came to bail me out, nothin' much, just boring," Wendy answered with a shrug.
She looked up to see Robbie standing in front of her. He averted his gaze and rubbed at the back of his head.
"Look, Wendy about-uh, about lately," Robbie said. "Mabye I was, you know, a real jerk, and..."
"Yeah, you were," Wendy said and crossed her arms. "We we'll get to that later." She nodded for Dipper to continue.
"Well, they now found out about the portal," Dipper said. Thanks to me, he added in his mind. He swallowed self-pity as it was not the time for it. "So now they have Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford locked up."
"And Bill," Mabel added.
Wendy shook her head. "Bill's not there," she said.
"What?" Mabel cried. She looked over at her friends who watched him get arrested and transported away. "Then, where? Where is he?"
"Don't know, but they also kept Ford in a different cell," Wendy revealed.
Mabel clutched her brother's sleeve. "Dipper, you don't-you don't think they're gonna hurt Bill, do you?" Dipper's silence caused her to tear up.
"Sweet Sally, if they know what he is, then they might either take 'im out, cut 'im up, or use 'im fer exper'ments," cried Fiddleford.
Mabel gasped.
"They know," Dipper said and cringed at the sound of his sister's sobs, although he knew he deserved it. Again Dipper felt like punching himself in the face for ever letting that woman get her hands on the journal.
"Wait, so what is Bill?" Lee asked.
Dipper sighed. He looked over at Gideon who grinned for him to tell. He then took a quick glimpse at Mabel who wept into her hands. The boy thought and found a middle ground answer. "Let's just say he's one of those creatures from another dimension."
Gideon frowned. He looked at the others who whispered, yet eventually accepted the answer as good enough for the moment.
"Ha, I knew it," Robbie cheered.
The others ignored the dark-haired teen.
Gideon thought for a moment then said, "If Bill is in a different location, we'll need to find him." He tapped his chubby chin. "That's gonna change some things, but we got the manpower."
"Well, whatever we do, we'll have to move quickly," Wendy said.
"Yes," Dipper said. He looked to their host. "So what do you have planned?"
"It depends, you still got that flashlight?" Gideon asked.
Dipper reached into his pocket to find it empty. "It's at the Mystery Shack." As an afterthought he added, "But it's probably for the better since they couldn't take it at the home."
"We'll need to retrieve it," Gideon said. "Now about Bill." He turned to Mabel. "You still on good terms with the gnomes?"
Mabel opened her mouth then shut it. "I don't know," she said and wiped away the tears. "I'm not on bad terms with them."
"That's enough to go on," said Gideon. He scratched his chin. "The Shack'll be heavily guarded. We'll need a way in."
"My grappling hook was destroyed at the carnival," Mabel lamented.
"I can take a few out," Wendy offered.
"Yeah, and I can help," Grenda seconded.
"Too risky," Gideon argued. "This whole plan will only work if they don't know we're onto them."
Dipper thought. He snapped his fingers and yelled, "They're looking for us!" He turned to the group. "Maybe if we use decoys, we can lure the agents away..."
"And we'll be free to search the room," Mabel finished.
"Good idea," said Gideon. He nodded to Tambry. "I'll need your help." He then surveyed the group and selected Torrence. He looked between Pacifica and Candy. "Hmm, I think you're better suited for Mabel," he said to the blonde.
"Please don't insult me like that," Pacifica groaned.
Candy's arm shot up. "I can play the part of Mabel," she volunteered.
Torrence stepped up beside her and the two smiled at each other.
"Ghost Eyes will fill the rest of you in," Gideon said. He beckoned Torrence, Candy, and Tambry to follow him to his trailer. He suddenly stopped causing the others to bump into him. The youngest looked back at Lee. "You got those brownies?"
Nate walked over to where he had put the tray of special treats. He picked them up and said to Gideon, "Dude, I like you're chill an' all, but this don't seem like the best time to be gettin' baked."
Gideon grinned. With a dark chuckle he said, "Oh, it ain't for us."
Ford looked up at the clock then back at the woman. He pondered the sudden change of tactics. They had a little more than a day left to search the shack, so clearly something had happened that required a speedy confession.
Ford looked ahead at the glass window, but couldn't see more than shadowy outlines. Slowly his gaze returned to the redhead who bent over to pick up the folder lying on the wooden table.
"Still being stubborn," Abigail hissed. She flipped through a few pages then stopped, "'Fear the best with just one eye.'" She then surveyed the illustration of Bill's true form. With a hummed she asked, "Fiddleford said that?"
"Is that what it says?" Ford replied. "It's been a while since I read that page."
"You have it in quotations marked with F," Abigail answered. She smirked at the captive. "About now I bet you wished you hadn't accidentally written out his full name." She shrugged. "Perhaps it was a mistake."
Ford grimaced. Looking back he couldn't remember accidentally writing Fiddleford's name out. However, that had been during a moment of high stress for them both, and there was the possibility that Bill had been the one behind the pen.
"The beast with just one eye," Abigail repeated. She grinned down at the sketch of a top hat wearing triangle with a single eye. "Hard to believe something that looks so cute and innocent could be a horrible monster." She peered over the folder. "Well, if that's his most defining characteristic, why change it now?"
Ford watched her pull out an iPad and press the button for video chat. A few seconds later the grinning face of Harrison greeted them both. Ford heard muffled groaning in the background and hot anger pulsed through his blood.
"Have the doctors arrived yet?" Abigail asked.
"No, not yet, they're running late, as usual," Harrison complained.
Abigail glanced over at Ford then said to Harrison, "Nevermind. You don't need a doctor for this one." She grinned at Ford which made his stomach swell. "Take the eye," she ordered. "The right one."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Ford shouted. He stood and reached for the woman, only for the handcuffs to pull and knock him down. Ford's forehead smacked against the tiled floor. He hissed in pain as he rolled onto his back and gripped at the bruising flesh.
Abigail's half-inch pump stepped on Ford's stomach. The shackled man looked up with his arm in the air from where the other cuff circled. He pulled at the restraint; metal screeched against metal.
"And let me remind you Aaron isn't using any anesthesia," Abigail taunted. She turned her attention to the video and watched Harrison pick up the scalpel. She ordered the other agent to stop then said to Ford. "You have five seconds before he starts cutting." She leaned closer. "Where are the weapons?"
He coughed away the bit of saliva that got caught in his windpipe then hoarsely said, "You heartless bitch."
"As soon as I give the order," Abigail taunted.
He pulled at the chain to no avail. "He's done nothing to you!"
"Consider it payback," Abigail hissed.
"Payback? For-for what?" Ford asked.
Abigail stomped on his stomach. Ford gasped and she stomped again. Abigail's mouth formed into a grin at the sound of him coughing.
"For you and your brother nearly ending the world with your portal!" she shouted. "And erasing my husband's mind and costing him everything!"
Abigail heavily breathed. Ford stared into the gates of Hell through those green eyes.
Ford's eyes narrowed. "Is that what all this is about?" he asked.
Abigail laughed. "Oh yes," she said.
Ford glanced up at the clock. Only five minutes until midnight.
She took her foot off Ford and stepped away. Ford gripped at his stomach with his left hand and with the right one grabbed the table leg to help him sit up.
"You don't know how happy I was at first," Abigail began. "When the head of his department suggested that he and Agent Trigger resign." Abigail flipped her braid. "So many years he put his job first and obsessed over the Pines case. I was always put last."
Ford watched the woman pace the floor. He eyed the forgotten iPad on the table then back at the agent. Thus far he heard no screaming and put everything in a wager that Harrison would wait until given the order.
"Well then you should've been happy. He only had you left," said Ford. He had to keep Abigail talking.
"Should've," Abigail replied. She looked away. "He became depressed. Without his life's work he devoted all his time and energy to, he didn't know who he was anymore." She clutched at her arms. "It was like talking to a shell, a corpse. No life behind those eyes."
Abigail gritted her teeth and her nails dug into the skin beneath the cloth as she thought of how their few conversations gradually dwindled to none. How he soon turned to drink. Then one day she received a phone call confirming Albert's appointment with a lawyer to discuss his will. That very day she removed every firearm and medication from their house just as a precaution.
"No other department would take him," Abigail said. "My checks alone didn't cover the expenses. We were forced to move." She laughed which caught Ford off guard. Both hands on hips she asked, "And what town did I suggest we move to?"
"Gravity Falls," Ford said softly.
"Correct," the redhead said with a laugh. "I was barred from using the federal resources, but on my own time, I could conduct my own investigation." She placed her hands on her hips and leaned closer to the old man. "So with only this town and your family name I did just that."
So much anger housed in those green eyes. Ford took a quick glimpse at the iPad then returned his attention to the woman.
"And how lucky that the day I was at the hospital for Albert's blood pressure test that I came across a Bill Cipher who nearly lost a finger in a lab accident. And who's name was connected to the paperwork...?"
"Mine," Ford answered. Abigail smiled. Ford hummed then asked, "So that's when you came up with the rouse of a social worker?"
"I was a social worker at one point," Abigail replied. She stepped away from the table and pushed her braid behind her back. "But soon got bored and decided to go for a different type of employment."
"So that's how you made your act so convincing," said Ford. He chuckled. "I have to give it to you, despite every horrible thing you've done, you put so much effort into your investigation."
"From crooks like you and your brother that's a compliment," Abigail replied.
"So how did you find out about the...my research...um, Bill?"
"That wasn't the plan," Abigail revealed. "I originally intended to get you on abuse and have you and your brother put away, but then I came in contact with a little boy who knew a little more on this Bill Cipher. What he had to say blew my mind."
Ford cringed at the mention of Gideon. If he ever got out of this predicament he'd make sure Gideon never stepped within fifty feet of him, his family, or their home. Better yet he might figure out a way to force the Gleefuls to move to the other side of the country.
"So then I just needed proof and I'd not only have you put away, but prove Albert was right all along. Two birds with one stone," Abigail finished. She crossed her arms. "And how happy he'll be to be back in his place." She picked up the iPad. "Now is your last chance."
She turned the screen so Ford could see.
Harrison grinned as he leaned over Bill with the scalpel in hand. The volume on his computer was at full volume so everyone in the soundproof room could hear Ford and Abigail's conversation. Bill looked up at the screen to take one final look at his boyfriend before half his sight was taken.
Harrison waved the sharp instrument in Bill's face. He laid back and swallowed the thick saliva that coated his throat. He gave the agent a smile and hoped his eyes didn't betray him. He wouldn't beg, he wouldn't be labeled a coward.
Abigail shut her eyes and shook her head. "Time's up, Stanford."
Ford's heart skipped.
She said to Harrison, "Do it."
Harrison gripped the left side of Bill's face. He lowered the scalpel towards the eye. Despite his efforts not to, Bill shrunk away. He whimpered as the blade moved closer. Harrison's trimmed whiskers brushed against Bill's cheek and the blond felt the other man's hot laughter on his ear.
Bill looked straight ahead. His heart pounded, silently screaming for Ford to rescue him. He then smiled sadly, not about to let that stranger steal his dignity too.
Ford tensed as the medical instrument closed in on Bill's face. He turned away.
Bill yelled when the blade made contact with the sensitive tissue. Were it not for the straps keeping him still the scalpel would have slit the eyeball entirely.
"Yes, scream," Harrison whispered. He then dug in deeper.
Bill fought to scream, but he saw his vision slowly blur. Whether it was due to tears or a failing eye he couldn't say.
"Sixer!" he wailed.
Ford's heart burned.
Tears soon mixed with the crimson liquid. It all stung. All he could think was why wouldn't Ford help him?
Harrison stepped away from his victim and smiled at the screen. "Temporarily blinded," he said and took a quick glimpse back at the man strapped to the bed. He returned his gaze to the man in the interrogation room. "One more cut, just a bit deeper should permanently blind him." He held up the bloody instrument to give Ford a good look.
"Ready to talk?" Abigail asked.
"I hate you," Ford whispered.
Abigail knelt down in front of the gray-haired man. "The feeling's mutual."
"He's defenseless," Ford retorted.
"And what about Albert?" Abigail asked. "He did nothing wrong. Only his job." She gripped Ford's sweater collar. "You and your brother were the ones who did wrong and my husband was the one punished for it!" She pressed her nose and forehead against Ford's. "Now can you look me in the eyes and tell me that's fair?"
Ford only stared.
Abigail stood. She straightened her slacks and vest then pushed her braid behind her back.
"Finish it," she said.
"Gladly," Harrison replied with a laugh.
The scalpel hovered over Bill's eye. The agent teased Bill letting the tiny blade rock back and forth. His grin widened and lowered the scalpel. Bill yelped when it pressed against the already tender flesh.
Ford shut his eyes. He made a promise that when he was released he'd help Bill recover the section on regeneration from his locked Mindscape. Still the screams filled his ears.
"Please stop," Ford whispered.
"Tell me where the weapons are," Abigail said.
Ford looked down.
"Suit yourself," Abigail replied.
The scalpel dropped into the medical tray upon the deed's completion, splattering droplets of scarlet along the steel. Bill gasped, but his throat made no noise. No longer could he see out of his right eye. All he felt was pain and a sticky wet substance dripped down his face.
Ford held his hand over his face. He bit down on his lip to keep his emotions inside that threatened to spill in a mixture of sobs and vomit. Again he failed his promise. The tears threatened to come, but he wouldn't, not in front of that woman.
"That's only a taste of what Harrison will do," Abigail said from where she stood above him. Ford glared in her direction. "So if I were you, I'd talk."
"You'll never get a word out of me," Ford growled. How he wished for her just to get a little closer and he'd show her some of the techniques he learned in other dimensions.
Bill listened to his boyfriend's declaration. He inhaled slowly while the pain seized him again. Ford would not break for anyone or anything.
"So there's nothing to make you talk," Abigail said with a shake of her head.
Ford didn't respond.
She chuckled then added, "You know the children escaped."
Ford started.
Abigail grinned, "I've got units out looking for them. What if they were to suddenly go missing?"
"You wouldn't dare," Ford growled.
"They'll spend years looking for them, all the while Mabel and Mason will be locked away in a private cell in D.C.," Abigail said. "A cold case and eventually forgotten to the world." She stared down at Ford. "Of course you and Stanley will be blamed and charged for their disappearance."
"You can't!" Ford yelled. He jumped to his feet.
Ready this time, Abigail backed away. The chain proved its strength as Ford fought against it with no luck. Ford continued to stare.
"Children who helped conceal a conspiracy," Abigail retorted. "Children who helped to erase government agents' minds." She tilted her head to the side. "Children who will be concealed away in a solitary unit where they will stay for the rest of their lives. And no one other than the two of us will ever know the truth."
"You bluff," Ford snapped.
Abigail's grin widened. "Can you afford to take that gamble?"
Ford stared into her eyes, no detection of a lie. However he had been tricked by a great actor in the past. However, the children had done nothing to deserve her wrath.
Ford shut his eyes. "Fine," he said.
Bill heard Ford's voice well.
"I knew you'd see reason at some point," Abigail gloated. "So let's have it." She knelt down next to Ford. "Where are they?"
Ford looked up. He sniffed then glared at the woman. "Before I say anything, I want in writing with witnesses and notorized that Mabel and Mason Pines, Stanley Pines, Soos Ramirez, and Wendy Corduroy will all go free."
Bill listened. He waited to hear his name, but instead only silence after Wendy's. Shortly after his ears picked up Abigail's voice.
"Very well, I'll see it done," Abigail stated. Once she found the memory gun none of the others would even remember they ever had a great-uncle Ford.
"And Bill-" Ford said.
Bill's heart filled with hope at the final mention of his name.
"He belongs to the government now," Abigail interrupted.
Ford hardened his glare. "I want it promised that he will not be hurt."
"Very well," Abigail agreed. "I'll see it done."
Bill turned his face away from the screen.
Harrison laughed and turned off the monitor. "How do you like that? He didn't even fight for you." He lifted Bill's face, the demon flinched at the sudden pain in his eye. "He must love you so much."
Bill spit in Harrison's face. The agent grabbed the scalpel and shoved it in Bill's chest. The demon laughed. Harrison backed away and tilted his head to the side.
Bill turned his face to the left and laughed louder. Blood from his injured eye poured into the good one. He licked up the bit that dripped onto his lips then laughed with the red staining his teeth.
"Fascinating," Harrison said.
"Aaron, you made a mess of things again," one of the doctors said as he approached and slid on laytex gloves. The doctor turned Bill's face then shook his head. "We don't want a specimen this valuable to die of infection."
The other two doctors surrounded Bill while the first set to repair his no longer functioning eye. Bill didn't care, he lived with only one eye for millions of years, this would be no different.
His original thoughts were only half correct. Ford would not break...for him.
The next chapter will include the rescue plan. Will it succeed? That's a different story.
The part about Fiddleford's name accidentally being in the journal, is something I noticed after reading through Journal 3 on a secondary reading. Most of the time he is referred to as F, but at one point Fiddleford is written out. Was it a mistake, or intentional, I don't know, but I decided to include that little detail in this story.