So, these past two months have been hectic. I did get to visit my grandfather before before he eventually passed in November. It was expected, stage four cancer, so there was nothing that could be done. There was a memorial service held for him that we traveled to another state to attend. The day after the service I had tooth surgery and was out the next day due to medicine making me dizzy and drowsy. Then all the craziness at wok, one co-worker being absent a lot due to school practicum and another going into labor and on maternity leave required the rest of us to put in extra hours. That's okay with me, it just means a bigger paycheck with all that overtime. I was sick all during Thanksgiving break (it never fails, each year either Christmas or Thanksgiving). The Renaissance fair, three holiday parties (two of which I didn't even want to attend), the Christmas play at my work in which I was the assistant director, and making more garments for cosplay and holiday reasons. I just wish life could slow down and just stop for a moment. Like that country song, "Make the world go away." Just for a moment, just slow down.
Anyway after waiting for two months here is the next chapter. This is my Christmas present to all of you.
I feel like I should share that the only episode of Gravity Falls I don't like is "Little Gift Shop of Horrors." I know a lot of people like it, but I don't. The only segment I did like is the one with the handwitch. I had a request a long time ago, I don't even remember from who to bring her into the story. Therefore she will make her Bonded debut appearance in this chapter. Her one episode and brief mention in Journal 3 doesn't give much info on her (neither does the wiki), so that gave me lots of creative room as far as she is concerned.
So as a recap, in the last chapter Bill was rescued, Abigail Powers arrested, and the Pines while safe are unsure of their fate. Bill also had a breakdown which resulted in Ford having to choke him out.
Thank you to the following people for your reviews of chapter thirty six: Energy witch, Berrybanana05, Fantasy Fan 223, Marisol777, Frostbite, Guest, Abigail Rose, Kenn, formerEMObillc, MillionLights101, eyes-glued-shut, potatozyay454, Someone, and Guest. I apologize for the long wait, but thanks for your reviews, and I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
A scream woke Stan from his shallow slumber. He rolled off the stiff couch with the cheap fleece blanket tangled around his bare ankles. The elderly man grasped his glasses and threw them on his face when his ears picked up the sounds of muffled distress across the room.
Soos and Dipper also woke, the former turned on the lamp next to the armchair he had chosen as his makeshift bed. They would not be allowed back into the Mystery Shack until the agents cleared out Project Mentem and anything else they felt would be a threat to humanity. The Pines family and Soos were granted permission to lodge in Sheriff Blubbs' office for the night.
The three stared over at Mabel whose tiny hands gripped the beige blanket wrapped around her like a burrito.
"Get off!" the brunette pleaded to the villain behind her eyes.
Stan kicked the blanket from his feet and rushed over to the girl. He shook her gently and called her name. Mabel's hands rose to her neck and bit down on her lip. It was at that moment Stan realized she held her lungs captive.
"Mabel! Mabel, honey, breathe," Stan commanded as he shook her roughly, nearly tossing her to the tiled floor below.
Hazel eyes opened immediately and the teenager inhaled a lungfull of fresh oxygen. Her gaze darted around the room until it landed on the familiar wrinkly face of her great-uncle. She touched her throat that now sported a few red marks due to her recent unconscious assault.
"Grunk-grunkle Stan," Mabel choked out before bursting into full sobs.
Stan took the weeping girl into his arms and shushed her while gently petting her hair. Mabel clung to her relative as she tried to rid her mind of Aaron Thalen's arm around her neck and knife against her face. The recently bandaged wound on her cheek stung as she recalled the event not even a day past.
Stan tightened his hold on the girl. Had Bill not already made Thalen a resident of the Gravity Falls morgue he'd take pleasure in ripping that man apart himself.
Dipper watched his grunkle calm his sister's sobs to quieter tears. Mabel refused to let go. The boy tore his eyes away from the sight. How he wished he still had access to the time tape, he'd go back to the day he met Abigail in disguise. He pulled his fingers into a tight fist as he silently berated himself for being so stupid.
Eventually Stan managed to calm Mabel back into sleep. He laid the unconscious girl back on the couch that had two hours ago been in the break room then covered her with another thin and cheap blanket. He turned to see Dipper staring off into space.
"Get some sleep, you had enough excitement for one day," Stan said to both Dipper and Soos.
Soos nodded then shut off the lamp, an action Dipper felt most grateful for. He laid back down on the bed he made out of blankets and chair cushions. A quick glimpse over at where Mabel slept and another pain stabbed in his heart. He turned over on his side and tried to ignore the unsteady breathing in the room, although deep down he knew he deserved it.
Stan opened the door and stepped out for a moment. He crossed over to the bathroom, but took a good look at the darkened area of the holding cells where he had spent plenty of nights in his lifetime. A moment later he left the men's room to see an officer standing in front of Blubbs' office with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Got another one of those?" Stan asked as he approached the policewoman he had met with on several occasions in the past.
"Help yourself," Officer Gregory said and pointed to the break room with her pinky finger.
It didn't take long, Stan preferred his caffeine black. The two stepped outside where they were met with the bitter evening chill.
Gregory-a tall, slim African American woman just shy of her thirty sixth birthday sat down on the top step while Stan leaned against the wall. The cop lit a cigarette and handed it over to the conman who thanked her with a nod. It had been a while since he last indulged in tobacco, but with a shrug decided it was less likely to kill him than anything else in that town.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, puffing cancer sticks and sipping their coffee with the soft wind acting as background music.
"I take it you don't plan to get much sleep," Gregory said as she tapped ashes from her cigarette. She brought the filter back to her chapped lips. "Though after what happened tonight, I don't blame you."
"Trust me, honey, I've seen a lot worse," Stan replied.
Gregory nodded with a short hum. She heard the town rumors and thought she witnessed a few strange things on more occasions than comfortable, but never had proof until now.
The old man gulped down the remainder of his coffee then sat the empty styrofoam cup on the cement railing. "It's a shame what happened to Daryl."
Gregory nodded. "He's going to be out for at least a week, and Edwin won't leave his side." She snubbed out the cigarette against the concrete step then tossed the mashed butt into the ashcan. "I'll be filling in." She stood and wiped a few ashes from her pant leg. "And things are gonna be crazy for a while."
"Well if it's any consolation, you're the only one on this whole damn force who's got any sense," Stan said.
Gregory smiled. "Coming from you that's quite the compliment," she said. Her hand reached for the doorhandle. She stopped then looked over her shoulder. "Your brother's journal is in evidence. I might've accidentally left the key by the coffee pot, and you might decide to get a second cup."
Stan smirked just as Gregory slipped through the entrance. He picked up the cup and figured he wouldn't catch any more sleep anyway.
Meanwhile in the mountains an elderly lady jolted awake. She slowly sat up while the remnants of the recent vision of flames and screams fled her memory. She laid back down and wrapped the blankets tighter around her person, hoping that the images of charred bodies and those barely alive begging for help and or death wouldn't keep her from finding rest.
Forty minutes passed with Handrina tossing about her bed in a futile attempt to find slumber. There was no ridding her mind of the faces of those she barely knew from town, but no doubt she had witnessed those very faces smiling as they went about their lives oblivious of the danger that surrounded them on the regular. Those pleading eyes plagued her each time she shut her own.
Realizing she'd receive no more rest that night, Handrina rose from her bed in hopes warm tea would at least alleviate the growing concern in her chest. It took little time for the enchanted hands to brew her a cup of chamomile with just a dash of honey. A disembodied hand offered the witch the cup which she graciously accepted.
She stepped towards the entrance of her cave with the cup and saucer in hand. Staring up at the moon she slowly sipped down the warm liquid, yet it did little to reduce the growing worry in her heart. For some reason that man she had met at the carnival over thirty years ago wouldn't leave her mind: Pines, and not the stingy twin she had met the summer prior.
Knowing the concern wouldn't dwindle until she searched for the cause, Handrina gave up any hope of catching another wave of sleep that night and sat down at her table. Two hands lit up the triple candelabrum made entirely of other rotting hands. The witch stretched her fingers around the crystal ball, the same one she used to search Ford's future all those decades ago.
Heavy eyelids met transcending her into a black void, nonetheless, she felt a wicked presence lurking. A laugh so silent she barely missed it. Gradually it grew until the cackling rang in her ears.
Handrina's eyes flew open and in the center of the crystal ball she saw the shape of a rhombus. Four appendages she assumed to be arms and legs protruded from its flattened shape. The creature erupted into flames, but the same laugh held strong. The same screams she heard in her nightmare returned along with the vapid growth of fire. The town of Gravity Falls crumbled until nothing was left but ash and smoke while the rhombus along with a party of other creatures cackled at the vast suffering. On the rhomubs' command the other monsters leaped into action-unleashing various tortures on the civilians.
She waved her hand over the crystal to see the town burning in the background, but standing in front of its entrance were two men. The one on the left she knew instantly to be Stanford Pines. The one to his right she didn't recognize the face, but something about his aura seemed familiar. Their hands clasped she noticed a gold glowing on the left pinky fingers of each. The glowing grew within the orb until its light became too much for Handrina to handle.
The witch waved her hand and the images vanished from the crystal. She stared at her own reflection for a moment before deciding to make her way back to town. Perhaps it was time for an overdue visit with a certain Stanford Pines.
Elsewhere someone had watched the witch's very vision. His blank eyes spun until the eights returned to the center. He sharply turned to present the message to his leader with the knowledge Kryptos would not be happy.
Sure enough the leader of the henchmaniacs was less than pleased. He turned to their captive who averted all seven of her eyes.
How delighted he had been when they arrived at Dimension 52 where a supposed oracle dwelt. She had sensed their arrival and fled. However it didn't take long for Kryptos to track her down.
Jheselbraum hid herself in a secret cellar beneath the palace. The oracle held her breath while the demons stormed through her home. Without setting eyes on them she knew these were the very people who plagued Ford. She had hoped he and Stan defeated Bill, but now she feared her premonition had been wrong. Pyronica busted into the room. Using an illusion she was able to escape the female demon, only to be cornered by yet another.
Jheselbraum had made the mistake of looking Xanthar in his blank face. The images caught by each of her eyes left her paralyzed and with little effort Pyronica slung the oracle over her shoulder.
"We'll take this place as our own for now," Kyrptos declared which caused the others to cheer.
Jheselbraum was placed within a force field cage in the center of her own home. It didn't take long for Pacifier to find a painting documenting Jheselbraum's acquaintance with Stanford Pines. Pacifier handed over the item, which Kryptos gripped tightly in an attempt to destroy it. He stopped himself and grinned down at the picture. With a quick glimpse at the unconscious oracle he figured perhaps she could be more use to him than he thought.
Unfortunately for Kryptos the oracle proved herself resilient to each torture those in his group could think of. Neither bribe nor threat would seduce her to open a portal to Ford's dimension.
"Did you send her that vision?" Kryptos asked.
Jheselbraum remained silent.
"Bravery is overrated," Kryptos snorted. He sat down in front of the cage and with a wave of his hand the bars vanished. However the energy chains that bound Jheselbraum's wrists and ankles stayed in place. "You're only delaying the inevitable."
"Stanford has outsmarted you before, and he will do it again," the female replied, not looking at Kryptos.
"That's because Bill made a fatal error," Kryptos retorted.
Jheselbraum took a quick glance at the demon then tore her gaze away. "I'm not one to praise Cipher, for he is a monster who has brought pain and suffering to many, but I will give him this, he is the one to be feared." All seven eyes glared at the rhombus. "You're nothing but a second-rate version of Bill. If Stanford stopped Bill, you don't stand a chance."
Kryptos growled and slapped the woman across the face.
"Pyronica!" Kryptos yelled. The mention stepped forward. Kryptos took a deep breath and let the anger subside. "Pryonica, my dear, we can't let this human interfere where she's not wanted." He smirked at Jheselbraum who again sat up straight.
Pyronica grinned then hurried off to fulfil her task.
Jheslebraum frowned. Handrina, it's imperative you give Ford this warning. They won't fall for the same trick twice. This time it has to be permanent.
A few minutes after eight the Pines family entered the hospital room accompanied by the mayor and Officer Gregory. Ford offered his family a half smile then returned his attention to Bill who still slept soundly.
After the incident the previous night Bill hadn't once stirred. Ford slept for maybe a half an hour at a time throughout the night, but too much plagued his mind. He couldn't even be sure if the two of them would still have their freedom before the day was out.
A nurse showed up two hours ago asking about the smear of blood on the floor. Ford explained that Bill had vomited twice then spewed blood before passing out. Luckily she didn't ask to see the bottom of Ford's boot lest she she crimson stains from where he ran his sole over Bill's drawings. Even more in his favor the hospital didn't have cameras in the room.
Gregory and Cutebiker exchanged glances. The mayor announced their leave to go check on Sheriff Blubs for a moment as the two stepped out. The door shut behind them allowing the Pines and Soos their privacy.
"Is he okay?" Mabel asked.
Ford noticed the bandage on his niece's cheek, but at the moment decided not to ask.
"He's just sleeping," Ford answered and ruffled the girl's hair.
Mabel nodded then threw herself in the chair closest to Bill's bed.
"How are you doing?" Stan asked in a low voice as Dipper and Soos joined the girl.
"I don't know," Ford said not bothering to hide the exhaustion in his voice. "I have so many questions, there's so much that needs to be done, and I'm stuck here unable to do anything." He glanced over in Bill's direction. Soos fluffed the pillow for the unconscious man while Mabel considered painting his nails. "Bill had a meltdown last night. Worse than anytime before."
Stan grunted then replied, "Can you really blame him?"
Guilt seized Ford's heart.
"Look, there was nothin' you could do," Stan said having noticed the change in his brother's expression.
"There was plenty I could do," Ford retorted. He folded his hands behind his back. "Bill knows it too." Ford turned away from his twin.
He punched the wall capturing the attention of the others in the room. Stan put a hand on Ford's shoulder who shrugged him off. The other three sat quietly, only glancing at the other two to find them equally stunned.
"I promised to protect him and I couldn't," Ford said. He shook his head then corrected himself, "No, I didn't." Ford stopped a sob halfway in his throat and swallowed it back down. He blinked back the tears. "I overestimated him. I thought he could handle what he couldn't." He lowered his head and said in a soft voice, "I may have lost him this time for good."
"Look, why don't you go take a break for a little, we can watch over him," Stan said.
"Negative," Ford replied. "If he wakes up he may be unstable."
"Stanford, if he tries I'll knock him back out cold," Stan said with hands on his hips.
"No," Ford protested with a shake of his head. "I'm not taking any chances."
"You look ready to pass out any second yourself," Stan retorted. "This worryin' ain't gonna help no one." With one arm he pushed the resisting Ford towards the door. "Now either you get some air, or I'm gonna knock you out instead."
Ford sighed when he heard the door shut behind him. The four behind the door chattered, although their voices to muffled for Ford to pick out any words, even if he had the energy.
For half an hour Ford heeded to his brother's demand disguised as a request. Believing thirty minutes long enough to satisfy his twin he returned to Bill's room with a near empty bottle of orange juice in hand. Stan and Soos looked up from their conversation. From the crumbs on Ford's sweater Stan assumed he finally ate for the first time since his arrest.
Ford immediately looked over at Bill who still slept. Mabel held Bill's right hand in hers as she applied two layers of silver nail polish to each fingernail. Soos informed him that other than a nurse doing a routine check, there was no change. Ford sighed then let his gaze fall on Dipper.
The boy had barely said a word since he entered the room. He stared out the window. Again Ford sighed, for due to Dipper's intellect he often forgot just how young he was.
The author sat down next to his nephew making the latter jump. Dipper stared up at the man he regarded as his idol with wide eyes.
"How are you holding up?" Ford asked.
Dipper shrugged. A quick glimpse over at Bill and guilt filled his heart.
"I need to apologize to you," Ford said. He took off his glasses. "All of you actually, but mainly you kids." He stood with the glasses still in hand. "I put you all in this predicament. I put you all in danger again, and I'm sorry."
"Eh, don't take all the credit, Stanford, I'm the one who opened that portal in the first place," Stan interrupted.
"But I'm the one who kept researching after Weirdmageddon," Ford retorted. "After we captured Bill, I should've destroyed my Journals, and none of us would be sitting here having this conversation."
Dipper shut his eyes tight. Each word felt like a mocking stab, however he knew he deserved to suffer every wound.
"You didn't know she'd just sneak in and take it," Soos offered.
"And it was foolish of me to leave that jarring piece of evidence right there in the open for anyone to snatch up," Ford replied.
"I wonder how she made it past the vending machine," Soos mused. "You think she knew the passcode?"
"We'll never know now and those agents took the security tapes," Stan grumbled. "Dammit, we gave her full access to the house for three days. With that kinda time she woulda found out."
"Grunkle Ford, it's not your fault," Dipper cried. He jumped up his heart not able to stand anymore of the guilt.
"The boy's right, it was that bitch we should all be blamin'," Stan said and put a hand on Dipper's shoulder.
The boy looked up at his grinning great-uncle and immediatley lowered his gaze to the floor. Mabel noticed her brother's reaction; she glanced over at Ford who also read discomfort in Dipper's face.
However they were interrupted by four new visitors. The first two were the ones who accompanied them to the hospital, and the other two were the ones they anticipated would eventually show up.
"Stanford Pines," Albert Powers greeted in his usual stoic manner. The mentioned lined eyes with the agent. "I take it the Journal is now in your possession."
Ford wrinkled his brow. "No, you are mistaken," he replied.
"I don't recommend playing dumb, Mr. Pines," warned the agent.
"Actually, I have it," Stan said and produced the binder from his jacket. He grinned sheepishly at his brother, "I meant to give it to ya earlier, but it slipped my mind." He knocked on the side of his head. "You know how us old folk ain't got the best memories."
"Grunkle Stan, how'd you get that?" Mabel asked, nearly dropping the bottle of nail polish.
"It was illegally obtained evidence, so I found no reason to keep it from them any longer," Greogry answered.
Albert glared at the policewoman then turned his attention to Ford. "What she says is correct. Apparently Abigail was in possession of that Journal before she properly received a warrant to search your home." He crossed his arms. "Although I'm unsure when she managed to take it from your residence."
"We'll be checking the survellience tapes and if we can find her stealing from your property, it may be enough to erase this case," Trigger added.
Everyone except Dipper lit up at the news.
"However, for the time being," Albert interrupted the celebration. "You two," he nodded at Ford and the still sleeping Bill. "Are under house arrest. It's not ideal, but it's the best I could manage."
"I appreciate it," said Ford.
"Don't thank me just yet, the department of homeland security wants to speak with you," Powers replied. "He has your cell number and will call you soon. And let me tell you that it's only because he's interested in this special case that you and that demon are not going to prison-at least for now."
Ford grimaced, but it was better than the alternative.
"Also, the higher ups have decided to allow you to keep your Project Mentum for the time being," Powers added.
Ford's face brightened. He glanced over at Bill in hopes for a speedy recovery to continue their search into his mind.
"However, we have placed a recording device on the machine," Powers continued. "So anything you search will be reported back to the main office in DC." He narrowed his eyes. "So I don't recommend you do anything to make your situation worse."
Powers turned to Tyler and said, "They recommend you prepare an emergency evacuation plan for when and if that day comes."
"I'll get started on it the second I get back," Tyler replied.
"You are all free to go back to your home when he's released," Powers said. "Although I do suggest that you send the children back to their home before this threat arrives."
"Hold up!" Mabel interjected. She hopped down from her chair. "Me and Dipper are the reason Bill failed last year."
Powers ignored the girl. "It's my opinion you think about what's best for them." He looked pointedly at the Pines brothers. The two nodded and the agents said their farewell for the time being, although informed the older set of twins that they would check in periodically.
"Grunkle Stan, you're not really going to send us away?" Mabel asked as soon as Powers and Trigger exited the room.
"We'll see," Stan replied.
"But Grunkle Stan we-"
"I said 'we'll see,'" Stan said in a firmer tone silencing the girl.
Mabel stood with a gaping mouth. She glared at her brother then punched him in the arm.
"Hey, what gives!" Dipper exclaimed.
"Why didn't you back me up?" the female snapped in a hushed voice.
"Oh, I...um, I was thinking," Dipper answered.
The brunette put her hands on her hips. "What's with you? You're acting all spacey."
"It's...it's nothing," Dipper said and averted his eyes from his sister.
"But-" Mabel protested.
"Just drop it," Dipper spat. He shoved his hands into his vest pockets and turned away.
Another twenty minutes passed until the sound of groaning and shifting sheets caught everyone's attention. Bill sat up and stretched his arms over his head. Through a glazed eye he looked upon the smiling faces of Ford's family. Bill lifted his hands to his eyes to wipe away the haze only for his right hand to touch the stiff bandage.
The memories of last night hit him all at once. A wave of dizziness overtook him causing him to topple from the bed. Soos caught him then helped him to stand on wobbly feet. The monitor displayed the increased heart frequency.
"Not so fast, dude," Soos said and helped to sit Bill back on the bed.
Bill opened his mouth to speak, but the words tickled his scratchy throat.
"Thirsty," he managed to speak. Even with his mouth closed he felt the heat in his throat.
Soos filled a plastic cup of lukewarm water for him. Bill's esophagus stung as the liquid touched it. He pushed on through ignoring the pain as he desperately tried to hydrate his dry throat.
The blond looked down to see the shimmering silver on his fingernails.
"You did this, Shooting Star?" Bill asked weakly.
"Do you like it?" Mabel asked.
Bill smiled and gave her a curt nod. After all the color suited him.
"Great," Mabel said. She folder her hands on the side of his bed. "I wanted to thank you, you know, for saving my life."
"I'd do it a thousand times more," Bill said with a dismissive wave. "Damn, my throat hurts," he said more to himself then gingerly sipped the rest of the water.
"I can get you something hot if you want," Soos offered.
Bill shook his head.
"Well, there's good news, you are free to go back home with Mr. Ford," Soos said.
Bill narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere with him," he snapped.
"Well you don't really have a choice," Stan replied. "You two are stuck there until the government lets you go. If you two weren't so high profile, I'd show you how to fake your death and change your appearance enough to-"
"That's enough, Stanley," Ford interrupted. "We're both needed here to defend against Kryptos."
"Do you know how to stop him?" Soos asked.
"That's what we need to focus our time on finding out," Ford answered.
"Hey, I got an idea," Bill said. "How 'bout when Kryptos comes you offer me up to him. Let him slaughter me in however many ways he wants."
"That's enough," demanded Ford.
"Well why not?" Bill asked. He rose to his knees, wobbled once, then caught his balance on the edge of the bed. "Let's just cut right to the chase this time. He might even make you a fancy offer like Powers did." Bill laughed and Ford's face went red.
"I tried my best," Ford argued. "I had no power. I did what I could and I got you back."
"I got myself back," Bill snarled. He pointed a finger at Mabel. "And she helped." Bill's eyes flashed red. "And what exactlly did you do? You left me at their mercy, which by the way they didn't offer."
"I thought you could endure," Ford pleaded. "I won't let it happen again."
"You couldn't protect me from a human, what chance do you have against Kryptos?" Bill spat. "You won't be in the Mindscape this time, Sixer." Bill crossed his arms and turned his face away. "I have nothing else to say to you."
"Bill, please, don't be this-" Mabel began.
"Say another word, kid, and I'll have nothing else to say to you either," Bill interrupted. He laid his head down on the pillow.
"Well this is going to be one fun ride home," Stan said with a roll of his eyes.
The squeaky front left wheel alerted those within range of the approaching rusty library cart. The frowning librarian stopped in front of the storage room. She opened the door then walked in backwards, pulling the noisy cart filled with new books inside. She huffed at the amount of time it would take to enter the new data into the system.
The ringing of the service bell brought the young woman a smile. She smirked at the stack of books that for now would be put on the back burner.
Wearing a skin tight blue dress she approached the counter to see an old man press the bell. Chelsea tossed her mint green bangs as she hid her disappointment that it wasn't a potential suitor waiting. She told herself for the tenth time that month she needed to stop reading so many romance novels.
"How can I help you?" Chelsea asked.
"I'm researching my family tree," the man said with a large smile. "Do you have any records of this town in the early 1900s?"
"I can check," Chelsea answered. The blonde inserted the key words into the computer to receive a small amount of items, most of them in archives. "A lot of these you can't check out, but I can bring them to one of those tables." She pointed to the vacant rectangular tables straight ahead.
A dizzy spell seized her. Chelsea caught her balance on the desk and with the other hand pressed it against her head.
"Hey, you alright?" the old man asked.
He reached out his hand just as Chelsea stood up straight. She shook her head and replied in a weak voice, "Yeah, I don't know what happened."
"Might be low blood sugar," he said. "Happens to my wife every now and then."
She groaned as a doctor visit and blood work weren't affordable at the moment.
"I probably just moved too fast," she said to comfort herself more than him. "I'll be back in a moment."
With the printed paper in hand the librarian made her way towards the archives room. Her heart rate gradually returned to normal. The code on the label matched the book in front. Chelsea reached out her hand just as her legs wobbled and the room spun.
She dropped the book and the one next to it in order to grasp the shelf. A severe pain pounded against her forehead. Chelsea put a hand to the throbbing area. She opened her eyes for a second to see everything blur before she collapsed on the carpeted floor below.
Almost instantly she felt weightless. Her eyes still closed her body moved through a vacant void. As soon as the pain vanished from her head her blue eyes slowly opened to find herself floating in an abandonned wearhouse composed of gray bricks. The further she inspected she came to realize the mysterious world she now inhabitied was void of all color save for herself.
"Thick thighs, yes, I made the right choice," said a voice from behind.
Initially startled, Chelsea soon recognized the voice. With a glare she turned to face the pink demon.
"What did you do to me?" Chelsea growled. "And excuse you, my thighs are great."
"I agree," Pyronica said as she stared at the woman's legs. "They'll serve me well."
Chelsea backed away which only made the demon laugh.
"I need your body again," Pyronica said. "This old hag knows too much. Kryptos wants her gone."
"What?" Chelsea asked. She shook her head. "No. No, you need to go."
"We made a deal," Pyronica replied. Her smile grew. "I got you close to Bill."
"Bill's an ass. I don't want anything to do with him, or you, or anymore of this weird stuff."
"Too bad," said Pyronica. She grew, towering overtop of the human. "Our contract never specified how long I'd have your body."
Chelsea's eyes opened, now red. The other entity grinned and brought the host to her feet. Pyronica exited the archives room then made her way to the front of the library.
"Hey!" the old man called as he hurried after. "My books?"
Pyronica looked over her shoulder and grinned at the old man, her red eyes glowing. "It's time for my break," the demon said, her voice escaping through Chelsea's mouth.
The customer sunk back, trembling, unable to speak.
As soon as her feet hit the pavement outside Pyronica took off running. She cursed human bodies for being so slow.
She hurried off the road onto the trail where she sensed the witch approaching. Sure enough a little ways in the distance Handrina made her way down the gravel path with a walking stick in hand. Several disembodied hands assisted the elderly woman move down the slope.
"That's far enough, Handwitch," Pyronica called.
Handrina looked up to see a figure of a thick woman standing before her. However she sensed the creature in possession of the human's body.
"I don't know which one you are, but you won't stop my errand," Handrina said. "It be wise for you to step aside." She planted the walking stick against the ground. "I'd tell you to go back to your world and leave us be, but that would mean a wasted trip for me."
Pyronica laughed. "Oh please, what could you possibly do to me?"
Handrina grinned. "Clearly I pose some threat, or you wouldn't be here trying to stop me." She snapped her fingers and the hands stood in attention awaiting their mistress' order.
"Well, I tried to reason," Pyronica said lifting her arms in a shrug. "But looks like I'll have to resort to a fight." She licked her lips then leaped into the air.
Handrina twirled the walking stick then pointed it at the woman. The hands jumped into action. Pyronica kicked one then another. One tangled up in the host's blonde hair. The demon snatched it and squeezed until the bones in the forefinger and pinky snapped. She tossed the injured hand into another, which in turn slammed into a third, all falling to the ground.
Pyronica landed in front of the handwitch. Handrina locked eyes with the demon's. Pyronica rushed the old woman then spun a kick. The handwitch blocked her leg with the walking stick. The two held for three seconds until six hands joined in, the combined strength pushed Pyronica back.
Pyronica kicked off an oak tree then advanced towards the witch. Handrina held out the staff ready to defend. Pyronica rolled onto the ground and kicked the witch's feet out from underneath. Handrina landed on three of the hands. Pyronica grabbed the old woman by her collar and hoisted her up.
"You should've just minded your own business," Pyronica spat. She pressed Chelsea's thumb and forefinger against Handrina's coratid arteries. "But now it's over for you."
"You all wouldn't've let me live," Handrina said in a strained voice.
Pyronica grinned. "No, we wouldn't."
"Thought so," Handrina said. She snapped her fingers and hands crawled up the host's legs. Pyronica released her hold on the handwitch. Two hands helped her back up then retrieved the fallen staff. Handrina looked ahead where Pyronica tried to fight off the hands holding her in place.
The demon looked ahead to see her opponent missing. The hands scurried off of her body and too late she heard the snapping of twigs and leaves behind. Out of her peripheral vision Pyronica saw the staff aimed for the back of her head. Instantly the woman blacked out and Pyronica was ripped from Chelsea's body. The blonde fell forward in the dirt.
"I recommend you break ties with that creature," Handrina said to the unconscious woman. Leaving Chelsea sprawled out faceforward on the ground Handrina continued on her path to the Mystery Shack.
Pyronica screamed when she found herself out of Chelsea's body and back in the Mindscape. Just a few feet ahead stood Chelsea looking down at the blank gray floor.
"Get up!" Pyronica shouted. She grabbed Chelsea's arm. "Wake up now!" She shook the woman. "We can't let her get away!"
Chelsea yanked her arm from Pyronica's hold. She turned her back and Pyronica exploded with white flames. She grabbed Chelsea's elbow and spun her around.
"Look, miserable mortal, you belong to me!" Pyronica snarled. She slammed Chelsea's back against the brick wall. "Now you're going to let me back in control and I'm going to take her out."
Chelsea put her hands over Pyronica's then pushed her away.
"I want you to leave me alone," Chelsea stated. "I want you to go away and I never want to see you again."
"I already told you our contract is forever binding" Pyronica hissed. "You can't get out of this."
"Then I break our contract!" Chelsea screamed. "I'm through with Bill. And without him, you have nothing else you can use over me." She pointed in the demon's face. "Now leave me alone!"
Pyronica growled. She looked down and saw herself slowly vanish from the woman's Mindscape. With the contract null in void, there was nothing else welcoming her there.
"I'll be back for you later," Pyronica hissed. She pointed at the woman. "After we finish with Bill, I promise you'll be the first one I annihilate, and I promise you'll regret this moment."
Pyronica vanished and it wasn't long after that the world around her began to crumble. Chelsea hurried to hold on to what little bit remained until the entire gray world disappeared.
Chelsea woke in the forest. She sat up, instantly regretting her decision at the severe pain in the back of her head. She felt the sore area to find a large lump in between the base of her skull and her neck.
Using the branches of a nearby tree she shakily pulled herself to her feet. For some unknown reason she ached in various places over her body.
Chelsea gasped as she remembered the man awaiting the books at the library. She hurried down the path despite the pain in her legs and back of her head. She stopped at the edge of the road to see a truck approaching. She waved her arms signalling the driver to stop.
The window rolled down as the blonde made her way towards the driver. She was taken aback by the man's appearance and what appeared to be a lack of pupils. However, with her job on the line she was in no place to be choosy.
"Please, I need a ride to the library," Chelsea pleaded.
"Hop in, I'm heading that direction anyway," Ghost Eyes said.
Chelsea ran around to the other side and opened the door. Having not fully recovered from being knocked out, she slipped on her way inside. Ghost Eyes grabbed Chelsea's wrist and gently helped her into the vehicle.
"Thanks," Chelsea said then threw on her seatbelt.
"No problem," Ghost Eyes said. He put the truck in drive and continued on ahead. He glanced over and noticed the scratches and dirt marks on her legs and face. Her hair looked disheveled. "You look rough, everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm not even sure what happened," she replied.
"You, uh...need to go to the doctor?" the driver asked.
The woman shook her head. "I can't." She winced as she rubbed the bump on her head. "I have to get back to work at once." She shuddered hoping that her boss never found out that she took off without leave as she couldn't afford to be out of work.
"Well, hey, if you ever want to talk, come find me," Ghost Eyes said.
Chelsea smiled. "How about tonight?" she asked. "Maybe get a few drinks?"
Ghost Eyes shrugged. "Sure, I ain't got nothing else going on."
When the Pines arrived home Bill assured them he didn't need help getting into the shack. Fragments of police line tape scattered around the property.
Stan pushed open the door to find it in disarray. Many of the displays were broken or tossed aside. The vending machine still pulled off its hinges exposing the secret laboratory that was likely just as trashed, or completely empty. Broken shelves and glass littered the floor.
"They took what they wanted, but didn't even bother to clean up," Stan grumbled.
"This is a hazard," Soos stated. "They knew you were bringing the kids back right?"
"They didn't care," Stan said shaking his head at all the broken merchandise in addition to all his ruined exhibits. "Well kids, get a broom, we'll be busy the rest of the night, and probably tomorrow."
"Mr. Pines, do you think that's a good idea? I mean they just got home," Soos argued.
"I agree, we've all been through a lot, I think what we need to do now is rest and think things over," Ford added.
Bill pushed on ahead to the others and entered his designated room. Mabel started after him, but Soos put a hand on her shoulder. The brunette looked back to see the handyman shake his head. With a heavy sigh the girl crossed her arms and complied with the older man's suggestion.
"Well I don't want anyone needing stitches 'cause they got glass or a splinter in their feet," Stan retorted. "We can't afford any more negative attention."
"Mr. Pines has a point," Soos said. "Tell you what, I'll get started on the mess, while the kids just relax."
"I can't let you do that, Soos," Dipper replied. It's my fault this all happened in the first place, he added in his own mind.
Mabel opened her mouth to speak when her pet barreled into the room at the sound of familiar voices. She forgot all the pain of the past two days as she scooped up Waddles in her arms.
"You must be starving," Mabel said as she poked the pig's cheeks. She led him into the kitchen she hoped was still stocked with something edible.
Soos and Dipper swept up the broken shards of glass, wood, bones and animal parts, and other various items lying about the floor. Ford entered into the basement to check out what was left of his lab. Meanwhile Stan followed Mabel into the kitchen to check any further damage.
"Dude, what's going on?" Soos asked.
Dipper jumped then met eyes with the handyman who leaned on the pole of his broom. "You've been too quiet."
"What do you think is wrong?" Dipper asked, his voice involuntarily squeaking. He cleared out his throat despite the pounding in his chest. "Me and Mabel went through a lot. I don't even know if we'll be forced to..." he trailed off when he realized if the agents forced him and his sister to go back to California, he had no one to blame but himself.
There was a possibility the agents already viewed the cameras and saw no trace of Abigail Powers stealing the journal from the Mystery Shack. His entire body stiffened and tingled when he realized they would catch video of him sneaking into the Mystery Shack to retrieve the very item. He dropped the broom then backed up against the wall.
"Dipper, dude, what's wrong?" Soos asked.
Dipper sat down and gasped for air.
"Dipper!" Soos yelled louder. He knelt down beside the hyperventilating boy.
"Mr. Pines!" Soos shouted. He shook Dipper which only made his condition worse. Tears clouded his eyes.
Just as Soos yelled for his boss a second time Stan and Mabel turned the corner. Stan pushed Soos out of the way and picked up the trembling child.
"Dipper, stay with me," Stan instructed. "Breathe, breathe." He patted the boy on the back. "You'll be okay, just breathe."
"Grunkle Stan, what's going, why is he-" Mabel began.
"Mabel, I'm, I'm sorry," Dipper cried.
"Just breathe," Stan ordered. "Don't talk, just breathe." He sat down next to Dipper and pulled him into his lap. "You'll be just fine." He looked over at the girl. "He'll be fine, this used to happen to Ford when we were kids."
It was then they noticed Ford standing behind them. The noise caught his attention and he rushed upstairs praying his family wasn't in trouble yet again. However he saw his brother comforting Dipper in a similar manner that he used to console him during his panic attacks.
"Stanley is right," Ford said and put a hand on Mabel's shoulder. "Your brother's in good hands."
Mabel forced herself to trust her great-uncles. Watching her brother suffer her fear of Ford and Stan deciding to send them home increased.
Ford, Mabel, and Soos looked up as Bill entered the room carrying a stuffed messenger bag and a suitcase full of belongings.
"Where are you going?" Ford asked.
"Bill," Mabel croaked.
"I'm not staying here with you," Bill hissed at Ford then moved past him.
Ford gripped Bill's shoulder and spun him around, causing the latter to drop the suitcase. The two glared at the other.
"You're not going anywhere," Ford snapped.
"Please, you two, just stop," Mabel begged.
"Don't make a rash decision," Soos said as he inched closer to the couple.
"I don't care where I go so long as I never have to see you again," Bill screeched.
"Just let him go," Stan called, not looking up from Dipper who was starting to calm.
"No, you two just need to talk it over," Mabel said. Her bottom lip trembled. "Please, not right now. Not like this."
"You can't leave anyway," Soos said. "You're both under house arrest, remember?"
Ford groaned.
"What?" Bill snapped. He turned towards Soos.
"It's true, those agent guys said you two can't leave your house for now," Soos explained.
"I'm afraid he's telling the truth," Ford added.
Bill glared at Ford. "You're not fooling me, I'm not falling for your trap."
"You leave this house and they'll throw you in jail," Ford snapped.
"Jail'll be better than living with you," Bill spat and purposely bumped against Ford on his way towards the door.
"Please stop it!" Mabel screamed. "Both of you just stop it!" Tears leaked down her face. "This is not the time to be fighting." She took hold of Bill's hand. "Please don't do this. Please."
Bill glared down at the girl. The longer he looked into her face he found himself unable to stay angry with her. He shot a nasty stare in Ford's direction then slumped.
"Very well," Bill conceded. He stared Ford in the eye. "But just so you know, we're through."
"Fine," Ford said. He held up his right hand. "That's fine with me."
Bill picked up his bag and headed back towards his room. He gave one final glower at his ex then slammed his bedroom door hard enough to rattle the entire shack.
And that ends chapter 37. I usually like to write a few fluff chapters after such heavy plot driven ones, but due to Bill being livid with Ford, that's not really going to happen here. And Bill is going to be angry for some time.
I honestly do think Dipper has anxiety based on small clues in the show, and I also have a head canon that Ford suffered panic attacks when he was younger (referenced in an earlier chapter), hence why Stan knew what to do to help Dipper. As for Dipper, eventually he's going to have to confess to Ford about the journal, but I haven't exactly decided when or how.
As with Handrina, someone requested Chelsea make another appearance, so I added her in this chapter as well, also giving Pyronica a way to interact with the characters in this dimension. Of course the name Handrina is a pun on hand since she's the handwitch. I hope you all like that name decision.
Officer Gregory is actually a character I made up for another story Pacifica at the Shack, which takes place about three/four years after this one, so I decided to go ahead and introduce her in this chapter.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone, and thank you for reading.