I don't own any of this Paranorman belongs to Laika, all other characters belong to their respectful companies. And The Stand belongs to Stephen King.
July 17
The sun slowly rose in Hemingford Home, Nebraska. In this place the superflu has hit here as hard as it did with the rest of United States, but one resident like the other lucky people was immune to the deadly virus, a person who represented the good of humanity and the essential part of building a community out of the ashes of the outbreak.
That person was Abigail Freeman also known by these parts as Mother Abigail who by now is far gone. She had just left yesterday to Boulder, Colorado with the first group who arrived there that was lead by a deaf-mute, named Nick Andros.
The train comes to a stop at a small station. After coming to a full stop Norman, Aggie, Neil, Raz, and Lili came out of the train, and stood on the platform, (or in Aggie's case floating) the group looked around the landscape they had traveled so far to get to.
"Here we are, Nebraska." Lili spoke up.
Aggie looked around the land, which seemed to be glowing beautifully on this fine morning. "It's a pretty place."
Raz meanwhile looked around, trying to figure out where they should go next? Now that they were finally here. He judged that they were going to have a long day of searching for Mother Abigail's house. Meanwhile Norman had noticed a hobo ghost with baggy clothes and a unkept beard, floating near the end of the platform, playing a harmonica.
Perhaps he can help them. "Excuse me." Norman called out after walking up to him. The ghost looked over at him after playing a long note on the harmonica. "What is it kid?"
"Do you know where a woman named Mother Abigail lives?"
"Oh yes, she just lives down the road." The ghost points forward where the road has tall stocks of corn on both sides. Norman looked up to the ghost in appreciation for his help. "Thanks"
Raz continued to scan around the area. "Ok, I think we should start to the left of this place, then move down in a square."
"Actually" Norman spoke up, thus getting everyone's attention. "We should just go forward."
"Why do you think that?" Lili question.
"Just a hunch." He replied as there was no way they can know about how he actually knew.
"Oh, you talked with a-" Neil began before having his mouth covered by Norman's hand. "Just a hunch Neil."
Neil blinked a couple times, then nodded in understandment. "Yes, just a hunch." He confirmed after Norman removed his hand.
Raz and Lili looked at them strangely as they were clearly hiding something. Aggie however understood as these two may not believe about Norman's gift, heck they didn't even know that she was with them right now.
Eventually Raz spoke up. "Alright if you say we should go that way, then that's what will do."
The group walked off the station platform, together they walked down the road which went from asphalt to dirt, on either side of the road the grass in front of the corn has grown tall from the lack of lawn mowing. Crows were also swooping in, taking full advantage of the absence of the humans who usually guarded the fields. One crow wasn't swooping in to get the early harvest, instead it watched the fearless group walk down the road from a top of a telephone pole.
After much walking the house finally came into view, it was just like in their dreams from the look of it, to the tire swing. It was very overwhelming, as seeing it in a dream is one thing, but to be actually seeing it in reality is another.
They stood there for a minute, then slowly made their way towards the front porch, fully expecting to see Mother Abigail on her rocking chair, playing that beautiful melody on her guitar, but she wasn't here. In fact the house looked empty, this began to worry Norman and Raz as what if all of this was for nothing? What if she caught the superflu to? What were they to tell their friends?
"Hey there's a sign." Neil pointed out.
Looking over, they did indeed see a wooden sign with black paint written on it. Both Norman and Raz thought on how could they missed this sign earlier? It was in a obvious place where it can be easily seen.
Lili leans forward to read the sign. "On to Boulder. Monitor citizens band: 14."
"So they went Colorado." Norman concluded.
"Looks like it." Lili confirmed.
"How long was this sign up?" Raz asked.
Lili studied the paint written on the sign closely, it was dry, but not a week dry as the paint still looked fresh. "I say about yesterday."
Neil slumped down in disappointment. "So we just missed them."
"About a day late." Lili said a bit disappointed herself for if they arrived just bit earlier, they could've finally be in the company of adults.
"So what's the plan now?" Neil asked.
"Looks like we got some more traveling to do." Raz pointed out.
"But the train doesn't go that way." Neil protested.
"Will just have to find another mode of transportation." Raz stated, he thought of what they could use, they could drive a car, or a small motorbike might do, but it would have to be in their sizes.
The rest of the group soon began to discuss about what they should use for a ride, while they did that Aggie found herself wandering around the property. She found it to be a nice little home, she can also sense that this home did belong to a very kind soul. Aggie then went over to the tire swing where she gently touched the rope, she soon gets herself situated in the swing where she then swings gently back and forth.
Aggie took a glance over to the group who were still discussing about how to travel, she shook her head with a little smile as she had a feeling this was going to be awhile. She closed her eyes and began to imagine herself at the place where her mother once took her, that imagination spot however is suddenly shot as the sound of a motor vehicle is heard.
Taken by surprise Aggie looked around, wondering where that noise is coming from? She wasn't the only one who heard it as the rest of the group looked in the direction the noise was coming from as well.
From the same dirt road they came through earlier, came another group consisting of a pair of twins riding a pig along with a girl with blue hair holding onto a boy with some sort of mask on as they rode on a motorbike.
"We finally made it." the boy wearing the pine tree hat exclaimed.
"And look there's people here!" The girl with the shooting star sweater pointed out in excitement.
"I figured there would be a lot more adults around here." The boy in the mask said.
"Yeah, that is strange." The blue hair girl exclaimed.
Norman, Raz, and Lili were very surprised to be meeting more kids, especially ones that also didn't have any adults with them, they also judged that they had a story of their own considering the twins were riding on a pig. Neil however smiled as he has the chance to meet some new friends, he happily approaches the group, enthusiastically waving at them. "Hello! Welcome to Nebraska fellow travelers!"
The girl in the sweater jumps off her pig and happily approached Neil. "Hi there fella. We are glad to be here! As we have traveled so far to get here."
"So have we, we actually rode on a train to get here and your talking to the train driver."
The girl in the sweater gawked at him in amazement. "You drove a train!? That's awesome!"
"I know right." The two laughed a bit as really after traveling through the country in the aftermath of a post apocalyptic world, it was good to let out a bit of laughter. Neil is the first one to stop laughing as he realized that he should introduce himself. "I'm Neil by the way."
The girl reached over and shook his hand in glee. "I'm Mabel and it's great to see you after traveling all the way from Oregon."
"Your from Oregon?"
Mabel shook her head with a smile. "No, I'm actually from California. Me and my brother were visiting relatives, when it happened." Mabel frowned after ending that sentence, she took a brief glance at the unicorn bracelet on her wrist.
Neil looked at her sad frown, seeing it made him form his own sad frown. "I know how you feel, I lost my whole family to the flu."
"Yeah" Mabel sadly sighed, but then thought of something. "So where are you from?"
"Massachusetts." Neil answered. This made Mabel smile a bit in small amusement. "What?" Neil question.
"Oh nothing, it's just that you and I are from opposite sides of the country and yet we all came here."
Neil thought about it for a bit and let out a laugh. "That is funny."
"Um Mabel." Both Neil and Mabel looked over to the boy in the pine tree hat, who stood three feet behind Mabel. "Hate to interrupt your bonding moment here, but we should really be looking for that woman."
Mabel sheepishly placed her hand on the back of her head with a sheepish smile. "Oh right, sorry Dipper."
Dipper now turns to Neil who smiled at him. "Do you know where a woman named Mother Abigail is?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but she left." Neil answered with an apologetic frown.
"Wait, left?" The blue hair called out as she along with the boy in the mask got off the bike. A black cat jumped out from her bag, he landed near the rear tire licking his front left paw before lowering it and looked over to the tire swing with a tilt of his head.
"Yeah" Norman along with Raz and Lili approached, they stopped just behind Neil, though Norman stepped up to address the other group. "She seemed to have left yesterday. We just got here ourselves and we learned that she along with another group had left to Boulder, Colorado."
The blue hair girl groaned in frustration, after traveling all the way here. She and the others missed her by a day, how's that for frustrating. "You gotta be kidding me!"
"No need to freak out Coraline." The boy in the mask spoke up. "Colorado is just one state away, surely we can travel just a little more."
"It's still frustrating Wybie! We just missed her by literally one day!" Coraline snapped.
"I know how you feel." Lili stated.
Coraline turned over to her with a questioning look. "Who are you?"
"I'm Lili Zanotto."
"I'm Raz Aquato."
"I'm Norman Babcock and you already met Neil."
Coraline looked at them and nodded. "Well I'm Coraline Jones, repeat C-or-aline. And this is Wybie Lovat and the these twins are Dipper and Mabel Pines, though you already know Mabel's name."
The two groups greeted each other with some talks about what they seen during their journey, but their chatter soon stopped as Raz clapped his hands to get their attention. "Alright now that we all met each other, I think we should all get moving while the sun is still rising."
The others, (besides Lili who stood beside him with her arms crossed) looked at him with matched looks of question. "Uh, why are you ordering us around?" Dipper asked.
"Yeah, who made you boss?" Coraline added with hands on her hips.
"Let's just say that I got experience on movements, so I taken the liberty to fill up on our movements in our journey." Raz explained.
"Shouldn't we have a vote on that?" Wybie now asked as it didn't seem right to just have Raz to be their sudden leader.
"Look we could vote and all, but it'll waste time and the sooner we reached Boulder the better, as I got this feeling that time is short." Raz replied.
The others weren't very keen on that, but there was no denying that time was short or at least that's what it felt like, plus it was true that if they moved on now, they can possibly get to Boulder sooner.
"Can we at least get something to eat first?" Neil suddenly asked.
Raz thought about it, but was cut off by the sound of his stomach grumbling. "Yes, we'll stop for a bite to eat, then will be on our way."
"So where do we go to eat?" Wybie asked.
"Didn't you come across a restaurant or diner when you guys were coming here?" Lili asked back.
Wybie nodded. "Yes, but I'm pretty sure that the food has gone bad by now, and I'm not much of a fan of eating rotten food."
"So what are we going to eat?" Neil question as he could feel his stomach growling, demanding food right now.
Coraline glances over to the tall corn stocks, an idea forms in her head. "How about that corn."
The others looked over to the cornstalks in interest, Wybie places a finger on his chin while narrowing his eyes. "I suppose that should do. I mean, I ain't no farmer, but I think the corn should be ready by now."
"Then let us pick out some corn." Raz exclaimed.
Going over to the field; the kids picked through the corn, they ignored the ones that didn't look ready yet or just simply looked bad. And as they gathered the corn, Cat is looking right up at Aggie while Waddles is having a dirt bath.
Aggie looked down at the cat with a small smile, she wasn't very surprised that he could see her, as animals with their heighten senses could see ghosts easily. But yet, Aggie had a feeling that this was no ordinary cat, he just seems way more aware and had a very intelligent mind.
"Hello"
The cat tilted his head a bit, rather quizzitely. He then curled up into a ball while keeping eye contact with her. All Aggie could do is smile down at him.
By the time the kids had gathered all the corn they needed, it was mid-noon. They carried the corn in their arms all the way back to the house's front porch, which they happily placed their corn on.
After placing down his corn, Neil clapped his hands together in satisfaction as it was hard work on collecting all this corn. "Well I say we gathered up a good portion of corn."
Mabel picked up one carb of corn with glee. "What are we waiting for? Let's eat." Mabel went to place the corn in her mouth, but her brother stopped her just before she could bite down on it. "Now hold on Mabel, we gotta wash them first, then cook them, before we can eat them."
"Oh right."
Raz meanwhile had picked up a wooden bucket he had found on the porch and began to place the corn in it. "Alright me and Lili will be in charge of preparing the corn."
Lili turned to him swiftly. "We will?"
Raz nodded. "We have experience with preparing food. While we're preparing the food, you guys get to know each other as we got another long trek ahead of us." The two went into the house, leaving the others to stand there, looking at each other rather awkwardly as they wondered who should speak first.
Neil and Mabel are predictably the first ones to break the silence as Mabel asked Neil if he wanted to play with Waddles in which Neil quickly said yes, thrus leaving the others to acquaint themselves.
It was Coraline who spoke up first, she directed her gaze to Norman, studying his hair in interest. "Nice hair, do you use gel to keep it sticking up like that?"
Norman touches his hair, while shyly keeping his eyes pointing towards his feet. "Thanks. And no, it just sticks up like this naturally.
Coraline nodded with an impressed smirk. "Cool"
Norman let himself grow a small smile, it was rare for people to compliment his always sticking up hair. Courtney once said that he should tape it down from how much it sprung back up after each time Norman tried to brush it flat. Now fully looking at Coraline, Norman noticed that her blue hair was starting to fade from the top. "Is your hair dyed by any chance?"
"Yeah, I started to dye it ever since I was nine. Why do you ask?"
"It's starting to fade on top."
Coraline went over to the window and through the reflection she saw that it was true. Her hair is starting to revert back to it's original burnett color, she swiftly turned her attention to Wybie, a little bit annoyed. "Why didn't you tell me, my dye was starting to fade."
Wybie apologeticly shrugged. "Sorry Jonesy, but I honestly haven't noticed."
Letting out a soft groan, Coraline slapped her hands on her side as this was just great. The blue hair is part of her, she needed to find some dye quickly, or else her blue hair will disappear.
Dipper slightly smirked in amusement over Coraline's predicament, he quickly turns away so she wouldn't see his smirk, now he was the one facing Norman. "So your really from Massachusetts?"
"Yeah, I once lived in a small town called Blithe Hallow." Norman answered.
"Blithe Hallow?" Wybie repeated. "I think, I heard of that place."
"So have I, isn't it a town that's basically has an economy based on witch theme?"
Norman nodded uncomfortably. "Yeah"
"Didn't it also have that freaky tornado last year?" Wybie added as he recalled seeing the destruction of some parts of the town through the news. Again Norman answered uncomfortably. "Yes"
Norman suppose he should've expected this. Everyone in his former town knew that the storm was more than a tornado, but to everyone else in the world it was just a sudden tornado that had dropped down and destroyed parts of the town. Looking over to the swing set, he could see that Aggie had overheard on what Dipper and Wybie said, he really hoped that she wasn't upset as Aggie doesn't really like it, when people discusse on what happened on that night.
"It was really a rare tornado, not only because one touched down in Massachusetts, but also during that time of year." Wybie continued.
"It wasn't much, we have rebuild from the storm." Norman said.
"That's good." Dipper commented.
Norman quickly decided to change the subject. "So where were you when the flu hit?"
"Visiting my grunkles in Gravity Falls."
"Gravity Falls?" Norman had never heard of that place before.
"It's a tourist town in Oregon, and it has the strongest presence of supernatural activity in the United States." Dipper explained. Now this definitely caught Norman's attention, as well as Aggie's who had came over from the tire swing to listen more clearly.
"I'm not kidding, I encountered a lot of weird stuff there when I visited last summer."
"Like what?" Norman asked.
"Oh, monsters, ghosts, and artifacts." Dipper replied with a shrug.
"Wait ghosts? You've seen ghosts?"
Dipper nodded again. "Oh yeah, I've encountered the ghosts of an elderly couple who hated teenagers and a very vengeful woodsman that turned me into a wooden figure."
Norman widen his eyes at that, he knew certain ghosts can be powerful with their environments like Aggie with her electricity and storms, but a ghost who actually turned someone into a wooden figure, now that was frighting. Aggie is just as surprised and frighten by that experience this Dipper had encounter, it may sound strange that the ghost who can create storms, raise the dead, and control electricity is frighten. But she was still a young girl, plus she hasn't encountered another ghost that's just as powerful as her.
"How did you get out from being a wooden figure?" Norman now asked.
"Pacifica had managed to break the curse by opening the gate for everyone in town to attend the Northwest's party. She had to defy her parents, but she really managed to pull through and did the first generous thing her rotten family line has ever done."
"Well that was good of her." Wybie pointed out.
Dipper smiled briefly. "It was."
The four kids talked about other things like: what they used to do, the family or friends they lost during the superflu outbreak, some of their favorite hobbies, and even some more experiences they had during their journey here. Aggie listen with interest as she hovered next to Norman, it was very fascinating to hear these kids stories, though Coraline, Wybie, and Norman didn't go into full detail on anything supernatural they've encountered, although Norman considered telling Dipper his own ghost encounters considering he encountered ghosts himself.
Neil and Mabel meanwhile petted Waddles on the back and chin, the pig oinks in affection, absolutely loving the attention he was getting. "So your brother really was a muscular jock?"
Neil nodded. "Yep, he loved to lift weights and work on his van."
Mabel felt her eyes sparkle as she imagine Neil's brother shirtless as he washed his van. "I think, I'm in love."
"He was already hitched." Neil pointed out.
Mabel instantly felt disappointment after hearing that information. Sure she can't really hook up with Neil's brother now, but still, she can't help but feel disappointed, she at least gotta know one thing. "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Oh, he had a boyfriend."
Mabel felt more disappointed, she wouldn't even be able to hook up with him if he was still alive, that was a total bummer, she was so disappointed that she also failed to see that she was literally in the same position Dipper was in with Wendy. Neil however noticed the problem.
"He's older than you, you know that right?"
"Yes, but I can't help but feel in love. I kinda go Gaga over hunky guys. It's kinda my thing you know."
"Oh I know, I have my thing to."
Mabel leans forward, very interested on what Neil's thing could be. "Like what?" Neil turned away and quickly answered. "Oh nothing." Neil couldn't tell Mabel that he may still enjoy pausing his mom's yoga DVDs on occasions.
Thankfully he didn't have to worry about Mabel pressing this topic as Raz and Lili came out with a bucket full of steaming hot corn. "Lunch is served!" Raz proudly exclaimed.
"Oh thank goodness." Neil thought.
The smell of the corn reaches all of the kids, who sniff the scent that made their stomachs growl in anticipation of being filled. "That smells good." Neil said.
"Thanks, we cooked this carefully." Raz exclaimed before giving Lili a smirk, who gives her boyfriend a wink in return.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's eat already." Coraline stated as she held onto her grumbling tummy.
The kids gathered themselves around the tree with the tire swing, they greatly eat up much of the corn in which they all thought that it was the most delicious corn they have ever had. The kids liked it so much that they eat all the corn, leaving behind only the strips. From the tire swing, Aggie watched in a bit of jealousy of not being able to eat any of that corn, this was one of the few times she wished that she was still alive.
Coraline eats her last piece, after throwing it away she pats her belly, then let's out a burp. "Well, I don't think I'm the only one who states that was some great corn."
The others muttered in their own satisfaction, the kids sit there for a while to settle their stomachs. "So" Mabel began. "Does anyone have any summer stories they like to share?"
"Other than the utterly near extinction of the human race. I say no." Lili retorted.
"Me and Norman played a pretty awesome baseball game." Neil happily stated.
"I explored this cave with Coraline." Wybie added.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Coraline chuckled. "I thought that was going to be a neat adventure."
"Speaking of adventure." Raz now stood up, plus getting everyone's attention. "Let's get a move on while we still have some daylight."
Plus with that, the rest of the kids gotten themselves up. Dipper's and Mabel's group went over to collect their supplies along with Wybie's bike, Norman's group meanwhile went over to the pathway leading away from the house.
After the rest joined them, they all began to walk away from the house they have traveled so far to get to. The group traveled together closely with: Norman in the middle while Neil, Aggie, Raz, and Lili are on his right and Dipper, Mabel, Coraline and Wybie, (on Wybie's bike) are on his left with Cat and Waddles fallowing close behind.
They were a strange group: a boy who can see and talk to the dead, two psychics, a ghost girl, the ones who have no powers weren't no different: a girl who faced a child eating monster who disguised herself as her mother, twins who faced off against a powerful demon, a happy kid who helped his friend deal with an army of zombies, and another boy who saved his friend from the child eating monster's hand. All of them have no idea that their group is the start of something more, a group that with given time could become formidable.
Up in the sky; the black crow watches them.
At about sundown; the kids have reached a car dealership on the far outskirts of town. Neil was really sweaty, not only from the summer heat, but also because he wasn't used to walking this much.
Exhausted; Neil stopped to wipe away the sweat on his forehead as well as to catch his breath. The others immediately stopped and turned to him with Norman showing concern for his friend. "You ok Neil?"
Neil gives him a thumbs up. "Just exhausted. I don't know how I'm going to make it there? If we're just going to keep walking."
"It's not that bad." Coraline quipped.
Neil looked to her with a raised eyebrow. "Easy for you to say, you're on a motorized bike."
"You know, Neil does have a point. We do need a faster way of getting to Boulder." Dipper said.
"What do you suggest? Do we find bikes? It may take awhile to find some, since I haven't seen a bike shop anywhere around here." Wybie pointed out.
Raz thinks about what to do, his group needed to get moving quickly. A realization suddenly came to him, he looked over to the car dealership where various cars are displayed in a parking lot, where the surrounding grass have grown tall after weeks without being mowed. "Perhaps we can use those."
The others looked over to the car dealership with surprise on what Raz is suggesting. "Um Raz, we can't drive." Dipper pointed out, he suddenly had Mabel wrap her arm around him. "Sure we can Dipper! Remember we drove the golf cart!" She reassured her brother.
"Mabel that's completely different." Dipper pointed out.
"Can any of us even reached the gas and brake peddles?" Norman asked as that was a clear question that needed to be brought upon.
Coraline jumped off the bike with grace. "I can." Wybie knitted his eyes in a very unsure way. "I don't know about that."
"Relax, I mean driving a car can't be that hard. Besides it would be fun to drive for once." She snarked with a bit of a glare at the end, which Wybie nervously smiled at that last part.
Raz meanwhile places his hands on his hips with a smile. "It's settled then, let's find us a car."
The kids entered the parking lot, going over the rows of cars to see which one would be suitable for all of them. The car needs to be big enough to fit all of them, needs to have good speed, and can handle some bumps against other vehicles on the road. They'll kept searching until Neil had finally came across a vehicle that will suite them very nicely. "Guys, check it out!"
The others came over to look at Neil's find, it was a blue pick-up truck with a 4x4 ingrated on the end. "Now this is a ride." Neil exclaimed.
The others considered it, the truck was certainly big enough to fit them as a few can sit in the seats inside the truck, while the others can sit in the back. "I guess this could do." Lili said.
Coraline clapped her hands together with a slight smirk. "Great! Now all we need to do is find the keys."
"Should be inside the building, possibly in an office." Wybie explained.
"Then let's go get the keys and then start are drive to Boulder." They quickly move over to the building, at the entrance as the others went in, Mabel stopped to address Waddles. "Stay here and keep watch Waddles, well be back out as quickly as possible."
Waddles oinked, then settled himself down on his belly, with Cat who had jumped off his back and began to wash himself.
Entering the building herself, Mabel is instantly distracted by the new shiny cars out on display, especially to a new, red Ford that's on a stage. "That's a nice one."
Meanwhile the others were keeping on task; Raz and Lili checked one office, while Coraline and Wybie checked another one in which both pairs found nothing but papers. Norman, Aggie, Neil, and Dipper however came across a closed door.
"Must be in here." Dipper grabbed the knob and tried to turn it, but it wouldn't budge. "Aw man, the doors lock." Dipper quickly turned to face Norman and Neil, behind him Aggie drifted through the door. "Now don't worry, I can just pick the lock, all I need is a bobby pin or something that can open the door."
The door slowly opened behind him, Dipper looked back in surprise as how could that be. "What the?"
Neil patted him on the back. "You must be stronger than you think."
"Or it wasn't locked all the way." Norman added as he walked passed him, upon entering the office he turned to Aggie who floated close to the door and mouthed 'thank you' to her, which Aggie nodded with a smile.
Ignoring that strange occurrence, Dipper and the three looked around the office, shorting through papers, opening up drawers, and file cabinets where Dipper discovered the keys to all the vehicles. "Well I found the keys."
Norman, Neil, and Aggie walked over and peered in. "Which one's for the truck?" Neil question.
"I guess we're just going have to find out?" Norman answered. The three boys then grabbed the keys and headed out to tell the others on their find.
Outside; Cat is still taking his bath, Waddles oinks calmly as he let the warm sun heat up his body. Waddles then turned to him and poked his feline companion on the side.
Cat responds by getting up and walked away a few feet, before sitting back down and resumed his bath. Cat reached to clean his rear leg, when his nose picked up something, he paused for a minute as he sniffed a couple of times. Sitting up fully, Cat raised his head to sniff the air more clearly, the scent was bad and familiar.
Squeals cried out beside him, he looked over and it was clear that Waddles had picked up the scent to, as he looked scared and stomped his front hooves on the ground. Something was coming and they needed to hide quickly, with only one place to hide the two animals rushed into the building.
Mabel is still looking at the Ford when she heard the pity patter of hooves running to her, looking over she saw Waddles and Coraline's cat rushing up to her in panic, Waddles went right next to her legs and trembled, while Cat jumped himself on to the Ford's front hood.
Concern for her pig, Mabel gently petted his back in a way of calming him down. "What's wrong Waddles?"
Waddles only let out a series of frighten squeals. "So we gotta find out which key belongs to that truck?" Coraline questioned.
Mabel looked up to see everyone coming out from the hallway with Norman, Neil, and Dipper carrying keys. "Yep" She heard her brother replied.
"Oh, that's just fantastic." Coraline sarcastically remarked.
Mabel quickly rushed over to them. "Guys!" The others turned to her and immediately noticed the upset look on her face, Dipper concern for his sister immediately spoke up. "What's wrong Mabel?"
"Something is upsetting Waddles and Coraline's cat."
"Aw, what's wrong with them." Neil question as he hated to see animals upset, Mabel can only shrug. "I don't know. They just got scared."
The others began to voice their concerns as what could be possibly scaring the animals? Coraline meanwhile decided to just check it out as that was much more faster than discussing it, she peered out through the window, squinting her eyes through the darkening landscape until she finally spotted something big and hairy sniffing the ground. Coraline grimaced as she recognized that figure. "Oh no."
Hearing Coraline, the others came over and looked out, Aggie gasped as it looked like a werewolf is outside. Dipper, Mabel, and Wybie held in a groan as like Coraline they knew who was outside.
Scarface sniffed the ground, he had been trailing after the boy and his herd for quite some time now, and now once again he has picked up more human scents. A soft growl escapes him, he raised himself up onto his hind legs to sniff the air a couple times. Slowly he turned his head in the direction of the car dealership.
"What is that thing?" Neil asked clearly scared.
"Scarface." Dipper bluntly answered.
"You know this thing?" Norman question.
"Unfortunately yes, long story short, he's a dogman that's been fallowing us all the way from Oregon."
"Why is he after you?" Neil asked.
"I gave him a injury."
Neil nodded in understandment. "That'll do it."
"Would of been nice of you guys to tell us about this thing earlier." Lili commented.
"Believe me, I had that exact same conversation with him." Coraline said. "But that doesn't matter right now, we have to get out of here."
"Can't we just stay here?" Neil asked nervously. Dipper shook his head no, "Scarface has a great sense of smell, it will only be a matter of time before he finds us. That is part of the reason how he fallowed us all this way."
"Then that means we have to get to the truck." Wybie grimaced as he really didn't want to go out there.
Raz meanwhile looked at the truck, judging closely on how far it was and how much cover they had, he turns to the others with a serious look. "Alright we gotta go into stealth mode, stick close to the cars and go slowly."
Raz didn't wait for the others to say anything, he instead looked out from the doorway; Scarface had came up to a trash can, he gets up and placed his head down into the can while his clawed hands gripped the top.
Raz quickly, but quietly sneaked out of the building and behind cover against the side of a white car, he sees Lili beside him, but looking back towards the building, the others hadn't went as they just stood at the doorway, clearly scared about heading out into the open.
Raz urgently motions for them to come on over, it was Coraline who had grew in some courage, she came out while keeping an eye on Scarface who's still rummaging through the trash, Wybie and Dipper soon fallowed. They were halfway across when Scarface made a noise that sent them immediately back into the doorway, Scarface looked up to the building curiously with wrappers falling from his mouth.
Slowly getting back down on all fours, Scarface slowly moved towards the building. Raz and Lili could feel their anxiety grow as he got closer to the building, they had to do something quickly or else Scarface will see their group. Raz looked over to a rock, concentrating hard Raz uses telekinesis to lift it up and throw it against a street light pole.
Alert Scarface immediately turns his attention towards the pole, he lets out a low growl before going over to investigate. The others took this opportunity to get over to Raz and Lili while completely unaware of what Raz just did.
After everyone was there, Lili checked out from behind the car, seeing that the coast was clear she motions for everyone to move out. So together in a single file line, the kids stayed behind cover, while staying on high alert as Scarface could be anywhere in the parking lot. At last they make it to the truck, now all they had to do was to find out which key started it up, Coraline slowly opened the door, she climbed into the driver's seat and then motions for Dipper, Neil, and Norman to hand her the keys in which they dumped them on the passenger seat.
As Coraline began to test each key, the rest of the kids waited anxiously, they were terrified that Scarface will appear around the corner any minute from now, Aggie raised herself up to get a look, but not too much as that thing could definitely see her if given the chance.
Looking over from another car's roof, Aggie spotted him sniffing around near the right side of the building, she slowly lowers herself back down, praying that Coraline will find the right key soon as he was getting more closer to their lane.
Coraline picked up one of the last keys, "Alright this has to be it, it just absolutely had to be." Closing her eyes in anticipation that it wasn't going to fit, Coraline puts the key on the key slot and it went in, Coraline opened her eyes in surprise then smiled. Neil notices that Coraline has managed to get the right key and is about to say something, but quickly got his mouth covered by Norman who motioned him to be quiet.
Scarface stood at the end of the lane, looking directly towards the doorway. As they watched him in fear, Waddles backed away a bit, bumping right into the side of the truck. The noise made the kids cringe in fear, Scarface turned to face them and immediately snarled viciously.
"Coraline start the truck!" Dipper shouted, meanwhile Scarface jumped on top of the car on the left side, the vehicle goes down under his weight, he then runs across on the roofs, snarling in anger.
Coraline turns the key, starting up the truck with a loud roar that made Scarface stop in surprise, this precious second allowed Dipper, Mabel, Waddles, Cat, Lili, and Raz to jump in, while Norman and Wybie jumped into the back, Aggie sat herself on the roof. Neil reached to climb up, but stopped upon noticing Scarface coming at full speed, in panic Neil ran off to the left, ducking in-between a car bumper and hood.
"Neil wait!" Norman shouted, he was jerked a bit as Coraline floored the truck, the truck moved away just as Scarface slammed down on the ground, where just one second ago the back was standing.
Scarface snarled at the retreating vehicle, but then turned his attention to Neil's retreating form, he was a much more slower target. Scarface snarls, he jumped on the hoods as he went in pursuit, Neil looked back and screamed in fright as Scarface was easily catching up with him. Quickly Neil made a sharp right turn, Scarface turned as well, but his feet slipped on the car's hood making him fall into the lane.
Scarface quickly got back up on all fours and rejoined the chase. Neil ran to the front of lane, he suddenly stops and opened a car door on his left, Neil jumped in and went to close the door, but Scarface grips it with his clawed hand and forced it open and then lunged into the vehicle with his mouth wide open.
Neil ducked back, just moving his legs out of the mouth's reach, Scarface inches himself further into the car, snapping his mouth at Neil who's barely missing getting his legs being torn into by a mouth full of sharp teeth. Without thinking, Neil jumped out from the other side of the car, then closed the door on Scarface's snapping mouth.
"Neil!" The truck pulls up at the end of the parking lot, Norman as well as the others motions him to come over, except Wybie who got out from the back to get his bike.
Neil didn't need to be told twice, he runs for the truck just as Scarface gets his upper half out of the car, he jumps over the car, and chases after Neil getting easily closer with each step.
Neil jumped and grabbed hold of the back just as Wybie with his bike got back on. Upon seeing Neil on, Coraline floors the truck again and speeds away.
Poor Neil held on tightly to the speeding truck, his legs were literally flying sideways. Norman and Wybie quickly grabbed his hands and pulled him into the back, which he lands on his stomach, Neil quickly got himself up, breathing heavily from all the excitement he endured. "Phew, that was something."
"Are you alright Neil?" Norman quickly asked his friend.
"Oh yeah, I can now say dogmen don't brush their teeth."
"At least we're loosing him." Wybie pointed out, suddenly a clawed hand grips the back hatch, this sudden appearance of the hand spooked the three boys. Scarface lifted his upper half up and snapped at the terrified boys, Wybie grabbed his bike on reflex and used the back end to slam it on Scarface's head.
The sudden impact makes Scarface to let go, he hits the ground and rolled a couple times before coming to a stop on his right side. He slowly raises his upper half up as he shook his head, he looked at the retreating truck and let's out an enraged roar.
Norman, Neil, and Wybie looked back at the increasingly distancing predator for awhile, before relaxing themselves by leaning back on the walls. They were relieved that they were safe for now, plus now they had wheels which will make their journey to Boulder a lot more easier.
The truck drives up a hill and into the last of the sunset.
July 18
As the kids were making their way towards Boulder in their new truck. Back at Gravity Falls; the town was like all the other towns in the country, with it left abandon of any human life, the only humans there were the rotting corpse's that have really decayed over the past weeks.
Now with humans no longer around, the supernatural creatures of Gravity Falls suddenly have a whole town for themselves: the gnomes had the burnt remains of the diner, the Manotaurs hung out at the bar, the unicorns raced through main street, goblins are playing bingo at the pool, a bigfoot family had wandered into the remains of the Northwest mansion to eat some of the food in the pantry.
As the monsters and supernatural creatures had the run of the former tourist town, in the forest; a human figure walked without a care in the world. He as no concern for the dangers that lurked within these woods as even the most vicious creatures will keep a good distance away from the man who admits darkness.
The man who calls himself Flagg; Randall Flagg should really be at Vegas right now to meet with his new council members, but he had some business to attend to, business that is concern towards a couple of kids.
The kids didn't really concern him as much as the main groups that had went to that foolish Mother Abigail, he would deal with them by using Harold when the time comes. But with those kids, he'll awaken an old friend to the twin nephew and niece of that old fool that tried to stop the superflu.
Flagg walks further through the forest with purpose, he passes a tree where he finally came across the thing that he was looking for. The thing Flagg had been searching for is a statue of a triangular being that had one eye, and wore a top hat and bow tie. This statue was once the most powerful being known as Bill Cipher, a being that impressed Flagg for the chaos he caused last year.
Now it was time for him to be awaken once again. Flagg slowly places his hand on the statue's stony hand with a devious smile. "Wakey, wakey Cipher. I have great use for you."
A great zap of electricity came out of Flagg's hand which surges around the statue. The statue began to shake and crack, Flagg let go and simply watched in delight as the statue lifted off from the ground and up five feet in the air, it shakes some more with the cracks increasing around the body, until the statue exploded in a bright light.
The bright light gets covered in yellow, the eye opens up and a crazy laugh comes through, with another flash of light Bill Cipher has once again returned to Gravity Falls. "Oh man! Oh man! I thought that I was going to be trapped in Stanley's mind forever! But look at this, Bill Cipher has once again returned!" Bill points his hand to a tree and with a snap of his fingers, he turned it into a pile of eyeballs that makes him laugh as they rapidly blink.
After he was done with his fits of laughter, a voice gets his attention. "Yes, you've returned and caused a bit of chaos. Always an amusing sight to this world."
Bill looked down at Flagg, blinking a couple of times before lowering himself down to his level while laughing some more. "You must be the one who freed me! How nice of you, as an award I won't change you inside out!" Bill then blinks a couple more times, while placing a finger under his eye. "That's funny, I don't know who you are."
Flagg smiled as Bill's wondering on who he was is very amusing. "You don't know who I am, but I know who you are Mr. Cipher."
"That's fascinating, as that's really a first." Bill then shrugged. "Oh well, time to restart weirdmageddon." Bill flies up a couple of meters, but stopped after the man's voice addressed him again. "Not so fast, I want to make a deal."
Hearing that word, Bill immediately gets back down to the man's level while rubbing his hands together in excitement. "Now your talking my language! What sort of deal would you like to make with me?"
The man shook his finger. "No, you got it all wrong my triangular friend. You need to make a deal with me."
Bill blinked a couple times in surprise. "I think you got it all wrong there pal! I'm the one who makes the deals around here."
Flagg nodded with more amusement. "That's very true, in the old world that is, but it's my world now, so it's best that you do as I say."
At that statement Bill laughed very hard, which Flagg did not like at all. "Your kidding right! I don't serve no flesh puppets!" Bill continues to hysterical laugh.
"It's best that you don't undermine my rule Cipher." Flagg threatenly remarked.
"Oh, what are you going to do cowboy boots?"
"If you want to know." Flag raised his hand up to Cipher, he closes it and suddenly Bill felt pain as electricity shocked him like a dog wearing a shock collar. The pain from the shock is so bad that he fell to the ground, staying on his knees while keeping his eye closed.
The pain ended, leaving smoke to rise up from his zapped body. Flagg smiled evilly down to the powerful being that was under his power. "Do you understand now?"
"Yes" Bill groaned as he slowly rose himself up to look at the man who actually hurt him. "What is your demands?"
"That's a good triangle." Flagg mocked, he lets out a brief snicker before getting down to business. "Do you remember a pair of twins that are brother and sister?"
Bill widen his eye at first, but then crossed it in an angry scowl as his body turned red. "Pine tree and Shooting Star! How can I not remember those pain in the neck kids! How I really want to disassemble their molecules over and over again!"
"Well, what if I can give you your chance of revenge against them." Flagg remarked.
Bill's color turned back to normal, his eye switched to that of glee. "That'll be a dream come true!" Bill then thought of something that was really important. "But wait, I can't even get out of here, due to that stupid barrier surrounding the area."
"That barrier is no match for my powers. I can easily get you out, so that you can get your revenge on the twins, along with a couple of friends they've made."
"Well I'm liking this deal!" Bill excitedly exclaimed as he rubbed his hands together.
"I knew you would." Flagg reached out his hand, Bill does the same with his own hand with it being covered in blue flames. They gripped each other's hands, finalizing the deal.
Now with the deal done, Bill once again raises himself up to begin on going after the twins, but once again Flagg stopped him. "Just one more thing."
Bill held in a groan as what could he want now? "Yes?"
"When you do complete your revenge. Just make sure you don't try to take over, as this is my world. If you even try to, I can easily turn you back into a statue." Flagg's eyes then glowed red and his voice grew deeper. "Got it."
Afraid, Bill quickly nodded which made Flagg smile. "Good, now run along and play."
Bill didn't need to be told twice, he closes his eye and disappeared in another flash of light, leaving Flagg to stand there smiling as nothing will get in his way now.
With that done, he should be making his way to Vegas, for Trashcan Man should be there resting after his long journey through the desert.
