Gideon felt a wave of apprehension as Mabel left him alone in the library. He began to hyperventilate as he rushed out the door behind him to follow her, he caught up to her stride with ease. The mid-afternoon sun was hot and uncomfortable.

"Mabel, what's going on? You think Bill's after me again? I just- I don't want to consider it. I don't wanna be a pawn again!" Gideon drawled, his fear evident as the hand that grabbed Mabel's shoulder to halt her shook as he removed the hand apologetically.

"Anything weird happen? Anything you remember?" Mabel asked, crossing her arms. She tried to squash the feeling she was wasting her time.

"You'll think it's stupid but-"

"Spit it out."

"I've been sleepwalking."

"Sleepwalking?" Mabel scoffed, "That's the big reveal? Sleepwalking?"

"Every night for weeks I wake up with dirt on my feet, leaves in my sheets with no memory of leaving my cottage, and a few nights ago..." Gideon bit his lip, looking around before lowering his voice. "I found blood spatter on the cuffs of my pajama pants that wasn't mine. The next morning I heard they found a body."

"Come with me. If that's true, we need to keep you under lock and key." Mabel adjusted her backpack securing the straps on her shoulders.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Gideon half-joked, eyes darting for an escape route.

"Nope." Mabel gritted her teeth, sidestepping behind Gideon and wrenching his arm behind his back.

"Ow! What the hell, Mabel?!" Gideon yelled, the few passersby that were out watching with mild interest.

"Didn't trust you then, don't trust you now. New leaf or not, I can't risk others getting hurt because of you- again." She emphasized with a tug on the arm, earning a squeak of pain from Gideon. "I wish it wasn't such a long walk... Guess I can catch a ride..."

Mabel saw the Wendy's house in close proximity and figured she'd understand her distrust better than anyone. Once she got to the door she kicked the door a few times with the toe of her shoe to not take her hands off Gideon's arm.

Gideon squirmed uncomfortably, "This really isn't necessary, I won't run."

"Funny thing, but I don't believe you. Now shut up." She had never felt such a strong urge to kick the legs out from under someone before.

"Mabel!" Wendy grinned, before noticing Gideon and his face fell to bored interest, "Oh geez, this is a business call, I see."

"Need a ride to the inn, got any rope?" Mabel smiled cheekily, "Don't trust him to not run away."

She held up a finger with a look of concern, as though he was going to say something, but stopped herself, "Yeah. I'll get my stuff. Give me a sec'."

It took about five minutes of Gideon being hogtied in the truckbed, driving to the shack, for Wendy to ask the reason for Gideon's current predicament.

"Well, based on what he said, Bi- I mean Xolotl- got his hands on him as a vessel again. He said he's been sleepwalking with no memory of how he spent that time, said he even found blood on him once the night before a body being found was announced." Mabel informed Wendy, who was taking the situation with surprising calmness.

"Ever considered it was his own blood? There weren't any evidence of humans other than victims at the crime scenes." Wendy asked, turning left and Gideon sliding in the back hitting the side with a thud and a grunt.

"Actually..." Mabel wondered, opening the back window slat. "Gideon, how do you know the blood you found wasn't just yours? If you'd been walking around in the woods, maybe you cut yourself."

Gideon looked up at her from his position on his side and rolled his eyes, "Because the blood was still wet, Mabel, and I didn't have any marks on me other than the dirt on the bottom of my feet. I hope the rest of your group are more hospitable than you M, 'cus my childhood crush on you is disappearing at a breakneck pace."

"Don't care," Mabel humphed, sliding the window back.

"We're here," Wendy muttered, "better untie the hostage."

Mabel exited the car and came around the side, Gideon's hair messed up, clothes disheveled, and a rotten look on his face.

"You won't run, right, Gideon?" Mabel asked expectantly, Wendy heading inside on her own to alert the others.

"Guess not, be concerned what happened to me if I did." Gideon admitted.

Mabel sized him up and nodded, "Your hands will stay tied, I'll untie your legs."

Gideon laughed, some of his good humor returning, "Suppose I'll take what I can get."

The others came out with a range of expressions from curious to a scream of surprise from Wybie, "That's him! The one I saw in the woods!"

"Well, that confirms it then..." Gideon sighed.

Mabel smiled smugly to herself, "Not so crazy for tying you up now, huh, Gideon?"

"To think I used to like you-" Gideon grumbled.

"Think I owe you a kidnapping or two, being my former stalker and all." Mabel rolled her eyes, earning a look of shame from Gideon who curled in on himself. Wybie strode over with interest.

"You're the vessel? Huh, look different than I imagined." Wybie muttered, helping Gideon out of the truck bed before sitting him at a bench nearby.

Wybie stood looming over Gideon, while the rest converged on the porch. Gideon looked up at him with eyes squinted as Wybie only somewhat blocked the sun from his eyes.

"Gideon, right?" Wybie asked, not really waiting for an answer before continuing. "What were you doing in the woods off the property here? Spying on us for Xolotl?"

"Xola-whata? Have marbles in your mouth?" Gideon asked, visibly confused. Then, as his eyes darted between everyone his mood shifted to anger, "Alright, someone tell me what the hell is going on!"

Dipper, seeming apprehensive of the conversation about to happen, heaved a sigh, "The murders by this Beast thing, it's Bill somehow. He's trying to brace up his true form, as the god Xolotl. He's murdering who we believe to be virgins, as sacrifice to regain his power. If you're his vessel, this is your fault too."

"Clearly, I don't have a choice in the matter!" Gideon yelled, frustrated, "I let him in the first time but I wouldn't do that now! I don't want that psycho crawling around in my head, knowing what he's done! Untie me and let me go. I doubt holding me hostage will make him happy, if anything."

Gideon flicked his neck to the side to try to get hair out of his face but when it fell again in front of his eyes he growled in irritation, "Besides, Wendy," Gideon looked defiant now, a little like his former self. "You could lose your job over this. Couldn't you?"

Wirt, who had been watching slackjawed with Wendy and Gregg, suddenly spoke up, "He's right, we could be inciting the Beast to come here and cut us down before we figure out what to do. We're vulnerable out here anyway. Let him go. We don't need him."

Coraline, who had remained silent playing with the tips of her hair, quietly agreed. "We don't know for sure. We're putting ourselves in danger on a hunch."

"It is not a hunch!" Mabel yelled, "I'm right about this, I know it!"

"We don't have a choice," Norman muttered. "He's right. This is bigger than us. Wendy could lose her job, Wirt could get in trouble too. Just let him go. We can always round him up later if it's necessary. This was too rash, Mabel. I know you're itching for answers, we all are, but we have to be tactful about this."

Gideon sighed, annoyed, "I'll keep my mouth shut. Just let me go. I'll take my own precautions."

Mabel looked between everyone, eyes falling last on her brother, before letting out a wet sigh as her eyes began watering. "Okay. Fine. I get it."

Wybie untied Gideon, who rubbed his wrists painfully.

Gideon's voice was subdued and polite, "Mind giving me a ride home, Miss Corduroy?"

Wendy, shocked by the title, nodded with a blush dusting her face, "Sure, I owe you that much."

Wendy and Gideon set off in the car silently, an awkward silence falling among them.

"I'll make dinner," Wirt said predominantly to himself, striding inside.

Mabel bounded inside, visibly upset, Dipper going after her to reassure her. Norman was next, Gregg holding his arm and following close behind. Coraline and Wybie stood outside, leaning against the side of the inn for privacy.

"I have a really bad feeling about this," Coraline admitted. "Mabel bringing him here, we're not in danger, right?"

"We aren't sure Xolotl knew we were here before, but I'm sure he will now." Wybie stratched his head in frustration. "It was too rash. Hope this doesn't come back to bite us."

A.N.
I know it's been a long time and I am SO sorry. Honestly. I have the barebones plot for this written out already and I have no excuse other than I have had a lot of family/personal drama in the past 6 months not including the pandemic so, needless to say... I'm worn super thin. This is my more difficult fic of the two I am working on so this one doesn't get updated as much and for that I'm sorry, but I'm trying. Thanks for sticking with me. I'll try to update more often, I have enough for probably 10-15 more chaps before the end, just so you know.
Love,
DbI