After finishing an anticlimactic meal of barely heated-through frozen dinners in front of last week's episode of Ducktective, Mabel and Dipper hurried up the stairs to their bedroom. They flopped down together on Mabel's bed.

"So what the heck Dipper, where were you all day?" Mabel burst out. "Soos and I looked for you everywhere and you end up on the other side of town? Whaaat?"

Dipper scratched the back of his head. "Look, I'm not entirely sure what happened either. I can't really remember a lot of last night or this morning. And Bill's involved," He finished seriously.

"Oooh triangle guy," Mabel's eyes widened. She pulled Waddles onto her lap and hugged him to her chest. "Give me the deets."

Dipper took a long breath. He told her about the strange forest that had been his first memory of the day. About the uneasy, alien feeling the quiet place had given him and the sudden appearance of Bill Cipher. He explained how he had spent the day frantically searching Gravity Falls as a spirit, fearing a fate worse than death the entire time. He told her about Bill's offer. Finally, he described how he and the demon had found his body lying underneath a bridge surrounded by strange unearthly symbols.

"Creeepy…" Mabel let it all sink in for a moment, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Well, it was nice of Bill to help you out. I'm glad you didn't disappear. So's Waddles," she squeezed the piglet's middle in her arms, making him wiggle and snort.

Dipper scoffed, "Mabel, he tried to manipulate me into giving up my body first."

Despite his words, deep down he guessed he really was grateful for how things had turned out. Being safe at home had the effect of making his ordeal feel like a thing of the past. That and his sister had the mystical quality of bringing out the optimist in anyone. Even an exhausted preteen that had just had one of the most stressful days of his life.

Dipper yawned so widely that it brought tears to his eyes.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Mabel yawned back and stretched. "Oh!" she exclaimed and pushed Waddles off her lap. She crossed the room to her dresser and pulled Dipper's hat and the Journal from the top drawer.

"I found these on the roof this morning. I thought maybe you fell asleep up there again or something." She dumped them both on Dipper's lap.

Dipper stared down at the hat and Journal. Now that he thought about it, he did remember going up to the roof. After waking up in the middle of the night, as he sometimes did, the shared bedroom had started to feel stuffy and overheated. He had quietly changed into his clothes, figuring he wouldn't be going back to sleep, and had stepped out onto the roof with his UV light and the Journal in hand. He had sat up there reading quietly under the light of the moon until…

Until…

It was a string of thought that was somehow impossible to finish. The memory begun as clear as day but frayed to nothing. Engulfed by darkness.

Anxiety wrapped itself around Dipper's heart not for the first time that day. He tossed his hat onto his bed and gripped the Journal tightly. Moving to his own side of the room, he kicked off his shoes.

"Hey, do you want to hit the library with me tomorrow to do some digging? I won't be able to rest easy until I know exactly what happened to me today."

"Blargh, research," Mabel complained. "Fiiine, but we have to do something fun too. We can't be the mystery twins all the time."

"Yeah, that's fine I guess." He was so tired that his vision was blurring. Dipper bit back another yawn and slipped under the covers. "Night, Mabel."

"Night-night, Dip."

The lights went out and Dipper drifted off within minutes. Thankfully, he didn't dream a thing.

…

Dipper dropped his head into the open book in front of him. Unsatisfied with his first attempt, he lifted his head and tried again, harder. Thump.

He sat at his preferred desk in the back of the library. Dozens of books, notes, and pieces of crumpled paper scattered the desk around him. The titles he had pulled down ranged from dense, esoteric dictionaries of ancient alphabets to farces that would have been more at home at the Mystery Shack, such as Fun Rituals for Friends and Frenemies and Supernatural Sightings for Dummies. One of the post-its stuck next to Dipper's elbow had scribbled on it 'learn latin ASAP'.

"Um, bro, I think you're doing it wrong," Mabel spoke up. She was seated at the other end of the desk. Having given up hours ago (shortly after they had begun), she was currently attempting to stack some of the books Dipper had tossed away house of cards style. Her attempt was actually quite impressive. Dipper ignored her jibe.

"How is there nothing here? You'd think the Journal would have been at least a little help. But no! Nothing!" He ranted, getting up out of his seat and pacing across the floor. He hadn't seen anything even remotely like the symbols he had witnessed in any of the sources he could find. He was starting to wonder if yesterday had even happened at all, if this all hadn't been some big joke. He wouldn't have put it past Bill Cipher.

"Maybe you discovered something totally new! We should write another entry," Mabel grinned. "I'll be in charge of character design and art direction." She held up a rainbow of crayons that Dipper was fairly certain she kept on her person at all times. Dipper recoiled at the thought of letting his sister loose on the Journal. The old book might lose some of its enigmatic appeal covered in purple sparkles and googly eyes.

"Too bad I can't remember anything that happened." Dipper pulled at his hair.

"That's it- we're busting out of here!" Mabel slammed her fists on the desk. Her tower of books toppled over and splashed across the tabletop.

"Haha, woops. Anyways, you're super stressed, Dipper. I think it's time for some Mabel Relaxation and Rejuvenation!"

"I'm not letting you give me another facial," Dipper said flatly. If he were being honest with himself, both he and Soos had enjoyed the last spa-day Mabel had decided to host. Dipper's face had never felt so baby-skin smooth, but the teasing he had endured from Wendy after she had walked in on them still made Dipper cringe. Besides, who knew what Mabel put in that facial cream of hers anyway?

"Hmm well, how about we go throw water balloons in the bottomless pit again?" She offered instead.

Dipper smiled crookedly, that had been fun. Pretty much the only way to improve a water balloon fight was to throw in a randomly regurgitating, looping-portal into the mix.

"All right, just help me put all of these books ba-"

"Nopenotimelet'sgo!" Mabel grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away. Dipper barely managed to get his hands on the Journal before he was propelled out of the dusty building and into the sunlight.

…

There was nothing like a warm day and a ridiculous number of water balloons to help a person unwind. Soos and Wendy had eventually shirked their duties at the Mystery Shack (it was a slow day) to join in on the action, and no one had come out of it dry. They had all eventually called truces and toweled off.

Dipper had almost been able to keep his obsessing under control. That is until he walked into the kitchen to grab a late lunch.

Grunkle Stan sat with his slippered feet propped up on the table, reading what appeared to be a special edition of the Gravity Falls Gossiper. On the front, in large bold letters read: Local Restaurant Owner Found Unconscious in Back Ally!

Underneath the title was a tactless picture of an overweight older lady, Lazy Susan, sprawled on the ground next to a dumpster. A bag of garbage that had been viciously torn open lay next to her and discarded breakfast foods were strewn about the scene.

Something cold crept through Dipper and he froze in place, staring at the image. The scene was oddly familiar. Without any warning, he strode over and snatched the paper out of Grunkle Stan's hands, eliciting an irritated shout from the conman.

"Hey kid what gives!"

"Sorry Grunkle Stan," Dipper apologized half-heartedly. He was too absorbed in reading the article to be much bothered.

Lazy Susan had been found late last night behind the diner she owned and operated, deep in a coma. Other than bruising on her arms and side from apparently falling to the ground, she was in perfect physical condition. There were no indications of head trauma to explain the state she was in.

Other than pointing to rabid bear attacks and gang activity as possibly culprits, the article was surprisingly well-written for something composed by Toby Determined.

Dipper wondered if Lazy Susan was currently wandering Gravity Falls as a spirit.

There weren't any mentions of strange symbols or pagan rituals though.

"How's my boys?" Mabel announced her entrance, still ringing water out of her hair.

"Your brother's gone snatch-happy!" Grunkle Stan complained, but then smirked. "Heh, chip off the old block."

Dipper finished the article and handed it back. He turned to his sister.

"Lazy Susan was found outside last night in a coma."

"That's terrible!" Mabel clapped her hands to her mouth. Then her brow creased in thought. "Hey, Grunkle Stan, didn't you date her?"

The old man shrugged. "It was only the one time, and I deeply regretted it."

"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel crossed her arms and gave him a cross look. "Everyone knows that regret is just the first stage of love! You have to take her flowers. It's the least you could do!"

"Flowers are for romantics and the weak. Plus they're expensive." Grunkle Stan replied matter-of-factly. He snapped open the paper and resumed his reading.

"Oh no, you're not getting out that easy! C'mon, I'll help you pick some, ya old cheapskate," Mabel ordered, pulling him off his seat and pushing him out the door. Grunkle Stan didn't stand a chance against the match-making tornado that was Mabel Pines.

Dipper was left standing alone in the kitchen, even his appetite had left him, feeling like he was the only one properly disturbed by this development.

…

Later that night, after tossing for a couple hours, Dipper finally dropped off into sleep.

…

He slowly came back to consciousness.

It felt like there was… breathing? Slow and heavy. Against his neck?

"Aaagh!" Dipper jolted up and clasped both hands around his throat. Goosebumps prickled his arms and legs.

He looked around frantically. He wasn't in his bed. He wasn't even in his room. He was alone in the dark. Under that bridge. Sitting amongst the cool rocks next to that creak. Those haunting symbols surrounded him, glowing pitch black.

"Oh nononono." Dipper jumped to his feet, turning in a circle. "This can't be happening. This can't be happening!" He was suddenly gulping for air, unable to keep his breathing even. The blood rushed to his head and he felt faint.

Abruptly, something burst out of the shallow water of the stream, creating a huge splash. Dipper screamed and fell backwards, shielding his face.

"Ahahaha!" Dipper knew that laugh. How could he not know that laugh?

"JK, kid! Boy, I got you good!" Bill Cipher laughed at him, shaking water off his hat.

Dipper thought he felt a blood vessel burst.

I ended up having to split this chapter up because it got so long. The good news is that a large chunk of the next chapter is already done. There will be much more Bill, Dipper, and danger next time I promise.

Anyways, thanks for reading so far and please review if you like ;)