Chapter 6 – Ordeal

A/N: Thanks for the all the great reviews! Sorry for taking some time to update I had been really busy lately. Anyway, here's chapter six.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls.

Enjoy the read!

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Sitting in the attic room, Dipper and Stan were in an intense game of cards. Stan grinned and slapped down his last card.

"I win. Haha!" he exclaimed triumphantly much to his nephew's annoyance.

Dipper groaned. "You cheated!" he said flinging his cards on the floor.

"Says you," Stan chuckled and ruffled his hair playfully.

Dipper huffed and was about to retort when he suddenly started coughing violently only this time it was harder than before. He shivered.

Stan seemed to notice this and picked him up. "Alright, that's enough games for today. You should get some rest now." He then placed him on his bed and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Anything you, uh need kid?"

Dipper thought for a moment. "….another blanket?"

"Sure, I'll be right back." With that said, he turned around to leave. Dipper sighed and tried to get comfortable in his bed, but it was easier said than done when his whole body just ached. Whatever bug he had caught it was draining him dry while showing no mercy on his system. He just wished he could fall asleep by now, but something was preventing him from doing so despite how much he needed it.

Maybe I should read from the journal until then. He thought as he reached for his vest on the side of his bed lazily. He got hold of it and slipped his hand inside only to find nothing.

"Wha-" he raised an eye brow and searched harder for the leather bound tome. Nothing. It was gone!

"Oh no," Dipper's eyes widen when it finally hit him.

He had dropped the journal in the woods the other night.

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After searching some more, Grunkle Stan finally found a blanket in the shack's closet and made his way back to the attic room, humming softly to himself.

"Hey kid, I brought you the…." He trailed off when he entered the room only to find it empty with no sign of the brunette anywhere.

"Dipper?" he dropped the blanket on the bed and looked around for him. Did he go to the bathroom? It was then he noticed that Dipper's cap and vest were missing too which only confused him even more. Where is he? Where would he go?

Just then, he caught a glimpse of something outside through the window and he walked over to see it. There's no mistaking who he saw there and Stan felt his heart skip a beat.

"KID!" he yelled as he watched Dipper run into the woods. Wasting no time, he hurried out of the room heading downstairs and out of the porch, a sense of dread filled him at the thought Dipper in his weak condition wandering the dangerous forest alone.

What is he thinking?

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Dipper meanwhile made his way down the path through the forest despite how tired and sore he felt. Morning mist made it harder for his eyes to see and everything around him was too quiet for his liking, but he kept going.

It didn't take him long until he reached the spot he recognized from the other day. Memories of that incident came flooding into his mind and he gulped slightly. Pushing those thoughts aside, he began looking for the book while keeping an eye out just in case.

He soon peered behind a bush and found the journal. "Aha!" He picked it up and sighed with relief, glad it wasn't damaged by the storm. He then turned around to leave.

Dipper then frowned. Now he had other things to worry about. Stan probably found out he had ran off into the woods and would be furious with him, but the journal was really important to him. He had to get it back.

What if someone else found the book and took it. He shuddered at the thought itself. The last thing we need is another Gideon on the loose.

Hopefully, he'll be back to the shack soon. No harm done, right?

CRACK!

Dipper froze, his eyes going wide at the sound of a twig snapping behind him. Slowly, he looked back and saw the outline of something in the dark with bright blue orbs for eyes staring right back at him, growling menacingly.

Dipper gasped and felt his blood run cold. Without a second thought he took off running. He wasn't sure where he was going, but at the moment he didn't care. He just wanted to get as far away from it as possible.

The thing was getting closer. Panicking, he ran as fast as he could through the trees and stumbled a few times, but he didn't stop.

Suddenly, his foot got caught onto a tree root and he fell again, his chin grazing the ground.

Before he could stand up again he felt a hand grab the back of his vest and was pulled up into the air.

Dipper's breathing hitched when he met the monster's gaze, but now he was finally able to get a good look at it. The large creature was entirely dark and slightly hunched over with bright glowing blue eyes and long thick claws and teeth.

Dipper screamed once it opened its mouth and he was sure it was about eat him. Just before it could, a rock struck the back of its head.

"Get away from him!" Grunkle yelled from where he stood. He quickly grabbed another rock from the ground and flung it at him. It struck the monster in the eye causing it to drop the boy and howl in pain.

Stan immediately scrambled over and scooped Dipper into his arms and started running again. He could hear the monster chasing after them so took a left turn and ran through the trees hoping to lose it there. A few low branches whipped him in the face, but he tried to ignore them.

Soon enough he could hear the growls were getting quieter and he stopped once he was sure they lost it. He put the kid down and breathed a sigh of relief, glad they made it out alive. He then looked to Dipper who frowned guiltily.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he said weakly, unable to meet his gaze. "Sorry."

Stan scowled. "Well, you should be. What were you thinking? You nearly gave me a heart attack."

Dipper flinched and looked down. "I know, I just wanted to have the journal back. It's…important." He said.

"It's not important enough to put yourself in danger like that. That thing could have hurt you." He knelt down next to him and sighed. "Just promise me you'll never do something that stupid again, okay?"

Dipper looked up to him and nodded. "I promise."

"Good, now let's head back to the shack and get you cleaned up." He stated as they made their way back to the shack.

Dipper followed his uncle back when he suddenly felt uneasy and started slowing down. He felt a sharp pain at the back of his head and his vision blurred. "G-Grunkle Stan…" he called out, catching the old man's attention.

Stan stopped in his track and looked at him in concern. "Kid, what's wrong?"

Dipper clutched his head as the pain continued. "Grunkle Stan….I don't feel so…" his knees finally gave out and he lost consciousness.

"Dipper!"

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A/N: Oh no, what's going to happen to Dipper!? The next chapter will be the final so stay tuned.

Please review!