Chapter Three

After getting everyone to believe he wasn't sick, Dipper moved to do more research on Bill. Unfortunately, he only had the third journal. The only information about Bill in his journal was that no one should summon him and that he was an all-powerful demon. Dipper frowned. He wasn't even the one to summon him, Gideon was.

Dipper couldn't even figure out a way to get rid of bill, or at least stop him from being able to enter his dreams.

"Dipper? You don't look so good, dude," Soos said when Dipper walked into the gift shop.

"I'm fine," Dipper said. "I'm not sick."

"I believe you, man," Soos said. "You just look a little pale is all."

"I probably just need some fresh air," Dipper responded. If he could sneak to the roof, he could work without interruption. "I'll be outside if anyone needs me." They wouldn't be able to find him on the roof anyway. He was never up there by himself.

Dipper climbed to the roof where he read through the journal for the hundredth time. He continued reading until suddenly it was dark and he could hear Mabel calling him.

"Dipper!" Mabel called. "Come on, it's time for you to do your nerdy journal thing and talk to me!" Dipper knew she was talking about him writing in his journal before bed and them talking about their day together.

Dipper frowned at the realization that he would have to go to sleep soon. He was concerned about seeing Bill again. Especially if the beatings carried on outside the dreamscape.

Dipper left the roof and sneaked into the attic before Mabel could see that he was sneaking around. When he got to the attic, Dipper removed his vest and shoes before climbing into bed.

Mabel walked into the room moments after this. Dipper was feigning sleep to avoid Mabel's concerned tone.

"Dipper?" Mabel asked when she looked over to him. "Are you sleeping already?" Dipper didn't move. "Goodnight, Dipper…" Mabel said with a disappointed tone after a few moments. She and Dipper usually spoke with each other before bed every night, even before they had arrived at the Mystery Shack. Mabel got into bed and was soon peacefully asleep.

Suddenly, Dipper was in the forest outside the Mystery Shack. He didn't remember walking there and knew he was dreaming. He must have fallen asleep despite his efforts to avoid it.

Mabel was standing in front of him. She must have been placed there by Bill to beat him up again.

"Dipper?" Mabel asked. Her pupils weren't slit and the whites of her eyes were still white. She looked like the real Mabel. "Why, Dipper?"

"What are you talking about?" Dipper asked.

"Why did you make a deal with Bill?" Mabel asked.

"I didn't!" Dipper protested.

"Why?!" Mabel shouted. "You're not even my brother anymore!" She lunged at him. Dipper didn't even try to duck. It was Bill's world. He had no power here.

Mabel pushed Dipper down to the ground, wrapping her hands around his neck. She began choking him. Dipper panicked when his air supply was cut off. He knew bruises carried over from the dreamscape, but he had no idea what would happen if he died in the dreamscape.

"Don't take my brother, you evil triangle!" Mabel exclaimed as she continued choking him. Dipper couldn't breathe. His vision was fading.

Everything was black.

Thank you so much, everyone, for the positive reviews! I just finished writing chapter ten, and basically, I'm posting a chapter every time I finish one of the other chapters. I figure that way no one will ever have to wait very long for a new chapter. Thanks, guys!