Chapter 18
"Bravery. It comes. With a. Price." the voice echoed, laughing in Dipper's head, mocking him. "What are you. Waiting for, hero?"
Dipper grabbed the knife and cut himself.
"This is for you, Tom." he muttered. "Six inches long and four inches deep."
"Don't let her get to you, Dipper. You did the right thing." Mabel said.
"Mabel. Pines. Would. You. Rather. Have Horrifying. Nightmares. For the rest. Of the year. Or see things that are not. Real."
"Nightmares." Mabel said, her voice wavering.
"Dipper. Pines. Would. You. Rather. See how you die. Or die. Unexpectedly."
"See how I die." Dipper replied. The world shook and Dipper found a blurry girl in front of him and a blurry girl behind him. A gunshot rang out in the silence and he fell to the ground, pain bursting in every corner of his body. Blood dripped from the inside of his mouth and white filled the room. And then- he was back in the arena.
"Dipper, are you okay?" Mabel asked worriedly. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Worse." Dipper croaked. The day went on like that, getting worse and worse. And then, it was over. The sky darkened and the voice laughed.
"You are stupid. Stupid for being so frightened. We are all friends here. Now return to your prison. Adelphie made food for you. See you in the morning."
...
Mabel tossed and turned on the cold, hard floor. It was late at night and she was dreaming.
I was working at the Mystery Shack when out of nowhere a zombie busted down the door and ate three people. The zombie's face was ripped and scarred, as were its clothes. As everyone was screaming and running away, the zombie opened its mouth and coughed up seven bullets. It ran into the forest and I followed it because I knew Dipper was in the forest also, reading his book. I saw him, my brother, by the base of a tree, reading. As I opened my mouth to warn him the zombie struck a match and lit the tree on fire. Dipper jumped back just in time and whirled around face to face with the zombie. I called to him to run, to do something, but he just stood there watching the it. Then it ripped off a flaming tree bark and slit his throat, killing him. I screamed and cried, yelling at the zombie to stop. But it lit his body on fire instead and smiled contentedly. No! I yelled. Get away! But it would not. Soon there was nothing left but ashes and I cried again. A whispy cloud trailed behind the ashes and it shook in a weak sort of way. It was crying too. Dipper? I asked the wisp. I could see it nod and shortly the rest of his body took place. Take my ashes back, Mabel. Take them back home. I love you, Mabel, but my soul will always be here. I love youuuuuuuuuu. The wisp disappeared and I screamed for Dipper. I tried to kill myself, too. I tried to catch my body on fire, but it didn't work. Blue light always appeared and the flames went out. I called for Dipper again and again. I called for him into the night.
"Mabel! What are you doing?" Dipper whispered sleepily, poking his sister. "Mabel wake up!"
"Dipper! Dipper! Come back! Take me with you!" Mabel screamed. "Come back!" Dipper nudged her harder and she awoke, crying.
"It was a dream." Dipper whispered as he hugged her.
"The worst dream." Mabel said as she fell again into another restless sleep in her brother's arms.
...
"Morning." Mel said as the twins were lead up to her again. "Sleep well?" she asked Mabel.
"No." Mabel said flatly.
"Follow me." Mel said. She brought them to a room with a huge red phone booth. "Check it out." she said. Halfheartedly the twins went inside and looked around. Dipper stood on a box that had a seven on it.
"Hey Mabel- look at this." he said. As Mabel walked towards him her waist accidentally pushed against a big wheel. It turned. The seven lit up around Dipper and he started to shout. Mabel tried to pull him off but it wasn't working. When the light became too bright she shaded her eyes and ran from the room.
"Mel- what did you do!?" she asked. Mel shrugged her shoulders innocently. As the light faded Mabel ran back inside and looked for her brother. Instead she found a little boy around the age of five staring up at her. Clarity began to fill up inside of her. He was standing on a seven. Dipper was seven less.