Chapter 12: The Mall

Dippers POV

We finally made it to the mall. After Stan drove us, Mabel dragged me, Pacifica, and Stan around the mall. We could hardly keep up with her since there was so much she wanted to see and do.

We spent the first 20 minutes chasing after her until we all stopped at the food court. Pacifica and I were holding our knees and leaning against each other trying to catch our breath. Mabel was sitting down thinking of a plan on what stores to go to that she saw while running around. Stan finally caught up to us. He was breathing so hard I thought he was having a heart-attack!

"Grunkle Stan, are you ok?" I asked

"What are you talking about? Of course I am! I'm not that old!" Stan tried to say confidently while struggling to breath.

"Hey you guys! I think I've figured out which shops to go to first!" Mabel screamed

"Mabel give us a rest! We haven't been in one store and I'm already exhausted. Where do you store all this energy?" asked Pacifica

"Me and Stan have been trying to figure that out forever. All we can come up with is it's because of her huge amounts of sugar she eats." I say

"Seriously kid, give us a second to rest! How about this. I'll buy us lunch before you do any shopping." Stan said

"Wow, Stan must be really tired if he's willing to spend money on us here! The mall is the most expensive place to buy food near Gravity Falls!" Mabel said

Stan then ordered some burgers, fries, and shakes for everyone. We of course dug-in as soon as the food came. But when I looked over to Pacifica, for some reason she was hesitant.

"Pacifica, is something wrong?" I asked

Pacifica suddenly looked flustered after being asked by Dipper

"N-N-Nothings wrong! I'm just… not good at trying new things."

"Wait What! Are you saying you've never had a burger with fries and a shake!" yelled Mabel

Pacifica frowned a little when she said "My parents often kept me on a diet so I never got to try many fast foods…"

Mabel instantly regretted bringing up the question. Our goal is to not bring up her parents as much as possible. But somehow this reminder slipped through.

I tried to quickly press forward away from the subject of her parents.

"Well don't be scared of it! Burgers and fries taste amazing! You'll love it!" I said with a smile trying to bring her spirits back up.

"W-Well…if you're sure." Pacifica said.

I saw her still hesitating to take a bite from the burger. But then she quickly took a big bite! I then saw the surprise look on her face and a smile that told me she did like it. She then tried the fries and the shake which made her even happier.

"I can't believe how good this is!" Pacifica said

"Guess now Grunkle Stan will have to buy us fast food more often!" shouted Mabel

We laughed as Stan sat there with a worry look for his wallet.

But as we were laughing, in the corner of my eye, I notice a suspicious character staring at us from across the food court.

"…stan" I whispered trying to not catch Mabel's and Pacifica's attention.

"…don't worry, I noticed him too. You take the girls shopping and I'll watch this guy just to make sure it's just our imagination. I'll catch up if later." Stan whispered back

"So Mabel, Stan says he'll wait here until we are done with our shopping. Is there anything girly Elicia or you need to buy?" I said suddenly raising my voice.

The two girls looked at each other, giggled, and then started to whisper to each other. I had a bad feeling about this. And I was right.

Minutes later we ended up in front of Victoria Secret. And as I tried to casually walk away, both blushing and flustered at where the girls had taken me, they suddenly grabbed both my arms and pulling me into the store.

"C-Come on girls! Be reasonable, I can wait outside can't I? Why do I have to wait in the store for you girls to be done buying…whatever you're gonna buy." I said while trying to desperately free myself from their grip.

"One because we like to see you flustered!" said Pacifica

"Two because we might need your opinion on a few thongs or something!" said Mabel

"Why would you need my opinion?!" I cried as they giggled and pulled me into the store.

I tried to think about the positives to my humiliation in the store as I waited with lingerie all around me. But the first thing that came to mind were dirty thoughts that made me feel like a pervert and my cargo shorts really tight. I tried to think of other reasons off that subject.

"Well at least this way I can keep a good eye on Pacifica." I thought

We haven't been in public much just in case Pacifica gets recognized. But even though the disguise of her natural self has been working. I still felt like we needed to be precautious.

It was then I noticed another character walking passed the entrance of Victoria Secret. At first I thought it was Stan looking for us, but then I realized it was another suspicious character. It wasn't the same one that was in the food court, but it was obvious he was looking for someone. I then saw the same suspicious character in the food court stop and talk to him. After a few moments they went in opposite directions.

I quickly walked to the front entrance of Victoria Secret but there was no sign of them. I suddenly heard someone call my name and it was Stan.

He walked closer and whispered, "There is something definitely shady going on here…I think it would be best if we left."

"Do you think her cover was blown?" I asked worried about Pacifica's well-being.

"I don't know, but we best leave now! I'll go start the car, you get the girls!" Stan said

I couldn't agree more. I quickly ran back to the girls while Stan guarded the entrance for a moment before he left.

"Elicia! Pacifica! It's time to go!" I said trying to remain as cool as possible.

"Whaaaaat! But we haven't been in this store for more than 15 minutes." Whined Mabel

"Sorry but there has been a change in plans. Stan says we need to go now. He's waiting in the car." I said now starting to get irritated.

"But Dipper!"

I finally raised my voice, "Mabel do what I say and leave with Elicia now!"

It was then Mabel noticed how serious I was. She quickly went back into a changing room and walked out with Pacifica.

I then tried to act like nothing was wrong. "Sorry Elicia, seems our shopping plans were cut short. Stan suddenly remembered he needed to do something." I said with a smile.

"It's ok, Mabel has the best in that drawer at the shack anyways…" she said

While blushing at the thought of when I caught her changing into Mabel's lingerie's, I moved them through the mall heading for the exit. And at a distance behind was two suspicious characters I recognized.

"Oh I forgot Stan wanted for me to quickly buy something! You girls go on ahead, I'll be right there." I lied. I had to create some distance between Pacifica and those characters. They wouldn't dare pass me to blow their cover.

I watched the girls head outside. As I looked back those characters just stared at me. I felt I had won, but that I needed to take some safety precautions. I couldn't let them see the license plate we drive off in.

I quickly made my way around the mall to a back emergency exit. I waved to a security camera set up above it trying to make fun of the mall cop if he was watching. HE would probably come to give me a lecture but I'd be long gone before he arrived.

I quickly swung the emergency door open into a loading area of the mall outside. I waited to hear the door shut to not cause a problem for the mall cop.

But I suddenly felt something sharp go into my side behind me.

It was so quick, that it took a couple of staggering steps for the pain to show up.

As I finally heard the door shut, I screamed in pain…

I put my hand to my side where the pain was coming from, but as I pulled it hand back, it was covered in blood…my blood.

I fell to my knees where a red puddle was forming underneath me.

I looked up to see the two suspicious characters standing above me. One of them had a knife stained in blood. He threw it to the ground and took a step closer.

"You must have really pissed off those Northwest folks kid." One of the characters said.

"They kept thinking up all these different ways to kill you, but ended up choosing a slow, painful death." The other character said.

After hearing this, I smiled in relief. This meant, they were never after Pacifica, they were after me. Which meant that Pacifica's whereabouts was still secret and she was still safe out of her parents grasp.

I then started to chuckle at my situation. But the characters in front of me didn't find this funny.

"What are you laughing about!" One of the characters said.

"Oh I was just thinking of how spineless the Northwest family really is and how they couldn't finish me off themselves but paid a couple cheap losers to do it for them!" I said smirking.

"Oh god…there goes my mouth again. Why can't I ever keep it shut." I thought as they kicked and punched me to a bloody pulp.

Thankfully they couldn't finish me off. I could have died right there if it wasn't for that mall cop I waved at coming onto the scene to find me. His presence scared off the two suspicious characters who bolted away. The mall cop would have ran after them but then seeing my condition, decided I was his main priority. But before he could ask me anything, I passed out…

… And everything was black.