"Seriously, kid? Can't we do something more fun?" Stan's gruff voice cut through the misty air. He gestured towards a couple sitting not far from us, chuckling and chatting animatedly. "Like telling ex-wife jokes to that couple over there! How's that sound, huh?"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Stan's ever-present penchant for mischief. He had a talent for finding humor in the oddest situations. But my attention was drawn back to the task at hand, and I returned to using Stan's binoculars to spy on the kids.
At that moment, everything appeared relatively normal, given the circumstances. The kids were doing their usual thing, and Soos, well, he was munching away on some fish food, as if it were popcorn at a movie.
...Yeah, I..I'm kinda wondering if he is some kind of an anomaly.
Yet, beneath the surface of appearing normalcy, an inevitable feeling hung in the air, the looming presence of some otherworldly creature or unpredictable anomaly. The original show's monsters, like gnomes, might have been manageable, but it was the unknown entities, the ones emerging due to my presence, that truly concerned me.
"...Looks like they're heading to Scuttlebutt Island," I noted, keeping my eye on the distant boat.
Stan chuckled at the island's name. "Scuttle Butt."
I shook my head at his irreverence. "It's not funny, Mr. Pines. I know you're frustrated about your grandniece and grandnephew ditching you for a monster hunt, and your fishing plan going awry, but we really need to take the kids' safety seriously. You know how dangerous it can be out here."
Stan grunted in reluctant agreement and revved up the boat's engine. We trailed behind Soos's boat as we slowly made our way towards the enigmatic Scuttlebutt Island.
As we approached the island, an eerie mist began to shroud our surroundings. Mist was never a good sign in Gravity Falls; it had been a tool used by the Echo to disorient and terrify us. Now, it seemed like something else was utilizing it for its own ominous purposes.
And the smell... oh, the smell was something else entirely. It wasn't just the pungent odor of fish bait; it was a nauseating stench of rotting fish that seemed to seep into our very souls.
"Ugh! Stan, what is this... rotten smell?!"
Stan glanced at me, seemingly unperturbed by the foul odor. "Oh, that? Maybe it's the fish bait."
I shook my head, my discomfort growing. "No, it's much worse than that. Fish bait is one thing, but this..."
Stan still didn't seem to fully grasp the extent of my discomfort. In response, I reached for my dental mask and quickly put it on. It didn't completely eliminate the stench, but it made it a bit more bearable.
As we neared the island, the kids and Soos disembarked, each armed with disposable cameras. I couldn't help but wonder why they didn't use regular cameras or their phones, but then I remembered that this was 2012, and smartphones weren't as ubiquitous as they are now.
Now, the question was: should I follow them onto the island or wait here?
First, if the Gobblewonker did appear, it was likely that the kids and Soos could handle it. Second, my real concern was the other, unpredictable danger lurking in the shadows. Perhaps it was wiser to investigate that before chasing after them.
"Mr. Pines, how about we get this fishing started?" I suggested, trying to bring a sense of normalcy to our unusual situation.
Stan's eyes brightened up. "Wait, really? Alright, let's do it!"
"But we should keep an eye on the kids, so let's fish right here. Got it?"
Stan hesitated for a moment, looking out at the island where the kids and Soos had landed. Then he nodded reluctantly. "Well... I don't trust this mist, but... Sure, let's do it. Here, take a fish bait! You know how to attach it, right?"
"I've read a book about it."
I accepted the smelly bait with my gloved hands and expertly attached it to the hook.
"Ha! Reading books, huh? Well, let me show you the ropes. Fishing isn't just about following instructions; it's an art. You need experience..."
"Done."
I held up my fishing rod, the knot and bait perfectly in place. Stan's grumpy expression returned, and he turned away from me.
"...This is exactly why I needed the kids... They would have learned! Ray, you need to loosen up a bit."
"I am fun. I just don't see the need for all this."
I retorted before launching my fishing pole. After ensuring the bobber was floating properly on the water's surface, I took out my book to read. That was until Stan interrupted me.
"...You know, my brother... um, Stanford. Can you explain to me what he has been... um, researching?"
His voice had softened, sounding more polite and cautious than before. It was quite a departure from his usual gruffness.
"Well, I'm not exactly a science guy, but... Ah, gosh darn it! Just tell me what Sixer's been studying!"
"Why do you need to know about that?"
"...Please, Ray. I need it. Well, we haven't known each other for a long time, but can't you trust me?"
Stan's plea struck me as genuine. My instincts for detecting lies didn't seem to be tingling, and he appeared more like a tired, older man missing his brother.
"Sure. I'll tell you. You're my boss, after all."
"Great! You're my favorite employee, you know that, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Now, give me a moment to reminisce."
As I thought back, I recalled discovering Ford's old papers and journals in the Backupsmore University archive. I also stumbled upon some documents in Stan's office that appeared to be written by Ford. I could explain it to him.
"First of all, he was studying something... that seemed impossible. Like that perpetual motion machine he created before even going to university? It was scientifically deemed impossible to make, but he did it! If only he could have proven it, he might have won a Nobel Prize."
"...Oh."
"Before he stopped writing more papers, it seemed like he was delving into... anomalies."
"Anomalies?"
"Yeah, and... well, time-space related stuff."
Stan's expression turned serious, his curiosity clearly piqued. Okay, now seeing his interest, he must know how to bring Stanford back... or at least have some plan related to it.
I hesitated for a moment. How much information should I really share with him?
"Tell me more about it," Stan pressed, his gaze focused on me.
"Um, yeah... sure, but I don't have the papers right now, so I can't really explain it all that easily. Next time, I'll tell you more specifically," I replied, trying to keep things vague for the time being.
Stan nodded at me, and we settled into a comfortable silence as we fished. It was oddly serene, the gentle rocking of the boat, the misty surroundings, and the distant laughter of the kids and Soos on the island. Stan's bobber twitched, and he expertly reeled in a small rainbow trout.
"Ha! Did you see that, Ray? That's how it's done," he boasted, a smug grin on his face.
I glanced at his catch, offering a soulless compliment. "Impressive, Mr. Pines."
Stan's chest puffed out a little at my reluctant acknowledgment. He went back to fishing, and I did the same.
After a while, I felt a tug on my line. Excitement bubbled within me as I reeled it in. However, the sight before me was anything but exciting. The fish I had caught was... half melted. Its scales were oozing a strange, viscous substance, and the smell of rotting fish hit me like a freight train.
"Ugh!" I exclaimed, my face contorted in disgust. Without thinking, I frantically threw the grotesque catch back into the water. The splash it made seemed to reverberate through the otherwise quiet mist.
Stan raised an eyebrow, his previous gloating forgotten. "Ray, what in tarnation was that?"
I shook my head, trying to get the image and smell out of my mind. "I have no idea, Mr. Pines."
A feeling of unease washed over me as I glanced at the rainbow trout that Stan had caught earlier. It lay there on the boat, seemingly lifeless, but something about it didn't sit right with me. I couldn't put my finger on it.
As if in a trance, I slowly reached out and poked the fish with a metallic stick I found on the boat. To my horror, the stick pierced through the fish without any resistance. The trout's exterior seemed intact, but it was as if its insides had turned into some sort of grotesque void.
Black, gooey substance began oozing from the wound, slowly pooling on the boat's surface. My heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out on my brow, but I didn't scream. I couldn't afford to panic.
Instead, I turned my gaze to the water, which was difficult to see through the thick mist. With trembling hands, I extended a wooden plank towards the lake's surface. As it made contact with the water, a horrifying transformation began. The plank started to melt and rot, dissolving into a slimy mess that matched the putrid odor in the air.
My breath quickened as I realized that something was seriously wrong here. The lake, the fish, the mist—it was all part of something beyond my understanding, something deeply unsettling. But I couldn't show fear, not now. I needed to figure out what was happening and how to protect myself and Stan from it.
"Stan," I began, my voice slow and deliberate, "shouldn't we... maybe head over to the island and check on the kids now?"
Stan shook his head, a stubborn glint in his eye. "Nah, we don't need those little traitors right now. Let 'em have their adventure."
I opened my mouth to protest, to point out the danger that might be lurking, but as I glanced at the water once more, I froze. It was like a surreal nightmare unfolding before my eyes. The lake, the very water we were floating on, was not water at all.
It was entirely composed of the same black, rotting fish goo that had oozed from the trout. The source of the putrid smell that had been haunting us became painfully clear.
The fishy stench suddenly intensified, almost suffocating, as I comprehended the true nature of the lake. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind. I staggered back, away from the edge of the boat, trying to escape the overwhelming odor that threatened to consume me.
...this was way different from the Echo. More like...the horror I felt when I saw bill.
"Stan!" I bellowed, my voice cutting through his grumbling. "We have to get to the island, now! This is serious!"
Stan shot me
an exasperated look, clearly annoyed by my insistence. "Ray, you're lettin' your imagination run wild. Those kids are just fine out there. We ain't babysitters."
I could feel my heart racing, my skin prickling with fear. This wasn't just paranoia; something was terribly wrong. "Please, Mr. Pines," I implored, using the title to emphasize the gravity of the situation. "Just trust me on this. We need to go."
Reluctantly, Stan steered the boat toward the island. I kept my eyes on the water below, my senses on high alert. The terrible fishy scent in the air seemed to grow stronger, and my memento mori ticked ominously.
As we neared the shore, my dread deepened. This wasn't a normal island; it was as if the very land itself was alive with malevolence. The trees twisted and contorted, their branches resembling gnarled, skeletal hands.
Stan began securing the boat, muttering under his breath about my overreacting. But I knew better. I felt it in my bones—this place was dangerous.
Then, the ground trembled beneath our feet, and an unearthly howl echoed through the mist. I turned to see the lake's surface roiling, as if some colossal beast was rising from its depths.
"Stan, hurry!" I shouted, my voice trembling with fear. I rushed to his side, pulling him toward the shore. The lake seemed to seethe with anger, its waters taking on a sickly, acidic hue.
And then it emerged, a grotesque abomination of scales, bones, and that putrid black goo. It had multiple eyes, each one filled with malice, and its gaping maw oozed with corrosive slime.
"Stay behind me, Mr. Pines!" I yelled, my voice quivering. I fumbled in my pocket for anything that could help, but my hands were shaking too violently.
The creature lunged at us with horrifying speed. It was a blur of teeth and tentacles, and I barely had time to react. I felt a searing pain as its acidic touch grazed my arm. My skin sizzled and burned, and I cried out in agony.
Desperation flooded me as I searched for a way to fight back. I spotted a large branch on the ground, its end jagged and splintered. With trembling hands, I grabbed it and swung it at the creature.
It connected with a sickening crunch, and the monster screeched in pain. But this wasn't enough. It was too resilient, too powerful.
The acidic water surged toward me, and I could feel my skin melting as it made contact. I screamed in agony, the pain unbearable. I was being consumed, inch by agonizing inch.
"Mr. Pines!" I choked out, my vision blurring from the pain.
And then it hit me—an epiphany born of desperation. The creature controlled the acidic water, but what if I could turn it against itself?
With the last of my strength, I swung the branch toward the lake, striking its surface. The acidic water recoiled, splashing onto the monster. It howled in agony as its own corrosive substance ate away at its flesh.
I watched in grim satisfaction as the creature dissolved into nothingness, its terrible form vanishing before my eyes. But the damage was done. My skin was marred with burns, and I could barely stand.
Stan rushed to my side, concern etched on his face. "Ray, you alright?"
I managed a weak nod, my throat too raw to speak. We had survived, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the lake itself had tried to kill me. It was no ordinary body of water; it was a malevolent, sentient force.
My burned skin pulsed with agony, but there was no time to dwell on the pain. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. It was odd, wasn't it? A creature that could wield acid like a weapon, brought down by its own corrosive power.
My heart pounded in my chest, and the memento mori in my mind seemed to tick louder, as if warning me of impending danger. And then I heard it—the faint rustling of something in the mist, accompanied by that dreadful fishy stench.
I turned just in time to see a sinuous vine emerge from the murky waters of the lake. It writhed and twisted like a sentient serpent, and to my horror, I saw human teeth embedded within its fleshy surface.
"Mr. Pines, look out!" I shouted, pushing Stan aside just as the vine lashed toward us. It snapped shut with a sickening crunch, narrowly missing him.
We stumbled backward, our eyes locked on the nightmarish vine. It seemed to pulse with a malevolent intelligence, and it was clear that the lake harbored more horrors than we could have ever imagined.
Without a word, Stan and I sprang into action. We had to fight, to survive. The vine was relentless, striking at us with a speed and precision that was almost supernatural. We dodged and weaved, my burned arm protesting with every movement.
As we fought, I analyzed the situation. The vine was connected to the lake, drawing its strength from the acidic waters. If we were to have any chance of survival, we needed to get away from the water's edge.
"Mr. Pines, we need to move!" I gasped, my voice strained from exertion. We retreated, putting distance between us and the writhing vine.
As we stumbled through the mist-shrouded island, we found our boat—utterly broken, as if something had torn it apart with malicious intent. Panic gripped me. We were stranded, with no means of escape.
The vine pursued us relentlessly, its teeth-filled maw snapping at our heels. I racked my brain for a solution, something that could sever its connection to the lake. And then it hit me—the fish bait.
"Mr. Pines, give me the fish bait!" I yelled, desperation lending strength to my voice.
Stan tossed me the bait, confusion and fear etched on his face. I didn't have time to explain; I just prayed my theory was right.
I hurled the fish bait into the water, and the vine lunged after it, teeth snapping greedily. But as soon as it made contact with the acidic lake, it began to sizzle and dissolve.
The vine thrashed and convulsed, its grip on us weakening. Seizing the opportunity, we sprinted away, leaving the nightmarish creature to its watery demise.
...And our boat...was broken.
But that wasn't the main attention of us right now. Stan and I ran to the middle of the island, far away from the lake. then..
The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to Stan, my voice trembling with urgency.
"Mr. Pines, we have to do something, now! If we don't, that thing will go after the kids!"
Stan's eyes widened in alarm, and he nodded grimly. We couldn't let that abomination reach the children. The thought of them facing such a grotesque horror was unthinkable...they would die, and I would need to do this all again.
But we were battered, injured, and utterly unprepared for the nightmarish monstrosity that lurked within the lake. Yet, we had to try...But how?
...we didn't have a gun. All our stuff in the boat probably drowned.
The revelation slammed into my consciousness like a freight train, jolting me from my momentary stupor. It was all a twisted diversion, a horrific charade orchestrated by something far more sinister. My mind raced as I scanned the monstrous tableau around us.
I turned to Stan, my voice trembled with urgency. "Stan, this isn't what it seems. These horrors, the toothy vines, the nightmarish fish creatures, they're just pawns. Instruments of the true evil, which lurks beneath the cursed waters of this lake."
Stan squinted at me, his brows furrowing. "Ray, you've lost me. What the heck are you talking about?"
My heart thudded like a drum as I pressed on, "I think I've figured it out, Stan, and I'm scared witless about it. But I know what I have to do."
Stan looked at me, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
My Memento Mori, tucked away in my mind, ticked relentlessly, each second passing like a death knell.
I glimpsed at Stan, who seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. There was so much more I wanted to say, to convey the turmoil raging within me, but there was no time.
Before I could utter another word, the nightmarish vine snaked back into view, seizing Stan in its grotesque grip. Panic welled up in my chest as I watched him struggle, helpless against the vine's unnatural strength.
With a determined nod at Stan, I threw myself into the toxic depths of the lake. The pain was searing, my skin sizzling as if dipped in molten lava. Every instinct screamed at me to retreat, to escape this living hell.
As I descended into the murky abyss, blind and disoriented, a vice-like grip clamped onto my ankle. Panic surged through me, but I fought it down. I knew this was the final showdown with the lake monster...Though I really didn't want to do it.
"I can't give up now," I muttered to myself, my resolve hardening in the face of unbearable agony. But I was weakening, my vision fading, as the poison coursed through me, threatening to consume every fiber of my being. I couldn't let that happen. The lives of those innocent kids depended on me facing this unspeakable evil head-on.
The water was a festering mire of death and decay as I plunged into its heart. The stench of rotting fish clogged my nose, making each breath a nauseating struggle. My limbs felt heavy, the acidic liquid searing my skin as I descended further into the abyss.
Dim, murky light filtered through the noxious waters, revealing eerie shadows that danced like malevolent spirits. Panic clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to consume me, but I couldn't falter now.
Then, I saw it. A figure, standing straight as a reed in the water's depths. My first instinct was to swim closer, to help this drowning soul. But as I drew nearer, a chilling memory clawed its way to the forefront of my thoughts.
A story I'd heard somewhere, whispered like a grim secret around campfires. "If you see a person drowning but standing upright in the water, don't approach," they had warned. "It's no person at all but a malevolent spirit, waiting to drag you into the depths. The real corpses...they drown facing the ground."
Dread surged through me, and I kicked back with frantic desperation, trying to put distance between myself and the spectral figure. But it was too late. With a grotesque, jerking motion, the figure raised its head, revealing empty sockets that bore into my soul. Its bony fingers shot out like harpoons, clamping onto me with a vice-like grip.
My heart hammered in my chest as I fought against the relentless pull of the creature. The lake water surged into my mouth and nose, choking me. I was drowning, suffocating, my vision dimming.
But I couldn't give in. Not now.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I twisted in the water, my fingers closing around the creature's frail, human-like neck. The acidic liquid burned within me, pain lancing through my body, but I ignored it.
With a guttural, inhuman sound that was swallowed by the toxic lake, I squeezed. The creature's head tilted at an unnatural angle, its lifeless eyes never leaving mine. The ticking of my Memento Mori filled the water, a macabre metronome to our deadly dance.
Then, with a final, sickening snap, the creature's neck gave way. It went limp in my grasp, its grasp on me slackening as it drifted away, dissolving into the foul depths.
I pushed off from its lifeless form, my lungs burning, my vision blurred. I kicked upwards, breaking through the surface of the lake like a drowning man gasping for his first breath of air. My chest heaved, and I coughed up the vile water, each convulsion sending agony through my battered body.
But I was alive. The lake monster was defeated.
And as I floated on the surface, gasping for breath, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of unease...The acid. the scars, the burnt pain...was not here.
"...What the..?"
The water too. The water...was..clear. Fresh, to be honest.
"Hey, Ray! are you swimming?! Can we join too?!"
"Mabel, you are wearing sweaters!"
"Oh, dudes! I maybe have some swimming suits in my boat. Wait a minute."
Mabel and Dipper, Soos..? What are they doing here..? The monster! what..?
...What the hell is going on right now..?