Amidst an unforeseen nightmare, terror etched itself onto the canvas of my mind as the engulfing mist swallowed Jeff's fleeing figure. The haunting mimicry of my own voice resonated through the fog, an eerie echo that transported me back to the spine-tingling tales my mother wove during my childhood. The fog was too thick to see anything. I had lost sight of Dipper and Mabel once again, and things were rapidly spiraling out of control.
"Dipper! Mabel!" My voice tore through the thick haze, an urgent plea tinged with concern and dread. Safeguarding the kids in this enigmatic forest, shielding them from lurking threats, had become my singular, unwavering mission.
A guttural growl sliced through the air, sending shivers cascading down my spine. Clenching the flashlight tighter, I futilely sought to grasp control within this disorienting abyss.
"Dipper, Mabel!" I called again, the tremors of anxiety and fear resonating within my words. The weight of responsibility bore down upon me, an unshakeable burden.
And then, a disconcerting reply, a distorted echo that set off a shiver deep within my core. "DiPper... MabEl..."
My heart raced as I turned, flashlight beam slicing through the mist in search of the source of that eerie voice. Realization hit me – the Echo was present, deftly employing my own voice to ensnare the kids in its intricate web of deceit.
The creature Jeff had warned us about was more than a mere myth...
"It's the Echo!" I muttered, attempting to dismantle the illusion that held me captive.
"Ray? Is it truly you?" Dipper's voice emerged hesitantly from the fog, his silhouette emerging from the ethereal haze. Mabel materialized alongside him, curiosity and uncertainty warring upon her features.
"No! Stay back! It's not me!" Desperation clawed at my chest, a stark reminder of my powerlessness in the face of impending danger. Yet, the Echo's masquerade was insidious, sowing seeds of doubt and confusion. Then, an unsettling realization struck – the kids might not have heard Jeff's explanation about the creature. They likely had no idea what was truly unfolding.
"Ray, what's happening?" Mabel's voice wavered, her brow furrowing as she exchanged a bewildered glance with Dipper.
"Nothing, kids. Come. Come over here," a sinister iteration of my own voice responded. It was the Echo, mastering the mimicry with unnerving precision.
The mist seemed to writhe, a nebulous dance weaving a perilous tapestry. Their steps faltered, drawing them closer into the labyrinthine grip of the Echo's deceit.
I struggled to run toward them, but my limbs were unyielding, locked in place by a grip of fear. This deviation from my meticulously crafted survival plan was unnerving, triggering a paralyzing panic. My instincts urged me to flee, yet all I could manage was to issue a warning.
"No! Dipper, Mabel! It's a trap! Run!"
-ZZZMmmm...
Then, the inconceivable transpired. They blurred, the mist enveloping them in an ethereal embrace. Horror gripped me as they were inexorably drawn toward the Echo, ensnared by its hollow semblance.
"No!" My voice fractured, a desperate cry attempting to halt their ominous progression. But my efforts were in vain; they were ensnared by the Echo's trap, their trust inverted to their detriment.
I lunged forward, hands outstretched, an ineffectual gesture to wrench them from the nightmarish trance. The mist remained implacable, forming an insurmountable barrier between me and their impending doom.
"Dipper! Mabel! Break free!" Agony and desperation mingled in my fervent plea as I watched them draw dangerously close to the Echo's clutches.
The mist shifted, revealing a grotesque truth lurking beneath the illusion. They emerged, transformed beyond recognition. The Echo stood before me – a nightmarish, distorted apparition, its once-pristine fur now marred by repugnant red stains. Mabel and Dipper lay inert on the ground, their faces grotesquely contorted, an abhorrent mockery of the visages I'd vowed to shield.
"NoooOOOOOOOO! NO! StopSTOPSTOP!AHHH!"
An anguished wail erupted from my depths, primal and raw. The horror defied comprehension, overwhelming reason and plunging me into a maelstrom of sensory disarray.
"Ray. RAy. rAY COme OVer HeRE. LE...LEts gO Home." The echo borrowed Dipper's voice, weaving a twisted semblance of my desires.
No. No. No.
I couldn't allow this...to succumb to oblivion. My resolve couldn't falter. The wisdom imparted by Ford, my meticulous survival strategy...all had crumbled into ruin within the blink of an eye.
"Come...Come. Come, Ray! I SAID COME HERE!"
The Echo's resonance persisted, a cacophonous chorus that eclipsed reason. Yet, my limbs refused to obey, ensnared by the vice of hopelessness.
In a final, cruel twist, the Echo lunged. Its jagged teeth snapped shut, agony searing through me as darkness eclipsed my vision. My neck snapped, excruciating torment enveloping every fiber of my being.
"rAY. RaY. RAY. Ray. You betrayed Us. YOU BETRAYED US!"
In those last moments, their voices converged into a symphony of betrayal, manipulated by the Echo's malevolence. A chorus of deception that would haunt my psyche eternally.
And then, darkness.
-tick.
The sound of ticking reverberated, a macabre reminder of the ordeal I'd endured. It echoed the moment Bill Cipher had ushered me toward my demise...
[Critical user function failure detected. Life signal...Negative. Commencing respawn sequence at the last checkpoint...]
...
[Calculating amount of caused time paradox...0. Expurgation complete. Restoring Data...]
...
"Mabel being eaten by a zombie?"
[Restoration Complete.]
...What?...Hey, no. No. NO! AAAhhh! AHHH!
"Yeah, I know. It sounds nuts. But you..."
Wendy's voice resounded, an echoing presence within my mind. The pain was excruciating, an anguish that threatened to consume me whole. I had to scream, to release the pressure building within, or risk being consumed by it.
"AhhhhHHHHHH! NO! NO! HAa...AH! AHHH!"
"Dude?! Hey, are you okay?"
My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, a tempest of emotions that I couldn't suppress. It was overwhelming, suffocating. I struggled to form coherent thoughts, to find solid ground amidst the storm raging within.
"Dude! Hey, Soos! Help!"
"What's up dudes...Whoa, Dude? You okay?"
I could feel Soos frantically holding me up and running toward the mystery shack. But...I...Wh..Why..? Why can I feel this? Weren't I dead? I..revived again? How?
"I...I'm okay. I'm fine, Soos." My voice trembled as I spoke, a shaky attempt to project an image of composure. But the memory of the pain, of the creature's bite, lingered vividly, refusing to be suppressed.
"Dude, you don't look so good." Sous's concerned gaze bore into me, his words carrying genuine worry. Yet, I couldn't afford to crumble under the weight of my emotions. I needed to regain control.
"I appreciate it, Soos. I just need a moment." I managed a weak smile, a façade to deflect his concern. Pushing away from Soos's supporting grasp, I forced my trembling legs to steady me. The pain still radiated, a reminder that I had returned from the brink of death.
...I remember. This was just before I raced into the forest to find the kids. Wendy had just told me about Dipper's warning that his sister was in danger of being consumed by a zombie...so this memory was from about an hour ago, before my untimely demise.
I'm back.
Wendy's worried gaze remained fixed on me, but I brushed it aside, turning my attention inward. There it was, the memento mori, its gold surface gleaming in my mind's eye. It held an enigmatic power, its ticking resonating like the heartbeat of time itself. With cautious curiosity, I opened it, revealing the number etched beneath the lid.
...And as I suspected.
[02]
The number that had once read 01 had transformed into 02.
This number, a silent witness to my trials, represented the count of my deaths. So...It seems like...the ability of memento mori to erase time...wasn't a one-time ability. Ha.
So. Is this what the watch wants from me? Dying over and over again to survive this...Hellbound?...what does this thing think I am, Some kind of saint? I'm an Atheist, you damned watch..!
...The pain was gone now. The shock and stress still made me shiver, but...my thoughts were now calmed.
"...Hey, Ray. I'm sorry about..." Wendy began, her voice carrying an undertone of apology. Reflecting on this time of the day, it's likely that she assumed my reaction was connected to her lending the golf cart to Dipper.
"I am totally fine, Wendy. How about we all get back to work? I'll go find the kids." I suggested, attempting to dissuade Wendy and Soos from following me. Wendy's expression held a touch of hurt, but at that moment, it wasn't my top concern.
"...Hey, I can help find..."
"No. Someone needs to keep an eye on the counter, Wendy."
Wendy finally shrugged at my firm words. Now, I had to think. There was no time for a mental breakdown. I needed to analyze this situation as swiftly as possible, before Dipper and Mabel encountered the...Echo.
So, isn't it strange? The first episode of a kids' show centers around a human-eating monster that can mimic human voices. And why does it bear such a striking resemblance to the ghost from the stories of my childhood?
...Perhaps, the first episode was initially meant to feature Dipper and Mabel merely confronting the...gnomes. Dipper explained that the gnomes could merge into a giant gnome, or something like that. Possibly, this was the initial challenge they were supposed to face in the show. But why...why are they suddenly confronting the Echo?
...Isn't it evident? It's because of me. I am the one causing all this trouble. Somehow, my existence has impacted this world, leading to unforeseen consequences. Consequently, a narrative that was originally intended to culminate in a battle against gnomes has transformed into a harrowing encounter with a human-flesh-eating monster.
Analyzing the creature's abilities, it becomes clear that I'm facing a formidable adversary. The Echo not only imitates voices but can manipulate its surroundings, generating a thick mist that disorients and isolates its victims. Its hypnotic powers and the ability to leap with incredible strength add to its threat. This analysis is crucial; I need to find a way to exploit its weaknesses and devise a strategy to confront it.
"...But what, should I bring a gun... or something?"
No. It's a simple cliche that the gun wielders die first in the horror movies... and I myself never used a gun. A bow might be a different situation, but... No. I can't shoot things in that thick mist. And there's no guarantee that an arrow or a bullet can kill that thing.
...If... If I grab the kids' hands and just run as quickly as possible... No. Think about that creature's speed...
I checked the time through the memento mori. I... had to get to the forest now. Things would be worse if the kids met the echo before me. Why... why should I fight a ghost of my childhood nightmares?
...Childhood... Nightmares? Wait, Ray. Whose memory was the one that heard the story of jangsan beum? Was it the original Ray, or the Gravity Falls Ray?... Yes, I remember... it was both. Both world's Ray grew up listening to that story...
...I have a plan. No, hope would be a better word, but...
I had to call Mom.