Wendy's house remained almost exactly as I remembered—a cozy cabin surrounded by towering woods, with an assortment of axes scattered around.

"Intruder! Intruder!"

"Prepare the axe!"

As I approached the door, ready to knock, the cacophony of children's voices erupted from inside, their screams audible through the window. Red hair, flannel clothes—easily Wendy's siblings.

"...Seriously?" I muttered under my breath, a hint of annoyance creeping in. I knew those kids. They were the kids that always messed around in town, making a ruckus... Nevertheless, I knocked on the door.

The shouting ceased abruptly. The door swung open, revealing a giant man with fiery red hair and a substantial beard—Manly Dan. Wendy's father. A rather barbaric figure.

"Intruder! Who are you?" he bellowed, axe in hand, ready for action.

"I'm just here to see Wendy. I'm her friend from the shack, Ray," I replied, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible.

Manly Dan scrutinized me from head to toe, then snorted dismissively. "Wendy's friend, huh? Fine, come in."

I stepped inside, the chaos of Wendy's siblings now mingling with the rustic charm of the cabin.

As I stepped into the cabin, Wendy appeared from around the corner with a casual "Hey, Ray!"

I frowned. The sudden call and this unexpected visit weren't exactly lifting my mood. I had enough on my plate dealing with whatever Bill was planning, and now this.

"Why'd you call me all of a sudden?" I asked, trying to mask my irritation.

Wendy shrugged, offering a playful grin. "Like I told you. The 75-cent coin. Come on, let's go to my room. I'll show you there."

With that, she casually turned and strolled toward her room, leaving me with no choice but to follow. She was hiding something from me. Why...? She didn't seem mad about anything...

...To be honest, Wendy is the most...dangerous person in the shack. Dipper comes a bit close, but still...she's the closest to finding out about my secret. That's because I told her. I told her that I had powers, during fighting the doppelganger. I had no choice back then.

I followed into her room and looked around. A bed in the middle, posters and danger signs on the wall, and a small cathode-ray tube facing the bed. It wasn't really that...clean. No, is it clean? I mean considering this is a teenage girl's room, I guess it's clean...But not in my point of view. Used undergarments on the bed, dust on the floor...This place really needs a clean-up.

While I was analyzing and judging the room, Wendy was in front of the drawer, searching for something. Probably for the 75-cent coin...

"Welp, it's not here."

"Are you kidding me right now?"

"What can I do? I can't find it. It's all 50 cent or a quarter..."

Wendy shrugged as I sighed.

I could see that she was trying to say something serious, and I couldn't afford to waste time.

I looked at her seriously and asked, "Why did you call me, Wendy? What's going on?"

She sighed, the playful glint in her eyes fading. "Look, Ray, I might not be as book-smart as you, but I'm not clueless either. I've been thinking about that doppelganger event."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden shift in the conversation. "What about it?"

Wendy leaned against the wall, her gaze piercing. "You told me you could see the future when we had to fight the doppelganger...and you also told me that it had all your memories and the ability too. But when that doppelganger you appeared, it didn't feel like the doppelganger was predicting the future. It felt more like... it experienced it before. Like some sort of time travel."

Her observation caught me off guard. Wendy was sharper than I gave her credit for.

She continued, "If both you and your doppelganger could see the future, it doesn't add up. Your doppelganger shouldn't have fallen into a trap. It's like...something else is going on. Something more complicated."

Wendy's analysis impressed me. She saw through my vague explanation during that intense moment. Her words carried weight, and I stayed silent, my mind grappling with the implications.

"But, dude, I told you. I'm not really good at all this imagining and connecting the dots...So I don't have a good conclusion. Are you from the future? Is it something over my recognition? I don't know. However, I am sure the reason you're being stressed is because of that. Whatever ability you have, and whatever you're doing with these weird situations...it's making you go nuts."

Her words were frustratingly accurate.

"...So let me help you, Ray. You're my friend. I...I understand why you're hiding that ability and all that, but come on. You need help. I'm not a kid that needs protection."

"You...don't know what you're talking about, Corduroy. This is not playing. This is not just some kind of 'mystery adventure' that the Pines twins go around with...!"

I felt a surge of emotion. Anger? Annoyance? I couldn't discern, but it was unhealthy.

"...Then it means that you need more help. Come on. Two heads are better than one."

Her words were sweet, but I hesitated. Could I do this?

If my life was in danger, and I had to choose between my life and hers...I'd choose mine without a doubt. The danger was technically distant. I could suffer alone and spare her from the living hell.

But... I needed help. Things weren't going well for me. If she helps me, maybe... things might go easier. Yet, the internal struggle persisted.

Should I do this? Can I do this? I...

"...Fine. I'll tell you what's going on... But. From now on... If I tell you something, and if I'm dead serious, you must listen. Do you understand?"

Wendy nodded with excitement in her eyes. I still wondered if she was just trying to make me tell her for fun, but... I already made my decision.

I opened the journal copy to the page... where an eye of providence was wearing a top hat and holding a walking stick.

"...A flying pyramid?" Wendy muttered.

"To be exact, this thing is... a cosmic entity out there in space. And I..."

After explaining all the things I experienced, I regretted it. This... is not right. I shouldn't tell her that. What am I doing? Bringing a teenager into this dying routine...! This...

"...Dude, it must have been tough, huh."

"...Yeah."

Wendy patted me on my back as I finished talking. The feeling that someone actually knows what I am going through is too comforting.

"That's messed up. We... all die if we don't act... and the thing we're fighting against is a goddamn cosmic demon. And the only ability you have is to go back in time when you die... And there's even a cult in the town that's trying to kill you for some reason... Whoa. And you've been doing this all alone?"

"Well, yes. And... It's not going well, as you can see."

Wendy glanced at the journal cover. "...And how many times did you die?"

I stopped talking. How many times have I died...? Yes, I could find it out in a moment, but... It's been a while since I checked the number on the back of the cover of Memento-Mori...

"A few times. That's it."

We just sat on the bed in silence for a few minutes. After some contemplation, Wendy started talking to me again.

"...So, the problem is... you're not making progress? Is that why you're stressed right now?"

"Kinda."

"But you are making progress."

I looked at Wendy, puzzled. Making progress? The last thing I'm doing is making progress. What is she talking about?

Wendy noticed my look and started to explain. "You said that the thing... Memento Mori? It showed you a message when you died... 'Dameon's piece destroyed.' Right?"

"...Well, yes. But that's the checkpoint. It doesn't have anything to do with progress."

"Dummy, that's all about progress! It's just like a game! Personally, not a fan of RPGs. But I still know that it gives you a checkpoint when you make progress. Just think about it. That... Axolotl god thing kinda... made that thing to help you, right? Then there must be a reason why it makes a checkpoint after you destroy the anomaly."

"...That..."

Actually makes a lot of sense...!

"So the Memento Mori is making a checkpoint every time I destroy the anomaly because..."

"That decision is beneficial for you!"

Come to think of it, it's a daemon's piece. It's... a piece of Bill Cipher. If I get rid of more of it, the more damage Bill Cipher might get... Ha! Why didn't I think about it in the first place?

"You're a genius, Wendy. Now all I have to do... is..."

...fight more anomalies to the death... again.

"..."

"Don't worry, man. I'll help."

...Now that I got help from Wendy, shouldn't I die? I... should kill myself. Go back in time, and do this alone... That's the right thing to do. Come on. She solved the main reason for my depression. I can't let her face danger like... I did.

-tick! tick! tick!

[Congratulations.]

...What? Wait, this is... a screen...?

A holographic screen appeared above me. Wendy couldn't see it for sure, and I almost instantly noticed that this was... the screen Memento Mori showed me before I died.

[Wendy Corduroy joined the party! New Checkpoint made.]

"Wait! Wait, what? This... doesn't make any sense! What the heck is this?!"

"Ray? Wha... What are you doing?!"

I tried to get rid of the screen by swiping my hand on it, but it didn't work. The message naturally disappeared within seconds, like it never even showed up. What the hell? It just... saved the checkpoint! Why?!

...Does the Memento Mori want me to make party members? Party? Like the Republican party and the Democratic party? Is this something like that? Why? And... for what reason?!

Ha. HaHaHaHa. Now there's no turning back. Like it or not, she has to act with me... since 'party' probably means something significant. I turned to Wendy, giving up.

"Dude, are you okay?"

"Guess I won't be taking the shortcut this time," I mutter.

Wendy, looking cool as ever, arches an eyebrow. "Shortcut? What are you talking about?"

I sigh, trying to find the right words. "Long story. But now, there's no running away. The Memento Mori just saved the checkpoint and declared you as a 'party' member."

"...Cool."

I watch in disbelief as Wendy says...'cool'. I thought she experienced enough anomalies. Why is she being all brave?

"I told you, Wendy. It's not cool. It's dangerous. We need to hunt anomalies from now on."

"I'm fine with it. If it's fun... Come on, I'm going to be serious."

...

I'm seriously doubting...whether my survival will really be easier with Wendy at my side.