AN: Okay, here's the next chapter! Again, thank you guys for all the support! You guys are really stroking my ego with your awesome words and favs and follows.

Thank you again ToothPasteCanyon for the positive feedback and constructive criticism. It is much appreciated!

Also, don't know if this is a spoiler or not—if so you don't have to read this—Bill of the Past will appear earlier in this story than in canon so! Look forward to that!

Hope you enjoy! If you do, that'll be great! Here is chapter eight!

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Chapter Eight: The Devil Within

Bill took a long sip of the glass of water that stood on his night table. He made a habit of keeping it there to stop himself from throwing up.

He lay back on his pillow, wiping a thick sheet of sweat from his forehead. Remembering what his darker self said didn't do anything to lessen his stress.

"Bill Cipher can't love! It's a poison to him so it's a poison to you!"

Bill knew he had to get rid of that little piece of his past self that still existed within him. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, his feelings for Dipper and Mabel were far beyond "fondness". He cared for them far too much for him to go back now. Even if he took Yin's advice and murdered them, nothing would come out of that.

It was as if loving people was like a ditch you dug into the ground. Once you loved someone enough, nothing could make you stop loving them, not even death.

No, murder wasn't the answer. Bill would have to find a way to get rid of the more messed up part of him, lest it kill him.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

The next morning, Bill walked out of the bathroom, his teeth brushed and whatnot, when he saw Mabel on her bed. She had her digital camera plugged into the laptop Bill got for his thirteenth birthday, and was humming cheerfully.

"Mabel?" Bill asked. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, hey Matt!" Mabel said cheerfully. "I was just using one of your selfies as a profile picture since I'm signing you up for a dating website! Womp!"

"Dating—? No, no, Mabel, don't do that," Bill swiftly unplugged the camera and turned his computer off.

"Aw, Matthew! You need a love life!" Mabel objected.

Bill flinched. That's all I need, another person to have another emotional attachment to. Make my ticking time bomb of a body give out faster. Yup.

"No, I don't," Bill sighed putting the laptop back in his bag. "Yes, you do! You're fifteen. You're supposed to be finding romance!" Mabel said jumping off the bed.

"I don't have time to worry about stuff like that. Also, I'm not old enough for dating websites," Bill responded.

"I changed your birthday to April 5th 1996 to April 5th 1993," Mabel said with a charming smile. "It's just a three-year difference!"

"Mabel, please stop trying to pair me up with people? I'm not interested in that stuff," Bill said rubbing his temples.

"Don't tell me you have no feelings for anyone!" Mabel said with her hands on her hips.

"No, I don't."

"At least one girl?"

"No."

"A boy then?"

"No."

"You have to love somebody!" Mabel exclaimed.

Bill smiled sadly at his sister. "I don't think I can love any more than I already have, Mabes. I won't be able to take it."

Bill then left the room, leaving Mabel to ponder. She had a nagging feeling that her brother's words had more meaning. She just couldn't grasp it.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

"Um…Mabel? Why are you doing that?" Dipper asked at the breakfast table as Mabel stuck her tongue in a scalding hot mug of hot chocolate, all the while screaming "Ow, ow!"

Mabel finally pulled her tongue out and cheered. "Yes! I burned my taste buds off!"

"I don't think you can do that with just hot chocolate," Bill said delicately sipping from his own mug.

"It's non-functional though! My other senses are heightening!" Mabel pointed outside. "I can clearly see that squirrel! It's like I have prescription glasses."

Dipper gave his sister a funny look before looking back at his journal while Bill snorted, looking down at the morning newspaper. Bill squinted at it then chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Dipper asked looking at Bill while trying to put a piece of pancake in his mouth, only for it to miss and fall on his lap. Mabel laughed.

"Another tourist trap opened up," Bill said showing them a picture of a cottage looking area called, The Supernatural Shed.

"Ha!" Mabel said. "Wonder what Grunkle Stan will say."

"WHAT?!" Came a shriek from the gift shop.

"There's your answer," Dipper said putting his plate in the sink.

The siblings found Stan in the gift shop, glaring at the newspaper in his hand. Soos looked worried, Wendy was carelessly looking at her magazine.

"It's so close to us, too!" Stan complained. "No wonder I haven't gotten many customers!" Stan straightened his tie and cleared his throat. "Alright, Soos?" Soos stood up straight in and saluted. "Wendy?" Stan said turning to the red head.

"Sup?" She asked looking up from her magazine before looking back down.

"Matthew, Dipper, Mabel?" Stan said finally to the younger Pines.

"Present!" Mabel said copying Soos' salute.

"Alright people! We got a crisis on our hands!" Stan said pacing around the room. "This, this Supernatural Shed thingy is a thorn in my proud business!"

"No!" Soos cried dramatically.

"Will we let that stand?!" Stan asked punching a fist in the air.

"NO!" Soos and Mabel cried. Stan glared at the other three who failed to respond.

"Um…no, I guess?"

"I guess not."

"Eh."

"I need ideas people!" Stan said. "You!" He said pointing his cane at Dipper.

"Uh, we can…make a commercial?" Dipper suggested.

"No!" Stan snapped. "That's a horrible idea!" Stan tapped his chin. "Maybe…AH HA! I can make a commercial!"

"That's what I—!"

"I'm a genius!" Stan said rubbing his hands together.

Dipper scowled and Bill snorted.

"Matthew!" Stan barked, causing Bill to jump. "Go to this Supernatural Shed, and exploit its secrets. Tell me what they sell, who the manager is, I want to know everything!"

"Why me?" Bill demanded.

"Because I said so! Now move it!" Stan snapped.

Bill grumbled under his breath before leaving the gift shop. Then he walked back in.

"What's the address?" Bill asked.

"Here," Stan said shoving the newspaper in Bill's hand. "It's in the article. Now get going! The sooner I know this guy's secrets the sooner I get back to making big bucks!"

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

The Supernatural Shed looked like a total rip-off from The Mystery Shack. From the old cabin look to the missing "S".

Bill opened the door. The big difference to this then the Mystery Shack was the dark theme. The place was lit with candles, and many eerie things sat in glass display cases. It was also full of people.

"Welcome…" drawled a voice. An old man with large circular glasses and a moon and star robe walked from behind a curtain labeled "Employees Only" he glided in front of the counter. "I am Stratus Evergreen. Other wise known as, the Sage of the Supernatural. What can I do for you today?"

"Well, I'm just looking around. I don't really need anything," Bill replied, propping his elbows on the counter. "This is a pretty neat place you have here."

"Why thank you, dear boy!" Mr. Evergreen said with a smile. "Could I entice you with this magical candle?" The man held up a candle with a pink flame. "It calls to demons."

Bill flinched slightly. "Thanks…but no thanks."

"What about this book?" Mr. Evergreen held up a green leather book. "It holds many secrets…legend has it that only those who The Guardian deems worthy can understand its meaning!" Mr. Evergreen said dramatically. "Even I can't read it!"

"Then why do you have it?" Bill asked.

Mr. Evergreen shrugged. "It looked cool. So, you wanna buy it or what?"

"What exactly does it have in it? What's this legend?" Bill asked, his interest growing slightly.

"I found the legend along with this book in the depths of a cave one time in my many travels!" Mr. Evergreen said, returning to his dreamy sounding voice. "Yes…It holds answers that not even the most knowledgeable of entities can know!"

Okay, now Bill was interested.

"What kind of answers?" Bill asked leaning forward slightly.

Mr. Evergreen shrugged again. "I dunno. I can't read it."

"Can I see?" Bill asked.

"For two hundred bucks," Mr. Evergreen said.

"I'm not buying it, I'm just looking!" Bill objected.

"It's business kid, two hundred bucks."

Bill huffed. This guy is more of a rip-off than Fez!

Bill stuffed his hand in his jean pocket before willing two one hundred dollar bills into existence. "Here," Bill said handing the cash. Mr. Evergreen grinned before handing Bill the book.

Bill looked through it, narrowing his eyes. The runes on the yellowing pages were unfamiliar to him, but he was sure with a bit of study he could decipher it.

He felt hope flare inside of him. Maybe he could finally get rid of—!

"Times up!" The man said cheerfully.

"How much?" Bill asked.

"One thousand bucks!" Mr. Evergreen said with a grin.

"One thousand?"

"I worked hard to get this book, boy…" Mr. Evergreen said, back in his dreamy voice. "The least you could do is—."

"Here," Bill said handing the required cash. Mr. Evergreen's eyes lit up. "Sweet mother of God!" He said counting the cash. "Are you rich, boy?"

"Um…yes?" Bill decided. If he could literally pop cash out of thin air, then Bill guessed it made him rich.

"I should've asked for more—!"

"Just give me the damn book."

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Bill slipped the book in a bookbag that he created out of thin air so he wouldn't show Stan. He was sure that Stan would get upset for "patronizing the competition".

As he opened the door to the gift shop he saw Soos doing the worm with upbeat music playing in the background while Mabel and Wendy chanted, "Go, go, go!"

"What'd I miss?" Bill asked closing the gift shop door.

"We're doing a dance competition!" Mabel said cheerfully. "My turn!" She said as Soos got up. Mabel began dancing, and it was now Soos' turn to chant "Go, go, go!" With Wendy.

Dipper was sitting on top of the counter reading the journal, glancing up ever so often.

"Hey, Matthew!" Wendy said. "You should totally dance with us!"

"I don't know—."

"Come on! You're a great dancer, Matt!" Mabel encouraged.

Bill smirked. "Well, if you insist." He jumped in front of his audience and began dancing alongside Mabel. Soos and Wendy cheered.

Bill then began clutching his stomach as nausea took over. Keep it down, keep it down, damn it! Then, the pain increased, Bill's world became even dizzier and he fell, still clutching his stomach. He could hear the panicked shouts of Mabel, Dipper, Wendy, and Soos. He shivered as goosebumps went up his arms and chilled him. Then he felt his vision tunnelling…

"Matt!" Mabel cried as she shook her brother vigorously. "Come on! Snap out of it! Matthew!"

Then, the nausea disappeared, replaced with nothing but the cold. As Bill's vision refocused he could see four worried faces looking at him.

"Matthew? You okay dude?" Soos asked.

"Yeah," Bill said breathlessly. "I'm fine, I just…need some water," Bill moved to get up but Wendy and Mabel forced him back down. "Don't push yourself," Mabel said gently.

"I'm fine, this happens all the time," Bill said.

Wendy's eyebrows rose into her hairline. "This happens to you all the time?"

"Matt! Why didn't you tell anybody? This is serious!" Dipper cried.

I just had to say that!

"You should go to the hospital for this, dude," Soos said with a frown.

"I-I'm fine really, I'm alright," Bill said. He tried again to get up but was once again forced down.

"You're not getting back up until we call the doctor for you," Mabel said firmly. She got like that when her brothers where involved.

Soos went to call the doctor while Dipper rushed to get his brother some water.

Bill took a long sip of it, sighing in content when the cool liquid slid down his throat. This needs to stop.

He then gritted his teeth when Yin inserted his two cents, it'll stop when you stop loving! Just take my advice, kill the kids! If you don't have the guts, then kill something else!

Shut up.

His head was filled with maniacal laughter in response.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

"This is stupid!" Bill snapped glaring at the prescription drugs the doctor gave him. "I don't need this!"

"Kid, you basically fainted, I think you do," Stan grumbled as he drove the car back to the Shack.

The doctor suspected hyperventilation, or the beginnings of angina or possibly heart-attack, so he had told Bill that he needed to stay from stress, and excitement, no running, no jumping—basically no exercise—oh! And he needed these God forsaken human tablets!

Perfect!

He also had to bribe Stan ("Five hundred bucks! Just don't say anything!") and threaten Dipper and Mabel ("I will post every embarrassing secret of you on the internet!") to stop them from alerting his parents. The last thing he needed were those two driving all the way here just to coddle him.

"I can't believe you had this problem for a week and didn't tell anyone!" Dipper said in an annoyed voice.

"This, is why!" Bill exclaimed. "I was perfectly fine before and I'm perfectly fine now!"

"You are not fine!" Dipper snapped back.

"How did you get like that anyway?" Mabel asked before her brothers' argument could escalate any further.

"I don't know," Bill lied, not making eye-contact with his siblings. Dipper's gaze darkened, he didn't believe his brother for one second.

Bill and the rest of the Pines walked into the shack, Dipper and Mabel raced each other to the attic and Bill followed slowly when a sharp pain exploded in his chest. Bill grasped the hand railing as the world spun uncontrollably.

Breathe. He told himself. Just breathe. The world just got even more warped.

Bill squeezed his eyes shut and slowly moved his right leg up the stairs, then his left, then his right, all the while gripping the hand rail. Once he was on top, the pain and the dizziness disappeared. Bill sighed in relief before opening the door to the attic where, Dipper was reading one of his summer reading books and Mabel was knitting.

When they saw, their brother collapse on the bed, they both frowned. "Hey, Matt. Are you okay? You look all pale and sweaty. You're not about to get the hyperventilation thingy again, are you?" Mabel asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Bill muttered, taking one of his novels out. "Just fine."

Dipper didn't believe him, but he didn't press either. If there was one thing he knew about his brother it was that he was one big vault of secrets that not even him or Mabel had access to.

Dipper put the book on his night table. "Somebody get the light."

Bill flicked his wrist and the flame inside the lantern went out.

"I will never stop getting tired of you doing that!" Mabel gushed.

"Goodnight," Bill said.

"Goodnight," The twins replied in unison.

It was at midnight when the nausea woke Bill up. He reached for his glass of water, and groaned when he realized it was empty.

Staggering to his feet, he took the glass to go and get a re-fill, walking out of the room and down the stairs, just as he heard the vending machine close shut. It would appear Stan went to working on the portal a bit earlier than usual.

Half-way down, the pain in Bill's chest returned, along with intense dizziness. He couldn't catch himself in time and slipped down the stairs before vomiting all over the carpet. Bill coughed and attempted to stand with the aid of his shaking limbs. All he could manage was rising to his knees.

It was getting worse. He needed to get rid of that darker side, otherwise, he was dead meat.

You damn right you will be! Yin laughed in his head. You don't have much time left now kid! Give or take a few days!

As Bill gripped the hand-railing and attempted to stand, he tensed at his darker half's words. A few days?

So, take my advice! Kill something!

Why did Yin want him to kill something so badly?

Bill staggered the rest of the way to the kitchen feeling as if a heavy weight where placed on his shoulders. If his love poisoning was real, then the time limit made it even more real now and he hated it. He'd need to decipher the book now more than ever. If he didn't…

A few days. Bill thought darkly.

Just take my advice kid! Yin laughed.

Bill poured another glass of water for himself and drank it.

This needed to end now.

Bill closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

Mr. Evergreen said something about a guardian, didn't he? So did that cave that he and the twins explored two days prior. Unless what the guy said was a load of crap, he might just be able to save himself before it was too late.

Bill walked back into the attic, quickly and quietly changing into his clothes before walking down the stairs, as he walked down, the stair he was stepping on snapped and Bill cried loudly in surprise, praying that the twins didn't hear as he slowly pulled himself up and walked towards the door.

The door let out a loud creaking noise as Bill trekked into the woods.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Dipper's eyes snapped open when he heard somebody crying out in surprise.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. What was that?

When he heard the door open, he got even more suspicious. Dipper crept to the window and saw his brother walking into the woods. Was he crazy?! Did he want to die? He was in no condition to go walking into the woods at night where there were tons of threats! What if he collapsed again?

Dipper changed as fast as possible and ran down the stairs two at a time. "Matthew!" Dipper called.

Either Bill didn't hear or he didn't care to hear, because he kept walking. Gosh he walked fast.

As Dipper neared the beginning of the woods, his brother had disappeared completely. Dipper ran faster, ignoring the burn in his lungs and the twigs that tore into his flesh.

…A-X-O-L-O-T-L…

Bill walked up the rocky trail that he had walked up with the twins previously. He could've sworn he heard somebody calling his name but he dismissed it as imagination.

Bill moved the bush out of the way and jumped into the hole, grunting as he rolled to stop his fall.

Bill lit a flame before holding out his book. He looked around a bit before the area cooled, just like last time.

"You came back boy? How lovely," The voice of the creature drawled. The ground in the center of the cave opened and Bill backed away as an ugly scaly looking caterpillar crawled out of the crack and circled him.

As the creature neared him, Bill's flame disappeared, his magic once more rendered useless.

"Pray tell, why are you here, hmm?"

"You recognize this?" Bill asked holding the book up.

"Ah yes…yes I do," the creature's eyes bored into Bill and he licked his jagged teeth.

"You still wish to separate yourself from the one-eyed beast," the creature continued.

"I think I can help. After all, you passed my test last time," The Creature said. Bill shivered as its long slinking body wrapped around his waist. Bill sucked in a sharp breath as its face came close to him. "Of course, my information will come at a…price."

The Creature flung Bill on to his back. Bill coughed as dust surrounded him and he brushed himself off. "Why?" Bill demanded. "I passed your test, didn't I?"

"Yes," The Creature said. "But I want something."

Bill scowled at the creature before sighing. "What do you want?"

The Creature was about to speak when a familiar scream could be heard.

Bill's head snapped towards the entrance of the cave. Dipper got up and brushed himself off. "Matthew! What are you doing here?!"

"What are you doing here?!" Bill snapped at his brother, He couldn't believe he let Dipper follow him here!

The Creature licked its teeth. "Let me have your brother and we'll have a deal."

Dipper looked at The Creature with fear in his eyes as it lunged at him. Bill cried out and tried to go after his brother but The Creature slammed its tale into Bill's chest, pinning him against the wall.

"Dipper!" Bill screamed as Dipper narrowly dodged The Creature and began running away, but he was utterly slow with his bruises and cuts. Not to mention he had spent quite a bit of energy running.

Bill grunted in both frustration and exertion as he tried to push the black tail off him. No such luck.

He tried using his powers, franticly, he attempted making flames but he couldn't do it. Bill's heart was pounding as he watched Dipper continue to barely dodge The Creature's attacks.

How about you let me help you? Huh? Yin asked slyly.

Help me? Bill watched as Dipper tripped on a rock. He screamed and rolled out of the way of another attack.

Just give me the word! I'll help you out!

Bill swallowed thickly as he watched Dipper's energy slowly being drained. Luckily, The Creature couldn't trap Dipper with his tail and keep Bill pinned at the same time, but he was still faster than him. Only when The Creature tore a huge chunk of Dipper's shirt off did Bill really panic.

Okay, whatever! Bill screamed in his mind.

Good boy…

Bill felt power surge through him, his previously drained strength and magic came back, but so much more powerful.

For seemingly no reason, Bill's lips curled into a sadistic grin.

Bill shoved The Creature's tail off if him. The tail whipped around and slammed into Dipper, the boy cried in surprise before slamming hard on to the floor, knocking unconscious.

Bill was now seeing red. Nobody, nobody, hurt his siblings and got away with it.

Just as The Creature opened its mouth to devour Dipper, Bill punched it in the face with a flaming fist.

The Creature roared as it slammed against the wall, the cave began to shower rocks everywhere.

"What?! How is this possible?!" The Creature cried as Bill punched him again, every punch harder than the last until the fourth punch pierced The Creature's skin.

The Creature howled and tried to throw Bill off but he couldn't. Bill then made a sword appear and he slashed at The Creature's back. The Creature howled again as Bill laughed manically, now sounding just like his older self. Oh, this felt so good. Why didn't he try this sooner? Oh, the blood! The screams! Magnificent!

"CURSE YOU PRETTY BOY!" The Creature roared as he banged his head again against the wall. The cave began to collapse.

"Two things you need to know about me," Bill said with a smirk. "One, don't mess with my siblings, two, don't call me pretty boy."

And with a vigorous boost of energy, Bill blasted The Creature, laughing sadistically while he heard the screams of agony. When he was done, there was nothing left but a burnt mass of flesh.

Oh, and a collapsing cave.

Yin relinquished his old on Bill and Bill collapsed, falling to his knees and panting for breath. He looked at his hands, covered in blood.

Isn't it wonderful? Yin drawled.

Bill didn't know. He liked it on one hand, on the other, it disgusted him.

Bill turned around when he heard Dipper groaning. Bill tried to stand but he didn't have the strength.

"Dipper!" Bill called. The boy stirred and his eyelids fluttered open, instantly he began coughing.

Dipper looked at his brother wide-eyed and all the memories came flooding back. The Creature, Dipper saw, was now nothing more than a burnt mass of nothingness. He shuddered, but then he cried out when a boulder almost crushed him.

Fueled by adrenaline, Dipper ran towards his brother, trying to lift him up but Bill shoved him away.

"Go!" He snapped.

"Matthew—!"

"I said go!"

Dipper tried to reach for Bill again but Bill shoved him again, this time a bit harder.

Dipper looked at his brother, and was about to object, when Bill said, "Please. I can't lose you."

"I can't lose you either!" Dipper cried, his eyes lining with tears.

"Forget about me, just go!"

"Matthew, I won't—!"

"GO!"

Dipper wiped his eyes before running towards the exit, he scrambled up the rocks towards the hole, his heart thudding sharply in his chest.

Just as the whole thing caved, Dipper scrambled away. Panting for breath. He looked at where the hole once was, now blocked from below with boulders.

And for the first time since the fishing trip. Dipper shook with sobs.

AN: Okay, so, it's late. I am ending it here.

And no Bill is not dead (you knew that…right)? Anyway, this story is estimated to have chapters up to the eighties so…yeah? (!)

Fantasy Freak OUT!