Chapter 23

Ford's POV

The ropes around my body fell down, half on my lap and half on the ground. He cut the ropes. I stood up, behind me he made his way over to Mabel and did the same, and then Stan. ''N-now go... before Bill comes back. I'm really sorry about what happened...'' Dipper mumbled.

''No, Dipper you're coming with us. We won't leave you here with Mr. Psycho'' Stanley grabbed Dipper's arm and dragged him to the stairs. Dipper struggled to get out of his grasp, but Stan wouldn't let him. ''Please let go! He will murder all of you if he finds out that you're trying to take me away!''

Accidentally he dropped the knife, and I picked it up. Because of Dipper struggling like crazy, Stan picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. He held his legs and waist so he wouldn't fall off. Dipper banged his fists on his back in an attempt to get off.

We went up the stairs, but when we finally arrived in the living room Dipper somehow got out of Stan's grip and fell on the ground. He stood up as fast as he could.

And just our luck... The front door opened.

Dipper's POV

My voice got caught up in my throat as I saw Bill step inside holding two bags. He didn't seem to notice at first because he was busy with opening and closing the front door. But when he closed it he noticed us. He dropped the two bags and wanted to make his way towards me. That was until he stopped dead in his tracks, and I felt something sharp and cold getting pressed against my throat. It was a knife. ''Stay back demon! We are taking Dipper home where he belongs.'' I heard Ford say behind me. ''If you won't let us go, I might have to hurt him.'' Stanley looked at him and whispered 'What are you insane! You can't hurt him!' But Ford didn't react to it.

My breathing grew uneven. Bill seemed shocked at first... and scared, but then he smirked. He snapped his fingers and the knife vanished, then he let out a chuckle. ''You didn't actually think I would let you hurt MY Pinetree?!'' His eye turned red. ''He. Belongs. To. Me!'' The rest also started to turn red.

...

''Does he?'' Mabel suddenly spoke up. Bill looked at her, anger in his eye. ''Is he even happy here? Does he really love you? I mean all you did was trap him here for... until he dies. Is that true happiness? Is that how you treat someone you love?'' He looked at me, hoping for me to confirm that it did work like that.

But I didn't...

All I did was avoid his gaze. I do love him, I do! But Mabel has a point...

''Pinetree?...'' His voice made me look up at him, but as my eyes met his, he looked heartbroken. This all makes me want to run at him and embrace him, and never let go of him. But I have to stand my ground if I ever want to see the outside world again. I can't give up now!

His head lowered, and a shadow cast over his eye. His hands balled into fists and through gritted teeth he said

''Go''

What?

''If you hate it so much here, then leave.'' As he said this his fists engulfed in flames. Grunckle Ford immediately grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. Bill let out a growl, and I could see that he tried so hard not to attack Ford. My hand pushed Ford to the side and my legs made their way towards Bill. I don't want to leave him. I need him. Bill don't leave me. Keep me.

Almost. It feels like this is happening in slow-motion. My arm got pulled back again. No, please! LET ME GO TO HIM. Please...

His body disappeared. He teleported away.

Tears went down my face. Ford dragged me with him. Behind me, Stan and Mabel followed us. They all ran. Not long ago everything happened in slow-motion, but now everything is happening so fast. We arrived in our street and quickly Stan pulled out our spare house keys, and unlocked the door. I got dragged inside. Heavy breathing from all the running.

My parents came downstairs in the living room, two cops behind them. Arms wrapped around me. Crying. Talking.

So many things were happening at once. My parents finally released me from their embrace, but right after that, the cops started to ask questions. They wanted to take me to the police station, but my father argued with them. As they were arguing, I slowly made my way to the stairs. Everything had gone blurry. Everything feels so empty. The soft bed felt welcoming, although it also felt strange. Like it wasn't my own.

More tears rolled down my face.

Mabel sat down next to me and put her arm around me. Not that it mattered.

Bill is gone.

And it's my fault.

--one month later—

Dipper's POV

''We'll be heading off to school now!'' Mabel was dragging me out. Quickly I picked up my backpack and swung it on my shoulder. ''C'mon goofus we're gonna miss the bus!'' She laughed, I joined in. We headed out and jumped on the bus. It was hard to find a spot where we still could sit next to each other. The whole way we laughed at stupid jokes, memories from when we were 12, and other stuff like weird but funny stories.

The bus ride is around 40 minutes long, but it felt like 10 minutes. We got off the bus, still acting like total fools. Even if people were watching, neither of us cared. We still had 5 minutes before class starts. But I really had to go to the restroom, so I ended our conversation and told Mabel that I would be right back.

Luckily for me, there was nobody around. All the stalls were empty. I entered one of the stalls and locked the door behind me. After taking a leak I flushed the toilet and got out. I washed my hands with soap and dried my hands off with towels. Before leaving the restroom, I looked in the mirror. The bags under my eyes weren't as dark as before.

It's all quiet, except for the distant school sounds. My breathing slowed down. The corners of my mouth stretched into a smile. The other Mason's brown eyes stared into mine. Slowly my left hand made it's way up my right arm. It gripped the end of my sleeve and rolled it up. The further it went, the more excited I felt. Everything started to turn black, and only my reflection stayed. There on my shoulder. His mark was still there. My finger lightly touched the upper corner of the triangle. Then went down vertically, to the left corner. Right, to the right corner, and up again to the upper corner.

He was still there.

All sounds faded away, and a soft tune started to play.

''We'll meet again,

Don't know where,

don't know when...

But I know we'll meet again,

some sunny day...''