Reverse Falls: Battle for the Journals

Hiding and Seeing Merlin again

Pacifica explained what she found in the first journal to Linus. She was so focused on finding out what it meant that she didn't even care that she was talking about it right in front of Dipper. Although to be fair Dipper seemed a little too scared to pay attention to anything but Linus. The man did threaten to kill him after all. It was only logical to keep an eye on the most powerful person in the room. One should always know when someone was going to snap so they could make a quick getaway.

He learned that from living with Mabel.

While Dipper's mind ran wild with thoughts of his traumatic childhood, Pacifica had finished explaining. She stared at Linus who was thinking deeply. He knew that he knew the answer to the riddle but he couldn't quite remember it. It was within his grasp yet he couldn't hold it. Overall it was frustrating to be a younger version of oneself that did not remember everything about their life.

"Honestly, I wish I could help you," Linus said. "I think that you're doing a great job so far. But if I remember correctly there's more to the riddle that's going to confuse you. I can't remember what exactly but all I can say is that I wouldn't go with the first guess. There's so much more to this than you know."

Pacifica sighed. "Well, that was helpful." She said, "are you sure there isn't anything you can tell us? Like where you're hidden so we don't have to solve this riddle?"

Linus shook his head. "I wish I could. But I designed that riddle so only the smartest and most determined people could find it. And to make sure that they couldn't use my spirit to tell them I reverted to my younger self. I do have a lot of memories about things I've done with Arthur and the knights of the round table. Other than that I can't remember much. I can see the tree that I'm supposed to be hidden in, but I can't quite place it."

Pacifica gave him a look of hope. "Is there anywhere near the tree that could tell us where it is?"

"No." Linus sighed. "All I can say is that it's clearly in a forest. I see multiple trees surrounding it but that doesn't exactly help."

He looked at Pacifica who wore a look of hopelessness and it was heartbreaking.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could be of more use." He said.

Pacific sighed. "Don't worry about it. You tried your best. I guess all I can do now is wait for Kathy and Gideon to come so we can figure this out together."

Dipper nodded. "Speaking of which, when did you say that they were coming?"

"I don't know." Pacifica shrugged. "I think 10, 10:30ish."

Dipper checked his watch and his eyes grew wide. "You mean right now?"

Pacifica's eyes grew to the size of saucers. Then she yanked Dipper's arm with the watch to see for herself. She hoped he was lying. Unfortunately, the numbers read, 10:30 am.

"What?!" She cried in disbelief. That couldn't be right!

"I gotta get out of here!" Dipper said in a panic. "If your friends see me here they're going to freak out! They already don't like me and if they see me in your bedroom and find out that I spent the night, they will skin me alive."

Pacifica would have laughed if she didn't know that to be true. Still, she tried to comfort him. "Don't be silly. They won't skin you alive."

Dipper scoffed. "Maybe not Kathy. But I wouldn't put it past Gideon. You know he isn't exactly my biggest fan."

"That's true," Pacifica said. "Okay, we need to get you out of here. But how are we going to do it?"

Dipper just stared at her. "I was thinking that we use the door."