Heartless, right?

Chapter Eleven

After hours of studying runes and spells, Bill gives up for the night, groaning in frustration. He closes his eyes, focusing on the connected mindscape. A grin slowly creeps across the demon's face when he hears the faint sound of music. It's late or, more accurately, early. Almost three in the morning. Bill is tired of standing in the cabin, and Dipper is obviously still awake. So naurally, he does the next best thing for his entertainment. He teleports directly to the young twin's room.

Dipper is sitting at his desk, his fingers flying across the keyboard of his laptop and foot tapping to the beat of his music. Even though Bill is standing five feet away from the boy, he can hear every word and note of the song. Benjamin Burnley's voice screaming about someone's cold, jaded eyes.

The demon snatches the headphones from the boy's head, "Going deaf this young would be a shame, Pinetree."

Dipper sighs, barely sparing the man a glance. He finishes the sentence he's typing before slowly closing the laptop and standing up. He turns and leans against his desk, switching his phone off and crossing his arms.

"Don't you have anything better to do?"

"Better than tormenting you? Absolutely not."

The boy glares at him for a few moments before speaking. "I don't get it. I see you stalking me and Pacifica in the woods, but she doesn't. You pester me in the middle of the night, in person. Then you show up outside the diner, where Mabel sees you, and then in Stan's car. This morning, you have access to my mind all of a sudden. But now you're here again. So what is it, are your powers limited, or are you just obsessed with pissing me off?"

Bill smirks, stepping forward to poke Dipper's nose. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"I would." He hesitates. "Which is why I'm offering to make a deal." This catches the demon's attention. The young Pines twin continues. "You said if I don't mess your plan up, you'd have no need to go after my family. But if I don't know your plan, I can't guarantee I won't accidentally ruin it."

Bill looks at the boy in something that could only be described as admirable confusion. He almost feels proud of the kid, but that is overridden by annoyance. Who does he think he is?

"You don't make deals, Pinetree, I do."

"Fine, then you shouldn't mind if I go with Plan B." Dipper shrugs with a smug expression.

Bill tilts his head in exasperation, "And what would that be?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." The boy replies, narrowing his eyes.

Bill sets his jaw and grabs Dipper by the throat. But instead of fear, the boy's eyes are filled with determination. "Alright, humor me. What's this little deal you want to make so badly?"

Dipper waits until the demon releases his grip and steps back. "First, stay away from my family. Second, tell me what your plan is. Third, give me the rest of this week to be with my sister, and as soon as she leaves, you can do whatever you want to me. In return for all three of those things, I won't fight you. You can torment my mind, try to kill me, whatever you want, I won't try to stop it. But, if you do anything to my family, or friends, the deal's off. I will do whatever it takes to destroy you."

Bill looks at the boy before him and smiles. The same look in his eyes as he had in the car when he threatened to drive into a tree. This kid is so desperate to protect the people he loves that he is willing to throw his life away. He ignites his hand as Dipper extends his own.

"You've got yourself a deal kid."

AN: Today has been so busy 😭 Anyway, how are you? Having fun? Enjoying the book so far? I hope so 😅