Dreaming in the Darkness {A Bill Cipher x F. Reader story}

Chapter 3- Jeff the Gnome

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?", Stanford said, placing both Mabel and Dipper behind him.
"We're looking for our father, Stanley Pines. We don't know where he is, but we know who you were and that this is where you lived. We've travelled here so then we could find you, in hopes you might know where our dad is.", Rowan reiterated. Stanford continued to look at us confused.
"Alright, please come inside. I may not know where my brother is, but the least I can do is keep you two with us until we find him.", Stanford smiled sympathetically. Rowan and I smiled at each other, as followed Mabel, Dipper and Stanford inside.

He gave us all a tour of the house, Rowan and I sharing a room in the attic, directly across the hall from Mabel and Dipper. After that, I decided to try and take a walk in the woods. My social battery needs a little recharge for now, not too great when meeting people I don't know. I entered the woods, enjoying the sounds of nature and how everything seemed so secluded, so free.

I continued to wander further into the forest, losing all sense of where I came from but still enjoying the solitude. But then I heard a crack of a twig from somewhere around.

[??? POV]

A human exited the Mystery Shack, all alone. Why would it do that? Doesn't it know where it is? Mentally face palming, I decided to watch this curious creature. It headed towards the forest, and I decided to go closer. Don't ask me why, I'm just curious. I got close enough to examine the features of the person. Obviously female, can tell from the walk. H/c hair, that swayed at h/l. Curious. She knows where she is, right? All alone in a forest, where anybody and anything could lurk... such as myself. I continued to follow her, glad that humans can't see me unless certain conditions are applied. She seemed so entranced by the forest, wandering wherever she pleased but had no idea where it was she was going.

I guess the least I can do is protect or save the poor soul when it faces danger, since I know where she's heading... who knows, it might prove useful for the future. I continue to follow her as she randomly stops in the path, after hearing a twig snap. I believe you have unwillingly arrived at a destination.

[back to your POV]

I looked around after the twig snapped, whirling my head in all directions until I heard a nearby bush move. I looked in that direction, seeing a little man with a red pointy hat and a brown beard. Looks like a garden gnome. I giggled at my thought, but then it stepped closer to me.

"Sorry for the startle m'lady. My name is Jeff, I'm the leader of the forest gnomes! My, you are beautiful. You wouldn't happen to be single, would you?", the gnome quickly rambled, so quickly I could barely decipher the words.
"Uh, I'm sorry, what?", I responded.
"Are you single, oh beautiful maiden?", the gnome replied. "I'm looking for somebody to be the gnome queen. You see, we lost ours a while back and are in desperate need to find a new one."

I was about to reply when the gnome was suddenly engulfed with blue fire. It burnt to ashes within seconds, and I had this sense of relief. I don't know what drove me to the decision, as I would've loved to continue exploring the forest, but I decided to turn back the way I came and head to the Mystery Shack. It took me a while to get back, but I felt much better now. I only had one question though.

Why did that blue fire show up and burn the gnome?

23-5'-12-12  13-5-5-20  1-7-1-9-14,  4-15-14'-20  11-14-15-23  23-8-5-18-5,  4-15-14'-20  11-14-15-23  23-8-5-14~