The Triangle's Deception...

Chapter 13: Backtracking

Fiddleford's peaceful sleep was disrupted by a clatter of something falling in the house. Shooting up from the bed, and quickly donning his glasses, he slowly made his way through the dark cabin.  More clattering and shuffling came from their shared study as the stairs creaked quietly under his weight. 

Nearing the study, he could see the dim golden glow, spilling out from behind the slightly cracked open door. Fiddleford cautiously pushed open the door. 

"Stanford?"

Something was off. The same odd feeling from that night in the cave. Images of those cold walls flashed through his mind as he entered the room. A familiar figure was standing at the desk, sorting through papers. 

"Interesting...very interesting."

Stanford. His voice was the same...except something otherworldly. A second voice layered sneakily underneath. Maybe he was just delusional... 

McGucket tried to sneak up behind Ford, almost entirely silent. Just a little more...

"I know you're there, Fidds." Ford said confidently, a hint of smugness present in his voice, turning fully to face Fiddleford. "What is it?" He leaned against the desk, a smirk on his face. An unusual smirk. McGucket hadn't seen him smile in weeks.

Fiddleford suddenly had a very strong instinct to hide away, get out, run. "Get out, get out, get out." His mind raced with panicked thoughts, yet he tried to appear normal. However, normal was hardly a word that could be used to describe either of them right now.

Ford walked closer to his companion, circling him, inspecting him. Eyes glaring right through him. Tilting his head, in an almost animalistic manner. Like a predator observing its newly caught prey. A shiver went down the man's spine. Something was definitely wrong with Ford.

He swallowed deeply and managed to utter out a few words. "Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's very late. Too late."

"It's never too late. Isn't it, hillbilly?" he said, stopping right in front of him, smiling too widely, gums visible. A way that seemed too painful.

"W-what?" Hillbilly. The word registered in his mind. Bill called him that once. That...that was impossible. Ford didn't know. Right? It was a mistake. Probably just misheard him. It was impossible for Ford know. Unless-

His thoughts were interrupted by Stanford as he spoke, with more authority than he had ever heard before. "You heard me, Fidds. Now, I need to work on the portal. Do. You. Understand?" he said menacingly, almost like a threat, while turning back to the table to work in one swift motion.

"Y-yes." 

"Good. Now don't worry that pretty little head of yours and go back to sleep. You need basic human functions more than I do. Keeps you from breaking." he chuckled, a cruel and cold laugh.

"Yeah! Yeah. Good night." a bit of his nervousness and despair showing in his voice, as he turned to leave.

"Oh, and Fiddleford? Remember our mission? Stay focused. Don't give up, or else."

Another shiver ran down McGucket's spine as he left to his room. After that threat, of course he wouldn't. But he knew he had to figure out what was with Stanford, and fast. However, something told him Bill was involved. He wasn't hallucinating when he saw a flash of those familiar yellow eyes, with those cat-slit pupils. That was real. And he was going to prove it.