Phantom Falls

19: Bargain

Cold rain pounded the ground as Ford, Dipper and Wendy ran through the trees. Their breath steamed, their hair and clothes drenched.

The last scream they'd heard was from somewhere in this direction. Mabel, Pacifica, the Fenton kids, and Stan had gone outside a little less than an hour ago, and they hadn't seen the group since. The three were sick with worry.

A faraway shriek had reached their ears maybe fifteen minutes prior, and they rushed to find the source. Dipper was sore and covered in sweat, yet none of that mattered to him as he searched for his family.

Finally, they stumbled upon a horrible scene. Danny, on his knees, facing the septem tigris all on his own. For a moment, Dipper's mind went blank with fear. But the creature wasn't moving.

It was coated in a thin layer of ice, frozen with its mouth open as if about to maul someone. Its claws glimmered with water droplets.

Dipper heard a quiet sob. He looked down at Danny, who was still in ghost form. It was so strange, seeing him like this. His wet white hair stuck to his face as his shoulders shook. "She's gone," he whispered.

Ford was staring in shock. "What happened?" Wendy asked quietly.

He sucked in a shuddering breath. "I-- I should've seen it sooner. I thought it was just the cold, but . . ."

The scientist grabbed his shoulder, making him wince in pain. "What?" he hissed through gritted teeth.

The halfa's face was streaked with tears. "My ghost sense. It kept going off around Jazz. And then she ran away, and they all left and-- and I think she's overshadowed." His voice shook with every word.

Ford stepped back. "What does that mean?" Dipper practically shouted. All he wanted to do was find his sister.

Another droplet slid down the ghost's cheek, although whether it came from the rain or his eyes, Dipper couldn't tell. "She was possessed by a ghost," he murmured. "This was staged. It led the others off somewhere, and they left me. I don't think the cat was supposed to catch up to us."

It was then that Ford shocked the twin and redhead. He gripped Danny by the front of his suit and shouted, "Then where are they? Where is my brother?"

"Ford!" Wendy yelled, "let go of him!"

"Don't you think I would have followed if I knew?" Danny fiercely ripped Ford's hand away. "I need to get her back. I can't let this happen, not again."

Something in his tone told Dipper that he knew more than he was letting on. But what? Why would he possibly want to keep more secrets after this fiasco?

The four of them decided to keep searching. By three in the afternoon, they were all totally exhausted. Dipper admired Danny's persistence; although he was injured, he still put in as much effort as any of them. He looked like crap, however, his skin clammy and his face pale. Dark circles became prominent under his glowing eyes.

Finally Wendy decided that enough was enough. "I hate to be the one to say it, but we can't keep doing this. We're gonna have to go to the shack and figure this out."

"But I have to save them!" Danny protested weakly.

Dipper stopped walking "She's right. We'll never find them like this."

The four of them trudged back through the woods. Danny was flying low to the ground, like he might pass out at any moment.

Once inside, Danny and Wendy sat heavily on the couch. After some hesitation, Ford took Stan's seat. Dipper plopped himself down next to Wendy.