Rising From Gravity [Discontinued]

Chapter 009: Bitten Stricken Sicken III

Mabel sat right beside her brother's bed, holding his hand. "You didn't have to do this Wally. It was stupid and reckless." She said.

"We should've listened to you sis, if we just stayed, Wally would be okay." Dipper said solemnly.

Mabel sighed, "We can't change the past Dipper." She said

"I know." Dipper said

It had been several hours since the incident with the Wraith. The sun that was once high in the sky was replaced with the moon. Soos stayed for the time being just to make sure everyone was all right.

Ford on the other hand was working tirelessly. He felt that it was his fault Wally got hurt and without this treatment, he could die. "Just hang on Wally, please." He thought.

Wally was holding on. He'd drift in the abyss between conscious and slumber. When he was awake, he was drunk from his fever and couldn't understand what was going on with him.

But his dream was the questionable thing.

(Wally's Dream)

A monochrome setting had replaced his reality. Wally found himself standing in the center of a clearing in the woods.

"Where am I?" Wally asked himself.

This wasn't the same forest that he'd grown accustomed to. The place was so drab, so lifeless. Even the sky was empty and ominous.

"This place is giving me the creeps." Wally muttered.

I'm surprised, you should've been dead by now.

Wally turned and saw that the trees had a single eye with horizontal pupils. They were all locked onto him, adding to the creepy factor.

You know, you remind me a lot of someone else I know.

"Who are you?" Wally called out.

Me? I think you heard my name from that imbecilic Wraith.

Wally's eyes went wide, "You're Lord Crypt!?" He asked.

Correct! Sorry about that by the way. I told that mangy beast to keep my name out of it. If Ford hadn't killed him, I would've.

"Why don't you show yourself?" Wally asked.

No problem kid.

The black outline of a triangle appeared on the ground, followed by a single eye in the center. Wally took a step back as a humanoid shape emerged from the outline.

"Welcome, to the Mindscape."

The man had gray hair the same horizontal slitted pupils. He wore a white button-down shirt, a gray tailcoat, black slacks and shoes. Atop his head was a bolar hat.

"Who...rather, what are you?"

"Name's Syllian Crypt, but my friends call me Sill, and you're Wally Pines, Stanford's great nephew." Syll said.

"How...how do you know my great uncle?" Wally asked.

"Oh, Fordsy and I go way back Stripes. But let's talk about you." Syll said as he twirled his cane. "Any clue where you are?" He asked.

Wally put a finger to his chin, "Some place called the 'Mindscape' I guess." He muttered.

"Ding, ding, ding! Exactly right kiddo!" Syll said. "I'm surprised you didn't recognize it, it's your mind."

Wally looked around in shock, "This... is my mind?" He asked.

"Of course, I made a few changes, but it's yours all the same." Syll said.

"What do you want?" Wally asked.

"Oh?" Syll looked up from checking his nails, "What makes you think I want something?"

"According to what I've read in the journal you like to make deals, bets rather, very one sided ones at that." Wally said.

Syll's faced turned to a playful pout, "Aw, that's not true. But there is something I want." He said.

"What?" Wally asked.

Syll snapped his fingers and the journal appeared in front of him, "I take it you're familiar with this book here." He said.

Wally glared at the dream demon, "What do you know about the journal?" He asked.

Syll split into six more versions of himself, "More than you know!"

One of the Sylls put an arm around Wally's shoulder, grinning madly, "Here's the deal, all the knowledge of the Author for the journal. Seem fair." He said.

The Author of the Journals...It was pretty convincing and Mabel would be thrilled to know who's behind these findings. But then again, who's to say that Bill could be trusted.

As flattering as he was, he looked shady.

"No deal Crypt, I can smell a shady deal a mile away." Wally said.

Syll snarled as he returned to a single being, "Fine then. But I'll give you a hint, six times two is twelve and twelve times two is twenty-four, what number is found in a book of three, containing Stripes, Shooting Stars, and Pine Trees?"

"Wha- what does that mean?" Wally asked.

"Ah, ah, ah. Until we strike a deal, I'm not breathing a word." Sill said, as he snapped his fingers.

Before Wally could say anything, the scene suddenly vanished. He found himself falling into a dark void until his eyes started to shut.