Never Trust Your Demons

42

"So...we're trapped in this dimension, a pirate king intent on killing me," I sigh. bill and I are on the deck, talking quietly at the bow as the boat moves forwards.
Bill nods in response. Then groans. "Ugh, I hate not knowing things."
"Welcome to my world," I smile, then sigh again. "You think this'll work? We'd made a plan that only seems like it would.
"Only one way to know for sure."
The ship slows to a stop. In the distance is an island, another ship a little ways away from it. Bill and I walk over to the side where Stan and Wendy are lowering a longboat.
"We're rowing all that way."
"No," Stan replies sarcastically. "We're shoving you in a cannon and shooting you all that way."
"Yeesh, okay, I was just clarifying," I grumble.
The boat splashes into the water as Bill climbs down the outside.
"Be careful, okay?" Mabel says, but i can tell she's really more concerned about her brother.
"Don't worry," I tell her. "I'm doing whatever it takes to save him." She smiles back at me. It's kind of weird to see her without her braces. I climb over the side, jumping down into the boat.
"Remember: careful on that leg, Conifer," Ford tells me. I nod.
"No promises."
"Police Box," Bill says softly. "You do realize this isn't your cousin. This isn't really Pinetree."
"I... I know... but I can't just stand by doing nothing."
"How about standing by looking for a way home?"
"He looks to much like Dipper! Leaving him for dead would... it..." I sigh. "I don't know. I'm doing it now and I'm not going back."
He gives me a look of exasperation, but then grabs the oars.
"Fine. It isn't my fault if you regret it though."

After what feels like forever, we make it to the _Mindscape._ Bill motions for me to stay in the boat as he peeks up on the deck.
"There's no one up there," He tells me after a second.
"Seriously? Again?" I pull myself up next to him. Sure enough, nothing. "...the last couple times this happened, I got beat up," I grumble as Bill climbs onto the deck. He pulls me up after him.
"Let's get out of here as soon as possible..." I say after a second.
I lead him down into the brig. No one. No Dipper, not even a pirate guard.
"Looks like there haven't been any repairs made," I smile at the sight of the broken cell doors. "But man, where are they all?!" I look around. "Early evening... you'd expect maybe a few crew members..." I turn to find Bill going back up steps.
"I think I know why," He gestures for me to follow. Once up, he points to the land. I can just barely make out a few smudges.
_"All_ of them went on land?!" I snort.
"Uh... someone's coming back though," Bill says, looking through a spyglass pulled out of nowhere. "And I think it's me."
"Then we might want to find Dipper quick."
"In here!" Bill pulls me into the captain's cabin.
"No, Bill, bad idea, he'll just come right in-" I freeze.
In the middle of the room is a cage, and in it sits-
"Dipper!" I sigh in relief, rushing over.
"C-conifer?" He asks.
I nod. "Look we're going to get you out of her-"
"Uh, Police Box... don't know how, but he's already here..." Bill watches through the window, then backs away a bit. "And coming this way!"
"Hold that thought," I tell Dipper as Bill grabs my arm, pulling me after him into a closet. The door closes, plunging the two of us into darkness. There isn't much space, forcing Bill and I to stand in close proximity, and I can feel his warm breath on my head.
"-are they doing..?" Cipher slams the door open. I peer through the slats in the door. "Well, kid," He turns his attention from himself to Dipper. "They came... but they're just sitting there. What are they waiting for?" Dipper doesn't respond, crossing his arms and leaning back against the cage bars as he glares at Cipher. He laughs. "Cute, kid," He grins, walking around the cage and sitting in his chair-throne, more like it, actually. "You really think any of you scare me?" He leans back, feet propped up on top of the cage. As Cipher continues to talk, I notice Dipper reaching for the chair leg.
"Don't do it..." I mumble, realizing what he's about to do. "Don't be dumb, Dipper..."
"Sh!" Bill hisses in response.
Dipper yanks on the leg of the chair, causing it to topple over with a crash as he smiles smugly. Cipher stands up, beyond livid and he pulls out his gun.
"You know, at this point, I've had just about enough of you Pines," He cocks his pistol. "I've been dying to do this since you all first started giving me trouble."
"No," My eyes widen as I mumble. "No, no, no..." I stare in shock at Dipper's terror.
"Besides, they won't need to know you're dead until that Conifer brat is as well."
There's a loud crack, and something snaps inside me.
"NO!"

"Who's there?!" Cipher whirls around. My hand flies to my mouth after my shriek.
"Con-Police Box!" Bill hisses, grabbing my other hand.
He killed him. Cipher shot Dipper.
"Police Box!" Bill turns me around, "That's not Pinetree! That isn't your cousin!"
I can hardly hear him, but I can feel tears in my eyes.
I know it's not him. But it is.
The doors swing open.
"You two," Cipher growls.
"Ah! Hector!" Bill strolls out of the closet, acting cocky and confusing Cipher. I don't even try to stop him as he imitates Jack.
Dipper's bleeding and dead, a bullet through his head. All I can do is stare, tears running over the hand over my mouth.
I can see Cipher's grin out of the corner of my eye.
"You should've come sooner," He chuckles. "Then I may have only killed one of you," I gasp as I suddenly find his sword at my neck. "You know, I could kill you now, but I'm not really feeling up for another sword-cross, and Ditzy here-"
"Hey!" Bill crosses his arms when Cipher points to him.
"-Is actually a formidable fighter. So why don't I make this easy: either drop your sword and leave," His grin broadens as he turns to Bill. "And I'll make her death as painless as possible. Or you could stand there doing nothing, and watch as I kill her, slowly and painfully. Your move, and I'm fine either way."
"How about neither. How about we just _say_ you killed her. And me. How about she and I just leave. We'll leave, make port and never set out on sea again?"
Cipher looks like he's considering it, but it turns more into mock thought. "Sorry mate, but I'm Captain Bill Cipher, king of the seas. Renown for his lack of mercy. Besides, you'd honestly expect me to trust that you'd never cause me trouble again?" He's completely unfazed by my attempt to move the sharp blade from it's perch dangerously close to my neck.
"No no," Bill shakes his head, stepping close. "You see, mate, I'm a dishonest man, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you need to watch for"
I wince as the sword press against my neck. Bill freezes.
"So you admit you were lying," Growls Cipher.
"Not-helping-BIll," I mutter.
"Shut up," Cipher growls.
"Listen, I'm scared of what she might do to me if I did surrender. I'm more afraid of her than I am of you, mate. And seriously," He looks at me. His look isn't mischievous, but dead serious as his voice turns menacing. "So should you."
Cipher loosens his grip on the sword slightly. But it's enough. I stomp my heel down on his foot, Bill snatching his sword as he recoils in shock.
I draw my sword. "Your move, punk," I growl.