Never Trust Your Demons

46

"That's why he wants this," I turn my attention back to Ford as he holds up the interdimensional rift he tried to keep a secret from me. "The interdimensional rift," Thanks for finally explaining it to me, but I already knew, thank you. "I dismantled the portal, but with this, Bill has a way into our reality. To get his hands on this rift, he would trick or possess anyone."
A rush of hurt realization rushes through me. You... would? I ask Bill. Is that why... is that why you've really been in my mind? This whole summer... You've just been gaining my trust, so you could get this?!
"Police Box, I-"
Get out, I demand. Now. Get out of my head!
Bill sounds desperate. "Conifer, ple-"
Don't call me that. You lost the right to call me that when you kept all these secrets. 
"So how do we keep Bill out of our minds?" My attention turns once again to the real world.
"Yeah," I cross my arms, leaning back against the wall as I continue angrily. "How?"
My glare at the ceiling nearly falters as I hear a sad whimper from Bill.
"Well, there's a number of ways," Ford shrugs. "I personally had a metal plate installed in my head."
"Heheh. Good one," Dipper laughs.
"Ha, I roll my eyes. "Funny."
Ford doesn't laugh, but knocks the side of his head with a blank expression, making a metallic sound.
Dipper coughs and clears his throat.
"Oh," I freeze, eyes widening. Then I inhale deeply. "Um..."
"But this machine is safer," He continues over our pause. "It will scan your mind, bioelectrically encrypting your thoughts so that Bill can't read them," He flips a switch, turning on the screens. "Now say hello to your thoughts."
Dipper's voice comes on the screen, along with subtitles. "Oh, man, I can't believe I'm with the author."
"Is my fly down?"
"DISCO GIRL! COMING THROUGH!"
"Wendy. Wendy. Wendy. Wendy."
Dipper flushes slightly. "You might wanna... ignore that last one."
I try to stifle a laugh and suppress a smile.
"S-sorry," I giggle as Dipper glares at me, then turns back to Ford.
'By the way, you never told me what your history with Bill was..."
"Yeah... I'm a bit curious of that..."
"NOPE. POLICE BOX DON'T-"
Ignoring you.
Ford turns to us, serious. "Do you two trust me?"
I don't reply. I don't know who  I can trust anymore. Another great-uncle who's been keeping secrets from me and only me? Not the triangle my head, that's for sure.
"Well, yeah," Dipper shrugs. "But-"
"Then you'll trust that that's not important. Now, focus. It's time to strengthen your mind."
"And me next, right?" I ask eagerly
"Yes."
"Police Box, this is a bad idea." Bill insists.
What? Stopping you from getting the rift is a bad idea? I roll my eyes. Of course you think that.
"Do you even realize what this machine will do?"
Yes, actually, I scoff. It will bio-electrically encrypt my thoughts so you can't read them.
"Yes, genius," He rolls his eyes. "But do you realize what else it will do?"
What do you mean?  Is he trying to trick me again? That's all it-
"It will project your thoughts into a computer screen."
Why is that ba-
"Do you realize," He asks. I flush red as he grins triumphantly. "What the majority of your thoughts are about, Police Box?"
My eyes widen in understanding; out loud. "No..." I mumble aloud. "No no no no..."
"That's right. Me,"  His grin is replaced by a scowl. "And unless you want your family to realize you've been keeping secrets from them all summer," His voice gradually get more and more menacing. "And dangerous ones at that," His voice rises and rises until it hurts. "I suggest you don't put that contraption on your head!"

I sit there in my chair for who knows how long, thinking through the pros and cons of using the machine. The pros and the cons...and the cons...and the cons.
Man. This is taking forever. When I look up, Dipper's screen only reads 15%. I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "What time it?" I glance around the room, looking for a clock, but I only find a bored Dipper and a sleeping Ford.
Actually, a nap doesn't sound too bad right about now. I push my glasses on top of my head, relaxing again as I close my eyes.

**DIPPER P.O.V.**
"Ugh, this is taking forever," I sigh, staring at the screen that now read 15%. "How long have I been doing this for?" Looking around, I see both my Great-Uncle Ford and cousin are sleeping. "Why does Ford have to be so mysterious about Bill? I can handle the truth,"
"I wonder what Great Uncle Ford is thinking," I hear the machine tell me in my voice. "Use the machine! It'll show you his thoughts."
"I... I shouldn't... " I argue.
"He won't know. He's going to tell you eventually," The machine replies. "The more you know about Bill, the more you can help," I smile at my argument towards myself.
"Man, I am really good at rationalizing."
"Yes, you are."
I sneak over to Ford, pulling the helmet off my head and putting it on his. "Just a little peek. What are you hiding about Bill?"
Bill appears on the screen, cackling. Screen changes to Ford moving around in his sleep. Smaller screens show the portal and McGucket yelling at Ford.
"Where are these ideas coming from? Who are you working with?!" McGucket yells.
Screens change to Ford writing "I'M LOSING," "MY MIND," and "TRUST NO ONE" in the journal.
"My brother is a dangerous know-it-all..." Stan's voice comes from the machine.
"He would trick or possess anyone..." Ford's voice follows. "Then it's a deal. From now until the end of time," I stare in shock at a screen with a much younger Ford.
"Just let me into your mind, Stanford!" An image of Bill appears, holding out a flaming blue hand.
"Please," Ford reaches out to shake his hand. "Just call me... a friend."
I back up as a cackling image of Ford possessed by Bill.
"FORD AND BILL?!" I gasp, unable to pull my eyes away.