The Lemon Meringue Boy

Part 38

"Do you think people, I don't know, treat me different? I mean, now that I'm a "hero" or whatever, it's like they think I've lost my edge. I mean, I did save everyone. Not gonna deny that. Proud of it too. You shoulda seen that idiot!"

My chest was thumping. My eyes darted to the box. The flaps were slightly open, and I saw the first smidgen of an eye peering out. Not happy. Bill's eye found mine and I gestured for him to get down.

"You'd think some sort of all-knowing demon would know how to count fingers! When he fell for it I actually laughed. Seriously! He was on his knees and everything, it was hilarious! He even offered me the galaxy! Imagine that! He went insane after that! More than usual, he was all over the place!"

Stan had told this story before. All about what happened in his mind. He forgot to mention, though, the begging. Bill begged? 

I stared at Bill, motioning all I could for him to get down. He wasn't looking at me though. He was looking at Stan. His eye was burning with hatred. When I looked closer I saw that his whites were reflecting some strange slideshow. I saw the TV room in the shack, aflame in blue, Stan sitting in his favorite recliner. After a bit I realized it was replaying the scene from inside Stan's head. I had heard enough about it that I was able to recognize the events. It seemed to be playing from Bills point of view. That made sense. 

Stan stood up and pointed, saying something. He was mad. The image shifted down, angled to look up at Stan. Bill was on his knees. Images flashed across, money, fame, riches. Then the image blurred, Bill's hands coming into view. Static and colors and mysterious symbols flashing feverishly. When I looked away from Bill's eye, Stan was finishing up his story.

"...And that was when I hit him. Man, it was crazy! Bits of him flew everywhere! I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel great!" 

My gaze flicked back to Bill. He was trembling with rage and suppressed panic. The scene playing on his eye shifted, and through the chaos and flashing colors came a fist. Stan's fist. The image flashed white. The edges cracked and flashed strobe, then went black.

The slide show of memory slid from Bill's eye. It was now pitch black, interrupted only with a thin sliver of a pure white pupil. Resentment and vengeance poured from his deranged glare. He threw the lid off the box and, all in one fluid motion, leapt at his killer, his fist drawn back.

"STANLEY!!!"

"NO!" I shouted desperately, but it was too late. Stan spun at the sound of Bill's battle cry, just in time to witness a fist colliding with his skull at blinding speed. Right between the eyes. Nature's snooze button. It sounded like the crack of a major league bat. The skin split, causing blood to spurt from his scalp. He stumbled back, tripping over the cardboard box that had fallen to the floor. His head hit the ground with a sickening thud, scarlet streaming down his face.

I was stunned. My sight flitted to Bill, who had fallen to his knees. He was heaving and panting, his eye slowly returning to normal. He looked up at me. 

I didn't get angry. Not yet. It was too soon. I was still processing what had happened. We just stared at each other, both awash in panic. Though I could've imagined it, I could've sworn there was a hint of satisfaction in Bill's shocked expression.

I heard footsteps pounding toward the kitchen. Bill's face flashed pure terror before he bolted off to who knows where. As long as he couldn't be seen, I didn't care. Seconds after he disappeared, Ford and Mabel came running into the room.

"WHAT HAPPENED??!! Is everyone oka_" Ford's eyes grew wide and both him and Mabel skidded to a halt. "STAN!"

"Grunkle Stan! Wake up!" Mabel dropped to her knees and started shaking unconscious Stan.

"Dipper, what happened?!" 

Both Ford and Mabel both turned to me. Sweat poured from me like a human sprinkler. Bill had just attacked Stan. He was unstable. He hadn't changed. His vengeance and violent tendencies still drove him. I need to tell the truth. I told myself. I don't even need to mention how long I've hidden him! Just say he came out of nowhere! Say anything! HE CAN"T BE TRUSTED ANYMORE!

"Raccoons!" I blurted out, surprising myself. I was defending him. 

Why?! Listen to yourself Dipper! The raccoons can't take the fall again! Listen to your head! It got you this far! What is the benefit of hiding Bill? Why did you let him out in the first place? All he does is cause trouble! Think of the pros and cons!

"A big one just jumped right out of the cabinet and BAM! Blood everywhere! I chased them out as fast as possible. I don't know why they attacked!" 

Lie after lie. Flooding the room, drowning me. I was listening to my head, but my mouth didn't want to. Lies everywhere. A story faker than the numerous attractions lining the shack, faker than Stan's teeth. I kept asking myself why, but no part of me had an answer. I knew deep down that Bill was right. Humans are weak. Feelings out rule reason. 

Weak! You're weak! You're a pathetic excuse of a person! A pathetic excuse of a great nephew! A pathetic excuse of a brother! WEAK WEAK WEAK!!!

The story flowed from my traitorous mouth like water over rocks. My mind was screaming at me to stop, but I couldn't. if I stopped, Bill would die. Bill had to die. Bill couldn't die. Bill needed to die. I wouldn't let Bill die. Why couldn't I let Bill die?!

My story ended without me even knowing what I said, but it looked like I had my family convinced. The raccoons had struck again.

"Mabel, go get a rag dipped in cold water." Mabel ran off at Ford's instruction. Ford bent down. He listened to Stan's chest and checked his vitals. He looked up at me gravely. 

"Dipper, call the hospital."