Oak Tree | BillDip

Chapter 16 - Reunion and Explanation

Wendy ushered Dipper inside the Mystery Shack before one of the henchmaniacs would get them. Which they wouldn't, of course, since Bill should hold up his end of the deal and he needed Dipper anyway for this mission of his. Dipper's heart pounded against his chest thinking about it. Technically, right now, he was being shoved into his enemies' home.

Guess the tables have turned...

Everyone in the room turned to greet Wendy back home, but obviously, they had not expected Dipper Pines to walk onto the threshold of the home.

Everyone was silent. Dipper could see their faces twist into shock. Then after a moment, his sister pushed through the crowd of people and her knees wobbled. Dipper released a sob as he flung himself at her, pulling at her sweater to get more of her. He missed everything—her scent, her hugs, her smiles, her jokes.

"Bro, I've missed you so much!" Mabel cried into his shoulder.

Oh, he didn't want her to cry. "Hey, Mabel, don't cry—" He yelped when someone hugged him from behind. He recognized Stan as he and Mabel sandwiched Dipper between them.

"Ah, kid, we've missed ya!" A pause and a cough. "I-I mean, I only missed you a little bit."

"Oh, Grunkle Stan."

He heard his Great-Uncle Ford's hefty laughter and he felt the group around him get bigger and excited voices get louder. He didn't know how many people have joined in on the hug now, but what Dipper knew, that he was loved.

Oh, enough of that sappy talk, Dipper could feel Bill crossing his arms in his mind. Dipper rolled his eyes and gave his sister one last squeeze before breaking the hug.

Then everyone was silent again. Dipper's knees were a bit wobbly from standing so long like that and the tearful reunion. Stan held gave him the extra balance by putting his arm around his waist.

Dipper looked around the room at his friends and family and other townsfolk who were lucky enough to reach the shack in time.

Ford motioned for him, Stan and Mabel to come with him in private. They obliged.

Dipper sat on the worn yellow sofa that he had missed for so long. He sighed through his nose slowly and enjoyed the Shack while it lasted for him.

Ford pulled up one of the dining room table chairs and sat in it, facing Dipper. He said softly, "You need to tell us what happened while you were Bill's prisoner."

Dipper didn't think prisoner was hardly the right word to use...he had his own room and bathroom and he could exercise and he was fed everyday. He actually had freedom, which he had not suspected. Dipper heard Bill's hum of agreement at his thoughts.

Bill said to him, do not speak about your turning.

Wait, turning. If he was a demon, wouldn't that mean Dipper shouldn't be inside the Mystery Shack at all? What happened? He wanted to ask Bill, but he didn't know how to actually talk with him.

Just send thoughts to me, like thinking, Bill responded. Oh. It was as simple as that. And the clothes you have on? Those are special protectant clothing that allows you to pass through wards. I spent a lot of magic putting that spell on those clothes, so you better be grateful. Dipper released a sigh as though he was thinking over his stay, as his family were still waiting for him. Don't walk outside without those clothes. A warning. Dipper's blood chilled.

And then Dipper actually thought about his time. The library, that one room. That voice. That calm but evil voice that made Dipper relaxed but frightened at the same time. He shouldn't talk about that, he contemplated.

"Well?" Dipper jumped when Ford spoke out loud.

Then Dipper told him about the first room he saw when he woke up after making the deal. He swore he saw Ford's eyes flicker in recognition. He told them about Pyronica, the demon who always helped him with stuff. His family didn't seem to believe that, but just nodded anyway. He said he found a library but he didn't want to remember it, so he just said that he couldn't understand the language and never went again. Half-lie. He told them that he got his own room and bathroom and that he was fed everyday. Stan had asked, how much everyday? Dipper replied, three meals a day.

Then that was all he could say without mentioning himself being turned into a demon and that one voice. His family was silent. He hoped that he wouldn't hear it again.

What voice? Bill blurted in his head. Dipper tried not to flinch at the sudden change of tone.

I didn't mention a voice, Dipper thought in a confused tone. The talking to each other via mind was super weird to Dipper right now.

Don't play dumb with me, I know everything. I heard your thoughts a moment ago, do you need me to replay them to you?

Dipper's fingers curled on the worn fabric arm of the chair. No! I mean, I did hear a voice. Silence on the other side—a motion to continue. The first time I heard it was in the library. Then in the room with the forest and that's it.

Silence again. Then came, what did the voice say to you?

You will never escape me, child. You belong to me. You're mine. You are a coward. Dipper grimaced at the thought of those words that were engraved into his mind, probably forever.

Dipper could feel Bill's anger pushing against the walls of his mind.

"Dipper!" Dipper blinked back into the present. Stan was snapping his fingers in front of Dipper's eyes.

"What?" Dipper asked. Had they really been speaking to him while he was talking to Bill? He didn't notice.

Mabel spoke up. "We...we asked you how you escaped from Bill."

Dipper blinked. He didn't think of what he would say if they'd asked him that.

Well? Bill prompted.

Dipper thought quickly. "That demon I told you about—Pyronica—helped me escape."

If some henchmaniac actually would help you escape, I would hunt you and them, you realize that, right?

Well it's a good thing you sent me, Dipper thought back.

Ford weighed those words in his mind. Please don't see through my lie, please don't see through my lie... Finally, Ford smiled and sighed a sigh of relief. "We're so happy that you're alright, Dipper." He gestured toward the door, where everyone else was waiting for them. "Come," he said. "We all have so much to catch up on."