Trapped in Stone

Chapter Two

Further into the Mystery Shack, Mabel was figuring out Riddle's zodiac. She finally got it and gasped. "Oh my gosh! We're totally compatible! I guess we should, I don't know...date!" She laughed and slapped him on the back. "Right?"

Riddle winced at the slap, feeling pain go through his entire back. "I don't really know you that well, Mabel. I wouldn't mind being your friend," he said. "Just as long as you aren't a mass murderer."

"Psh! I'm not a murderer! I have killed zombies though, so does that count?"

Riddle looked at her, wondering how he could let himself get into this strange situation. He smiled and let out a soft laugh. "So you play video games? Cool, I like those."

"No, silly! I've killed real life zombies after my brother brought them back from the dead," Mabel said with a huge smile. Now with her braces off, her teeth were straight and perfect.

Riddle shook his head and looked for the exit. He didn't know how to reply to her at all, and began to even fear her. "Yeah, okay. You killed zombies that your twin brother brought back to life. Was this a dream or what?" He found the exit and thought of am escape plan.

"No, it wasn't a dream, it happened last summer, before my Great Uncle Stan released his twin brother, Ford, from a portal that Grunkle Ford was tricked into making by a demon named Bill Cipher!"

"That's a lot to process, Mabel," he said while inching closer to the door. "You have my number, so just text me about the zombies, the portal, and whatever else there is. Okay?" He smiled and waved to her, heading through the door. He walked around and found the gift shop, running over to the check out counter. "Minou, let's go before Mabel finds me again." He glanced at Dipper. "No offense."

"I get it, she's a lot to handle," Dipper said. He got up and lead them to the exit. "Come back anytime you want. I have plenty of stories that include monsters, and some that don't."

"Cool, I'll come back sometime soon." Minou lead Riddle out and walked back through the woods. "So, how was your date?"

"It wasn't a- nevermind, you're just trying to get under my skin," he said. "Mabel seems pretty cool, but she thinks she fought zombies." He sighed. "First we move here because your dad wants to learn about the folklore, and now the seemingly only kids our age are trying to get us to believe zombies are real!

"Why couldn't we have stayed in the Bahamas for summer?" He gave her a wounded look. He was always a good actor, like his father.

"They did fight zombies. Dipper told me so, same with the hot red head that works there. He has evidence of it in his diaries. This place has magic in it, so I think it's better than the Bahamas," Minou said with a cocky smirk.

"I'll believe it when I see it, cuz. Now, let's explore the woods! Maybe we'll see some ghost." He laughed as they traveled down paths. Soon the trees got denser, and the sun was blocked by their heavy foilayage, leaving the pair in near darkness as they walked.

Minou walked down a trail, not noticing she couldn't hear Riddle's footsteps. She soon heard running and stopped, listening. It came from her right, and was moving the way she was walking. She began running, careful not to trip or fall. As she broke into a clearing, she saw a boy panting, standing in front of a stone statue.

She stepped towards him, reaching out a worried hand. "Excuse me? Are you alright?"

He turned and gasped. "Minou!" Dipper looked shocked to see her, dropping the book in his hand. "Minou, you should leave. This place is dangerous!"

Minou ignored him. "You dropped your diary, Dip-n-Dots," she said in a teasing tone.

"It's a journal, Minou, we've been through- no! Don't distract me. Get away!" He approached her and went to grab her wrist. She stepped back and watched him trip over his own feet. "Ack!" He fell, scraping his elbow badly. He got to his knees and examined the cut. He felt dizzy, despite it not being at all serious. Blood dripped down his arm as he stood fully, swaying.

"Hey, man, maybe you should sit back down. You look ready to puke," Minou said, reaching for him. Dipper ignored her, his ears ringing. He made his way towards the statue, seeing a familiar hand reached out for him. He heard voices in his head, spinning insanely, bouncing against his skull. As he reached out his hand to take the stone one, one voice stood out from the rest.

"Let's make a deal!"

"Okay, Bill," Dipper whispered as he took Bill's hand. Suddenly blue fire absorbed their joined hands; stone and flesh bound by pacifist flames.

The pair entered the Mind Scape, leaving the world frozen in place.

"I've missed you, Pine Tree."

"Then why don't you show yourself?" Dipper turned in circles, searching the emptiness for the triangular figure. "Bill! Show yourself!" Dipper screamed.

"I'm right in front of you," the voice taunted Dipper. "Can't you see me?"

Dipper screamed in annoyance as he stared at Bill's crumbled, ruined statue. He had been terrified all year that the demon would be back, and he was right! And for once, he didn't want to be right. His heart sank as he felt heat against his neck. No, not heat: breathing. Soft, humid breaths that made the hair on the back of his neck rise and his blood run cold.

"Hello, Pine Tree. I've missed you."