Forest of Riddles (Reverse Falls, S1)

MI: Part Five

Gideon opened his eyes.

He sat up, looking around him. It looked like he was in a long, stone hallway - it gave him the feeling like he was in a huge stone maze.

He glanced over to see Wendy Valentino on the floor, rubbing her head, and Dipper Gleeful standing and looking up at the ceiling.

The ceiling which, Gideon realized, was also stone.

Gideon got to his feet. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice echoing.

"I don't know," Dipper said sharply, turning on his heel to look Gideon in the eye. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't gone into the library."

Gideon opened his mouth to argue that he had been trying to cheer Pacifica up, but Wendy, sitting on the floor, interrupted him. "Ugh," Wendy muttered. "What happened?"

"No clue." Dipper grabbed her hand and pulled her up. "I think we're in a maze."

"Are we in Gravity Falls?" Gideon said slowly.

But, to his surprise, Wendy and Dipper ignored him. Dipper only stuck his head over the side of one of the stone walls while Wendy stretched, pulling on her black hoodie.

"Definitely a maze," Dipper reported.

"Thanks, like I hadn't noticed." Wendy rolled her eyes. "Well then, what do we know?"

Silence.

Okay then, Gideon decided. He'd have to take the lead.

"Let's explore," he said. That's what Pacifica would do, right? Jump into the adventure without hesitation? "Maybe we can figure out where we are?"

Wendy glanced at him and then narrowed her eyes. "Well, thanks for getting us into this mess."

Dipper started walking into the maze, and Wendy followed him.

Gideon frowned. Well, he thought. That was rude.

"That's rude," he said, catching up with the two.

Wendy gave him a look. "Listen, kid," she said. "I'm stuck in who knows where with someone from the business I work against. You. We don't need to complicate things any more than they are. Got it?"

Gideon frowned. "You're rude."

Wendy's scowl deepened.

"Shut it, Pines," Dipper called.

"Now you're just both rude."

Dipper clenched his fists. Wendy looked ready to murder Gideon on the spot.

Well.

Gideon inwardly sighed.

This was going to be a while.

~

There was no time to make a plan that wouldn't involve Mabel going into the Mystery Shack, much to Pacifica's dread.

"Alright," she began, trying to avoid Mabel's gaze, "I'll go inside. Robbie, stay out here with -" She swallowed.

"Gotcha." Robbie patted her shoulder.

"I didn't even want to step in your shack." Mabel sniffed, crossing her arms.

"Well, good," Robbie said, "because I'm staying out here with you." Then he turned back to Pacifica and shot her a finger gun. "Good luck."

Pacifica managed a smile and gave him a thumbs up.

Then she quickly turned around and hurried inside the Shack. She kept rehearsing the plan in her head, over and over again: she'd go inside the Shack, sneak inside Ford's study, and grab his journal. Robbie would stay outside with Mabel to stop her from getting into trouble.