What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You

23

Cole was back at the Mystery Shack the next day. His eyes were dark from lack of sleep, as he couldn't get Mason's whimpers, cuts, and other marks on his body out of his mind.

Cole had been mindlessly sweeping the gift shop floor when Bill found him. Bill looked glanced around before grabbing Cole's attention. "Hey. Kid."

Cole immediately looked up at Bill. "Yes, sir?"

"I told you, call me Bill. And come with me, there's something I want to talk to you about."

Cole eyed him warily, but followed Bill into the living room. No one was around, and the two sat next to each other on the couch.

"Listen. There's some things I want to ask you. Okay?" Cole nodded. "You're not human, are you?"

Cole's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I don't feel comfortable talking about that."

Bill gave him a confused look. "You can tell me anything, Cole. I won't tell anyone else. Look, I'm not human, either. I'm a dream demon. Now, are you, or not?"

Cole shook his head. "I really don't feel comfortable talking about that." He turned his head, making sure Bill saw the small, black earpiece in his ear.

Bill nodded. "Oh, right. Of course. Can they hear me?"

"No, sir, I don't think so."

"Good. We can get around this." Bill flashed him a smile. "Well, me and my friends have been looking for someone very important to us. His name is Mason. Ringing any bells?"

Cole grinned, nodding. "Ah, so you're him? I've heard a lot about you."

"Mason's talked about me?"

"Oh, he won't shut up about you! Seems like you're really special to him."

Bill shook his head. "We need to get back on track. You've been staying with him, right?"

"Temporarily. I won't be in Gravity Falls for much longer."

"Then we need to hurry. You know where you're staying!"

Cole nodded. "I haven't remembered the address, but I know how to get here."

"Oh, thank God." Bill stood up, leading Cole to the table in the room. Spread on top of it was a map of Gravity Falls and a red pen. The map was already partially marked. "Can you mark the place you two are at?"

Cole looked at him worriedly. "Can I ask what for?"

"I need to get Mason out of there as soon as I can, before it's too late. He's developing his powers, and it's a dangerous time for him to be anywhere but with me. I also promised him that I'd help save two children with him, as well."

Cole grinned and eagerly turned to the map, drawing a circle around a house in the middle of the town. "I think about here is where you should build it. Don't you think?"

Bill grinned, as well. "Okay. One more question. Is Mason okay?"

Cole's face fell. "Well... he seemed pretty bad a few minutes ago. Some people attacked him. He's got marks and cuts all over him."

Bill looked solemn. "Oh. That's why I had a headache last night." Bill looked down at him. "Listen. The last time I talked to Mason, he told me about you and your sister and your story. I'm going to make sure that after we get you all out of there, you get into a nice family. Okay?"

Cole smiled. "Thank you, sir." Cole quickly left the room.

Mabel stepped inside from the next room. "Did it work?"

Bill sighed, turning to the map. "Yeah. He marked it for us."

Mabel walked over, looking at the map. "...well, that isn't even remotely close to where we thought." She paused. "Wait, isn't that Gideon's house?"

After a brief moment of silence, the two looked up at each other with wide eyes. "Oh no."