The Universal Spookiness of Gravity Falls

(Real) Chapter 24: Inner Demons

Content/Trigger warning: Minor mentions/descriptions of blood and violence are prevalent in some of this chapter. You have been warned.

- Dipper's P.O.V.

I don't remember going outside of the Mystery Shack, but I guess I'm here anyway. Despite being exhausted from the whole ghost plant thing from a few hours ago, I'm having a hard time sleeping. Everyone else is sleeping and I'm just alone staring at the night sky, listening to the crickets chirping. While sitting on the front steps of the Mystery Shack. It's peaceful outside, but I have a lot on my mind.

What had happened earlier, my feelings on not being useful, my friends getting swallowed whole, and Steven...it's getting to me. It's gnawing at me and I want it to stop.

'Is there a way to get this feeling to stop?' I think to myself.

"Well, I can take your brain out. That'll get you to stop thinking!"

Again?!

Bill appears in front of me! I quickly stand up to get ready to get away!

"You're not real!" I exclaim.

"Oh come on, Pine Tree! Do you really believe that?" Bill asks.

"Yeah! W-we defeated you last summer!" I yell out.

"Did you? Did you really?"

This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. Bill was defeated! We beat him! This...isn't...real...

"We did! Now LEAVE ME ALONE!" I scream.

"Dipper?"

I turn around to see Steven at the front door. He looks both confused and worried about me.

"Why are you yelling? What's wrong?" He asks, calmly.

"It's...I..I was..."

Nothing else comes out of my mouth. I turn back to see that Bill was gone. How do I explain this without having him worry about me? I take a deep breath and sigh.

"I don't know how to explain this, but...I just..." I explain, "I think I might be seeing things."

"Seeing things?" He asks.

"Yeah...it's not the first time." I admit.

We sit on the front steps. He continues to look worried about me. I start looking at the night sky again. Both out of my nerves getting the better of me and to not look at someone who's looking at me like I'm made of glass.

"I've been...dealing with this since last summer. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does...it feels so real." I continue, "I either see things that aren't there, or I relive the bad stuff that happened."

"Have you told anyone about this?" He asks.

I quickly glance at him and I catch the same worried look. I sigh deeply.

"No. I haven't told Grunkle Stan, or Soos, or even my parents." I admit.

I'll be honest, telling someone about this...has lifted the weight off my shoulders a little. I didn't think I would. And it feels nice to have someone listen to me about it.

"Hey..um...thanks for listening and--whoa!"

I quickly fall backwards off the steps. Steven changed into his 'half-demon' form again! Why did he change? He looks caught off guard as he sees his hands and touches his fangs with his tongue.

"I'm sorry, did I scare you?" He asks.

"Yeah, a little." I answer honestly.

He does his usual 'slightly embarrassed' smile...but I suddenly feel a chill go down my spine. What...is this? It almost seems...insincere...