Content warning: This chapter, Part Seven, through Part Fourteen contain references to child abuse and torture. Part Thirteen containssemi-graphic descriptions of the aforementioned topics.

Gideon felt a nervous nausea in his stomach that had nothing to do with the height.

He sat on the peryton's back — on Rowan's back. (It was a good name for the buck, Gideon had to admit. Dipper was pretty creative.) Rowan and the other peryton, Marigold, flew above the forest, headed for the Northwest Manor. Gideon had, of course, flown before with his amulet, and he wasn't one to get nauseous from heights. No, the nausea was from a different reason entirely.

"Dipper," he called over the wind, though he knew it was inconvenient to talk to him while they were flying. "Dipper, do you remember the plan?"

Dipper nudged Marigold to come down closer to Gideon and Rowan. "You don't want me to talk to anyone," he said, rolling his eyes just a bit. "I know."

Gideon nodded. When they'd first made their plan, Gideon had asked Dipper not to say anything to anyone at the Northwest Manor unless Gideon told him to. He'd requested the same thing last week, when the boys had gone out to talk to the servants together, and Dipper had failed then. Gideon could only hope that he would hold his tongue this time.

Because Gideon probably had to face his father. And he didn't want Dipper making a bad situation worse.

"It'll be okay," Dipper said. "Your mother will be there. We can talk to her."

Yes, that was the best case scenario: that Gideon would find Geneva first, that she'd know where the amulet was, and that she'd get it for him. But, knowing his luck, he doubted it would be so easy. Gideon worried that he was running right back into his father's custody, and he wouldn't be able to save Mabel from there. He wouldn't be able to save himself from there.

He wanted to talk more to Dipper — remind him of all the details of their plan — but it was hard to hold a conversation while flying. So Gideon focused on the scenery instead, patting Rowan's neck absentmindedly as he watched the forest below.

He also kept an eye on the sphere above. Mabel's moon was still far above them, but this was the closest Gideon had been to it so far. The cracks along the surface were bright and imposing, and it seemed as if the moon were about to fall from the sky and crash right on top of the perytons. Would Gideon ever get up there? How much time did Mabel have left?

The stars in the sky weren't helping, either. They were beautiful, but they were just a reminder that this sky wasn't Gideon's own. Partway through their flight, the stars disappeared, and another set of stars — big pink stars — replaced them.

They were in yet another dimension. They were even farther from home.

The perytons didn't falter when the stars disappeared, nor when the new ones appeared. They kept flying beneath Mabel's moon, using its soft blue light as a guide. Gideon thought he could see, in the shadowy distance, the Northwest Manor atop its hill.

The nausea in his stomach increased.

They approached the Manor far too quickly. Gideon pushed back his nervousness and spoke quietly to Rowan. "We're going to land on the roof," he said. Flying in on perytons would be much safer and more effective than any of their original plans (most of which had involved the grappling hook). Gideon continued, "Can you fly up and then go straight down onto the Manor? I don't want anyone to see us approaching. We need to land right by my parents' balcony, which is the highest one on the building, so Dipper and I can jump down and get in. It's on the opposite side from us."

Rowan sent back a feeling of understanding and a promise that he would communicate the instructions to Marigold. He then told Gideon that, if they were coming from above, it was best to land in a descending spiral pattern.

Gideon could hear Dipper talking quietly to Marigold, too, and he wondered if the doe was telling him the instructions. Then Dipper turned and gave Gideon a thumbs-up. Gideon sent back his own thumbs-up. It was really helpful to have helpers that communicated with their minds — no risk of being overheard by their enemies.

The perytons flew up higher and higher until the Northwest Manor was lost in the shadows. "Can you still see it?" Gideon asked Rowan. The peryton gave a silent yes, then a suggestion that Gideon hold on.

Rowan and Marigold started their descent in a tight downward spiral. It wasn't too fast, but it was steep, and Gideon leaned down close to Rowan's neck to avoid slipping off. Soon, he could see the Manor again, including his parents' balcony. The perytons headed for the portion of roof near the balcony and landed a few yards from the edge. They bent forward to allow the boys to slip off.

Once Dipper got his footing on the snowy roof, he gave Marigold a big hug around her neck. "Thank you," he whispered.

Gideon ran a hand over Rowan's grey wings, then said softly, "We'll drop onto the balcony, and I think we'll be able to get back up with the grappling hook. Can you two wait up here?" The peryton nodded, and Gideon smiled. "Thanks. Hey, Dip, the balcony doors are glass. Do you think you can lay on the roof and drop your head down to look into the room?"

Dipper glanced down at the snow on the roof. "Not on that. Can you help me move it out of the way?"

Gideon rolled his eyes but did as Dipper asked. With their gloves on, the boys pushed the snow aside (making sure none fell off the edge) until there was a clear spot big enough for Dipper to lay on. Dipper got down on his stomach and shivered as he came into contact with the cold, wet roof. "Hold onto my ankles," he said to Gideon. "I don't wanna fall."

Once Gideon was holding his ankles, Dipper grabbed onto the edge of the roof and lowered his head down. After a few seconds, he came back up. "I don't see anyone in there," he said. "I think it's clear."

"Think you'll be okay dropping down to the balcony?" Gideon asked.

"Sure. How will we get back up, the grappling hook?"

Gideon didn't know if he trusted the grappling hook to hold his weight, but he said, "Yeah, until I get my amulet."

"Are you guys gonna be okay standing on the roof for hours?" Dipper asked the perytons.

They'd be fine, Rowan told him, with their winter coats and their wings. He just hoped the boys would be safe.

"Me, too," Gideon said softly. "Thank you, Rowan."

"Wait, we should at least clear more snow away so the perytons can sit down," Dipper said. "C'mon, Gideon." He started pushing snow away to make a spot for the perytons. Gideon joined in, and soon there was a patch of roof big enough for both the perytons to sit on.

The perytons thanked them, and the boys went to the edge of the roof and dropped a few feet onto the balcony. "Okay," Gideon said quietly, "let's get in. I don't think the door will be locked." Geneva disliked the cold, but Gaston liked to come out onto the balcony at all times of year, so he probably would've unlocked it earlier today to come out. Gideon tried the door. It opened easily.

"This way," he whispered to Dipper, leading him into the room and closing the door softly behind them. The room was shadowed: No lights were on, and the dim light from outside wasn't much even with the room's glass balcony doors and large windows. Geneva had an old-fashioned dressing screen in the corner, and Gideon and Dipper moved behind it. They were hidden from view if anyone came to the door.

"Do you think your amulet is in here?" Dipper whispered.

"Probably not, but we might be able to search later. For now, we're just waiting for someone to come in."

"Your mother."

"Yes." What was the likelihood that Geneva would come first, and not Gaston or a servant? Strangely enough, Gideon found himself dreading the servants more than Gaston — the servants were dutifully loyal to Bill Cipher, and Gaston's loyalty to the demon wasn't nearly as deep. Whether that would convince the man to give Gideon his amulet, Gideon didn't know, but he knew that the servants definitely wouldn't give it to him. They would capture the boys the moment they had the chance.

Gideon and Dipper sat down and waited in silence. Gideon's anxiety ratcheted up as he sat there. Was this really the smartest plan? Should they let anyone see them? But how would they get Gideon's amulet without help? Gideon didn't think either he or Dipper could sneak through the Manor halls without getting caught.

The silence dragged on. Dipper fidgeted next to Gideon, and it was all Gideon could do not to snap at him to sit still.

Finally, they heard footsteps in the hall. They were light footsteps; their owner was walking on the balls of their feet. Gideon had memorized the sound of people's footsteps as a defense mechanism, and these ones sounded like Geneva's. Could he be that fortunate? Was his mother really coming?

"No, I'll be fine," a female voice called. Geneva's voice. "I just need to lay down. These headaches, you know."

The door opened, and Geneva came in. Gideon heard the click of a light switch, and dim yellow lights turned on overhead (much dimmer than usual, since they were running on generator power). Geneva went over to the bed and lay down with a sigh.

Dipper looked at Gideon with a question in his eyes. Should they reveal themselves now?

Gideon hesitated. He didn't hear any other footsteps in the hall, and it sounded like Geneva had planned to be alone for a while. But was it really wise to talk to her? Fourteen years of living with his mother, and Gideon still didn't know where her loyalties lay; he didn't even know what she knew — or how she felt — about Gaston's abusive behavior towards Gideon. Would she be willing to help Gideon now, or would he and Dipper have to get out of here as quickly as they came?

He forced himself to take a deep (silent) breath. The perytons were right outside. Gideon and Dipper could easily leave if they had to. And they'd already calculated that talking to Geneva was their best chance. Or rather, Gideon had calculated; Dipper didn't know anything about Gideon's relationship with his parents, and Gideon had no inclination to tell him.

He nodded to Dipper, then held up a hand. Stay here. Gideon would talk to Geneva himself.

Dipper motioned for Gideon to get out there.

Nervously, Gideon stood. He didn't want to scare Geneva — he knew how easily she startled. So he decided to talk to her before he showed himself to her.

"Mother?" he said.

The bedspread rustled as Geneva sat upright. "Gideon?" she said.

"I'm here, Mother. Don't yell for anyone, all right?" Gideon stepped into her view.

Geneva was sitting on her bed and staring at him through the low lights. "Gideon. . . is that really you?" she whispered.

"Yes." Gideon stepped forward slowly. "I need to speak with you."

Geneva got to her feet and rushed to Gideon. "Gideon — my son—" She didn't touch him, but Gideon could see the tears in her eyes. "I've missed you so much," she said. "I know — I know why you ran away, but—"

"You do?" asked Gideon. If Gaston were here, Gideon wouldn't have dared interrupt Geneva, but Gaston wasn't here.

"Yes," Geneva said sadly. "Yes, I do. You're so much braver than I, to go and tell the Pines the truth about Lincoln. And I'm glad you got to stay with the Pines afterward, because I'm sure it was much. . . much safer than here."

It was. Gideon had never felt so welcome and loved in his life than in these past twelve days, staying with the Pines.

"Why are you back here?" asked Geneva. Her brow furrowed. "How did you get here from the Museum? Isn't there a huge rift?"

"I can't tell you that," Gideon said. The less people who knew about the perytons, the better.

Although, if the mansion's cameras had seen them. . . and if Bill knew. . . "Mother," Gideon said, his voice suddenly urgent. "Mother, how much generator power do we have for our security system? And have you seen Lincoln here? Is Bill possessing him?"

"I don't think our security system is working at all right now," said Geneva. "No cameras, no alarms. As for Lincoln. . . I haven't seen him, but your father says Bill is possessing Lincoln at all times now. Poor man."

Gideon's eyes widened. "At all times?" So he couldn't see anything that was going on outside of the Manor? He didn't know that Gideon and Dipper were here?

Geneva nodded again. "That's what your father says. Bill spends all day in the guest room on the second floor, meditating in Lincoln's body. The servants bring him food, and he uses the guest bathroom, and no one else sees him. He even sleeps in Lincoln's body, I've heard."

The thought of Bill doing normal human things like eating and sleeping was a very, very strange one. Why would he stay in Lincoln's body at all times? Didn't he need to spy on his Symbols? "And he never leaves Lincoln's body?" Gideon asked. "Never?"

Geneva shook her head. "Your father got in an argument with the servants the other day — the ones that are left, anyway. He said they were shirking their duties, but the servants just laughed at him. They said that serving their lord while he was stuck in human form was more important than serving us." Her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper, although they'd already been talking quietly. "They're more fanatic than some of the worst Order members," she said. Then her face turned red, like she was saying something she had never dared say out loud.

Gideon kept his face neutral, though he was surprised to hear Geneva talk like that. "'Stuck in human form,'" he murmured. Did that mean that Bill was trapped in Lincoln's body? That would make it all but impossible to rescue Lincoln. . . .

He pushed the thought away. "Did you know?" he asked Geneva. "Did you know the servants worked for Bill?"

"No, I didn't. Of course, the Northwests and their servants have worked with the Order for over a century, but I didn't know our servants worked with Bill personally." She sighed. "It's been terrible since they revealed their loyalty to Bill. They still make us food and keep us fairly comfortable during this blackout, but they've made it very clear that they serve Bill first. I think they'd try to kick us out of our own house if Bill told them to."

Geneva loved her comforts, Gideon knew. The servants weren't at her beck and call anymore, and it was clearly wearing her down. Despite her nice clothes, beautiful room, and good food, she looked miserable.

"Well," Geneva said, "enough about me. Why did you come back?"

Gideon drew in a deep breath. This was it, the moment of truth — would Geneva help? "I need my amulet," he said. "The township is moving, I'm sure you know, and Mabel Pines was taken by the township to power it. That sphere in the sky, that's her. I need to save her, and I need my amulet to do it."

Geneva listened, her face hesitant. "What will your amulet do?"

"I don't know," Gideon said, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. "But I'll be able to do more than I can now. Do you know where the amulet is?"

"I. . . I'm not sure. You know how secretive your father can be."

Gideon was silent for a moment, his eyes scanning her face. "Mother, are you willing to help me?"

Her expression became more hesitant, even fearful. "I. . . I want to, but. . ."

"But you're worried about Bill hurting you if you do? Mother, he's going to hurt us no matter what. Even if you survive the trip to his dimension, he'll probably just kill everyone as soon as he has the power. And I won't survive the trip at all."

Geneva's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Mabel's dying up there," Gideon said. "She's one of Bill's Symbols, and the township is going to use her up and kill her. Well, I'm also one of Bill's Symbols. For him to get to his dimension, he has to kill me, too."

"No," Geneva whispered in horror.

"Yes," Gideon said grimly. "And if Mabel dies, we won't be able to defeat Bill. All ten Symbols have to be alive to stop him. If we don't save Mabel, then either everyone dies because we starve or freeze to death, or everyone dies because Bill kills his Symbols, gets to his dimension, and kills the rest of you."

Geneva stared at him.

"Will you help me get my amulet?" Gideon asked.

Geneva nodded mutely. Gideon sighed in relief.

Then Geneva frowned. "But — your father—"

"Will he help?" said Gideon. He doubted it, but he wanted to ask. "How loyal is he to Bill?"

She hesitated. "I don't know, honestly. After the servants' betrayal, I think he's more angry at Bill than anything. But I don't know if he'll help."

Gideon nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we'll just have to work around him, if we can."

Just then, as if summoned by Gideon's words, footsteps sounded in the hall. Gideon's and Geneva's eyes widened, and Gideon felt his pulse suddenly speed up. He knew those footsteps. They were heavy, strident, purposeful.

They were Gaston's footsteps. And they were headed to this room.