Y/N's POV

The first few days felt like torture as I became a prisoner to the only place I considered home. I'm not allowed to go out and help with a problem that started with me. The nightmare was given to me, not them. Bill and Banshee still haven't found who is responsible and they've talked, interrogated, and beaten every dream demon they've come across.

This is all so stupid.

Bill has let me come out of the shack a few times but it's only when I'm with him. I'm silent mostly towards him now which he hates. I'll ask how's the hunt going and if they have any leads but that's about it. He's tried making it up to me by taking me out for dinner and stargazing but at the moment it's hard for me to enjoy those things.

I sigh as I continue to doodle in the living room of the bunker with Katelyn sitting next to me. I see her glance over at me but I only drag my attention back to my art. I was lost in thought, drawing the image of Kaden when he attacked me. His pupils small with a sinister smile, blood dripping down his face.

I haven't had any nightmares since the first night. Every time I close my eyes though...I just see him as if he is burned into my mind and thoughts and I can't just wash the memory of him out.

Katelyn poked my leg as I looked up at her in curiosity. Basically my position is me taking up the majority of the couch as I lay sideways on it, using my legs to prop up my sketchbook. I was grateful enough to give my friend some room at the other end of the couch.

"You wanna play a round of Mario Kart?" she asks lifting a controller up for me to see.

I only shook my head, "Nah, we've played that for the past two days with you winning. I think I'm good."

"Do you want to listen to some musicals? Hamilton? In the Heights? Dear Evan Hansen?"

"No, I'm good, maybe later."

She frowned as she sunk back down into the couch. I stared at her, I didn't want to upset her but truthfully I just don't feel like I'm in the mood to do anything. I reach for my phone, linking it to the Bluetooth speaker, and begin to play "Two-Player Game" from the musical "Be More Chill". K.C. turned her head towards me and smiled.

Knowing Katelyn, she loves musicals. Every month it'll be a new musical she's listening to; she'll tell me the entire plot of it then show me all of her favorite songs from it. At the moment, Be More Chill is her favorite which I agree, the music is really good.

Find the bad guy, push 'em aside.
Then move on forward with your friend at your side.
It's a two-player game, so when they make an attack,
You know you got a brother gonna have your back.

The lyrics played as I listened to the words carefully. Life kind of goes like a video game. When you're born, that's when everything starts to become your responsibility, your mission. You don't know it at the beginning but as you continue you learn. You have to face obstacles, do certain missions to get to the next level in your life. In the end is when you face the Boss Battle, the end of the game...I faced mine as I went up against Kaden and saved the world.

So why hasn't it ended for me yet?! Isn't this suppose to be the start of a "happily ever after"? No, it's still continuing on for it appears my game isn't finished yet. And here I am not allowed to event participate in it. Here I am sitting around doing nothing while everyone else is figuring it out.

This is my life, my game, and I'm suppose to be Player 1.

I sat up, placing my sketchbook down. I picked up the controller and looked over at my brunette friend with freckles and glasses, "So, one more game?"

She smiles at me, picking up the second controller. "Sounds like a Kool-Aid plan to me!"

I gave her a small smile before the two of us leaned against each other's backs in our battle positions. Maybe this time the game will actually distract me from my real life problems that have been recently occurring.

Bill's POV

I snapped my fingers, entering the living room in the Mystery Shack. I looked around before placing both of my hands around my head in frustration. It's not possible! How am I still unable to locate the demon after my Star? Two weeks! I've been on this hunt for two weeks with no sign or lead whatsoever. How can I, the Bill Cipher, not find the one who threatens my Star and I? How can I not be able to protect her?!

I scream out before punching the closest thing next to me which in this case was a wall, a wall that is now damaged and has a giant hole. I breathe heavily, just staring at it before dropping my fist to my side. I cover my face with my other hand as I tiredly walk over to the yellow chair. Sitting down in it, I pull my legs up to my chest and bury my head in my arms.

Why can't I protect her? I try to find a temporary solution but she seems to hate me for it. She won't even speak to me for more than ten minutes. I'm just afraid that I'll lose her, I can't lose her once I finally have her back in my grasp.

This is for her safety, if she is the one the demon is after then I have to do everything in my power to keep them away and to not harm her. If they're not...that only makes matters worse. I care about her and everyone knows it; they'll use her pain and suffering to lure me out of hiding because they know I hate to see her being tortured. I could give in...but they could continue to use her against me to the point I agree that I can not harm them in any way leaving me vulnerable for them to attack.

Either way, whether her be in danger or me, I feel as though I'll lose. I could lose her or I could be defeated while she has no one left to protect her.

"Bill?" I look up to find Pinetree standing there in an orange t-shirt and blue shorts. "What are you doing down here at 12:23 in the morning?" he asks me as I rub my eyes.

"Ha, is it that late already? Guess I lost track of time."

I stand up but Pinetree holds me back, "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" I growl at him.

"What you need to do is get some rest. It's been two weeks and I haven't seen you asleep for more than three hours a day."

I chuckled as I tried to hold myself up, "Sleep is for the weak."

He groaned before letting go of me, causing me to trip over my own feet and fall face first. Dipper kneels down in front of me as I look up at him with a clearly annoyed expression. "Look, I'm just saying, if you don't get sleep then how are you ever going to gain enough energy to save Y/n? At this rate she seems doomed." I jolt up and grab the fleshbag by the neck, pushing him over so I am on top of him.

"Don't you DaRE say that! I got everything under control! She is safe, as long as she is with me she will ALWAYS be safe!"

He clutches onto my hand but it's no point to rip it off for my grip only tightens. "Yeah, I can totally tell you have everything under control as you think the best way to keep her safe is to make her a prisoner in her own home. She hates your guts for making it seem as though she is not needed or can't help with this. Is that what you call 'everything under control'?"

My eye widens as I slowly release my grip, his words sinking in. Dipper sits up as he just stares at me while I stay deep in thought. Star...you do hate me, don't you? I'm only trying to keep you safe, why can't you see that? Without saying another word, I stand up making my way to the gift shop, not able to walk in a straight line. I put in the code before getting inside the elevator and sighing, leaning my head back on the wall.

The elevator doors open as I walk into the living room, finding a figure on the couch. I look over to find Y/n asleep and her sketchbook on the floor. I walk to the other side of the couch and pick up the book to find a picture of her recent drawing. Kaden Psyche. I sigh as I look over at her, moving a piece of her hair out of her face.

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I sit down next to her while moving my hand through her hair. She stirs slightly but then rests again as a smile tugs at my lips. "Jrrgqljkw, pb suhflrxv Vwdu. L oryh brx...L zloo dozdbv oryh brx."