Sorry for the wait. I think I have a system in mind for how this is going to work; one chapter font stories a week, more if I can do it. Anyways, here is chapter 7!-Mr-Dippingsauce

Chapter Seven

The Tutor exhaled sharply. The man twisting his arm was one of the few men he knew that was stronger than him. "He is resilient. I still cannot get anything out of him."

Alexander released his grip on the Tutor's wrist. The man glared at him. "You doubt my loyalty to you? I, who have served you for two decades? You dare think me a traitor?"

"You know what has been going on."

"The notes have stopped. Your continued search is only going to turn up air and dust."

"It would do you well to remember who is in charge here." the younger of the two replied sharply. "I am mayor of Curiosity, not you."

"Well, I think you underestimate the child. He is strong-willed. But he begins to break."

"How long?"

"A few days at most."

Alex grinned. "Excellent." He turned to leave. "Oh, and I trust you have heard of our new prisoner?"

A slow, devious smile crossed the Tutor's face. "Yes. I take it you want me to interrogate him?"

Alex smiled, and walked out of the room.

XXXXXXXXX

I find the situation is growing increasingly dire. It may take longer then I originally anticipated. Just stay here, while I work things out. -G.

It was the first note from G in a while, dipper held the soggy, dripping paper in his hands, holding it over the sink in the small bathroom, adjacent to Steve's room. The ink was barely legible on the soaked paper. Dipper wadded. It up into a ball and tossed it into the trash. He then washed the wet ink off of his hands, thinking.

He felt the softness of the towel against his wet hands. He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out a slightly brown apple, deciding it was the best thing he would get. He chewed on it thoughtfully.

Did this have something to do with what happened last night?

Dipper awoke to the sounds of roaring engines. Slipping out of bed, he peered out of his window to see several black cars fly by.

Tiptoeing past Steve's room, he quietly grabbed a flashlight and slipped into the cool night air.

He snuck through the cover of the woods, until he found the cars outside City Hall. People in dark suits came out of the cars. Dipper quickly turned off his flashlight. Another man came out of City Hall. He was tall, and wore a dark suit.

"Did you obtain the journal?"

A woman in dark glasses replied. "Negative, sir. We set fire to the house before though."

The man growled. "You searched the whole house?"

"We turned over every stone. Nothing went untouched. No sign of it."

"What about the second one?"

"Terminated. The child apparently stole it back without Pines' knowledge."

Did she just say Pines?

"And what about Pines?"

The woman pointed her thumb behind her back. "We have him."

Two men pulled a slumped figure out of the car. The moonlight illuminated a long orange nose, gray hair, a gray beard, and square glasses.

Dipper gasped silently.

Grunkle Stan?

Then again, maybe it had all been a dream.

XXXXXXX

Dipper coughed up water as he came back up for air.

"I think that's enough for today." the Tutor said. Then, like always, he simply walked away.

Dipper sat at the edge of the pond, panting, gasping for air. He glanced angrily over at the Tutor.

The old man turned and saw Dipper eying him. His face showed the slightest hint of a smile as he turned and continued to walk away.

After a few minutes, Dipper felt strong enough to clamber to his feet; he slowed his breathing, and soon felt calm.

He slowly made his way down the pavement, until the City Hall America into sight.

The building was one of those typical looking municipal buildings. It had a large steeple in the front, and the outside decoration was of no interest, merely a white painted wall with simple double doors. Dipper began to look around the building.

How can I get in? He thought.

Dipper glanced around. He took a step forward towards the building.

Almost immediately, a man in a dark suit and dark glasses came out, speaking into a cell phone. Dipper stopped in his tracks and began to glance around. Desperate, he dived into a nearby alley. He watched the man walk past. Dipper began to move until he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

A tassel was sticking out of the dumpster. Dipper grabbed the threads and pulled out an object.

It wasn't a dream.

In Dipper's hand was his great-uncle's fez.

XXXXXXXX

A single light bulb swung back and forth ominously. Stan lay in the corner, his eyes barely open. The last five hours had been stressful for him.

He heard the metallic click of a key inside a lock. He glanced toward the metal door. The hinges creaked and the door swung open.

Stan never thought he would see that face again.

"You son of a-"

"Now Stan, there's no call for that kind of language." The tutor said. "Whatever history we have between us-"

"You betrayed me, and my..."

"Is in the past and should be forgotten." The Tutor stared at him silently for a few seconds, seconds that to Stan felt like eternity. Then, "I assume you know what I wish to ask?"

"Yes, and I believe you know my answer."

"It's a shame. But we could always get from your nephew."

Stan took a moment to register what the man had said, the leapt at him, with a loud yell. The Tutor held him back easily though, and watched as Stan struggled to break through. He wasn't as young as he once was, though, and soon stopped his attacks.

"You're not going to torture me?"

"Not you, no. We know that torturing your family is a much more effective way of getting you to comply. So, what'll it be?"

Stan stared back, and didn't say a word.