Hello!  Updates are gonna be on pause until I finish finals-- cause I need to study
so probably 2 weeks from now will be the next update

I know that another two week hiatus is really annoying, but finals are finals

Anywayyyyy

Recap:
I look at Ford, who is still wrestling to get the crowbar from Mabel's hands, then I turn to Stan, who is currently walking toward me

"You guys...?" Wendy blinks.

"Catch!" I throw the lightweight stool at Stan and he quickly catches it.

I quickly sprint to the door, grabbing Wendy's spare key from her hand as I zip past her and away from Ford.
As I run out the main door and exit the Shack, I slam the door behind me and jam Wendy's key in the lock, preventing anyone from the other side to open it unless they come out of another door and walk around to fix this one.
I quickly turn around and start sprinting away from the Shack and toward the woods, where I know a very angry mind demon will be waiting for me.

It doesn't take me long to reach the outskirts of the forest, where the barrier ends, and where Bill is waiting

I step outside of what I assume to be the invisible barrier, and Bill immediately looks disappointed. "Why did it have to be you instead of your sister..?"

"What's so good about my sister?" I blink in confusion

"She hasn't taken advantage of my daughter's lack of knowledge on relationships..." He glares slightly

I take a cautious step back inside the barrier and sit down, clearing my throat.

Bill sighs in annoyance and sits as well. "Why are you here?"

I clear my throat. "I want to break the barrier that's keeping you trapped here.."

Bill blinks in surprise. "Really? Why??"

"We don't know how to get into Ford's secret lair-y thing--"

"Behind the vending machine." Bill nods

"And that's where he's keeping Amanda.. It's this weird puzzle-filled stair and elevator thing with three separate levels and Amanda is on the floor level in this big room with a--"

"I know, PineTree.. I know what's in there..." He pauses. "How is Amanda holding up?"

"She's.. fine.." I answer

"You paused." Bill's eyebrow twitches

"She's scared- but I don't think Ford has done anything to her." I quickly fix my answer

Bill slowly nods. "Alright.. As long as he doesn't know anything major about her." He pauses and watches me. "You haven't said anything, right?"

"..No."

"You're a really bad liar PineTree."

"Okay, okay, okay.. He knows that she was our friend before.." I tell the truth

Bill's eyebrow twitches. "What?!" His aura turns red with anger and he stands. "How stupid can you be?!! You seriously told him that?! Your stupid relative despises me! You don't know how much I did to him-- Forget experimenting, he'll probably kill her!! I knew I shouldn't of said she was my daughter... But if he knows that you're friends with her, he'll assume she's doing the same thing I did, but to you! Do you understand?! He has a weapon that can easily kill me, and Will and Amanda! Why do you think Will was so eager to get out of here?!! You've doomed her, PineTree!! I know he won't want history to repeat, and let me guess, he's already pitying you because you've befriended a demon- right?! He won't let history repeat, PineTree! And he won't let me take her! Best case scenario, she'll be trapped in that place for the rest of her life, but if he thinks it's necessary, He will kill her. No matter how much you beg."

I repeatedly flinch as he slams his fist on the barrier a countless amount of times as he futilely tries to break it, striking again and again, fueled by his rage and hatred. All I can do is sit there and watch with pure terror in my eyes, completely frozen in fear.
The time of fun and games was over.

It takes a very very long time before he gives up and sighs

He looks down at my terrified expression "I suggest you break this barrier.. PineTree..." I feel his glare go through me. "Quickly."

"I-I-I d-d-do-don't know h-how.." My voice trembles with fear

"There are exactly ten crystal buried around the perimeter of this barrier.. Their spots are marked with invisible ink, meaning you'll have to come back at night with a UV light and dig them all out one by one... There are two more crystals making up the barrier's height and underground depth.... One of those crystals will need to be removed as well or else the barrier will stay stable enough to keep me away. The crystal for height is definitely on your roof, just get that one and the barrier will come down." He speaks very quickly and I barely have enough time to take it all in. "Moving the crystals will not be enough, Ford will catch you and he will re-position them.. You need to shatter the crystals.."

"H-How..?"

"They can only be shattered with a special kind of blade, which, lucky for you, I have one." He throws a blade near my feet and I quickly have to jump to dodge it. "I would do it myself, but the crystals are inside the barrier.. Out of my reach...." His eyebrow twitches. "Make sure Mabel keeps Ford detracted..."

I slowly nod in understanding and pick up the blade, examining it. The dagger-like knife was incredibly shiny and had no dullness to the blade portion. The blade's edge was smooth and glowed partially red while the rest of the blade was a deep black color. The handle was partially worn down and wrapped in a tightly wound red string for a more comfortable grip, and-

Bill suddenly starts talking again and I drop the blade in surprise. It lands between my feet and I quickly look up at Bill to pay attention. "--and don't let Ford into that vending machine.... Don't take your eyes off of him, not even for a second, and don't sleep. Tell Mabel to take a nap because she will be keeping Ford occupied all night while you're digging up and shattering crystals.. And no matter what happens, no matter what he says, you need to make sure he believes that you believe him and that you're on his side." Bill states, serious. "Don't speak up against his actions or intervene when he talks badly of me or Amanda. Don't give him any reason to be suspicious of you..."

I slowly nod again

"Now go back, and act as soon as possible...." He points back in the direction of the Shack. "I don't want to trust you, but I don't have a choice.." He states. "Go."

I quickly pick up the blade I had dropped and sprint back to the Mystery Shack, for the first time since meeting him, I was glad to be going back to Ford, though part of me was suspicious. I had started to connect the dots, but the answer still wasn't clear.

How exactly do Bill and Ford know each other? And why does there seem to be so much hatred between the two of them??

Even without those questions answered, I was glad that I finally knew how to break the barrier.. I hid the blade in my vest, and as soon as I could, I briefed Mabel about our new situation and about my future course of action, keeping Ford within my field of vision at all times.