Wayfarer [Bill Cipher x Reader] [REVISED]

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Impossible Year

"—was spotted in Choteau today, wearing a short-sleeved white dress shirt and black slacks. Unconfirmed reports say that he may be traveling in a beige Toyota, possibly with an accomplice. If you have any information about his current whereabouts, you should—"

"Shut up!" You jabbed the radio button over and over again, trying to get it to stop squawking as you drove. You smacked it. "Stupid radio!"

As the announcer's voice droned on, you gritted your teeth and turned your attention back to the road. Stupid radio. Stupid hitchhiker. Stupid you, taking Bill to a public place when you knew he was wanted—stupid!

Breathing heavily, you turned to him, trying to force the most soothing voice you could out of your panic-stricken throat. You looked over his crouched, muttering figure and forced a smile. "Hey. It's going to be okay," you said. "We'll find a way out of this. I promise!"

His head rose. "What?"

"I said, we're going to find a way out of this. We can do this. I just have to get you out of here, that's all. How far do you think it is to North Dakota? That's the state just east of here, right?" you asked.

An odd spasm passed over his face as he stared at you. "What?"

"You don't think I'm letting them have you, are you? Look at Google Maps and tell me which way to go. We don't have all day." You turned your eyes back towards the road.

He turned away. "Actually... I think you should pull over."

"Pull over?" You stared at him. "Are you out of your mind? We'd be losing ground every minute we sit still. Why?"

"So we can talk."

"About what?"

He made a wide, sweeping gesture. "This whole... situation. Please," he begged, fixing you with a look. "It's important."

"Well..." Your brow furrowed. What was he getting at? Maybe he wanted the two of you to come up with an actual escape plan. After all, you hadn't had much time to think this whole thing over, and now that you were thinking about it, this plan wasn't exactly the stealthiest. The police were likely to be watching all the large public roads, after all. "Okay, then."

You began to scan the area as you drove, looking for nice, secluded roads. Out of the corner of your eye, the tiniest gap in a cluster of trees alerted you to the presence of a practically-hidden road. Perfect! You swung onto it.

The sound of the highway died down to a mere murmur behind you as the cracked concrete box of an abandoned gas station appeared to the side. Great! It'd hide your car from anyone coming this way. You rolled your car to a stop behind the building and turned to Bill, bafflement etched in the lines of your face.

He took a deep breath. "(Y/N)," he said. "I think we gotta split up."

You stared at him. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said," he repeated in a louder voice, "we gotta split up."

"Why?" you asked.

He swallowed. "'Cuz the police are after me."

"Well, of course! I have ears, you know. I heard what the radio said!"

"Yeah." He nodded. "So, obviously, we gotta part."

"What do you mean? How is that 'obvious'? Where—how did you get that out of this?" you asked.

He fixed you with a look. "Yeesh. Are you sure your ears work? I said, the cops are after me. As long as you stick with me, they'll be after you, too. So, you gotta leave me. Understood?"