Joey was heading to the room with his secrets. In this dark room sat someone who could hardly be called human - a Demon. Helpless and not perfect at all. Ugly. Meaningless. Why did Drew create him? Why would he do that? To fulfill his dreams. Make something unreal, real. To bring the inanimate to life. Bendy is magic. Purest. And terrifying. The satanic level.
The dancing Demon was supposed to be numb, small and plump, like a child. What happened was... tall, thin, and scary. But also numb. They differed in both expectation and reality. Like ideas and dreams about something beautiful and realization, disappointment from what eventually came out. But this is a harsh reality. Now that... is a stupid, but truly weird thought.
The man entered the room, which was completely black, but as soon as the door closed, the blackness spread out and the owner of the room appeared before his master. Drew was not startled by the sudden appearance of the inky figure.
He shook his head. No. What could have happened? That two employees come to him every night and spend their precious time teaching the Demon? That he was finally not alone? Bendy was in no hurry to break the news. Joey walked to the middle of the room. Bendy watched him.
"I will teach you gestures, because you can't speak, and I need to understand you somehow."
He didn't even check to see if Bendy could talk. He never tried to teach him. Unlike Sammy and Susie, who came and taught him despite their fatigue. Believe in him. Bendy was able to learn a few words. He wanted to surprise them today. They would be proud of him.
Joey and Bendy spent a good two hours learning different gestures. After drew taught Bendy to show different letters, he asked him to show His name. Instead of gesticulating "Joey Drew", the Demon showed an umbrella.
"Umbrella? Why?" he asked.
Bendy nodded and pointed to Drew's cloak.
"What do you think this has to do with an umbrella?".
Bendy pointed to his entire body and showed the umbrella again.
"Do I look like an umbrella in this cloak? Yeah, okay, thanks, Bendy."
He laughed. The demon tried to laugh too, but it didn't make a sound.
After a few minutes, Joey finally left and Bendy was alone again. He had developed claustrophobia during the time he had spent in this room. He couldn't imagine what it would look like outside the door. From fear, everything was covered with shadows, darkness mixed with ink. It's better not to see the room. It is better to feel in emptiness, than in squeezing four walls.
Sammy played the last beat, the music stopped, and the projector turned off. Lawrence thanked the band for their good work and let them all go home. From above, from the Projectionist's booth, a quite applause was heared. Some members of the orchestra heard it, bowed and left the Studio with a smile. Sammy smiled and went upstairs. Norman and Susie were sitting there. Happy. Always calm. Together. Sammy was happy for them, but he was sick of thinking about love. Maybe because his love is unrequited. And it is unlikely that he will ever get love from a person so closed and complex...
"Would you mind if I took Susie away from you again for the evening, Norman?"
The man nodded, laughing.
"It's pointless to refuse you, Mr. Lawrence, it's already your routine"
"It won't be for long, Norman."
Susie kissed him, briefly and tenderly. Sammy felt awkward. Finally the couple said good-bye and Campbell went with Sammy to break the lock on the farthest door on the music Department floor again.
The darkness parted. Bendy was back in the corner. Susie came up to him, wary.
He looked up at her for a moment. It was immediately clear that he was glad to see them both. They spent the next hours talking, gesticulating, and learning all sorts of things. The girl was so tired that she could not concentrate on anything, so Sammy suggested that she just sit near the wall and relax.
"We'll be leaving soon, don't worry."
He smiled at her and returned to Bendy as She began to draw flowers on the wall. She was very fond of flowers and was happy to tell Bendy about them today. The demon looked at her and tried to move his mouth to say something. Susie and Sammy took notice and held their breaths in anticipation.
The girl stood up in shock. She couldn't believe her ears. Bendy's voice was deep, husky, but so light, so relaxed. Susie was incredibly proud. Sammy couldn't shake away the shock. He was so proud of Bendy, that despite everything simply jumped on him with hugs. A moment later, the girl joined him, too. They were incredibly proud of him. But he had one more word to say. He turned his head to the man who had stopped hugging him and said, more calmly,
Bendy gave two thumbs up. Lawrence was so happy for the first time in a very long time.
How could you hate someone who was so friendly? And helpless? The news went around the Studio that Joey Drew wanted to destroy the "Monster". Everyone was in favor of the idea. Only Susie and Sammy were against this, because they were the only ones who knew Bendy for what He really was. Magnificent. But there was no way they could change that. They couldn't explain why they wanted to protect him.
Lawrence sat in his own private sanctuary, where no one was allowed to enter, and recorded his thoughts on a dictaphone so that he would not forget any interesting thing that comes to his mind. Maybe he'll need it later. Or else, someone will use these audios against him. Who knows?
"...I'll try to convince him. I think I can do it, " Sammy breathed.
For some reason, his voice was shaking. Perhaps from fear, or perhaps from something else...
"We're after all supposed to be... close... right?..."
He tried to convince himself of it. At that moment someone knocked on his door. "Damn!". He was frightened and quickly pressed the button to turn off the dictaphone. But he missed. Lawrence went to the door and pressed a lever to open it. Norman stood behind it. Tall, with blonde hair that was already streaked with gray. His suede jacket was unbuttoned and his shirt was too ironed. He looked very angry. Norman lunged at Sammy and grabbed him by the turtleneck, pinning him to the wall. Polk turned to him, almost shouting:
"Where's Susie, you fucking sheep? What did you do to her?!"
There was sadness in his anger. Jealousy even. Lawrence didn't know what he meant.
"What?? I didn't do anything to her!"
Polk let him go. Sammy had literally three seconds to remember the last time he saw a girl.
"The last time I saw her was At the recording room. Then a man from GENT took her. He said it was on Jo-..." Sammy corrected himself, " Mr. Drew’s order."
He wasn't allowed to call his boss by his first name. That would mean intimacy for the rest of the Studio. Disgustingly. He never understood why but he didn’t want to try.
"Do you know where they went?"
Lawrence shrugged his shoulders. He was beginning to worry about it, too. What does Joey want from Susie at GENT's?
Sammy and Norman went to where the huge and noisy Ink Machine hung. It created a lot of noise and problems with its leaks. A stairway led down to where the Corporation's employees were usually stationed. Joey Drew's weary voice came from there.
Someone answered him with a question.
"Of course, it's safe! I would never put my employees in danger!"
Norman and Sammy exchanged glances. There was pure horror on both their faces. Then a woman's melodious voice spoke. Susie was talking. She was just as scared:
"Mr. Drew... I doubt it a little."
She stopped. Something made her stop talking.
"Yes, this is Bendy, Miss Campbell."
Joey started flicking the lighter. Exhaled. Sammy let out a frustrated sigh. The man promised Lawrence that he would stop smoking... Empty promise.
"He's not exactly perfect, but he's intelligent, alive."
Susie knew it better than anyone. Bendy tried not to let on that he knew her. Norman started to descend lower, but the musician grabbed him by the shoulder in an attempt to stop him.
"What are you doing? They’ll notice us!", he whispered.
Polk pulled away from the grip and ignored his words, continuing to descend.
"If you don't want to save Susie, you can go back to your sanctuary."
Sammy rolled his eyes. Drama Queen.
"Oh no, Mister Oh-So-Serious, if you're going to get involved in some weird shit, you can't do it alone."
He didn't want to leave it like this. Both Susie and Norman were important to him.
The voices became clearer and louder. They could hear some liquid flowing. An unpleasant smell of ink filled their noses. It was impossible to breathe. They didn't understand why it was so easy to breath for those below. Sammy heard Joey's voice again:
"Just try to understand me, Miss Campbell, it is for your own well-being!"
Susie mumbled something in response. Her mouth was closed. After that, there was a sound like something heavy being thrown into the water. And then closing the hatch. The most horrible versions of what was going on appeared in men’s heads. Norman was shaking. He had a view of what was happening. Sammy couldn't see anything, so he decided to get around his collegue to finally figure out what was going on there.
In his eyes tears appeared. All those good days with Susie passed before his eyes. Sammy was sure that Norman was ready to cry out of the blue. He'll definitely need some time on his own. Away from this damned place. Lawrence didn't mind joining in.
In the middle of the room was a huge tank of formalin with non-dissolving ink. Susie was swimming inside. She didn't move. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth was open, as if in a silent scream. Her body didn't sink to the bottom. It felt like she was levitating. Next was Joey Drew, talking to a GENT employee. His name was Tom. While they were arguing, Bendy, who was still there, went over to formalin. Norman was about to run to him and start protecting Susie's defenseless body, but Sammy grabbed him and made him watch. Polk resisted, but then saw what the Demon was doing. He put his hand on the glass and then his head. The ink from his face dripped to the floor like tears. A voice that wasn't Joey’s or Tom’s spoke:
Tears began to flow down Lawrence's cheeks.
Norman and Sammy leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. The projectionist hid his head in his lap and was unable to function in any way. The musician was still trying to listen to Bendy.
What does he mean? Alice... Like a cartoon character?
Bendy turned toward the intruders. He knew they were there. The demon looked around at Drew, who was still talking to the technician, and after making sure that he was busy, he walked slowly to the corner where Norman and Sammy were sitting.
Lawrence started and turned to the source of the voice. Bendy was standing right at the door. Sammy jumped up to him.
"Damn it, they’ll find us, go away!"
The creature didn't listen to him. He looked at Norman as if he could feel his pain. Bendy lowered himself to him, and the man finally raised his head. From what he saw, he moved a meter away from the Creature, giving all his strength in an attempt not to yell.
"Hush, hush! Bendy, you scared him!"
The demon looked up at the man, as if guiltily. Polk watched in shock the calm conversation between Bendy and Sammy. A minute later, Bendy heard footsteps and Joey Drew's voice calling. He started panicking and waving at the men to get out of here, but there wasn't much time. The next thing Both of them saw was ink. A lot of ink. Everywhere. There was a feeling that they could easily suffocate, but there was enough air. Blackness like a blanket snatched them both away. And then it blurred like water, and they appeared in a different room. Square, empty, and with one small door. Flowers were painted in ink on the wall.
"Where are we? How did we get here? What the hell?!"
Norman didn’t knew what the fuck was going on. Sammy really didn't want to be here right now. He went to the door and told Polk to follow him. They went out into a corridor with too many doors. The men walked through it in complete silence until they reached the recording Studio.
"What just happened?", Norman said in an afterlife voice.
In a little more than twenty minutes, a lot of things happened to him that were very hard to believe, and not one of them was pleasant. Nothing had ever happened in his life before Susie! Everything was quieter than a stone that no one can move. Sammy turned to look at him. Polk was whiter than paper.
"I don't know what happened to Susie, but I know Bendy."
The projectionist looked up at him. His eyes were red and swollen with tears.
"We went to him with her... He called her a Flower because she loved them and kept drawing them on the walls...of the room in which we appeared."
There was laughter from behind. Lawrence turned in horror, only to see Joey Drew in person. He wasn't furious, but he was definitely disappointed in the person closest to him in this Studio.
The musician swallowed. He regretted everything at that moment. He let Joey down. What a shame.
"Come with me. And you, Mr. Polk."
He looked at the man full of mourning and horror.
"I suggest you take a break."
Norman nodded and left them immediately.
Sammy and Joey sat in the office in silence. Drew examined Lawrence as he searched for any reason not to look back. But at last he spoke:
"Why do you need me, Mr. Drew?"
"Since when am I ‘Mister‘ to you, Sammy?"
The musician was down. He didn't want to think about it now. Drew continued.
"How long have you known about Bendy?"
He answered immediately. Sammy wanted to get this conversation over with, but Joey continued to talk slowly and thoughtfully.
"My dear Sammy, I don't know how you did it, and I don't know why you and Mr. Polk suddenly wanted to spy on what happened on the GENT employees' territory, but what you know shouldn't be spread around the studio, okay?"
Sammy nodded. Anything to get rid of this nightmare. But he won't leave Bendy. No way. Even if Joey told him not to. Even if he starts bargaining and sucking up. Even If Joey...
"Now, Sammy", Lawrence tensed, " Tell me, why can Bendy talk? Did you and Miss Campbell teach him that?"
He nodded again. Joey nodded back, understanding. In a way, it was fun to keep Sammy here and ask questions. On the other hand, he just wanted him to stay longer...
Joey looked at Lawrence in surprise. Really, since when does he call him ’Mr. Drew’? What's up with Sammy. ‘Oh, no’, Drew thought, suddenly realizing that he was afraid of Lawrence himself. It was a terrible thought. He didn't want to lose their relationship. They were close. If Sammy left, Joey would be alone again. ‘No, please, how can I make amends’, Joey Drew said in his mind what he should have said out loud.
"What did you do with Susie?"
Drew was shaking with fear. From disappointment in yourself. For everything he’ve done. But he knew that he had to finish what he had started. Whatever it takes. These people would probably want the same thing. He knew Susie wanted it.
"She... How to explain it..."
The man fell limp. He really didn't know how to explain what had happened.
"Bendy said she was.. Not Alice?"
Lawrence became more serious. Even bolder. Now he was cornering Drew, not Drew him.
Joey started talking. He also wanted to get rid of this conversation as soon as possible, but something told him that he would not get out of it so easily.
"Miss Campbell is a perfect match for Alice, which is why I chose her to implement this idea!"
He opened his hands, trying to improve the situation, which he didn't do very well. Lawrence leaned back in his chair in shock.
He still didn't understand anything, but he knew for sure that the person sitting in front of him was crazy. He threw an innocent girl into formalin, gasping for breath. Sammy didn't know what Drew was doing with the other employees, but it looked like murder to Lawrence. He got up and walked quickly to the door, but Joey caught up with him and took his hand to stop him. The man jerked his hand away and looked at drew with a startled, disgusted look. Drew's eyes were beginning to fill with tears. "Please, please, understand," he thought again, what he wanted to say out loud.
"Sammy...", Joey said with shaking voice, " Please don't go. I can explain everything, please..."
Sammy started backing away.
Drew's legs began to give way again and it was obvious that it was difficult for him to stand, but for him now it was not important. Just don't let Sammy leave. Tears were already streaming down his cheeks and he closed his eyes in pain. Suddenly he felt hands on his waist. Lawrence hugged him, trying to hold him.
"Why would you do all this? All that... crazy stuff?"
Joey put his head on Sammy's shoulder.
"I... I just wanted to Achieve my dreamers and goals..."
Now the tears were even more intense. The voice couldn't stop shaking.
"This has gone too far, I know...", he sighed.
Sammy hugged him a little tighter. Still, it's nice when a person accepts their mistakes. And he will surely improve. Lawrence was ready to help him.
Sammy recoiled. Joey's legs no longer hurt. He stood straight. It was like he was looking down on him. There was a feeling that in a moment he was replaced. He was frightening again. Joey wiped his eyes. He didn't cry anymore.
"You can't make me stop. I will continue my work..."
The man took a pack of cigarettes from his back pocket and lit one. Sammy was silent. He was trying to put together a complete picture of what was happening. Drew exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"Even if several people have to..."
He walked around Sammy, examining him. There was something else in his hand besides a cigarette. Joey swung what turned out to be a small dagger at Sammy and shouted:
Fortunately, Lawrence managed to dodge and run out and close the door behind him, leaning against it so that Joey could not run out. What should he do? If he lets go of the door, Joey Drew's gone mad will definitely attack him. Drew was quiet. There was a cry outside the door.
He fell to the floor. His legs failed him. Joey continued to say something as the musician moved slowly away from his boss's office, toward the Music Department. At one point, he just started running until he reached Bendy's room. Pick the lock. He jumped in, no matter how much he wanted to visit Norman.
"Bendy!" Sammy called, "Where are you?"
No one answered. No one was there. Lawrence went around the room looking for clues as to where Bendy might have gone, but found nothing. He dropped on the floor in the corner of the room and pulled out a small notebook with a pen attached to it. He flipped through the pages looking for an empty sheet, and on the first one he came across he quickly wrote:
"He found out we were with him."
There was a lot more that he could have written or said, but there was a knock on the door. Sammy quickly wrote his initials, but he didn't open the door. He listened to it. Another knock on the door. Someone tried to get in, but the door was locked. Knock. Knock. Faster. Now the door was being smashed. Sammy covered his head with his hands, squinting. He felt in terrible danger. The man felt the ink cover the room again. The door was knocked out. The intruder couldn't see Sammy. He heard the click of heels. Dripping of some liquid. Heavy breathing. And a hoarse, feminine voice. No longer melodic.
"Joey Drew. I'll kill him... Say you'll help me, Bendy."
There were light footsteps now. Quiet breathing. And a deep voice that spoke only one word:
The woman became enraged and started screaming. Sammy was sure everyone had heard it. The door slammed, but the blackness didn't break. It was clear that Bendy was protecting him. The man was still afraid to open his eyes.
"Don't you see what he did?! I'll never be the same, Bendy, you know?"
Her voice broke, but she kept screaming.
"Aren't you tired of him? He keeps you in this one room for so long. You came out for the first time in your life today! He's tormenting you, Bendy, don't you understand that?"
Sammy opened his eyes and saw Susie... disfigured. With horns on her head, with ink wounds, white skin. The skin on her hands was baggy and cracked. One of her eyes was completely black. Ink flowed from it like tears. She wasn't herself. Bendy examined her. Exhaled. The ink vibrated. The whispers spread throughout the room. Lawrence and Campbell's legs were wrapped in Bendy's ink. Now he could communicate with them.
"I can't kill Joey as well as he can’t kill me. He tried, but as it turns out, our lives depend on each other. You see, Joey managed to create me, Bendy. Not ideal, but alive. That didn't happen in your case. You fought for your life and got out early. And you and your character, Alice, merged. If you'd stayed there longer, you'd have a live Alice Angel, but like me, not perfect, because you don't fit the role, just like Joey doesn't fit Bendy. You would have to maintain the life of the creature you created. But you'd be in pain, just like him."
Sammy heard sobs. Susie was crying. He would have run to her and hugged, but he froze in fear.
"If he uses other workers, they will have the same fate as you. I am very sorry... All we can do now is warn the others."
The girl fell on the floor, covering her face with her hands and letting her tears flow. The ink was gone. Susie and Sammy's feet Has black marks on them.
Sammy got up from the floor and walked over to Bendy. He was scared, too.