Cold Ink

A Bendy and The Ink Machine Story

Chapter 1

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The area was covered in darkness. The air reeked of ink, yet he didn't seemed bothered by it. On the desk in front of him sat a piece of paper, an ink pen, and a bottle of ink. His hand was shaking slightly as his eyes scanned the page, making sure there were no errors. When he was sure there were no spelling mistakes, he read the letter aloud.

Dear Henry,

It seems like a lifetime since we last worked on cartoons together. 30 years really slips away, doesn't it?

If you're back in town, come visit the old workshop. There's something I want to show you

Your best pal, Joey Drew

The question marked was crooked and it gave a slight bother to the writer yet it gave it a slight charm. He gritted his teeth as he gingerly picked it up, placing it into the envelope. After sealing it he stood up, making his way to the door. He avoided that hallway and left the building, placing the letter in the mailbox. A grin spread on his face as he made his way back in, step one of his plan heading underway. The door slammed shut behind him.

~A week later~

The front door creaked open causing him to jump. He quickly yet quietly hid behind a cardboard cutout. He peeked in between the head and body to see a man in his mid-late forties. His hair was short but lively on his head as his eyes scanned the room.

"Alright Joey, what did you want me to see?" His legs leading him around the area. He stared at the cutout and the running projector before changing direction and heading down the hall. He bounced from behind the cutout and stealthily followed Henry. He passed the wall that read 'Dreams Come True' and he headed towards the ink machine. However, instead of following Henry he turned left and made his way to the open arched room. He ignored the sight in the middle and grabbed a cutout that was leaning against the wall, placing it in the middle of the hall and disappearing into a room and locking it behind him. He heard footsteps heading back then he heard a stumble.

"Whoa! Who put this here?" Henry was heard before his footsteps got quieter again. Unlocking the door, he slid behind the cutout and watched him. When he stood in front of the table, his voice quivered. "Joey…. What were you doing?" He had to hold in the need to scoff and left Henry to "grieve" over Boris. He walked past the offering room and straight to the ink pressure room. He sat in one of the chairs in front of the projector, his legs crossed underneath him. Closing his eyes, he leaned back and tilted his head up to the ceiling. The Ink dripped off slowly. Drip drop drip drop. Footsteps started clicking their way towards him after 10 minutes of ink drops. He scrambled to his feet and sped to the cutout, poking its head around the corner. He heard Henry skid to a stop. Setting the cutout down he walked over to the shelf, hiding behind the things set around. The footsteps started up again and he saw Henry come into the room. Henry came closer and rounded the bend, pressing the button that read 'Ink Pressure' and started to leave.

"Now all that is left is to turn on the machine," his footsteps got quieter as he left, heading to the offering room. He slid out of the shelf and ran as quiet as he could to the Ink Machine. Slipping into the room, he took boards on the ground and hammered in nails, keeping anything from getting in or out. His ever present grin grew slightly, amazed at how gullible Henry was. Even Joey took longer to fool, making it harder to capture him, but that was the fun part. He could hear the ink pipes starting up, signifying Henry's arrival to be in around three minutes. The anger of what they have done came rushing back, his head starting to melt. Ink dripped off of his forehead and splattered onto the ground, his grin glued to his face. Henry's feet could be heard clicking down the hall, slowing to a stop.

"This wasn't boarded up before. What could have done this?" He stepped closer before something popped out from behind the boards, causing him to leap up and take a step back. Ink started flooding the floor, coming from the walls and ceiling, and pooling at his feet.

"I've got to get out of here!" With that, he started sprinting down the hall. He rounded every corner and bolted towards the door, before the floor collapsed and he crumpled down a hole. A jolt of pain spread through his legs but he stayed standing. He started looking around, unaware of the creature watching him from above. The creature slithered down the hole, poking his head from the bottom slightly to watch Henry. He saw him jolt at the words 'The Creator Lied to Us' and watched as he tried to open the door. He had grabbed the axe and started swinging at the boards blocking an empty doorway. His head stopped melting as he flipped over and landed silently behind him. The room's temperature dropped significantly and the ink creature stiffened. Henry wiped some sweat off of his brow and set the axe down when he finished swinging. He stepped forward into the next room and his eyes started darting around. The Pentagram on the floor with candles surrounding it put him in a state of suspicion. The coffins lying along the wall sent a visible shudder down his spine. What he saw next frightened him more, however, as he turned around to get the axe.

"B-B-Bendy? Is that you?" His voice caught Bendy off guard and he tried to find an escape route. He looked the cartoon up and down. The inky demon let out a cough and started backing out, his hand reaching for the axe. "Bendy? You don't have to be scared of me," the axe was lifted off the ground and hoisted up over Bendy's shoulder. "B-Bendy? What are you doing with that?" His voice shook as the cartoon got closer, a menacing look in his eyes. He stood a foot away from Henry before his arms faltered, dropping the axe.

"He lied to us…" Bendy spoke these words quietly, getting overtaken by sobs. He fell to his knees as he was shaking from tears, having them land on the floor. Henry crouched down and wiped them away, leaving ink stains on his hands. Bendy scooted away, curling up in a corner. Henry tilted his head and tried to step closer, sympathy in his eyes, but he was unnerved by getting hissed at. He sighed and turned to the only way to go, a door in the far corner. He reached for the axe, which was somehow being used as a pillow for the depressed demon, and decided to just leave it.