Chapter 21

The silence between them wasn't as unsettling as it was earlier. Perhaps, it was because they had finally talked about the Boris, although there was plenty of other things that they needed to discuss. For now, it was, at least, somewhat peaceful. The other thing that probably helped the mood was the tiny angel. Army had woken up a few minutes ago bundled up in the overalls and had crawled deeper into the "covers".

It was most likely trying to avoid getting up or wanting to sleep longer. However, now the plush was squirming around inside the cloth. It was letting out angrily frustrated squeaks as it shuffled around in the "trap". Alice just quietly sat in her spot watching Army try to fight and find its way out. The little lump moving around under the After three or four minutes, it popped out of a leg hole and let out a loud squeal of victory.

She chuckled at its victory cry and received a glare in return. It pulled the rest of its body out and huffed as it walked over to her. It shot another glare at her before trying to climb up her arm into her shoulder. She put her hand under its bottom to make it didn't fall as it rose higher. Finally reaching its goal it plopped itself on her shoulder before letting out a demanding sound. Reaching up Alice simply rubbed its head and felt it nuzzle a little into her palm.

"WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE SPOILING HER LIKE THIS."

"Why not?"

"SHE'LL THINK IT'S OKAY TO BE LOUD AND DEMANDING."

"Well, did you expect her to be any different. You named her Army for a reason."

"I'M STARTING TO THINK MISS AUTHORITY FITS BETTER."

"Army Authority, doesn't sound too bad for a name."

"I GUESS NOT."

They felt a little hand patting at their own and heard a little grumble. While they were talking they must have slowly stopped rubbing its head too much of its announce. She just tapped its head and softly said,

"Oh, stop that."

She returned to rubbing its heads and ruffling its hair a little.

"For someone who gets cross with me so quickly, you're very cuddly."

It just grumbled a little but did nothing else. So she let it be and ruffled it's hair for a second, before going back to rubbing its head fully. The sounds of the ink pumping through the pipes echoed in the room, along with little drips that had landed in the ink body pond. The creaks from the boards came and went like the creatures that made them.

It occurred to her and the other side then that this might be one of the last time they made to deal with it. Soon they would free of this sounds and lifestyle. A lifestyle of living in constant fear and full of tenseness. She would be free, free because of Henry. But with that thought, a new line of concern and worries filled their shared mind.

"We need Henry for this like we can't do it without him right?"

"I DON'T KNOW."

"It's simple right? I mean we need his car and house or wherever he's staying."

"WE BASICALLY NEED WHAT HE OWNS, BUT NOT HIM."

"...Do, do you think he'll hurt us?"

"HONESTLY?"

"Yes, I need you to be honest right now."

"THERE'S A CHANCE, I GUESS THAT HE COULD RAT US OUT TO SOMEONE."

"God, he could!"

Her insecurities and worry started to spread through them.

"HE COULD, YES."

"What would happen to us then? What would they do?"

"I GUESS THEY WOULD TRY TO HELP US?"

She wasn't sure or confident in her own answer.

"That or drag us off to some strange testing sights, like they do in those moving pictures with the space people."

"UM, MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW."

"Yeah, I mean Henry wouldn't do that, would he?"

When she didn't receive an immediate answer she started to panic a little. Sensing the panic, the other tried to take control and reassure her.

"HEY, IT'LL BE OKAY."

"How do you know that?"

"LOOK, LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT TO DO IF HE TRIES TO RAT US OUT OR SOMETHING."

"...Okay."

"WE ALREADY SAID THAT IF WORST CAME TO WORSE THAT WE'D KNOCK HIM OUT AND ESCAPE."

"That's a way to deal with it."

"YES, BUT WE NEED TO THINK FURTHER THAN THAT."

"How far?"

"IF, AND THIS IS A BIG IF, WE HAVE TO KNOCK HENRY OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK HE'LL DO. YOU KNOW WHEN HE WAKES UP."

"Well, he'll probably be upset."

"DEFINITELY, NOW WHAT IF HE GETS OUT OF HERE AND SEES THAT HIS CAR AND STUFF IS MISSING?"

"He'll call the police and rat us out!"

"IF WE TAKE HIS STUFF AND LEAVE WITHOUT HIM, YEAH."

"Gosh, alright let's look at everything. First, we're gonna get that Boris and complete ourselves. Then we're gonna get all our stuff, and Army, then leave. That's all that's final, right?"

"SET IN STONE."

"Okay, so scenario one: We get Henry to take us with him. We leave together and we risk him telling people about us."

"EEYEUP, SCENARIO TWO: HENRY DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE US. SO WE KNOCK HIM OUT AND LEAVE WITH HIS THINGS. HOWEVER, IF HE DOES ESCAPE THEN HE'LL DEFINITELY RAT ON US. PLUS, WITHOUT HENRY BEING OUTSIDE MIGHT BE HARDER TO MANAGE. WITH NO COVER OR CONNECTION TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING."

"This is has a chance of going bad either way."

She let out a sigh.

"I know this might sound bad, but if we do end up in scenario two I wish there was a way to make sure that Henry didn't rat us out."

With that said they fell into another moment of silence. The echoes fully filled the world around them. Echoes of boards' and creatures' screams with ink rain pattering the wood, once more. Some far off pipe's whistles, to let out steam, shortly followed. Meanwhile, the loudest sound to her was given to her ears by the environment, but rather a little angel on her shoulder. Army was giving out a sound similar to a high pitched purr, that was closer to that of a kitten's rather than an adult cat. It occasionally nuzzled into her palm every now and then but would stop when Alice looked at it and let out a hiss at her.

Still for that moment and that moment alone things seemed peaceful. So she just breathed and closed her eyes. The thoughts of what to do echoed in her mind. Little thoughts of the outside world and the freedom she would soon taste. She was sure it would be such a wonderful rich taste that she would never be able to wipe it off her palette.

These thoughts bumped around and touched with thoughts of her plans. Soon a few thoughts of Henry took shape and she didn't pay too much mind. Well, not until all of a sudden the more aggressive side suddenly shoved a thought down and engulfed the peace she had felt in regret and fear. Her eyes shoot open as their breathing picked up and she placed her hand, not petting Army, on her chest to try to catch her breath.

"What was that?"

"YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW."

"After that little emotion bubble bursting in our chest, I think I ought to know."

"YOU REALLY DON'T."

"Why not?"

"...IF I TELL YOU, YOU CAN'T FREAK OUT IMMEDIATELY."

She didn't like where this was going, but curiosity drew her in. The feeling seemed to do nothing but cause trouble for the both of them.

"I won't."

"YOU HAVE TO HEAR ME ALL THE WAY OUT."

"I will."

"NOW LISTEN I DON'T KNOW WE THOUGHT OF THIS, BECAUSE OF-I DON'T REALLY...AND YOU DON'T...UGH."

She gulped before continuing.

"I THINK I KNOW A WAY TO KEEP HENRY OFF OUR BACK IF WE END UP IN SCENARIO TWO."

"Really!"

"YES."

"Alright, what is it?"

"DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?"

"Yes, I do."

"OKAY, YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IT?"

"Um, no."

She felt confusion at the other's nervousness, but that didn't last long. After what she heard next though a shot of fear and disbelief pierced her heart.

"WE HAVE TO KILL HENRY."

Author's Note- You guys may notice that this was posted on Friday night rather than Saturday. The reason for this is because I had the ACT this Saturday so instead of making you guys wait till the middle of the day for an updated, I decided to post it a little earlier than usual. Anyway, Thanks for reading! See you guys next Saturday.