Chapter 34

The carousel's arms moved and turned left and rights in perfect sync. Bertrum stared straight at Alice through his traveling limbs. His foggy eyes seemed to look past her as his mouth twisted up into a plastered on grin.

"How are you, Angel?"

"I could be better but I could be worse. But enough about me, How are you?"

"Same as usual, just running my masterpiece."

"And what a fine job you're doing."

"I suppose, I'm doing quite well aren't I."

"Of course, you are. You're Bertrum Piedmont, who else could do such a good job?"

"Yes, yes."

"You should know, that I've passed plenty of works down and they are all something. Your creations are truly impressive aren't they?"

"Well, they were made by me after all. Even if it's drowning and rotting in ink, it still has some class."

"Naturally, naturally. Bertrum, as much as I love our small talk, I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD DISCUSS AN IMPORTANT MATTER."

"Oh, what exactly?"

"It seems that a certain someone has fallen into our home and HE'S CAUSED SOME… ISSUES."

"Alice, please, everything down here fears you and that devil above. Well, mostly everything. They know better than to mess with you."

She held her smile in place even as she flinched at Bendy's mention.

"What type of stupid sad ink being would wander into your area?

"ICAN SEE HOW YOU WOULD THINK THAT, and you are right."

"Of course I am."

"But you see, it wasn't an ink being that fell into our world."

His arms paused for a second, before starting to turn once more in a slower manner than earlier.

"Is that so. Then what did fall?"

"A human."

His arms seemed to stall for a brief glimpse, but she could've just imagined it.

"...I see. No matter, the ink demons will do the poor sap in."

"They-um not really."

"What?"

"No ink creature has successfully killed him yet, HECK I EVEN DROPPED THE FOOL DOWN FROM THE HIGHEST FLOOR IN AN ELEVATOR. Yet, he still seems to be ticking."

"Ticking now."

His arms speed up a little more as he spoke.

"Ticking and tocking his way through his life's little clock, is he?"

Alice just chuckled and replied,

"It would seem so."

"If you did drop him down that far, then his clock must be made of steel."

"Steal AND GOD DAMN MIRACLES if you ask me Bertrum."

"Perhaps, now what are you getting at Miss. Angel?"

"Clarify won't you?"

"I don't believe I have too, but for your sake, I will. What do you want?"

"Excuse me."

"Please, do you take me for some simple chump. You wouldn't be down here telling me all this if you didn't want me to do something for you. So, I'll ask again. What do you want?"

"MR. PIEDMONT, ARE YOU SAYING I'M ONLY HERE BECAUSE I WANT SOMETHING FROM YOU?"

"It's not every day you grace me with a visit."

She said nothing and let him carry on.

"Although, I don't know why. I am the creator of such masterpieces, of ones that line these walls and truly make this place mine."

A tad bit of bitterness slowly spread through his tone.

"Ones that even you can see and use."

She knew where this was going as his voice became more strained and angry seeped in as well. His arms picked up speed slightly.

"YOU'D think you'd be more grateful to me, doll."

Speaking as sickling sweet as she could Alice replied back,

"Oh, I am grateful to you. So grateful in fact that I've found a way that I hope will show you how much I am."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I swear it'll be worth the while."

"Worth the while, Worth the while!"

He yelled and his body shook with anger. His rusted gears yelled in pain as his arms span around the fastest she had ever seen. The whole room shook, yet Alice stood there. Just stood there, ax over her shoulder starring emotionlessly at him.

"You think you can just waltz on down here! To where my masterpieces lie! And just ask for a favor! Nonetheless, try to make it seem like a gift to me!"

Steam rose from him and a mixture of ink and oil bubbled over his window and face. The floor rubbled and trembled for his fire as she realized that she couldn't let this go on much longer. Sure his body was an old machine, but it had enough power to bring down the floor and she couldn't risk losing everything at that point.

"Don't think I don't know how you work, She-Devil!"

She gave a fake appalled look at him and let out a hollow gasp.

"SHE-DEVIL, WHY I NEVER! I COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO GIVE YOU A GIFT AND GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY AND YOU RESORT TO NAME CALLING."

"A gold-golden opportunity! If you think doing your dirty work is considered a golden opportunity, then every opportunity you've ever had must have been nothing but cheap chopper."

Her smile was becoming strained at that point, but she knew that she just had to hang on for a little longer.

"You don't know anything with your head stuck in the clouds! Look around you, Angel! This is no place of opportunities only nightmares. This the place that dreams go to die!"

"I won't say that now. Your dream is still up and running like you."

"Haha, you truly deserve those devil horn upon your head. I was going to build something amazing! It was going to be mind-blowing and all those idiots who stood in my way we're going to pay! It would have been my masterpiece. BUT HE GOT IN THE WAY! HE RIPPED EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME! MY WORK! MY LIFE! HE THREW ME OUT LIKE I WAS NOTHING, LIKE GARBAGE. BUT NO, HE WAS THE TRUE COMMON TRASH THAT BELONGED ON THE STREET. FOR TALKING ABOUT DREAMS SO MUCH, HE TRULY THE CREATOR OF SO MANY NIGHTMARES!"

He out a blood-curdling scream and smoke let out of his mouth. Alice watched as the bolts on his arms shook and seemed to loosely be turning in their sockets. He still didn't stop.

"That's why I here Bertrum! I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU JUSTICE!"

He gritted his teeth and his bugged out a little as arms slowed down slightly. He glared at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you getting your well-deserved revenge."

"You must be dreaming."

"No, this dream is a reality. Do you know who fell from the boards above into my domain?"

"Who?"

"Do you know who Henry is?"

The room was filled with loud screeches as he pulled a safety break in himself. His limbs and gears screeching to a halt. No doubt, he had definitely caused himself pain from doing so, but he didn't show it. Everything stopped and paused as his blank glassy eyes stared at Alice.

Author's Note- Thanks for reading and I'm very grateful to the people who have been leaving reviews on the recent chapters. This stuff lets me know that someone is still keeping up with the story. Please, feel free to ask me questions if you want. Anyway, thanks again for reading and leave a review.

Normally I post chapters in the morning, but this one was posted in the afternoon. This is because of a recent family emergency. Luckly, it won't be infering horribly with my writing so, chapters will keep coming out on Saturday. Just understand they might not be posted right away in the morning.