Chapter 13: Reclaimed

Everything was like it was going in slow motion as Henry and Linda held one another and the Projectionist towered over them, reaching towards them with his inky hand to snatch one of them away. Linda braced herself and closed her eyes tightly as she expected to be ripped away from Henry, but a loud banging sound forced her eyes to open.

Black ink had flowed over the entire room as the Ink Demon charged over to the Projectionist, causing the creature to turn and screech out in alarm. Ignoring the Projectionist's threatening call, the Ink Demon socked his gloved fist into the side of the projector his opponent had for a head. The Projectionist stumbled a bit, forcing the human couple to crawl out of range, and socked the demon's face in retaliation.

Linda and Henry watched the two monsters fight it out as they remained seated, daring not to move from their spot lest they want to get involved.

Not backing down, the Projectionist tackled the Ink Demon and managed to pin him down on the ink covered floor. He then began to brutally beat at the Ink Demon, pounding his inky fist into the demon's face. The Ink Demon showed his sharp jagged teeth as he let out a roar.

Linda looked between Henry and the two fighting ink creatures; Henry appeared to be rather tense as the intense fight grew intensely. She felt a tingling sensation in the back of her mind as if she was the one being beating. She wanted it to stop, but she was certain there was nothing she could do.

Suddenly the Ink Demon kneed the Projectionist off of him, freeing himself from his grip, and got up on all fours and hissed. Soon both were back to standing on their feet began to claw and punch at one another once again.

The Ink Demon quickly grabbed the Projectionist by his throat and lifted him off the floor, watching him squirm in his grip. Linda was unsettled by the sight and leaned closer into Henry. Her eyes widened as she watched the Ink Demon decapitate the Projectionist, making a sickening tearing sound. Ink began to squirt from the open wound in all directions as the light from the Projectionist's head flickered off and the body fell limp with a thud.

Linda and Henry flinched as the Ink Demon tossed the Projection's battered head at them.

It was still squirting ink, making Linda feel sick to her stomach.

Henry's grip on Linda tightened as the Ink Demon stared at them, growling heavily as his signature smile twitched and his body shook.

Limping towards the human couple, the Ink Demon reached out and grabbed Henry roughly by the collar of his shirt. Linda began to panic as she watched her husband dangling in the air before her, trying to get the demon to release him.

"Let him go!" Linda cried out as she furiously swung her purse at the Ink Demon's side, causing him to drop Henry as he let out a shriek. She squealed as the Ink Demon yanked her closer as he grabbed on to her purse, tearing into it with his claws.

Feeling something crawling up her arms and legs, Linda looked down to see ink coating her body. Her eyes widened in horror as the ink seemed to have a mind of its own. She could hardly hear Henry cry out for her as she was soon coated in a thick layer of ink.

All she could see was darkness.

Squelch

Splat

Slosh

The sound of splattering ink was all Linda could hear as she came into consciousness, her vision was blurry at first but was clearing up slowly as she had a lopsided view of a dark figured hunched over another. As she sat up she realized it was the Ink Demon.

The body he was focused on was of the now headless body of the former Projectionist. She wanted to gag as she watched the Ink Demon tear into it, making more ill-inducing sounds.

It was like watching a toddler play with mushy food with their hands.

Linda closed her eyes, trying to ignore the sight and sounds as she leaned back, realizing she was sitting in a comfortable chair. Her eyes shot open as she looked around at the projection screens above her; playing the same Bendy cartoons on repeat. She was sitting on the make-shift thrown.

She was back in the throne room.

"Why?..." She quietly asked, not expecting an answer. "Why am I back here?"

The Ink Demon looked towards her, ink gripping from his grin.

"I-I have to go back!" Linda said as she stood up. "I have to help Henry and Boris!"

The Ink Demon growled loudly as she took a couple steps forward. Linda frowned, deciding to attempt to be brave.

"What? He's my husband! I'm not leaving this place without him!"

She wasn't quite sure if what she was doing was smart, but she didn't want to have the Ink Demon think he had some sort of power over her. Last time she was safe behind the barred doors of the elevator, but now she had no protection from the being that could kill her effortless if or when he chose to.

The Ink Demon tore off the speaker from the inky corpse and threw it against the metal wall with a loud clang.

It was like watching a child going having a tantrum.

Linda tried hard not to be intimidated as her pounding heart betrayed her.

"Throw a fit all you want, I'm still going to find a way to help Henry. Even if you keep bringing me back here."

Her confidence faltered a bit as the Ink Demon loud growling broke out into a roar. He gripped on to his inky horns like he wanted to pull them off as he shook his head, stomping his way over to and forcefully pointed in the direction behind him.

Linda's eyes followed and she was now staring at the torn, splattered remains of the projectionist. She looked back at the Ink Demon as the ink dripped from his face on to her and took a step back. By now she was used to being drenched in ink, much to her annoyance, but there was something off-putting about the ink that formed the Ink Demon's body. Something made it more alive.

Something more sinister.

Taking a deep breath, Linda tried to regain her confidence back. She had to be stern if she wanted to get through to him. It was the same technique she used with her kids when they acted up.

"Look, I appreciate you saving us when you could've left us for dead, but I'm bringing Henry home."

The Ink Demon grunted as he turned his head as if to look away and pout.

Linda watched his grin twitch and had a vivid vision of the Ink Demon being beaten on by the Projectionist as he had him pinned down. For a moment, she felt the Ink Demon's rage and pain.

The constant agony.

It was a strange sensation, one she didn't like.

"...Are you alright?" Linda asked, earning the Ink Demon's attention once again. "That was quite a struggle you had with the Projectionist."

The Ink Demon slowly reached up with his gloved hand to touch the side of his face, letting out a sound of a distorted whine.

Linda's gaze softened a bit, but refused to let her guard down.

"I'm not getting out of here, am I?"

The Ink Demon only stared at her.

I'll take that as a 'no'.

A/N: This chapter was giving me a hard time as I was writing it as I had trouble writing out what I wanted the direction of story to go. I apologize for the late update.

Thanks to all the people that have faved/followed/reviewed my story, you guys help bring back my determination to finish this chapter.

Hopefully the next one won't be as bad.