Henry and Bendy left behind the sound of the Ink Demon furiously clawing at the door.

Bendy tugged at Henry's sweater in an attempt to keep him shuffling forward despite the pain he clearly was in.

Henry moved as best he could, relieved he didn't have a wounded leg. But as the furious screams of the Ink Demon faded away, Henry found that he was having trouble focusing on his current predicament.

Realistically, a bleeding wound should have taken every ounce of his concern. But Henry also just happened to be letting that concentration drift. Because despite his best (mediocre, really) efforts to not think about what he had just learned about the Ink Demon, he did.

Namely, the fact that crotch shots were somehow an acceptable means of deterring the inky being.

Henry let out of huff of irritation for his mind going back to that. His right hand pressed hard against the warmth on his shoulder.

Bad Henry.

Pay attention to the still bleeding claw marks on your body.

...it was easier said than done.

Morbid curiosity was winning out, as Henry vaguely wondered just how hard he could kick the Ink Demon to incapacitate it for a longer time.

Bendy seemed to sense Henry's drifting thoughts and tugged at the sweater again.

Henry gave his head a shake, not realizing that he had stopped walking.

Right.

Bendy wanted him to keep moving. So Henry would keep walking. He was bleeding. Maybe he even had an infected wound. Either way, he needed attention for the injury as soon as possible.

The claw marks gouged in his skin ached terribly.

Henry decided to focus on remaining conscious.

That was easy enough, right?

Henry didn't want to upset the toon traveling with him, if he happened to pass out without getting to relative safety first. Henry took one final step forward, and let out a relieved sigh as the expected can of soup rolled into view. Henry bit back the urge to say his usual words of demanding someone to show themselves.

Stupid thing to do the first time, really. He hadn't known who would show themselves. It could have been an enemy, for all he knew. But luckily, it had been a friendly wolf each time.

Henry noticed the way Bendy hid behind him when there came the sound of approaching footsteps.

Boris.

Right on schedule.

"Hey." Henry pressed his hand tightly to his wounded right shoulder. Henry offered a small, tired smile. "I don't suppose you...you happen remember me from the last loop?"

Anyone else might have given Henry a blank stare.

But not Boris.

Boris smiled with his sharp wolf teeth and gave an unmistakable nod.

Henry didn't realize how much he was hoping for Boris to recognize him until he realized that his shoulders had slumped in profound relief.

Ouch, that hurt his wounds.

But Boris recognizing him would make things much easier.

Henry would not have to spend an absurd amount of time earning the toon wolf's trust again.

Boris came forward to give Henry a careful hug, the toon wolf obviously happy to see him. Boris stepped back, his happiness changing to worry as the toon wolf realized that Henry's shoulder wound was still bleeding.

"Yeah...the Ink Demon wasn't happy to see me." That was an understatement. Damn thing might have tired to use him as a chew toy before killing him. "I'm hoping that you have medical supplies back at your place." Henry looked down at Bendy. "I brought another friend with me this time around."

Boris' ears stood up a little straighter as he sniffed the air before a perplexed look crossed his muzzle. Then, he shuffled around Henry, and saw Bendy.

Bendy shyly hid his face, clinging to the back of Henry's pants. The little devil darling didn't seem certain how to react to a toon who was Boris, and yet not the actualcartoon Boris.

"Hey, it's all right." Henry noticed Bendy's unease. "He's a nice Boris, even if he doesn't remember who he was before becoming one."

Boris crouched down and stared at Bendy with his head cocked to the side, ears flicking. The toon wolf studied the other with obvious curiosity before fixing Henry with a stare.

"All I know is that I desperately hoped for the real Bendy in the last loop." Henry had figured out how to read Boris' silent body language and expressions. "So, here the little devil darling is, as if he hopped off the screen."

Bendy finally peeked at Boris, hands still holding onto Henry's pants.

Boris raised a hand and gave the other toon a little wave. Then, with a little look of uncertainty, held both arms open, as if asking for a hug.

It was out of character, in a way, but at the same time, it made Henry wonder if who Boris used to be was making a bit of an appearance. Henry recognized the gesture for what it was, and Henry was rather surprised that Boris was open to being trusting of someone new so quickly.

Bendy appeared to understand what the toon wolf wanted, because he wore a great big toothy grin again. Bendy let go of Henry's pants, but hesitated as he shot a quick glance up to the human.

"Don't worry, it isn't a trick." Henry assured the toon devil. "He enjoys giving everyone he likes hugs. Be flattered he opened up to you so quickly."

Bendy seemed to be cheered by this news because the toon happily ran over and let Boris give him a great big hug.

"Hey guys?" Henry felt bad for interrupting the rather cute scene of the two toons now dancing around in a little circle. "I think the Ink Demon can infect wounds with the ink it is covered in."

A sharp, stabbing pain mixed in with the ache.

Boris released Bendy's hands as both toons turned to Henry.

"I meant it when I said that I wanted you to lop off a limb if I started to transform into some monster." Henry directed to Bendy. Henry staggered over to the wall and sank down to the floor hard as he leaned back. "This wound is acting like the one my hand did." The worry of the unknown and some panic began to sink in. "Sorry. I thought I'd be able to make it to...the safe house before the pain really set in."

Both toons were suddenly crouched on either side of Henry, both quiet but clearly worried from their expressions.

"Maybe the Ink Demon put some paralyzing agent in the ink to slow its prey." Henry mumbled. "Make it easier to catch me." Why was he feeling more feverish than before?

Was the injury infected?

Henry supposed that the Ink Demon's claws weren't very sanitary.

"If the infection spreads and I start to try to bite or claw someone, make sure I don't. Take me out instead." Henry muttered, his voice growing fainter.

Huh.

When did he end up on the floor?

Henry closed his eyes. The world had begun to spin and he felt sick to his stomach. There was what felt like a burning ache that had begun to spread beneath the wound. Maybe the transformation was already beginning.

An unsettling thought trickled in.

Could the Ink Demon control Henry with the ink that it had gotten into his bloodstream from the injuries inflicted this far?

"Hope there's not...mind control." Henry's voice was beginning to slur. One of the toon's had put their hand on his forehead. "Don't need...sci fi in m' life too..." Henry toon a short breath. "...dun let Ink b'strd...get m' hand or...or shoulder meat either...my body n' blood."

Mercifully, the burning ache of his wounds and the unnerving thoughts of what the Ink Demon could and couldn't do did not follow Henry into the dark of unconsciousness.