Perfect
"It worked…" Joey breathed in amazement, sinking back down into his wheelchair. Henry was just as stunned as Joey, but it was impossible for him to feel any amazement at the result as he was far more concerned about Bendy.
"…Bendy..?" Henry asked softly, taking a small step closer to the toon though Sammy prevented him from getting close. Henry knew with absolute certainty that the ritual had affected more than just Bendy's outer appearance, for he could feel nothing coming from the link he had with his toon. He hadn't felt the link snap or dissolve during the ritual, and he wasn't getting jumbled and hazy feelings from Bendy as he could feel from the mind-controlled toons. There was a void on Bendy's side of the link as if there was nothing at all for Henry to feel. And as his little ink demon continued to stare blankly ahead of him, not responding to Henry at all, the horrible truth began to dawn on Henry.
Joey had removed everything that made Bendy, Bendy. His unique personality, his memories, and even his thoughts… they had all been scooped out, leaving this hollow shell of a toon in his place. To Henry, this Bendy seemed as lifeless as the cutouts that once filled the studio, with only the occasional blink to set him apart. Henry couldn't help but choke out a sob as he realized his toon, the son that he loved, was practically dead and Joey had forced him to be the one that pulled the trigger.
"Bendy, come here," Joey ordered, Bendy responding to his voice where the demon had ignored Henry. "I want to get a good look at you."
Bendy walked over to stand in front of Joey and Henry couldn't help but watch his movements. He wasn't stiff or robotic, though a part Henry wished he was as a way to show how lifeless he was. But the little toon moved fluidly and the animator in Henry couldn't help but admire how it was exactly how he walked in the show. But the fatherly side kept pointing out how it was different than how his Bendy, the real Bendy, moved. His Bendy always walked with deadly grace, something that developed from being both a dancer and a predator. The difference was just another confirmation that Henry's little ink demon was gone, with only this paper puppet left behind.
"Flawless… absolutely flawless," Joey praised as he looked over the toon. "I was finally able to make him look like the star he was meant to be. And of course, I removed that rebellious streak of his as that had always been a nuisance."
Henry felt a surge of anger at how casually Joey spoke about destroying everything that made Bendy real and alive. It took all his will power not to lunge at the man and sock him across the jaw. As much as Henry wanted to, he knew it would be a terrible idea. Sammy would stop him before he would be able to do any permeant damage and no doubt Linda would suffer the consequences. He could not throw away Bendy's sacrifice like that.
"Oh this is truly wonderful," Joey smiled, looking over at Henry. "Just look at what we were able to accomplish! Finally, all our dreams are going to come true!"
"They're your dreams, Joey," Henry couldn't help but snap, furious that Joey was deluding himself into thinking Henry would want anything with this madness. "They're your dreams, not mine."
"I see you still haven't come around despite this great accomplishment," Joey sighed, almost looking disappointed. "No matter, I'm sure as we continue our work, you'll start seeing things my way. Sleep well Henry, for we have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
Sammy began shoving Henry towards the room where Linda was being held, following some silent order from Joey. Henry wanted desperately to grab Bendy and try undoing everything with his golden ink, but he never even had the chance before he was shoved through the door. Allison and Tom stepped out of the room once Henry was inside and locked the door behind them. While there was no doubt they were guarding the door, Henry was glad that at least he and Linda could have this small amount of privacy.
"Oh Henry, I'm glad you're alright," Linda threw her arms around him as soon as she could. "I was so worried. I could hear Bendy shrieking in terror only for it to be cut off. What happened to him, Henry? What happened to our little ink demon? What did that madman do?"
"… Linda…" Henry could barely say, tears starting rolling down his cheeks. Linda guided them over to the bed had them sit down on it. As soon as they were settled, Ink Blot came out from under the bed and hopped onto Henry's lap, rubbing him in comfort. Henry blinked in surprise, looking down at the cat then at Linda.
"She was here when I woke up," Linda answered Henry's unasked question. "I'm not sure how she got here, but she was a comfort to me while I was being used as bait. She really is a clever little thing, as she always hid before anyone else came in and saw her."
"I wonder if she knows something's happened to Bendy…" Henry couldn't help but mumbled as he absentmindedly stroked Ink Blot. "She always seemed to know when he needed her…"
"Henry… please… what happened to Bendy?" Linda asked taking Henry's free hand in her own. "I know whatever happened to him was because Joey threatened to hurt me instead. I need to know what happened to him."
"Joey performed a ritual…" Henry sobbed. "It made him look perfect, but it got rid of his personality. I helped Joey do it… Bendy trusted me… and I helped destroy him… Bendy believed I could heal him… but I don't know if I can fix something like this… what if I can't?... What is Bendy's gone forever?... It'll be all my fault… my toon… my son… killed by my own hand…"
Henry continued to sob as the weight of everything pressed down on him. He was stuck in this terrible situation, having not only helped destroy Bendy but most likely going to do the same to the others. He had no idea if he could undo what Joey did and it terrified him. He feared that his little ink demon was gone forever and he was the that helped make it possible.
Linda wrapped her arms around Henry, doing her best to comfort him even as tears flowed down her own cheeks. The two stayed embraced for a long time, letting themselves morn what could truly be the loss of their son. Long after their tears ran dry, exhaustion eventually made itself known and they fell into a fitful sleep, still holding each other for comfort.
