As soon as Henry found out that Boris' foot paw had adequately healed, Henry knew that it was time to leave the relative safety of their current resting place.
Level 11 wasn't any safer than the other levels of the studio, but it did have a food source and a little miracle station. It also had the same looming threat of the Ink Demon showing up.
Sooner or later, the Ink Demon would find them all, with or without time to get to safety.
"Time to press on." Henry said with a heavy sigh, as he stood up from the chair he'd been seated on.
Boris stood similarly, and moved over to stand with Henry, expression wary but understanding as well. The toon wolf knew that the Ink Demon was lurking close by, and it was better to get going before it decided to show itself out of the blue.
"Will you be all right without the boots?" Henry asked Boris. Henry had seen the toon wolf leave his boots off. At a single nod of confirmation, Henry left it at that before turning to check up on Bendy. Henry smiled at the sight of the little devil hopping over to him, wearing the hoodie.
It appeared that Bendy was happy to go along with his friends wherever they decided to go.
Henry was glad he didn't have to say anything more. It was easier to focus on walking and keeping an eye out for potential enemies to bash with the Gent pipe. Henry still intended to get that axe on level 9, so that was where he was headed with his toon friends as they entered the stairwell. Henry is grateful that getting to level 9 was uneventful. He was sadly distracted by his newly acquired tail, even after Henry had had what amounted to two days to get used to it batting against his legs when he forgot about it.
They wouldn't linger very long on level 9.
Henry didn't want Alice to notice their presence. This was only long enough for Henry to arm himself with a better weapon, and he didn't want Bendy to wear himself out by making one of of one of Henry's drawings. Plus, Henry wanted Boris to have a weapon and figured the Gent pipe wouldn't bother the toon wolf to have again.
"Okay, let's get that axe." Henry stomped over to the boarded up doorway, and broke the wood into pieces in order to get into the small room. The axe was there, as usual. As was the tape recorder and a single searcher that lurched at him. Henry swiftly dealt with the searcher. "You two should come inside. There aren't any more searchers, and you should come inside, just to be safe. It'll be easier to see if anyone tries to sneak up on us."
Bendy skipped inside first, almost immediately going to inspect the tape player on the table as Henry handed off the Gent pipe to Boris in favor of retrieving the axe.
Boris doesn't seem too happy about having a weapon again but he understood Henry's reasoning and how the human wanted him to be able to protect himself. And Bendy, if Henry happened to get separated from them again.
The sound of a click drew Henry and Boris' attention to Bendy, who was now listening to Grant's recording.
"Hey buddy?" Henry almost missed it but Boris seemed to be having a hard time with the voice that was speaking. "Are you all right? Something bothering you?"
Boris shook his head even as he let out a whine of discomfort.
Henry loosely held the axe, confused over the way Boris was reacting. But he could tell the toon wolf was uncomfortable enough that he was hugging himself. But Henry refrained from pressing the topic further when Henry could tell that the toon wolf was already uncomfortable enough that he was hugging himself.
As soon as the recording stopped, and the three prepared to leave the room, things went wrong.
Butcher Gang clones seem to appear out of the woodwork from absolutely nowhere.
"You won't leave this place, Henry! I won't let you take that perfect Boris away from me!" Alices voice could be heard screaming from overhead. Her next words were directed to the Butcher Gang clones and the few searchers that had appeared. "Kill him! Rip him into shreds! Don't let him escape!" Interestingly enough, she made no mention of toon Bendy's presence.
Henry and Boris fended off the inky monsters that attacked them, slowly angling for the stairwell, but being pushed back by the sheer numbers.
As per usual, Sammy Lawrence had terrible timing.
"How dare you attack my lord? You are not worthy to be in His presence! I will not allow you to disturb our lord!" Sammy appeared at the top of the stairs and was carrying something very familiar.
Shit.
That crazy bastard had the Tommy gun.
"Can I get an amen, for our lord and savior?" Sammy laughed in a rather unhinged way as he opened fire on the other inky beings.
Bendy and Boris were hemmed in by the elevator, the searchers and butcher gang clones swarming in close and threatening to overwhelm the toons.
Henry was worried about his friends but oh, did he ever have his eyes on Sammy's Tommy gun.
He would have that Tommy gun.
Since Sammy was distracted with mowing down other inky beings that had started to attempt to attack him, Henry was able to sneak up on Sammy.
This was stupid and very, very dangerous situation.
Henry honestly didn't care in that moment.
He would have that bloody Tommy gun come hell or high water.
Henry had no idea that he scared the crap out of his toon friends as he made his move. Henry recklessly charged forward and tackled Sammy, knocking the inky man over. Henry wrestled the gun away from the music director and as soon as he had his hands on it, the axe was discarded.
It was a short acquaintance, that axe.
Henry laughed hysterically at the crazy move he had just made, and ran back down the stairs. He fired a spray of what seemed to be inky bullets at searchers and Butcher Gang clones out of his way as he goes to rejoin his friends.
Behind Henry, Sammy didn't even seem to full realize what had just happened. Instead, Sammy was still so upset about the supposed slight against his lord that he took up his axe and confined to attack. Furious words tumbled out of him until he finally seemed to take notice of his current weapon. Sammy's masked head whipped around until he set his sights on Henry and figured out that he was the culprit. Sammy surged forward at a quicker pace, his angry words drowned out by the other inky beings.
This situation had gone from bad to worse.
Henry didn't think he could shoot and protect his friends from those that he couldn't hit without risking then. So, with a reluctant nod, Henry, Bendy and Boris rushed into the elevator and closed the door just in time to prevent anyone from coming in after them. Henry rapidly hit the various buttons, just wanting to get away now.
Alice joined in on the din, screaming her anger at Henry.
"You may have hidden the supplies I require, but I will find them myself! I won't bother with you, since you are clearly on that demon's side." Alice's voice toned down just a tad bit, sounding pleased with herself. "While I am otherwise occupied, I'm sending you down to meet an old friend. He will keep you from running away. I'll come collect Boris myself later."
The elevator began to descend, and worryingly, Sammy had made the decision to disregard his own safety. The music director leapt onto the top of the elevator before it had gone down too far, and began to hack at the metal in an effort to get in.
Henry didn't want to chance hitting himself or the others by having anything ricochet back at them, so he hoped that they'd reach their destination before Sammy could get in.
Level 14.
Henry let out a weary huff of breath as he hefted the Tommy gun, getting a feel for the weapon again. It had been awhile since he'd been able to use it in a loop. Henry felt his tail flock back and forth in unease as he slid a glance toward his friends. Henry wasn't sure how the Projectionist would react to his or Boris' presence. Henry knew that Bendy would be all right, from the Projectionist's response to the toon from before. Henry glanced down at Bendy, and saw the toon holding onto his pants leg, quivering over the loud metal hacking sound the axe made as Sammy struck the top of the elevator.
The elevator came to a halt soon after, just before Sammy could start to force himself inside.
Henry hastily left through the now open door, Bendy letting go of his leg as the toon followed alongside him. Henry's tail flicked in agitation as Boris pointed over the side of the railing to the Projectionist walking around.
Sammy let out a yelp as he fell through the metal, briefly stunning himself as he hit the floor of the elevator.
"Run! Go find a little miracle station!" Henry told Boris and Bendy. Henry saw two nods, and waited for the toons to take off before Henry rounded on Sammy and raised the Tommy gun to fire.
Sammy ducked back into the elevator with a curse to avoid being hit.
At the sound of the Projectionist's static screech from the floor below, Henry let off a few rounds before turning and racing down the stairs.
If the Projectionist so much looked at his friends wrong, Henry would shoot.
Panic took hold of Henry as he rounded a corner to see Bendy and Boris cornered against a wall with the Projectionist's light on them. Henry let out a yell of his own, catching the Projectionist's attention as he raised the gun.
The Projectionist's projector head swung around before the inky being let out a horrific static scream and began to slog through the ink flooding the floor toward Henry.
Whoops.
Maybe he should have rethought that through better.
Henry waited until the Projectionist was out of range of the toons before he opened fire, the scatter of bullets striking the Projectionist and sending him reeling backward.
The projector head gave a disoriented shake.
Henry was about to continue shooting with the Tommy gun, until Bendy suddenly got between them and waved his hands, the little devil's face awash with a mix of horror and pleading. Henry hesitated, not wanting to upset Bendy. He stepped backward, only to bump into two Butcher Gang clones. Henry stumbled forward as he was hit, hastily turning around to shoot his new attackers.
The Projectionist let out another furious cry as he began hoisting and throwing the distorted inky beings around, away from Bendy, who had scrambled off to rejoin Boris a distance away.
"Hide!" Henry shouted, as he continued to shoot the many enemies trying to strike him. Henry already had ink in his eyes, so he needed to be careful.
The number of inky creatures seemed endless, but at least the Tommy gun was too.
Between Henry and the Projectionist, the area was cleared of anyone else but themselves, Boris and Bendy.
When Henry realized this, he warily circled away from the Projectionist, even as the other began to approach him. Henry withheld from shooting, even though he desperately wanted to as the light of the projector head kept him square in the light. Memories of dying at the Projectionist's hands in past loops was strong, but Henry held back from shooting, for Bendy's sake. But if there was any hostility, Henry would protect himself.
The Projectionist was limping now, one hand held up to an injured shoulder. He came to a halt, seeming to consider Henry for a moment. The Projectionist then raised his free hand, and pointed to a nearby wall.
Henry warily turned to the side to take a look, while still standing in a way that allowed him to keep an eye on the Projectionist. Henry twitched and held the Tommy gun tighter as the Projectionist's light fell on the wall, illuminating it. Henry sucked in a harsh breath, sneaking a glance back to the Projectionist.
That projector head was tilted, half in Henry's direction, and half on the wall.
It seemed the inky being was waiting.
Henry slowly turned his attention back to the wall and approached it. Henry reached out and ran a trembling hand along the words that were written there.
Those words...
Henry didn't ever recall there being written words there.
Why?
Oh.
Oh no.
Henry's body began to shake as realization set in as he slowly lowered himself to the ground. Henry didn't even care when he splashed onto his knees and leaned back, still staring at the words scrawled. There was no question as to who had left them. They were written there, plain as day. Henry clutched the Tommy gun to his chest as he let out a distressed noise.
I am Norman Polk.
Below those words, a few more were written.
Who are you? Why do you bring death?
"...Norman...?" Henry breathed out as he turned his head and looked up, to see the Projectionist standing a little closer.
The inky being stood there with his hand to his shoulder but there was an unmistakable nod of the projector, followed by the other inky hand pointing back to the wall.
"I didn't..." Henry squeezed his eyes shut, still stuck on who the other was. Who he had always assumed the other to be but was never certain. "I'm so sorry, Norman. You've always...always attacked me in past loops. You've never been this...aware. I..." Henry looked at the second set of words on the wall that the Projectionist was pointing at, before adding. "It's me. Henry. Henry Stein. Do you...remember me?"
The Projectionist's speaker crackled several times on and off, the light flickering rapidly. Several starts and stops of what sounded like words attempting to be forced out of the speaker failed, followed by a burst of frustrated feedback.
Henry jumped as Boris suddenly came up alongside him, stealing his attention away from the Projectionist.
From Norman.
Boris waved a hand at Henry's tail and then his sweater as he flashed a wolfish grin before whining in concern as the toon wolf's ears flattened down.
"Bendy?" Henry lurched up, looking to and fro frantically. "Bendy! Where are you?"
Boris drew Henry's eyes back to him, and mimed playing an instrument.
No...
Henry rushed back to check the elevator, and then splashed his way through the entire area of level 15 that he had explored before.
Sammy wasn't there, and neither was Bendy.
Henry let out a groan of frustration as he held the Tommy gun loosely in one hand as he rejoined Boris and the Projectionist.
Norman.
"Don't suppose you know a way to get to level S?" Henry asked the other two. "Since Sammy didn't take the elevator, I suppose he could be anywhere...but I have a feeling he'd take Bendy to see the lost ones."
Boris hesitated with a quick look toward Norman before he gave Henry a wary nod.
Norman's projector head jerked up when the gibberish noises of distorted Butcher Gang toons stumbling down the stairs reached them all. The Projectionist's hand waved at Boris, who nodded in what appeared to be understanding.
Henry didn't understand at all.
Had Norman and Boris somehow communicated?
Not that it mattered when a swarm of enemies that was headed their way would be held back by the Projectionist, from the way Norman turned to face them.
Henry jerked in surprise when Boris patted his shoulder and pointed. Henry followed along after the toon wolf, grasping the Tommy gun tight as he heard the static, fury filled screams of Norman. Henry wasn't sure if they'd run across him again later, like in past loops.
Boris led the way to an out of the way door that Henry had never seen before, and watched as the toon wolf opened it up.
It didn't seem to need to be unlocked, and opened up into a stairwell.
Henry entered through the doorway with Boris close behind, and as they descended, Henry hoped that Bendy would be all right while they were separated. The long set of stairs led directly to level S, where Henry and Boris came out through a door right around the area the elevator would normally fall and crash.
Had the door been there before?
Henry couldn't remember, as he stared at the back of Boris' head. Something seemed...off, but Henry couldn't place it. But for right now, Henry knew that he had to be on high alert. He would not let Alice have Boris.
Not this time.
Being separated from Bendy was bad enough. Henry didn't think he could handle losing Boris again. From the sight of Boris holding the Gent pipe right in one hand, the toon wolf was having similar thoughts.
"Be careful." Henry murmured, receiving a very serious nod in return and a pointed look. "I know, I'll be-"
The elevator crashed down from above, knocking both Henry and Boris, who had been nearby, to the ground. What Henry hadn't anticipated, as he dazedly attempted to rise, was to see Alice landing easily on top of the broken bits of elevator.
Alice looked furious, her contorted face stretching on the left in a vicious snarl as she brandished an axe in her hands.
Lovely.
Wonderful.
Just perfect.
How Henry loved desperately fighting for his life and that of his friends. Why had the Tommy gun conveniently been knocked out of his hands?
Alice screamed nonsensical obscenities as she leapt off the broken metal and rushed Henry with the full intention to swing that axe into Henry's torso.
So much for being careful.
Henry hastily got to his feet, resigned over the fact that the Tommy gun was too far away to make a go for it. Facing the deranged angel, Henry braced himself. There was no way of getting around her and over to Boris without being sliced by the axe.
Oh boy.
This was going to hurt.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
A/N:
I will be taking another break from posting next weekend, so the next chapter will be posted (hopefully) June 20th/21st. If that changes, I'll edit this note.
Henry's gonna have a good old fashioned fist fight with Alice once he gets that axe away from her.
Also, Bendy is fine- he's just a little weirded out over Sammy singing him praises and being weirdly nice now that Henry isn't around. And the Ink Demon's senses are tingling- it isn't going to be particularly happy to see who is in Sammy's company XD