AN: For those of you who are unaware, the first six chapters have underwent a slight 'change' with new interactions and new texts. I highly recommend you check it out if you got nothing else to do this time around. Oh, and Merry Christmas to you! This is posted before Christmas, so if you see this before or after, I am telling you now! Merry Christmas!
So chapter 11 is up early for you to enjoy and read for the holidays. Sorry for the late update as well. I was completing some educational work, and I went under a slight worker's block again where reading and writing were something I just wasn't interested in at the time. Originally, chapter 11 and 12 were going to be uploaded together (along with a small side story I have written for clues), but I really wanted to get Chapter 11 out now before the holidays for you to enjoy. I've kept you waiting since October. I think that's long enough :)
I post updates in my Deviantart account about the status of this story there, so for those of you viewers who don't have accounts, if you ever want to find information and/or updates from me, I always post there. Along with drawings of the characters themselves, but it isn't relevant to the story and more for fun. Oh, and you can find my username on Tumblr now! If you want to ask me things, I'm available there too.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy chapter 11, and you can expect chapter 12 within the end of this month, right before New Years. Please review and let me know your thoughts! They mean a lot to me, and you do as well! Stay positive and Happy Holidays! Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own any BATIM characters listed or mentioned in this chapter or the story. I only own the idea of this story, it's AU, and Ben Angel.
Since Henry had gone, Allison had been meaning to have a personal confrontation with Sammy for awhile now. The angel strongly believed the former music composer could have played a role in Henry's disappearance, but with no evidence to go with this accusation, Allison couldn't point her sword just yet. If the idea of other souls managing to reach their freedom were indeed true, then that meant Sammy could not be the one responsible...right?
And if anyone were to know anything about the Ink Demon they called "Bendy", Sammy should have at least some answers...
Right?
Stepping into the village full of Lost Ones and Searchers was risky, especially with the hatred already established towards angels, so Allison knew the only place to confront Sammy without any trouble would have to be in the recording studio. Thankfully, Sammy had lost much faith in Bendy as a savior and wouldn't be too driven on hurting the angel; As long as she didn't do anything to provoke him of course. Knowing Sammy however, Allison knew she was going to have to make things clear and valid. Otherwise, her attempt of getting and receiving any clues from Sammy would ultimately prove unsuccessful.
Allison was also aware that this was something that needed to be kept secret from Tom. As soon as they had finished up with dinner last night, the two slept peacefully in the heart of their safehouse until Allison awoke several hours later to begin her quest. Careful not to wake her partner, she took her sword and was on her way. Reaching the floor level that would surely lead to Sammy's sanctuary, the angel wasted no time and journeyed across the way by foot.
Allison was somewhat familiar with this level of the studio, but didn't care much about exploring the Music Department. All that was set here were dimly lit candles, Bendy cutouts, and satanic symbols that surely summoned any type of cult Sammy was leading. However considering his outrage of the Ink Demon rejecting his offer of Henry all those years ago, the musician was in a state of disarray and likely didn't worship the creature anymore. But that did not mean Allison still shouldn't be careful. Sammy was just as dangerous as any other threat created or deformed by the ink.
Allison made her way into the recording studio and approached the gate to Sammy's sanctuary. She knocked on the metal barrier three times, each trembling with a loud clang underneath her touch, and patiently waited for the gate to open. She didn't know whether or not Sammy was inside, but considering that this was his domain she was stepping in, it wouldn't be long for her to find out.
As she continued waiting, the angel couldn't help but turn her head to the recording booth beside her. She didn't know why, but upon staring at this room, she felt that there was something...familiar...about it. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but if she didn't know any better, she felt that maybe she's been inside there before...
"What brings you here?"
Recognizing that voice she knew to be Sammy's, Allison spun around and made sure to maintain her fearlessness upon seeing him standing ominously behind her. Glowering her gaze up to where his eyes should've been, Allison made sure to hold her sword tightly and stand ground. Hopefully she wouldn't have to take on Sammy if she needed to. It would be a shame for him to meet his end again...but this time...due to an angel.
"I think it's obvious that you know why I'm here, Sammy." she remarked.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't," Sammy replied before taking a step forward and towering over her threateningly. "And if I did...I wouldn't care."
"So you don't care that souls are ascending and managing to leave this place? This...Hell?" she challenged.
Sammy continued to eye the angel in complete silence, but then stepped back from Allison to turn his attention to the recording booth window instead. Placing his hands behind his back, he continued. "Of course it matters. Do you believe I want to stay this way? In this...dark, inky abyss of a body? I'm just as interested as you are. Yet...I myself do not understand why."
Allison didn't know whether or not to believe him, but by hearing his current monotone, she figured he might actually be telling the truth. Come to think of it...if Sammy knew how the Lost Ones and Searchers were managing to reach their freedom, wouldn't he have tried to seek his as well? It was undoubtable that he would have. Who wouldn't?
However, the thought of Bendy being the culprit for her time here still lingered in her head. Surely Sammy should be able to give her a straightforward answer to that one.
"What about the Ink Demon?" she asked, "Surely, he's the one keeping souls like you and I trapped here."
"I'm afraid the lord I once served would not know, nor care, about who stays and goes. The Ink Demon shows no mercy for us that remain trapped here, especially to angels." Sammy bitterly remarked as he slowly turned his head to scowl at Allison. She was unfazed by his intimidating demeanor and just maintained her glare before he faced the window again. "I am but a devoted man. Those who are like me always thrive and are spared. Those like you are just sheep yet to be killed. If the Ink Demon were to choose between you and I, it's quite certain he'd slaughter you first."
Allison didn't reply to his insult and just gripped onto her sword tighter. She was ready to swing at this idiot if she needed to.
Sammy had noticed she didn't respond right away and turned to eye her. "Would you not agree?"
"The Ink Demon will never take anything from me." she remarked. "Even if that means a second chance."
"Careful angel," Sammy warned as he turned to fully face her, "You never know what'll set off his wrath. Best to give him whatever he wants when he wants it. You might just die before you even think about it."
"Thanks for the useless information Sammy." Allison sneered as she turned to walk away. "Guess I'll just figure this out on my own."
"I'd be wary if I were you angel," Sammy stated, causing her to freeze and take in his final warning. "The Ink Demon will know what you're up to, and he'll do whatever he can to make sure you don't get it."
Allison turned her head back to Sammy to glare at him from the corner of her eye, but decided to ignore him and proceeded to stroll out of the room. Though she tried her best to keep a stern face, there was something about this warning of Sammy's that the angel couldn't help but be concerned over.
In fact if she didn't know any better, it sort of scared her. The fact that Bendy would stalk and prevent her from reaching her freedom meant that this was going to be even more of a harder challenge than she realized. If Bendy discovered her plan to try and leave the studio, he'd undoubtedly search for her and Tom like a hound dog. Then, he'd slaughter them like pigs. Or, using Sammy's terms, sheep.
Allison didn't know what else could be done at this point. There was nothing she could do to defeat the Ink Demon, and nothing she could do to get her life back. Whatever the reason was behind her being trapped in this world, a world separate from life itself, she didn't care.
She just wanted to be free.
Was that so hard to wish for?
Joey Drew used to say that there was nothing wrong with dreaming...
And that wishing for the impossible was just human nature...
But in this world...the world of Joey Drew Studios...wishing had been a terrible sin.
"You look absolutely gorgeous!"
"That Connor man is gonna be bluffing when he sees you in this dress!"
"He ain't gonna be able to keep his eyes and his hands off you!"
The entire dressing room of women had been gushing about Allison the moment she had entered the room. Though most of them were aunts, friends of her mother, and well-known acquaintances, Allison couldn't be more blessed by all the humble amount of love and support she was receiving. Today was Saturday, February twenty-third, but it wasn't just another ordinary day. No, today was officially the day she was going to get married to Thomas J. Connor.
She held her white rose bouquet and examined her features in the mirror. Her blonde hair was up in a bun, her veil was draped over her face, and her flowery lace gown exposed her elegant beauty. The only form of color that stuck out most were those cherry-red lips behind that veil, but it was curved into one of the purest smiles anyone could ever see.
"Oh, you're just beautiful!" Mrs. Pendle gushed as she examined Allison in her dress.
Allison turned away from the mirror and faced the room of women, glowing with excitement. Her father would be here soon to walk her down the aisle, where an entire church would be filled with familiar faces and a man she never thought she'd fall in love with waiting for her at the alter. And despite Mr. Thomas J. Connor not being a man known for smiles, she knew that underneath that moustache, there'd be something otherwise.
However despite all the outpour of love and attention, Allison knew that this day could become even more special if a certain guest she invited would attend this occasion. Joey Drew may not have been a good boss, but that didn't mean he was a bad person. His studio was the reason how anything special happened in the first place. She wouldn't have met her future husband if it hadn't been for Joey introducing them, and because of this, she felt that Mister Drew was a very important part of her wedding day.
Hopefully the invitation she sent would motivate him to come.
"You nervous darlin'?" Mrs. Pendle asked.
"Not at all." Allison replied with a prideful smile.
A light knock could then be heard coming from the door before it cracked open and Fredrick Pendle popped his head inside. His eyes immediately caught sight of Allison, and like any father, he found himself remembering the rambunctious little girl that she once was. Now that little girl was no more, but instead a beautiful grown woman about to be in the care of another man who promised to protect and love her no matter what.
Fredrick entered the room and shut the door behind him, letting a soft smile cross his lips. "Are you ready angel?"
"Yes father, I'm ready." Allison replied.
"Ladies," Fredrick stated, "Do you mind if I have a small word with my daughter?"
The women of the room began to depart back to the church to take their seats, including Mrs. Pendle, who stroked her daughter's arm and kissed her husband's cheek before leaving and shutting the door behind her. That left Allison alone in the room with her father, but she wasn't worried or intimidated in the slightest. She knew this was a very personal, and perhaps emotional, moment for him. And for that reason, he needed to express this to her alone.
"Sweetie, you look absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you." Allison chuckled.
"Today, you become Mrs. Connor. And even though it pains me to let go of my little girl, I know he is going to take very good care of you."
"I know." she blushed.
"He promised me that he would always protect you, love you, and make sure you have everything you'd ever need. That's a good man, and I know he will make a great husband."
"I'm sure he will."
"And maybe soon...a very great father."
"Oh Dad!" Allison's cheeks immediately went red and she playfully nudged Fredrick with her arm, to which he chuckled and winked at her.
"Alright, alright, all joking aside, let's get you up there to that alter. Everyone can't wait to see you."
"Thank you daddy." Allison grinned before wrapping her arms around her father, to which he did the same. Fredrick could then feel the water works stinging in his eyes, but did the best he could to maintain his composure. This was Allison's big day, and seeing her happy, was all the support he'd ever need to be happy.
Allison would be in good hands from this day forth. Nothing was going to happen to her, and Thomas was going to make sure of that.
Though she didn't remember anything about the life she once had, Allison knew that when she escaped this studio someday, she would regain everything she'd lost and be free. There would be no darkness, no Ink Demon, and no ink that would keep her prisoner. She and Tom deserved their lives back, even if that meant being separated. Unfortunately, Allison lost the memory of her husband as well and remained oblivious to that man being Tom.
Just like how she lost the memory of her son.
Allison had just given birth to Ben before being killed by Bendy and sent to the inky abyss. She hadn't been able to fully enjoy a moment with her son, and upon her demise did that memory not follow through with her to the next cycle. Or perhaps Bendy's intention was to kill her, and take her life away as quickly as he could so she wouldn't remember Ben. Either way, the ink wiped away both of her memories as a wife...and as a mother.
She continued to maneuver the boat forward inside the tunnel, but that didn't stop her from losing interest in conversating with Ben and Henry behind her. In fact, it was rather enjoyable and something she hadn't felt in such a long time. The fact that Ben was so full of life, despite being made from ink, was inspiring. How could this young boy, surrounded by a world of darkness, made from darkness, be so bright! Sure, he had a small episode on the boat before they were eaten, but that may have had more to do with his hormones than anything else. He was thirteen after all!
Allison's thoughts cleared as she caught interest to hearing Ben snicker and laugh at something Henry told him. She turned her head around and grinned to see the kid with the brightest smile she's ever seen from him. This boy's fascination for Henry was amusing, yet precious.
"So you're saying that you killed the Ink Demon with a film reel?! Haha, it was that easy?" Ben laughed.
"Well, it was the only thing I had that seemed to stop him." Henry replied with a smirk.
"Heh...so much for immortality." Ben huffed in amusement.
This comment was pretty funny to Allison, and to that she let out a soft chuckle. Ben noticed her reaction and immediately beamed with joy up at the angel.
"There are things about the ink that most of us aren't aware of," Henry explained, garnering both Allison and Ben's attention, "After I learned that my victory was nothing more than a cycle, I always remembered to write on the walls to keep myself together."
"What do you mean?" Ben asked. "What cycle?"
"Anyone that dies here can't move on." Allison jumped in. "They can't go home."
"But I thought this was your home?"
"No." Allison replied with a slight shake of her head. "And it never will be."
Ben paused for a brief moment, seeming to not understand the idea behind there being so much hate from living in this world. He knew that a majority of the Lost Ones that lived here were once humans, but never did he imagine there being so much hate. Sure, the studio wasn't a very 'safe' place, but it was the only home Ben knew. He was born here, and it was the only place he could call home. So for Allison and Henry to speak such vile things about this place, it just didn't seem to sit in Ben's head the way they saw it should.
In fact, you could say he was grateful.
"It's been forty years of an eternal prison that I just can't seem to escape from," Allison sighed. "It isn't easy living in this world with an Ink Demon that could be right outside your door. Everyday is always about wondering whether if I'm going to live or die. I shouldn't have to fear both."
"One thing you should always remember, Ben, is to always overcome the darkness that craves you. The ink knows what to do to corrupt your mind, and it won't let you go once you let it take you. Don't ever let that happen." Henry warned.
Ben had been frowning upon these statements being expressed to him. He was slightly confused, but didn't wish to ponder further about the ink. His mind still couldn't grasp on whether who was truly his father, and the fact that every time Allison talked, all he saw was a beautiful woman that he imagined would make a really great mother. But how could a nobody like him ask such a angel to take on the role of someone so special?
Perhaps a song? No, he knew he didn't have much talent with singing. Maybe a performance? Ben knew he was very flexible and has maneuvered much skill to do many flips. Nah, she might think it's boring.
Well, what else could he do to ask Allison to be his mom?
"We're here."
Ben's thought bubbles popped when Allison addressed to the group that they had arrived to the dock. Great! Ben was tired of riding in this boat, and felt like he could really change out of these clothes when he reunited with Tom. The wolf would throw a fit if he saw all the gunk of ink stained on the boy, and would force him to clean up until not one spot of it remained. Tom was very neat like that, and messes were not tolerated in their household at all!
When they reached the dock, the trio departed and stepped through the door down a long hallway full of doors and offices that would prove a shortcut to Bendyland and return Ben back home.
"Lead the way Ben." Allison smiled warmly before stroking the boy's back forward. Ben returned a smile up to her and took no hesitation to take charge.
They walked...and walked...and walked...and walked! Gosh, this place could be so huge sometimes! Ben loved to explore the world he lived in, but this hallway was starting to irritate him. It just seemed to never end, and the longer they ventured, the more Ben just wanted to plop face-down on his bed and never leave again.
Henry and Allison must've felt the same too since they were wary of their surroundings. However, the more they walked, the darker it started to become. And with no source of light handy, the two adults were beginning to grow worried.
"Uh oh, looks like it's getting dark up ahead. You sure this is the way?" Allison asked.
"It's the only way. We can't turn back now." Ben replied.
"Don't worry Alice, the way to go is to keep going forward. It's probably just as dark from the way we came. If Ben knows this is the way, then we need to trust his instincts." Henry smiled confidently. "I think a little devil like himself should know just as much of the studio as Tom."
"Well, he's not wrong." Ben grinned before winking up at Allison.
Allison folded her arms and couldn't help but express a smirk. "Little devil huh? Hmm, I think I could see that."
Ben gave her another wink before turning his attention back to the dark hall up ahead. With a confident frown, Ben knew that he was going to have to rely on his special instincts to get them through. If he was truly part of the ink that came from Bendy, then part of his supernatural abilities should be able to get them past the darkness that invaded this hallway.
One thing about being part demon, if Bendy was truly his father, was that the dark never bothered him anyway.
"Take my hand." Ben turned back to Alice with a smirk. "And Henry take Alice's."
Henry and Allison didn't hesitate and listened to Ben's instructions before they began to venture down the hallway with the pitch-black atmosphere. Slightly on edge, the two adults feared that if Bendy was nearby, they wouldn't be able to witness his streaks of ink lingering near them. It seemed for these two, the only instinct they could rely on was sound. Ben on the other hand, was capable of seeing and hearing through this mass just fine. Henry found it puzzling, but didn't think too much of it since he was too busy worrying about any ink monsters that could harm them.
"Stop." Ben whispered as soon as he stopped in his tracks. Allison and Henry's hearts began to race anxiously as this meant that Ben was able to see something they didn't.
"What's wrong? What is it?" Allison murmured.
Ben said nothing for a brief second as his pupils glanced around the darkness, as if he was following the movement of something. When he didn't reply right away, Allison and Henry began to grow afraid that they were indeed not alone here.
Ben bit his lip and continued to lock his eyes on what he was witnessing pacing back and forth ahead of them. He maintained his glare at the cause ahead, and that was enough to make a smile cross his lips when it passed. "Okay, let's go."
"W-Wait, what did you see?" Allison inquired.
"Oh, just a horrifying experiment of lost souls fused into one. Their heads stick out all over the body right, and they always look so sad. But when they see people like us, they get angry and bounce all over the walls. When they see me though, they look me in the eyes and always run away."
Fear was enough to leave Allison and Henry absolutely speechless.
Ben shrugged with a grin, "It happens all the time. I've dealt with them before. It's a good thing you can't see them though because I don't think you'd want to leave your room if you did."
Still silence.
"Okay, let's go!" Ben beamed before they were back on their way.
Sammy awoke from bed in anger upon the cries of a Lost One not silencing outside his den. This was the thirty-fourth time that another worthless soul wasted their time crying over that sickening child today! It hasn't even been no more than two hours since Ben had fled the village, and yet some of the souls here have been absolutely over-dramatic since he left.
And at this point, Sammy has had it!
Angrily stomping out, Sammy emerged from the shadows and turned to the Lost One sniffling near the entryway. He hadn't noticed the music director step out and continued to release tears for Ben. A Searcher and another Lost member were standing alongside their companion while Sammy continued to maintain an angry scowl.
"Why did he have to betray us like that?" the crying Lost One sniffed into his knees, trembling with emotion. "Why? Why?!"
Sammy rolled his eyes and couldn't believe that these idiots thought that a child was their ticket to freedom. Has the ink really stripped away the knowledge of these fools and bestowed upon them the 'Lack of common sense'? Apparently so!
"Have you lost your senses!" Sammy complained, garnering the attention of the three souls, "You are sitting and rotting away, moping over a dimwitted child, that always comes and flees from here almost everyday! Clearly, you have! And I will not stand anymore acts of despair over such a ignorant boy!"
The Lost One paused as he kept his eyes locked on Sammy, but only grew more emotional upon the harsh words he roared at him. Burying his head back to his knees, he wailed even harder and this only made Sammy more irritated. Taking a deep breath and holding the bridge of his nose to maintain his composure, Sammy didn't know what he could do to shut this man up. He didn't have his weapon handy on him, but even killing him over Ben was something that would be unnecessary right now.
"What is so important about that boy that is enough to make you sit here and cry over?" Sammy sighed as he frowned at the sobbing man.
"You don't know?" the female Lost One queried while the man continued to cry.
"Know what exactly?" Sammy challenged, placing his hands to his waist.
"Our lord has blessed us with the gift of life by giving us a child that will set us free!" she stated joyously. However, her expression immediately changed into a look of disapproval when she received a snicker from Sammy instead. "What's so funny? It's the truth."
"I just simply find it amusing that you believe our lord created this child as if he wanted to." Sammy cracked a smile while receiving silent glares from the female member and the Searcher alongside her. The man even had stopped crying and immediately snapped his head up at Sammy, sending him a frown as his eyes glowed a bit darker due to annoyance. Sammy continued to laugh aloud to himself, but when he noticed that the trio wasn't changing their expressions, he figured they were being serious about the topic.
"Ben is the offspring of our lord and the angel. We had been sulking in the archives...and then...we heard screams. It was the angel! Something horrible was happening to her, and we wanted to witness her pain. But when we were halfway...she stopped. And that's when we heard...a baby."
"And what does that prove that he's the son of Bendy?" Sammy questioned, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Because he's perfect! He has everything any of us could ever want and need! And what kind of life from ink can be outside the machine, but not suffer the same way we do?" she finished.
This information was enough to acquire Sammy's attention. He never thought about Ben's existence till now, and with this news, it seemed to make sense. Ben was created from the ink that invaded their bodies and minds - pure darkness from the mechanics of the ink machine - and yet, he wasn't deformed or corrupted in the slightest. Why could that be? Was it because he wasn't brought to life from the machine and instead from the womb of an angel? If Ben was born the way humans brought life into the world, then that meant Bendy and Alice must've...
No, he didn't want to imagine that!
Sammy shivered at the thought of Bendy mating with one of the angels like a dominant male needing to express his animalistic traits. He was a beast within that cartoon form after all. He couldn't imagine Bendy displaying such behavior, but if Alice indeed carried a offspring as a result of their ink combining, then he didn't see how it was impossible. Bendy's ink was by far the most supernatural and powerful substance in the studio, capable of conceiving a child too it seems.
"Hmmm...how very interesting." Sammy smirked as he held his chin in deep thought. "I am quite curious to see if this theory of yours is indeed true."
"Y-You are?" the two members asked. The Searcher, of course, lacked language but did groan out the same response.
"Why yes. I never imagined that this boy could be the result of a more complicated birth rather than the machine that we're from. If he truly belongs to Bendy, then that implies that he must mean everything to him as well."
"What are you saying?" the woman hissed, suspicious of where Sammy seemed to be going with this.
"Simply that if we find the boy, capture and bring him here, the Ink Demon will be vulnerable and have no choice but to set us free."
"So you want to use Ben as bait?" the man asked.
"Precisely."
The trio exchanged worried glances between each other, unsure about this plan. Sammy may be their leader, but he wasn't the brightest with ideas sometimes. I mean, look what happened with the sacrifices of Henry. Those failed, and Bendy slaughtered him each time. But if Ben meant everything to their lord, then that meant they could initiate their own sacrifice to Bendy by taking his son's life away so they could be spared instead.
Despite not even understanding Sammy's true intentions, they agreed nonetheless. Sammy was satisfied in seeing how quickly they agreed with him and grinned confidently.
"Now, go find that boy and bring him to me. And have the swollen ones bring the cage. We want to make sure our guest feels right at home when he returns, don't we?"
"Dad! I'm ho-"
Ben gasped in alarm when he saw what had become of his home. It was absolutely destroyed! The door to both his and Tom's rooms were nearly clawed off their hinges, the table was nothing but pieces, and the stove had been ripped from its common setting, stripped from its wiring and thrown across the room. Staring at the wires from the wall, Ben could see that they were still sparking, which meant that this must've happened recently before they arrived. Ben also noticed the giant claw marks and dents of sharp teeth punctured into the metal of the stove. This signaled that Bendy was here and must've thrown an immense temper-tantrum for failing to collect Ben.
Allison and Henry then entered the room and were just as speechless as the boy was. The place was absolutely destroyed!
"Oh my goodness! What happened here?" Allison inquired.
"I-I don't know!" Ben panted anxiously when he saw no signs of Tom anywhere. "Dad! Dad, are you here?!"
Ben took off straight to Tom's room and ran inside. When he didn't see his father sitting at the foot of his bed, and his toolbox still sitting in the corner of the room, that's when the boy believed that his father had been taken by the Ink Demon. The images of Bendy snatching up Tom and opening his massive jaws to plop the wolf into his mouth and devour him traumatized Ben. If Tom died, then that meant he would have no family! Nobody but Bendy would be all the family he had left! Not unless he asked Allison to be his caretaker, but if she said no, what more would he have?
Henry and Allison followed Ben into Tom's room and were filled with such sorrow when the boy fell to his knees and cried into his hands. Henry and Allison slowly walked and leaned themselves down alongside the boy as he continued to sniffle and whimper about Tom's disappearance. At this point, he needed all the love he could get.
"Hey buddy," Henry spoke softly as he stoked Ben's back, "Don't lose faith. I know Tom. He wouldn't let the Ink Demon get him that easily, right?"
Ben lifted his head from his hands and wiped his tears with his sleeve, "Y-Yeah?"
"And if I know Tom, he loves his son more than anything in the world and would go out and find him if he ever left home, right?"
"Y-Yes sir."
"Well, guess that means Tom is probably still out there somewhere. Best we leave and find him. We need to get you back to your father."
That seemed to cheer Ben up a little, but he felt even better when Allison decided to give him a soft peck on the head. Ben's eyes widened but his cheeks flushed almost immediately when he realized that Allison had just kissed him. Almost like a mother would when she saw her child in despair. He smiled up sweetly at the angel, to which she gave him a wink in response, before offering her hand to the boy to leave with her.
Ben took no hesitation and took Allison's hand before they exited the room and followed Henry out from the safehouse.
And not once did Ben ever feel the need to look back.
It was time to move forward.
"So, where should we go now?" asked Allison.
Ben pondered for a brief moment, but lit up when he knew the perfect spot for the trio to stay overnight. "Oh, we can go to my place!"
Henry chuckled as he turned back to Ben. "Your place?"
"Yeah, I have a personal sanctuary I built myself. Nobody knows about it, not even my dad, so I don't mind sharing it with you guys! You'll be my first guests!"
"Ah, your own hideout." Allison giggled. "That sounds wonderful, Ben."
"Lead the way." Henry replied with a smile. As soon as he said the magic words, Ben gleamed with that joyous smile once again and released Allison's hand to scurry his way up before them.
"Alright, follow me! Oh man, I so can't wait to show you! Just don't tell my dad okay? This'll be our little secret."
"And your secret is safe with us little devil." Allison chirped.
And with that being said, Ben, Henry, and Allison took off down the hall to the secret sanctuary. As they ventured off further and further with Ben's blabbering of excitement going on and on, one of the doors in the hall slightly cracked open. Along with another...and another...and another.
Cardboard heads peered out as they watched the three figures depart down the hallway until they turned a corner. They recognized that voice. They recognized it from anywhere!
They found him.
Now, it was finally time to seek revenge on the boy that did them wrong.
Twisted Alice hissed in agony as she threw the syringe full of ink she was collecting from Tom into her lower torso. Taking a deep breath, she pushed down the lever and forced the ink into her system. She sighed with relief when she felt much more energized than she had before, but this wasn't the ink she wanted. Of all the life forms in this studio, there was only one being that had everything she could ever desire.
Ben.
That 'perfect' Alice had taken what was rightfully her's, and as a result, Bendy had figured out their plan and took Allison to prevent Alice from succeeding. If she had known forty years ago that Allison would fall pregnant because of this plan, a plan they both had stolen from Bendy to begin with, then she would've killed her and took the child to use as her gateway to freedom. Everyone else here deserved to rot!
She remembered those events like it was yesterday. Allison drank the concoction they've been working on, Alice was screaming and tried to kill her with her bare hands, Allison escaped and Alice chased after her. Lots of other events transpired after that too, but what infuriated Alice most was that Bendy had heard all the commotion and found the angels. Hopeful that the beast would harm and deform Allison somehow, Alice fled and left her for dead.
But it seems that monster felt the need to spare her for some reason. Why? She didn't know. But that meant Bendy had also gotten what he deserved because he found himself entangled in their little scheme without realizing it.
And as a result, Ben was born into the world of Joey Drew Studios.
But that was the only close chance Alice had to her freedom, and both Allison and Bendy had ruined it.
But there was one thing her mother always used to say when she had been much younger...
All good things always come to those who wait.
And soon...Bendy would not be able to stand a chance when the new Ink Demon finally comes to town.
To be continued in Chapter 12...