Disclaimer: I might've gone a bit overboard with this chapter. I could've broken it up, but there was so much I wanted to have here that I refused to separate it. I've looked forward to this for months, and it should make up for the shorter chapters.
iHateFridays: Yeah. Like I said, I probably could've built up to that a bit better, but the weird time differences had to be taken into account. Whether we saw Kate or Inky is hard to really say. It's all speculation, really, and it sort of gets answered in this chapter.
GoldGuardian2418: It's very twisty.
I don't own Bendy or Cuphead.
"Speaking"
Thinking
"Reading and demon's speech"
The Isles were quiet when I returned, early afternoon I assumed after a quick glance outside. That was the first red flag.
Returning to the cottage of Elder Kettle and the brothers, I scrambled to throw on my toon boots and burgundy dress. Odd, yes, but the clothing was far more durable than what I was wearing prior. With the man's cryptic alert, I was preparing for anything. Naturally, that meant Jack was tucked inside one pocket, and the smoke grenade in the other. My bag was left in the guest room, freshly made and having no sign of any currently staying in there.
How much have I missed since leaving? I raced through the second island's near-silent rides and games, the Die House dead in my sights. How many weeks has it been? What happened to Cuphead and Mugman? Did the Devil and them get into a fight? Were souls being collected again? Katie. It's her, I know it. My legs hurt, pushing myself across the smooth tiled floor and out into the city. It was louder than the previous two islands, but not by much. Rushing through the main and side streets, I hurried towards the railroad tracks and the entrance to Inkwell Hell. That was when I saw it. Or rather, I saw them. The second red flag.
Toons. Many of them, were gathered along the other side of the tracks. Not the side that brought them closer to the cave, but the side closest to me. The bosses. Hilda, Sally-even a shrunken Cala Maria was there, sitting on a nearby rock next to the queen bee herself. The mermaid wrought her hands together, and I forced myself to reach the crowd when her bright eyes flickered towards my direction. "She's here!" Countless heads turned my way, and the mass parted as I got close enough. There they were, at the very front. Cuphead and Mugman and-Bendy!?
"Thank goodness. I had thought you never would have gotten my message." Elder Kettle cradled the small demon's head, the black and white toon laying unconscious on the ground. His already light grey face was disturbingly pale, and his chest was barely moving with each tiny breath. I dropped hard, scraping my knees on the ground as I placed myself next to him and the brothers.
"Elder Kettle, is he-?" He cut me off, thankfully. I was still struggling for air after my sprint from the first island to the third. Each section was big, yes, but following the main path made for easy travel.
"I don't know. Captain Brineybeard saw him walking along the beach when he dropped. He won't wake up." Brineybeard shuffled at the mention of his name, and I looked up at the pirate. He was standing alongside Djimmi both in the shadow of Cagney. Djimmi. Th-this was what he saw, that day. He knew something was up. He knew Katie was in trouble. And he didn't think it was worth saying something earlier? Seriously!? He has his reason, I argued back to myself. Could've messed up a lot of stuff if I knew right then and there.
"Aye. Lad was stumbling 'bout before collapsing. Somethin' was harmin' him, somethin' awful." He stroked his beard, brows scrunched up. "Whatever it be, I couldn't see it." I nodded, paying some attention to his words, with the rest on the demon next to me. Demon. Devil. Where's Dice and him? I looked up, head turning around frantically in search of the monstrous toon and his right-hand man. ... there. Surrounded by about a dozen imps and the casino's staff-Dice's court, and other workers, were the two men. Dice's jacket was gone, abandoned on the ground, and a ripped purple sleeve was being wrapped around Devil's arm like a bandage. A dark stain was visible on the fabric. Black in hue... ink. He's bleeding.
"You had no idea what your cousin was capable of." The grumbled statement managed to reach my ears, despite the distance between us. "She never breathed a word to you."
"No. But of course she'd tell you. After all, beings of cursed nature tend to flock together." Because of course she'd tell something this big to the Devil, of all people. Of course! Kate, she... whatever happened to her, she was anything but normal. Natural, even by regular toon standards. Nails dug into my legs, and I threw my head around to the two people I knew knew what had happened. Without a doubt. "So, what? Did you four believe that I would just remain in the dark about all of this? That Kate went to a studio built on human sacrifices and unstable greed and was turned into one of them? Some-some cursed human-toon amalgamation?"
If the crowd wasn't quiet then, I certainly accomplished that now. Their mumbles faded at my pitching voice and unstable questions. Did I care that others were listen-no. Hell no. People got hurt, people had died, and I had no idea what happened to Kate. All because no one would say anything to me. Allison and Tom exchanged a look, standing the closest to crossing the tracks out of anyone, and the angel-demon hybrid sighed. A musical-like sound filled with regret. "... she planned to," she said at last. "She really wanted to. But Kate didn't know how to break it to you without upsetting you."
Too late for that. "Where is she... and what happened that has everyone gathered anyway?" Besides Bendy being knocked out? Allison opened her mouth to respond, when... when I heard it. An echoing roar, a deep sound that rattled my nerves and head, ripped through the air. The casino. It originated from Inkwell Hell. No wonder everyone went out into the light. "... Kate."
"What the boss and I saw down there..." I didn't turn to face Dice, only watching the cave's entrance intently. Expecting the braided woman to walk out any second. Smiling, like everything was all right. "... that wasn't your cousin, darlin'."
Ink warps the mind. Changes how you think. That was also why she never said a thing. She kept her decline hidden from everyone. "Is she still in the building?"
"She escaped the room she was hiding in," Devil hissed, throwing a glare at Dice as he finished the knot. "I wouldn't put it past her if she escaped to Hell's depths." She hid herself. Brown eyes flickered from them to the cavern again, a warm breeze was felt on my skin. Even being this far and out in the open, the lava and fires' temperature still reached me. She doesn't want herself near us.
My hands relaxed, and by impulse, I brushed a strand of hair that wasn't held back by the headband behind my ear. Katie... it had been years, and even with how things were now, a part of me always wanted to keep her safe. Maybe it was because I was the older one. The more serious, more mature of our little duo. Cuphead messed up, and yet Mugman never blamed him. He blamed himself... can relate to that. "Hey, Cups? Mugs?"
"Yeah, Nicky?" They're all going to hate me for doing this... oh well.
I shot the brothers a quick look, and offered a tiny smile. "K... keep Bendy and the rest of the islanders safe, won't you?"
"Wh-hey!" My legs worked their way back underneath me, and I sprinted away from the figure headed family. "Nicky!" There were shouts, lots of them, flying at my back. But I didn't immediately hear any feet following. I had stunned them with my actions, and I took advantage of that moment of pause. Inkwell Hell's heat met me head-on, and I rushed towards the boss' side of the massive structure.
The casino had never been that quiet before. The skeletal and demonic patrons were all missing, as was the staff. No one sat at the tables or behind the bars. It was an eerie sight, but one that possibly existed before. After the siblings took down the Devil, it must have taken a while to get even the most dedicated people to show their faces again. "... hm?" It took only two turns in the maze of hallways before I found the splatters on the floor. Coating the ground, and splattering the walls. Avoiding the mess the best I could, I followed the mess. At corners, the mess would increase. As though she had raced through the area and slid into the once-tidy walls with no friction.
"Kate!" I yelled as I ran-slid through the casino. "Kate, where are-whoa!" I skid to a halt in front of the Devil's office. Or... what remained of it. Holy...
Money was strewn about, torn bills everywhere, and the door itself was gone. A glance to the side showed it shattered in splinters on the floor to my right, hinges bent from the vicious action. The room still held a brightness, but the ink did a pretty good job sucking it up. Then there was the hole behind his desk. A secret entrance. "I told you, dame." I turned around, and the yellow eyes of the room's owner narrowed. "She went where she wouldn't bother no one."
"The depths of Inkwell Hell... you showed her this entrance." He didn't nod or make any noise of acknowledgement, but I knew I was right. Devil progressed further into the room, and a few steps behind him came the others. Dice with the two boys at his sides, and Allison and Tom right behind them. "Don't bother trying to persuade me. Nothing any of you say is going to change my mind."
"Your actions earlier proved that." She moved past the demon, and tilted her head. "You really care about her, don't you?" I never stopped. Whatever Allison was searching for in my face, she must have found it. Giving a small nod, her expression hardened. "Then let's get her back. Tom?" The wolf nodded, and from out of nowhere, he pulled out a pipe. It's toon logic again. He tossed the tool towards her, and in turn, she turned held it out to me. "Kate used this to defeat the Ink Demon. Take it."
I held my hand out, and wrapped my fingers around the makeshift weapon. Dried ink stained the metal, and I ran a thumb along the Gent name. It certainly had a heft to it, and I rolled it over and let it thump against an open palm. "Not really one for physical violence." I try to avoid it when I can.
"Better safe than sorry." I nodded at her words, and without saying anything further, I turned around and moved to the hidden pathway. I could hear the others behind me, either at my heels or going the other direction in circling the desk. Whatever direction, we all met as one in staring down the tunnel.
The stairwell was dark, pitch black, and Cuphead made a small noise of disgust. "It's everywhere." The ink, he meant. It was sticky, clinging to our shoes and in Devil's case, bare feet. The torches along the path managed to remain lit, not having been touched by the liquid that dripped steadily down the steps. "... Nicky?" Yet besides the ink, it was impossible to hide that feeling-that same horrible sensation I felt when I went to the studio. Of death. Of pain, and suffering, floating up to meet me.
And how unusual, this scenario. Two black and white toons, four of color, and me. The realistic human in this technicolor land. The human who could somehow use magic-sense it, and feel the change in the air around me. But why...? Why am I like this? All six pairs of eyes were on me, waiting for me to give the word. Right. "Let's do this."
With a twirl of the pipe, I planted a foot on the first step, and began the descent.
Everyone's movements were slow. With how slippery the stairs were, no one wanted to risk falling and tumbling head over heels the rest of the way. Toons are durable, but even they don't want to risk that sort of damage. The layout of our group had shifted, when Allison took note of my more careful movements. True, my heeled boots weren't awful, but they didn't have much traction on this sort of surface. So her and Tom took the lead, with Devil at their backs. Cuphead and Mugman were behind him, and then Dice and I brought up the rear.
"Careful now." Another small slide, and the manager was quick to grab my arm before I fell forward atop Mugs.
"S-sorry." I'm distracted. Focus on getting there, Nick. I didn't need to hurt myself, not right now. "Just trying to-to get my mind off of this."
"Need something else to think about?" I nodded, feeling his hand fall away once he was certain I wasn't going down. "Well, you could think about work. Other people around the Isles, maybe your parents... doll?"
Parents...? "... I-I... you know we were close, Kate and I." They stopped, all six of them. Dice was just two steps down from me, and all of their eyes turned back to us. My own face was staring down at the floor, watching the ink drip slowly past my feet. "We actually grew up in the same neighborhood. Sisters, honestly, with how tight-knit we were. Heh... a lot like you boys, you know?"
Cuphead and Mugman exchanged a look, not entirely expecting my response... neither was I, to be honest. But I was tired. I was so... so tired, and scared. Our past, and both of our experiences before leading up changed us. Not all for the better. It was about time everything would spill out. Just wish it was better than this. When our lives weren't in danger. "Kate... she was such an oddball, even back then. Loved cartoons and animation. She adored Uncle Henry's work, to the point of near obsession for a while. She... people picked on her. Teased her for what she liked, what made her happy. A-and me, being me, I stood up for her."
"You were her protector." I nodded at Cuphead's choice of words. He really was exactly like me. Always looking out for our family. That wasn't to say Mugman and Kate were weak. Those two were strong. Stronger than... we gave them credit for. But we, the elders, wanted to keep them safe, no matter what. And when we couldn't...
"I took a lot for her. But then we... then we hit middle school." Fingers curled around the pipe, letting the grooves make imprints on my skin. "We were around your age, and I don't really know what happened. M-maybe they thought they were being funny, but those few boys who always picked on Kate realized that nothing would ever get through to her. Even when I wasn't around, Kate just let stuff slide off her. I think it was because at that point, stuff between her and Aunt Linda started to intensify."
"She wasn't happy with her career ideas, was she?" I shook my head at Allison's soft question.
"She really wasn't, which is odd given the fact she was still so young, but Kate was dead-set on that idea and showed no sign of changing it. It is... nice to hear they're on far better terms now. But back to the-it's..." it was hard, finding the right words. "... they realized that my last name was the same as someone who was greatly involved with animation. A pioneer, really. At that point, Linda wasn't the only one who started to get annoyed with Kate's interests. I was getting... tired, of the drawings. Of watching the cartoons over, and over again. Of... of being the wall between the bullies and her. Th-they started on me. Words, teasing stuff, like what happened to her."
It explained a lot, if the four Inkwell toons gave it thought. My behavior now was far different than how I acted when I first arrived. I was scared, and gave a cold shoulder. I found everything weird, and dangerous... more weird and dangerous than how I felt now. "And when I never gave them the reaction they wanted, when I was leaving to go meet up with Kate... being pushed to the ground isn't fun." My eyes hardened, and the threat of unexposed tears stung my eyes. "B-being insulted, and mocked for your name and for what your cousin and uncle do isn't nice. It isn't nice at all."
"Nicky..." it hurt, hearing Mugman's heartbroken voice. But I wasn't done. This story was not over.
"... we fought, the moment I got to her house." Shouting, tears. From both of us. "I-I blamed her, for what happened to me, for what was said about her dad. If she was ju-just normal, nothing would've happened, to either of us. If she wasn't so taken by Henry's work, everything would've been fine." I sighed, head hung low and sending my headband sliding a little. "So... I moved. Dad had retired from the Navy by then, and had decided not long after that to move for work. I always thought it was because of us. Both of our parents knew we wouldn't be able to move past what happened, not for a while. Despite the distance, it still happened; the bullying. Not as severely, but there were those who poked fun about my name and my very loud hatred of toons, even if they never knew what caused it." I can... only assume they kept Kate informed about how it was like for me. She knew I was still bullied when she came to get the brothers.
It was silent, once my word vomit ended. The only sound that was heard was a faint whistling of air, that drifted up from Inkwell Hell. "... we're not... we never hated each other," I mumbled, arms wrapping around myself and cradling the pipe to my chest. "Don't think I ever did, deep down."
"You shouldn't have been picked on." My head lifted up, hearing Cuphead's bitter tone. "You didn't deserve that."
"You'd have liked to have taught those kids a lesson, huh?" He didn't answer, but I saw the faint trail of steam rising from his head, even with the lack of strong lighting. "... Djimmi knew something was wrong. He gave me a warning, to keep an eye on her. I even tried calling the house, each time I returned to my world to keep up that illusion I was still there and not missing. But to learn about this-how my uncle's boss went on this dark path and murdered so many people..."
A hand rested on my shoulder, and I finally let myself look at the group. Specifically, the lavender arm acting as support. "Life ain't so straightforward, darlin'." Oh, how I wanted to smack him for saying that. Absolute understatement of the century. "Just takes some time to figure out that direction you're headin'."
"... really, really want to take your head and hurl it down the steps for trying and actually making sense right now." A noise like a muffled chuckle-maybe a snort-left him, and his hand retracted. "Th.. thanks for trying though... let's hurry. We're wasting time, and who knows what we're gonna find once we reach the bottom."
Picking up the pace, with a few slips here and there, it was a relief to finally hit flat earth. Earth, and ink. A decent puddle awaited us at the bottom. The heat was there, but like a lot of the light, it was swallowed up by the liquid around us. It left a chill in the air, and whether we meant to or not, the seven of us stuck close together. A flash of light, and Devil held his trident at the ready, doing a search of the cavern as we walked along. "There should be more imps down here."
"Do you think they're hiding?" The demon shook his head at Mugman's question. If he was on edge, on alert, it wasn't good. What did they see in the casino before escaping? What happened?
"Of course not," he replied. "The dame's corrupted, but what danger could she do to a small army of them?"
"Tell that to the other angels." Yellow eyes glanced her way, hearing Allison's words, and I forced my mind to avoid going back to the throne room. I didn't need to go back there, not right now. "... stop." We did, her arm outstretched to prevent some of us from moving. "... do you hear that?"
Hear... up. Slowly, my eyes moved upwards, and the rest of their heads followed suit. In the darkness, we could see the faint glowing eyes of imps. Dozens of them, sealed to the ceiling in a thick blanket of black. Muffled shouts came from behind their ensnarement, begging for help. "... they're warning us." The fear in the hybrid's voice was undeniable, and she looked back at us. "Move!"
I felt eyes staring at me. Within seconds, I grabbed the brothers' hands and wretched them back towards the wall behind us. The others hurried as well, and a massive bang shook the ground, nearly sending me to the earth. The moment I was certain there was enough distance, I released them and spun around to face what had become of my cousin. "Ka-AAH!"
Hunched over on all fours was the young woman, coated in ink. N-no. She wasn't coated. She was buried. Thick layers of it, making her much larger than her normal size. Her size... maybe ten feet tall? Or even twelve, towering over the already tall Devil. A massive clawed hand dug at the rock, leaving deep trenches in the dirt.
Bright orange eyes tried to stare through the thin veil of ink that poured over them, sunken into her skull. Skull-her head. It was a distorted shape, a giant melded creation of her own face and Bendy's. Large horns jutted up and curled inward, and her mouth was wide. Fanged, and set in a giant grin. Joey... he did this. He did this to her. "K-Kate?" I inched forward, trying to avoid looking at her maw. Ink dripped between those teeth, splattering on the ground, as her body quivered with each trembling breath. "I-it's going to... to be alright. You're safe. No one here's going to hurt you." She's not going to hurt me. She didn't mean to hurt the Devil.
"Nicky...?" I dismissed Cuphead's worry, shuffling along the ground, keeping myself low. Don't startle her. She's just scared. The glowing orbs watched me, mouth still set in that disturbed smile. Disturbed. Definitely an accurate way to describe-"MOVE!"
A hand grabbed the back of my dress. A quick yank, and I was sent backwards, falling against Dice's chest with arms wrapped securely around me. There, right where I had stood, was a massive hole. Rocks sprayed the area where a tail had struck the earth; a tail, shaped just like a scorpion's and just as deadly. She almost... speared me. K-Kate almost killed me. "Run!" His hand moved to mine, and our oddball group took off. Flashes of light lit up the cavern behind us, and I had to assume it was Devil and the brothers trying to deflect her attempts at chasing us. Firing golden and blue blasts of magic to keep her back.
Attacking. She's attack-where is her mind? She's scared. Can't she think straight? I couldn't. My mind was going all over the place, in all different directions. Allison and Tom lead the way, the angel-demon toon searching for a hiding place. A safe area to regroup after discovering what we had found. "... here!" She dashed towards a small hole in the wall, and the footsteps behind us became much closer. Hurry! Reaching the spot, I wretched my arm free and stood beside Allison to see what we found. A small cavern it was, but looking skyward, we saw a ledge far overhead. "I don't have anything to get us up there."
"Sh-she's coming up fast," Mugman panted, squeezing into the small space. Moving around, I made enough space for the elder sibling to get in. "Th-the Devil is t-trying to keep her at bay."
"She won't be able to reach us if we get ourselves up there. Any signs of easy climbin'?" It was certainly strange, hearing that from the manager. A twinge of fear, of worry in his words, despite his efforts to keep a cool composure. Did he sound like this before? When the Devil was attacking me?
"None... we're trapped." Trapped. That word sent a shiver up my spine, and Cuphead gripped my hand at seeing it. "I... I can't-"
"Oh, for the love of-! Move!" Allison was roughly shoved to the side, and a slithery sound-a snake?-moved past us. The Devil, long and serpent-like moved past our feet and up the wall in front of us. Not climbing, but through stretching himself. He changed his shape. How could I have forgotten that trick?
A roar ripped through the air, and no one wasted any time grabbing hold of the coarse black fur and scaling the ruler of Inkwell Hell, myself having tucked the pipe under my arm before ascending. I tried to ignore exactly how that worked. With muscles and bones constantly changing shape. You don't have time for thinking about this! Climb! Through the toon's mass, I felt the surroundings shake, and hurried to fling myself over the edge and snatch Mugman up once he was close enough. Tom grabbed Cuphead, and just as the red themed boy got over, a hand shot through the hole. Twisting his body around, Devil retracted himself and reformed into his normal self, narrowly missing the jagged claws scraping along the floor.
The seven of us panted, gasping for air, and Mugman yelped as the walls around us trembled. Bits and pieces of rock fell from above our heads, and I pulled the boys to me as the ceiling bounced off our heads. A frustrated roar, and the hand slid away from the cavern's hole. "... she's gone." We sighed, and I slowly eased up on my hold, letting Cuphead and Mugman readjust themselves on the small platform. "... A-Allison, what was...?"
She glanced over at me, holding her machete close. "Kate described what the Ink Demon looked like before she killed him. It's not that far from what she looks like now." She fought something like that!? B-breathe. I needed to breathe. Calm down and think what the hell I was doing next. "Still..." she threw a look back over the edge. We could hear movement outside, and it clear to all of us she was waiting. "... even after being put into the machine, she shouldn't be able to look like that."
"Doll's been drippin' ink ever since you left." I adjusted my position again, looking to Dice. "Guessin' her body's able to create it."
"That would make sense," Allison muttered. "If Bendy can change his form, why not her?"
"She's still human enough that her body shouldn't change like that... it's the ink." Evil, dark magic. "Whatever sort of weird powers are in it, it's messing up her mind." This was just fueling the fire. "... we need to pull her out."
"So, what, it's like a shell?" I nodded at Cuphead's question, letting my arms fall from around them and began shuffling through my pockets. Pipe definitely won't be helping me now, I thought as it fell beside me in a small clang.
"A very inky barrier. All that ink she's been shedding is probably trapping her inside." Smoke bomb in one hand, and a confused but eager Jack in the other, I surveyed the group. Taking in their confused and worried expressions. "... none of you can get close. I know that the ink would just hurt Allison and Tom, and I'm guessing that's what did that damage." I nodded towards the demon's bandaged arm.
"Stung like hell after getting scratched," he grumbled, before sensing my intention. "... you're not planning to do this by yourself."
"Nicky, that's insane." Gee, Cuphead, you're saying that like I didn't already realize it.
"Yes, well... I'm the only one who can get close enough without immediate pain and suffering." I sat the grenade down at my feet. "Allison, anything in your... weird toon-pocket dimension that can give me a hand?" She frowned at my wording, but out of nowhere-or maybe she already had it out and in the current lighting, I couldn't see-she passed over a rope. Sturdy, not frayed, and thankfully not toon in nature. Unravelling it, I looped the rope around my waist and began tying it off. "I'm going to get her out, and while she's distracted, you're going to pull."
"N-no. Nicky, no," Cuphead argued, eyes wide. "You're not going to-"
"-to do what, kid? Leave her like this?" Patience was not something I exactly had at the moment. It was hard to avoid the snappish tone. "Maybe our argument didn't result in this, but my family is suffering. My cousin died, and she is out there, right now, terrified of what happened to her and what she could do to people. All because some old jerk-wad decided to dabble in human sacrifices and was willing to send my uncle off to his grave." Brown eyes hardened, and I leaned in close to the cup-headed boy. "If this was you, and Kate was Mugman, you'd do the same, wouldn't you?"
His head leaned back, my question like iced water. "I... I hate it when you make sense." Nodding at the win, I moved back and brought the living card up to my face. Jack chirped, awaiting my next command.
"You're going to stay with Dice, okay? He'll keep you safe until I get this done." For something without a mouth, the playing card did a great job expressing nervousness with its eyes. "I know, but I'd rather not risk you getting hurt." If the ink managed to hurt even the Devil, it'd melt the poor toon. Passing Jack over, I waited for it to hop onto Dice's awaiting hand before pulling back. "I can hold my breath for about twenty seconds. Count to that, and start yanking."
Dice frowned, glancing from the card that had once belonged to him to me. "Darlin'..."
"I know, I know. I better come out of this safely." I forced a smile on my face, hoping to ease the manager's stress. Really can't win here, can we? "... just... get ready." Definitely going to need medical attention after this... hopefully they have a hospital. The rope tied and draped over my shoulder, I shuffled towards the edge of the hiding spot. I had one shot. Time to make it count.
Throwing a final look over my shoulder, I offered the toons a tired grin, before turning around and dropping down. I heard Kate's roar, and right before the clawed hand shot out to try and snag me from the air, I pulled the pin on the bomb. It was very much like before, when I dodged the Devil's attack. I felt the fog wrap around me, and once I got close enough, tucked and rolled forward. Out from the tiny cavern, and past the giant ink monster. Springing to my feet, I sprinted to get enough distance, just as the smoke lifted. Kate growled, and turned around to face me, abandoning her attempts to try and get the others.
I need to get to her chest. Avoid her claws. I shook the canister, and nodded. Nearly empty. Maybe enough for one more, and even then, it wouldn't last long. "Aaaaaaaaaaaa!" I grimaced at the roar, watching ink flying from her mouth, hitting the ground in front of her. Even when she stopped, it still dripped between her jagged teeth. This isn't Kate. This is just the ink from the studio corrupting her. A foot adjusted itself, claws dug into the earth, and I took a deep breath. Here it comes.
Inkwell Hell's ground shook as she raced forward, snarling, ready to sink either her dagger-like nails or fangs into me. Was she even aware of what was happening around her? That she had attempted to kill me? Hell if I know. I just knew I had one shot at this, otherwise I was being run over. Flattened, and I refused to let Cuphead and Mugman see a bloody corpse. They dragged my unconscious body out of Inkwell Hell before. I was not letting them do that again.
Hang on, Kate! I pulled the pin, right as she was almost on top of me. The smoke circled me, and as she skidded to a stop at my sudden disappearance, I tossed the rope's tail behind me and hurled my suddenly solidifying body into the inky mass.
Drifting. Voices screaming. It was all too familiar, at this point. The cocoon swirled around me, hugging me close. Nearly shutting my entire body down. I... I wasn't even sure if I was breathing. It was just... existence. I could faintly feel movement around me, outside of the darkness. The rough terrain of Inkwell Hell, the scent of sulphur in the air. But everything else was foggy. Confusing.
It was a... lot like the first few times I went into the ink. Having it snake around me, holding me in place. Whispers-silent screams about saving them. When the machine spit me out in a glob of thick ink. I was so... simple, at that point. I had no memories, no knowledge of anything. A blank slate. I-I could barely even emote. Maybe... it was better, if I stayed like that. My knees drew themselves closer to my chest, letting myself tumble around gently in the void. Maybe it'd be better if I didn't remember. Then I wouldn't be hurting now.
...
...
... and...
... and yet... I didn't hate him for this.
I didn't hate Bendy for saving me. He kept me alive. He brought me back to my family. I made peace with my mom, and while it was still... odd... I think I was close to making peace with Cole too. I would've liked to have had confirmation on that. She's so much more put together than me. Why couldn't I... be like that?
"Because you're weak, Bowens. You might have escaped the studio, but that strength you had back there is sorely lacking now." I couldn't feel myself, even though I knew I had moved my legs earlier. Senses were dulled, while others were heightened. Hearing-that one... he overpowered the rest of the mumbles. He was the loudest of all, and he knew it. "Quite pathetic, really."
You know... my thoughts weren't as strong either. My mind was buzzing, and it took time to think of the right words. It wasn't as if I was capable of moving my mouth. That everything I am right now... is a combination of my own horrors, and your taunts.
"Yes, I am well aware." The coldness brushed close to my cheek mockingly, and it felt like the voice was in my ear. "You're never going to move past this. Your Boris, those lost souls... they will always be trapped there. You cannot save them, just as you cannot save yourself."
... that one hurt. He was right, in every way. I couldn't get them out. I'd just end up back in that awful place, getting myself lost and possibly end up dying... again. Hell, that last one-saving myself-I was encased in my own ink. My own fears-my demons, hiding from everyone. Inky was riding this mess with me, twisting the reigns. At least... I put enough distance from everyone else-warmth?
It was... warm. A sliver of it, and... light. The ink had been disturbed. Someone was... trying to get me out of this? "Don't you dAre, Bowens," he growled, the gargling voice twisting at the end. "You are MinE, you hear me? You aRe not gettin' aWaY from mE." Away from him, and his whispers of doubt... or away from the terror my mind had built that had been bothering me for weeks?
... watch me, Inky! I couldn't feel my hand reaching out, but I felt the warmth wrap around it, grip it with all its might... and then I was flying towards the light before I could register it.
Back to the world of color and life.
Bless the Devil and his ability to make his body-snake like. Nicky's feet dug into the ground, shoulder-deep in the creature's chest as she slowly dragged Kate out into the open. Tom and Allison were right behind her, followed by the brothers, and Dice brought up the rear. From there, the ruler gripped the end of the rope with four hands, and wrapped the rest of his body behind a rock at the edge of the cavern. "Don't let go!"
"Why on earth would I let go!?" Dismissing Cuphead's sarcastic shout at Allison's instructions, Nicky gave a brief and excited smile. There. Out came her hands, and the pure black arms of her cousin. Come on! She's almost out! "A little more!" The Devil grumbled, and she felt the rope tighten around her. One step, and another. Elbows, th-there were her shoulders-Kate!
Gasps for air, for oxygen that sorely lacked in that black mess, it took only a second before her name was shouted in shock. "N-Nicky!?" She was right on her thoughts of Kate's true appearance, before this mess began. Her human appearance had changed. Wide bright glowing eyes in a sea of black, set on an ink stained pale face, stared at her. "You-!"
"Yeah, me!" Nicky grimaced at the ink spraying out of the hole, and the shriek of the head over them. The pain they had inflicted on the beast had paralyzed it, thankfully preventing the group from being dragged across the room. The ink rippled around her chest, and the long haired girl yelped as she slid backwards. It's sucking her back in!
"Pull! Hurry!" The group grunted, and Nicky's boots dug into the dirt, leaving her own ruts as she was dragged forward. Another panicked scream, and her grip tightened around her cousin.
"H-hang on, Katie! Just stay calm!" Her eyes darted past Nicky at the others attached to the rope, widening slightly. What, did Kate actually expect no one to come get her out? That it would just be Allison and Tom? Calm-how can anyone stay calm right now!? Why did I say that!?
"C'mon, Mugs!" The younger brother nodded at Cuphead's words, and the corners of Kate's mouth lifted in a nervous smile. Another slip, and Nicky closed her own eyes in a grimace. The rope was digging into her skin something awful, no doubt leaving red marks underneath her dress.
"Aaaah!" Please, let me get her out! I want to help her! Warmth-a chill up her spine, and she heard gasps behind her. Felt all of their eyes on her as she ground her teeth, and had her nails dig into her skin and the rope. Where bright lights danced outside of her eyelids and lit up the darkness. Let me HELP! She tugged. "Come ON!"
And Kate went flying out of the ink monster with a shriek.
Nicky's eyes flew open as whatever light she had imagined died out, falling backwards along with the rest of the toons in a startled yell. Kate landed beside her in a heap, along with a massive glob of ink. Spurts of it shot from the monster's chest, and the creature stumbled backwards, spraying the ground with the vital fluid. She could hear her heart in her head-boom, boom, boom-and the faint panting gasps of the others. It wasn't dead, the beast. It was still moving. "... y... yOU!"
It can speak. And it was ticked. The ink beast whirled around, roaring, spitting out a disturbing amount of black speckled in red. "GiVe me bAck mY SOUL!" A glimpse of reflective light to her side, and the woman scrambled to reach out and grab it. Nicky hurried to her feet, right as the demon was nearly atop of her, and without hesitating swung the machete through the husk's neck.
No noise-no sound left its mouth. It took barely a second before the beast's head slid forward and off its shoulders. Tumbling across the ground, and resting a few feet away from Cuphead and Mugman. "Aa-aaaa!?" The brothers scrambled backwards in alarm, running into Dice's legs. The body stumbled, rocking back and forth on its spindly legs and tree-trunk sized arms before at last slumping to the ground in a heap of rotten ink.
She waited. In case it moved, or the head spoke-or-or something... but it didn't. It was calm. It was... over. I... did it... she got her out. She freed her cousin from the ink. "Heh... heh..." slowly, Nicky spun around, and let Allison's abandoned weapon fall from her hand.
It was about time she managed to get some deep sleep anyway.
I knew, before I began this story, that I wanted to tie Kate's love of cartoons and Nicky's previous distaste together. Always seemed like a clever idea. And with this transition, we casually move back from the first POV of Bendy to the 3rd POV of Cuphead. We've entered part 3 of the story, with only... maybe 3 chapters left? Either way, I hope this massive post holds you all over.
In other news, this isn't a horror story. That was purely the Bendy one. It was nice to go back to those roots with this ending. Was it as scary, dark, and as extended as Inky's original defeat? Nope, but that's because this one was different.
Until next time!
Angel