Beware the Ink Demon
Those in the living room were still as the tall looming figure of the Ink Demon started to emerge from the portal. Henry only caught a glimpse of the disturbingly familiar grin before the Projectionist screeched and the two charged at each other. The Ink Demon threw the first punch, hitting the Projectionist in the head and leaving a dent. The Projectionist screeched in anger and returned with his own, landing a blow in the demon's chest that barely phased him.
Henry swallowed thickly as he saw the two duke it out, knowing there was only one way this could end. But this wasn't the studio and if Norman died… there wouldn't be any rebirth from the ink for him. Henry started to take a step forward, to do what he didn't know, but Linda's hand on his arm stopped him. He looked over to see her frightened face and Henry felt his heart clenched realized he had to make a choice. If he tried to break up the fight, he would likely end up dead which would leave Linda vulnerable to all the ink creatures here.
"Come on," Henry whispered, ignoring the growing guilt in his heart. With the two biggest current threats focused on each other, Henry used the opportunity to start sneaking around the fighting creatures towards the entryway.
"Henry," Linda whispered in confusion, her attention still on the fighting pair. "I thought Bendy only got his wings and tail after you escaped the studio…"
"What do you mean?" Henry wondered, looking over at the Ink Demon. It was hard to see in the darkness, but as the Projectionist's light briefly lit up the Ink Demon's form, Henry could see Bendy's wings half furled around him with his tail lashing around behind him. Henry couldn't help but wonder at the sight. Whenever Bendy had relapsed, he always returned to his Ink Demon form even after he had discovered his Ink Devil form. As Henry and Linda watched, Bendy's mouth opened, showing all his sharp teeth, and bit down on the Projectionist's shoulder. The couple flinched back at seeing the brutality of the attack, but Henry saw that Bendy was aiming to incapacitate not kill. Is it possible that Bendy had been able to avoid whatever was affect the others?
The Projectionist let out a pained screech and was knocked to the ground under the weight of the Ink Devil still biting into him. Punching the Projectionist in the head one last time, leaving him dazed, the Ink Devil stood up and looked over at them with his one showing eye. Henry wanted to believe that Bendy was still on his side, but he couldn't be sure, keeping Linda behind him and his ax in front just in case the Ink Devil tried to attack them.
"Bendy?" Henry questioned, gazing at the Ink Devil for any sign of aggressiveness towards him or Linda.
"…Dad…" Bendy replied, immediately making Henry's shoulders sag in relief and a small smile come to his face at knowing at least Bendy was still with him. But that relief didn't last long as Henry was reminded of the situation when Bendy shouted, "Look out!"
Henry acted instantly, shoving both himself and Linda to the side as Bendy charged forward, claws outstretched. Looking back, Henry could see Bendy grab onto Sammy who had come down the stairs and had been about to attack the couple from behind. Bendy easily ripped the ax from Sammy's hands, melting it back into ink which was absorbed into the Ink Devil's form.
"No my Lord!" Sammy begged as the Ink Devil lifted him into the air. "I am your prophet! I am your-"
Bendy ignored Sammy's babbling and flung him across the hall and into the kitchen. Sammy slammed hard into the Butcher Gang who had just started coming out of the kitchen, carrying all sorts of utensils as makeshift weapons. The four landed in a pile of tangled limbs, cartoon noises and sickening gurgles coming from them as they shouted angerly at each other, working against each other as they tried to pull themselves free. In any other circumstance, it would have been funny, but there was no humor to be found in the scene though as Alice and Boris started coming downstairs and the Projectionist rose to his feet, the arm the Ink Devil had been hanging uselessly at his side.
Bendy stood protectively in front of Linda and Henry as the three of them were backed into a corner of the living room. The Ink Devil let out a menacing growl while barring his teeth at all the others, which caused all the approaching threats to pause and eye him with a mix of anger and fear, reminding them just how dangerous the demon was. They were currently at a stalemate, but one that would obviously not last long as all of the ink creatures seemed to be getting into attack stances.
"Bendy, we need to get out of here!" Henry said urgently, gripping his ax tightly as he stared at all the others. Even with the Ink Devil on their side, they were far outnumbered. Plus Henry and Bendy would be holding back to not hurt their friends and family, something the others would have no reservations within their current state. There was just no way they would be able to win like this. Bendy seemed to know this as he nodded in agreement and a portal began to form in the wall next to Henry.
The ink creatures took this as their cue to attack and began to charge at the group. But they were two slow as the Ink Devil, scooped up Henry and Linda into his arms and dived through the portal, shutting immediately behind them. The ink creatures shrieked and shouted in frustration, splitting up to explore the house for any sign of their target.
