Author's Note: Well, the people I wanted to review didn't, but, I figured it's not fair to keep withholding the chapter. At any rate, here's the second to last chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Prelude to a Battle
No one idled by the highest floor. Even those who using the bathroom ran out fearfully, toilet paper stuck to their shoes as they fled for their lives. Bendy and Berry's argument had grown increasingly violent and gunshots rang out through the building. It seemed Bendy had garnered a rather impressive faction and, upon seeing their leader attack Berry, they decided it was high time to get themselves into gear. While their bosses fought, they started skirmishes of their own. Screams met the shots and the sickening slick sound of a stabbing.
"Don't you dare tell me how to run my own syndicate," she snarled, fumbling for another gun. The last one flew out the window. Useless drawers full of useless papers, including documents proving the many bribes she'd given local law officials to let her pull all this, and the love letters she and Virginia wrote each other. They fluttered to the floor in a haphazard pile and in her haste, she stepped on one. It ripped and she swore.
Smirking, his bony fingers sought the picture of her and her creator. Grinning maliciously, he tore it to shreds in front of her. Extracting a lighter from his pocket, he burned the remnants. Silence reigned in which Berry's blood pounded in her head and she seriously contemplated ripping his throat out. She lunged over the desk and landed flat on her stomach with her hands outstretched. He jumped nimbly out of the way, laughing derisively, and picking up a few letters and bribe records, he burned them as well. One or two he read aloud and tears pricked the corners of her eyes. He didn't have the right to read them. No one did. These were her beloved Virginia's words, not his to bungle.
"I'll kill you!" she screeched, wrenching three out of his hand and wrapping a hand around his throat. He shoved her away and she fell onto the rug. Smirking, he flung the lighter in her face and waltzed out. This, unfortunately for her, was the beginning of the end.
Bloo innately cuddled closer to the source of warmth, wherever it emanated. Warm breath on his neck, strong arms wrapped around his waist possessively, and a decidedly happy feeling circulated through his body. Panicking, he spun around and prayed to whoever that the unthinkable hadn't happened. He hadn't gotten drunk, high, stupid, or brainwashed enough to have sex with her, had he? His heart stopped at the prospect. There was no way…if ever there was a reason for suicide…
However, when he glanced at his asleep creator, smiling softly, he relaxed. In his sleep, he nuzzled him affectionately and he never wanted to leave. Couldn't he stay in this moment forever, in this embrace? The memory of making love with him brought a grin to his face and he seriously wondered how bad it truly would be if he just stayed here. What would happen if he laughed in Berry's face and told her he had something better, something she could never give him? The way his creator's chest rose and fell, the steady thump of his heart, his tenderness, the way his brown bangs fell over his lightly shut eyes in that perfect way…he could fall for him all over again.
In his heap of clothing sat the compact and its shrill beeping brought him back to his senses. But maybe he didn't feel like answering Berry right now. Maybe he'd just lie here on cloud nine and never do DIE's bidding again. Maybe they could make love a thousand times over and ignore the world around them. The thought sounded pretty tempting to Bloo, a little too tempting. He rolled over, shutting his eyes.
An electrical burst sped through his transformer belt and the pain made him grit his teeth. The shocks started to grow in intensity, starting small and getting to the point where if he didn't move right now, he'd electrocute Mac. Every cell in his body throbbed in agony and he fell to his knees on the floor. Muscles in his body seized up, then began to spasm. He twitched uncontrollably, the equivalent of hammers pounding his spine, drills tearing at his muscles, and being walloped repeatedly by a metal pipe in the head. Barely conscious, he screamed and flipped open the compact. All at once, the pain fled.
Mac awoke with a start, but if he thought to inquire about Bloo, he didn't have the chance. Berry's furious voice filled the little room and Bloo, shaking like a leaf, just barely managed to listen. He turned his head and vomited in a corner. Before she continued her to tirade, she halted to laugh unmercifully while her slave heaved. Mac had never wanted so badly to hurt someone in his life.
"You…fucking…bitch…" he spat, tears of pain pouring down his face. "I…hate…you."
Berry guffawed disgustingly and Mac's fists clenched. He wanted to crawl off the bed and see if Bloo was all right, but then he'd be in the line of the camera. The whip marks and scars on his bare back stood out boldly and he ground his teeth in frustration. How satisfying would it be to make her pay for this. To make her hurt for every time she'd hurt him. But whose thoughts were these? In the grand scheme of things, did it matter? Their anger combined into a force previously unmatched.
She calmed, composing herself despite the ruckus outside her office. Knuckles blanched under the table and a muscle twitched in her jaw. Distantly, they heard the name "Virginia" thrown around like garbage and Berry's fury redoubled. Her eyes burned furiously and, unable to fulfill part of it, she confronted one of the catalysts. If she could, Mac got the impression she'd reach through the communicator and throttle him. Then again, she'd practically done that just now, if his screams were any indication.
"And you snuck out, my little bitch. Or did you think I wouldn't notice?" she replied smoothly, as though they were merely discussing the weather, but the growl punctuating her statement was anything but friendly. Her eyes narrowed to slits and when another gunshot punctuated the hallway outside her office, she feigned ignorance. DIE was literally falling around her.
Swallowing hard, he retorted, wishing he felt the confidence his voice delivered, "So? I don't give a damn. I'm not going back. You can't make me."
Smirking, she craned her head and the camera shifted with her. Bloo opened his mouth to continue his rebellion, but her next statement sent him crashing back to earth. Flabbergasted, he blinked and the meager contents of his stomach, whatever was left after that last binge, gurgled weakly. It bubbled like acid and he clenched his eyes shut in the hopes he wouldn't vomit again. Once was enough, thanks. Besides, he no longer tasted him in his mouth…and he missed the sensation.
"Why, hello, Mac," Berry said with a false cheeriness. "Bloo, why didn't you introduce us? After all, he is your creator."
The color drained from their faces and the transformer sent a spare bolt. Bloo cried out, gripping the rug tightly. He refused to turn his head towards the compact again and, disgruntled, she turned up the amplification. Again, the sensation of hammers, drills, and metal pipes and he screamed into the rug. Mac leapt off the bed (since there was no point in hiding his presence now) and hugged Bloo. The humanoid sobbed, turning around to press his face into his bare chest. Tremors rocked his body and the next time Bloo was electrocuted, they both received it. Mac buried his face in his hair to suppress his own howl.
"Hurts, doesn't it, Mac?" she snickered. "I'll give Bloo twenty minutes to return to me. If he doesn't, that transformer belt will go haywire, sending out explosives that will kill anyone within a thirty foot area. And, in the result that doesn't kill you, I've also programmed it to heat up to the point where it will burn anyone wearing or touching it. Oh, but don't worry- I won't turn that on unless you don't release him in sixty seconds.
"And Bloo can tell you I'm not joking."
Weakly, Bloo nodded and gently pushed him away. He held tight, however, and the belt started to sizzle. The teenager sprung away before it gave him a third degree burn and, the instant he relinquished his grip, it cooled. Bloo, already in a great deal of pain thanks to the shock treatment, curled up in a ball and tried to yank off the belt. A couple hundred volts of electricity coursed through his body until, defeated, he ceased.
"Twenty minutes, Blooregard. That's it. And when you arrive, we'll discuss your punishment."
The compact shut off and, with a heavy heart, Bloo dressed, kissed his creator mutely on the cheek, and ignored his questions. Then, like a phantom in the night, he was gone.
The most intimate, pleasurable, and deliriously happy moment of his life kept him sane through her raving and assault. Dissatisfied her words and actions hardly impacted him, she tossed him inside his confinement container and he passed out.
Another week passed, but, unlike the one before it, this one held promise. Through Mac, Madame Foster sought out Goo and the two discussed tactics. Their oftentimes arguments lasted late into the night, but neither side backed down. Frankie served coffee, comforted Mac, and occasionally swayed on her feet as a result of the long nights catching up to her. Mr. Herriman always caught her, though, and nuzzled her affectionately. Since he disliked physical confrontations himself, he avoided their planning sessions, though he secretly relished their thoughts. Part of him wouldn't admit it outwardly, but he yearned for vengeance for his attack. Madame Foster knew this, however, if her curt nod during one was any indication.
Foster's had the advantage, at least. Though Berry could program her specially designed belts to discharge heat and electricity, they still couldn't track anyone underground. Thanks to Bloo and Mac, they knew where DIE HQ was located and how to get to it. They also knew some of what they were up against, since Bloo, risking life and limb, managed to sneak out to confirm what they already strongly suspected. DIE members under Bendy's control and some who simply no longer cared, were rioting. Even a few of her personal guards had left her to pursue their own selfish gains. Berry's inability to kill Bloo and her now revealed past love for Virginia were pulling apart any unity and loyalty DIE had. Goo said that anyone could waltz inside now and not be attacked, as she'd demonstrated with one of her soldiers.
The time had come for action. Goo's forces were to prevent any from impeding their progress inside DIE and to take out as many members as possible. Madame Foster's forces had a similar task, but infinitely more dangerous- walk into the lion's den, slay the beast, save Bloo, and return alive. A few bucked at the challenge, but, under her stern eye, she rallied the troops. They attacked at sunset.