Vingt-neuf [One angel speaks, another searches.]
/
"Get the door, would you?"
"Not happening," he deadpanned.
Susie laughed quietly. "Suit yourself. Believe it or not, I'm not interested in harming you."
He stepped closer to the glass room, the angel framed from behind in light. "You said you wanted to tear me apart to your heart's delight the first time we met. Heard it hundreds of times, figured nothing had changed."
"I'm full of surprises." She blinked and cocked her head back. "That's close enough, Henry."
He hadn't even crossed the halfway point of the room. "Ma'am."
She sighed, arms folding to rest across her stomach. "Just Susie. There's no point in that anymore."
He nodded, axe flipping up to sit with the blade to the false angel. "What is it, then? The point?"
"Mm… why, escaping this place." Her halo bounced as she shook her head. "I had given up on that endeavor and took the mantle of angel… and I hated it. But you? You really are different. Hope hadn't existed in this hellhole before you came in."
"Maybe. But… I want to know what changed your mind."
She dropped all pretense and scowled. "Listening in, watching you work with the prophet, hearing you bounce ideas about like tennis. Thanks to you, the clones are almost gone. Since you and your false prophet handled them, I can freely walk around my kingdom, no fear of being defiled by their tainted ink." The melted half of her face twitched. "But tell me, what good is a kingdom without subjects?" She lifted a hand and dully observed the claws that tipped her thin fingers. "The scant lost ones on my side have fled me. You're no longer run ragged by my prompts. The cracks in this twisted world's foundation are growing deeper by the day." Her bright eye flicked from her hand to Henry's face. "What good is a hollow kingdom?"
"Controlling people was Joey's thing, and I know you don't want to be like him."
"Too late for that, errand boy. This is the most control over my own life I have ever had… and my life isn't even my own. What life is there for me up there now?"
Henry managed a tired smile. "Things are different. Women have more freedom to do what they want. More than the thirties and forties. Nothing says you can't try again."
She scoffed. "I've done things you can't imagine."
He scowled. "After what you've done to Buddy? I can imagine plenty."
Her gaze slid to the floor, lips pursed. "Maybe… but what do you know about me?" She craned her head back. "I was still alive when I went into the machine, you know."
He nodded. "Were you tricked?"
She gave a shaky laugh, too calm for the hysteria that growled underneath. "Oh, yes… but some other time." Susie sighed. "What promise can you give me that will keep me safe from the Ink Demon? He cannot touch me again."
"Stick with the Projectionist. He's already shown us he liked you."
"The wolf likes him as well."
Henry shrugged, looking everywhere but at her. "Buddy doesn't seem to hold a grudge, but I can't force you."
"You're right," she mumbled as she strode forward. "You can't."
Henry blinked. She was getting closer. She was getting closer.
"But I'm not a doll trapped in glass cases for display, Henry."
She'd never been behind the glass. "Not saying you are." Henry adjusted his axe to sit in both hands, but didn't waver or budge.
The false angel drew close… and she wasn't as much a fright as she had been. She barely came up to his chin! But the way she carried herself, good eye piercing him with that stare… A dethroned queen was still a queen. Keeping that in mind might be for the best.
She smirked. "Let's see how brave your prophet is without glass between him and I."
The man frowned. "You hurt Sammy and I will cut you down."
Her smirk widened into a tight smile. "I don't doubt that, errand boy." She leaned up on tiptoe and gave a slow blink. "I'm only just now seeing it… but you have freckles."
He blinked. "How did you miss that?" His most prominent feature, missed completely!
She chuckled lowly. "My surveillance options have poor quality."
He glared over his glasses at her. "You ran straight at me, looking me dead in the face, and you never noticed-"
Her sharp hand raised up to point. "I wanted you dead. Details are just… icing on the cake." She stepped around him, waving over her shoulder. "You run along. Go play with Sammy."
He turned to watch her leave. "You're not coming with me?"
She smiled dully over that same shoulder. "You expect a lady to walk? I know where you'll be." She turned out of sight and was gone.
Henry waited until her footfalls faded and let out a breath he didn't know he held. That hadn't lasted as long as he'd expected, and he came out in one piece. The cartoonist considered that a win and headed to the elevators.
\
"You're saying Susie is helping us?" Allison asked as she eyed the clone jabbering on its rope some feet away. "Not just a theory?"
"It's true." Sammy pointed to the clone. "She tied it up in a way to lead us to the tape we needed." He paused. "Buddy, please tell me you have the tape?"
The wolf smiled and patted his pocket. He turned to Tom and pointed at the clone, shaking the rope a little.
Tom grumbled and shook his head, holding up his pipe.
Buddy gave a nod in understanding, then pulled the tape player out to show Sammy. He'd figured that was solid enough proof. He then reeled the clone back to him and wrapped the rope around himself so the creature was strapped to his back.
"Good idea." The ink man turned back to Allison. "And now that we have the clone, I need you to take me to the lost one you saw."
She nodded. "Level Ten, face in a corner. Lets go."
The ink man called Buddy over with a curl of his fingers and followed, Tom bringing up the rear. He eyed Allison, who walked beside him. She hadn't changed at all since the last loop. But her eyes, usually bright and darting to find answers and clues, were calmer, darker. Hell, she might have had bags! "Are you alright?"
"I… I'd rather tell Henry."
The ink man shrugged. "Very well. But we aren't meeting until Bendy-Land."
"It's not that I don't trust you-"
"You need not explain." He replied as they headed down the stairs.
She kept walking, her pace even as the four of them headed down. "It's… Tom knew."
Sammy stumbled slightly but regained his balance and followed. "He knew what?"
"Who we were up there. Together." She shook her head. "He's known far longer than I have, and I held back for nothing."
"Fear corrupts logic. Believe me, I'd know…" he trailed off, staring ahead at nothing. "Wait." A dull throb in the back of his mind, a slow, creeping dread that pooled in his gut. Sammy grasped Allison's shoulder with one hand and stuck his other straight out to slow the two wolves behind him. "Don't make a sound." Slowly, cautious as ever, Sammy craned his head over a railing to look into the dark depths below. Only three flights down, but the rings of feathery black told him enough.
The ink demon lumbered on, letting out a low warble as it came into sight and looked around. Finding nothing, it whined and continued on, motes of black following behind it.
Brief and distant of an encounter as it was, the ink demons' recent changes didn't ease Sammy's mind. He exhaled and pulled his arms back. "Alright. It's safe."
Allison shot a dubious smirk at him over one shoulder.
"Er… relatively, I mean."
They landed at the bottom of the stairs, a tall tin poster of the number 10 on the wall nearby.
"This way." The horned woman didn't slow, taking a sharp right up ahead.
"How can you know it's still there?"
"It never moves. Just bangs its head."
The ink man groused. "That's a common theme, it seems."
The group came upon the lost one after a minute, still banging its head in slow, tired motions.
"Pardon me," Sammy began, not sure how else to get a response.
The lost one slowed and turned to look at him, then turned back and banged its head faster.
Sammy grumbled. It didn't help to know that some lost ones feared him still. News of his changes had spread, but he was still the terrifying prophet of a terrible demon to some.
Buddy frowned and glanced at Tom.
Tom looked back with a raised brow.
Buddy pointed to himself, then the lost one, and gave the clone on his back a shake.
Tom shook his head, but ushered Buddy off with his intact arm.
The friendly wolf patted Sammy's shoulder and sidestepped him, undoing the rope on the clone and giving the angry thing a toss. It landed with a shuddering gargle at the lost one's feet.
Work done, Buddy stepped away to stand beside Sammy.
The lost one turned its face down to the clone. It blinked and crouched down.
Buddy took the chance to hit play.
"I don't be seein' what the big deal is. So what if I went and painted some of those Bendy dolls with a crooked smile? That's sure no reason for Mr. Drew to be flyin' off the handle at me. And if he really wants to be so helpful, he could be tellin' me what I'm to be doin' with this warehouse I got full of that angel whatchamacallit. Not a scrap of that mess be a-sellin'! Probably have to melt it all down to be rid of it all."
"... crooked smile, eh?" The lost one muttered, before reaching for the clone that was now inching closer while still tied up.
Sammy took a step backward. "Forgot to mention-"
splat!
Allison covered her gaping mouth with a hand.
"That's how you know it worked," he said with a slump of his shoulders. He knew he'd missed something.
The black puddle rippled and boiled before a lost one pulled itself from the dark. It heaved a breath and shouted, "Thunderin' Jesus!" The lost one stood with a hop. "How the hell did I get down here?" He winced and rubbed his forehead. "Feels like a hangover. Wish it were one." He removed his hand and stared at Sammy. "Wait." He took a step back. "Why's the prophet down here?" He looked about to the rest of the group. "Hell are these guys?"
Sammy raised his hands to gesticulate at the group. "These are our friends, Shawn. They helped put you back together."
"That so? Well, then." The lost one's eyes turned up in a smile. "What've I missed?"
Allison's smile widened. "We're working together on getting out of this place."
Shawn blinked and pointed at Sammy. "You're bein' awful friendly. Last I knew you, you were barkin' orders."
"I'm a changed man." He lay a hand over his own heart and smirked.
"I can see that! Can see your face 'n all, too!" The lost one aimed a thumb over his own shoulder. "Need anythin' else? Or can I head out?"
"Head out." Sammy shooed him away, still smiling.
"Aye aye! Thank ya!" The lost one zipped out of sight and down a hallway.
"Welcome!" Sammy waved at the retreating form's back and shot Buddy a smile. "Brave wolf. That went well!"
Buddy gave a nod, then froze with perked ears. He turned his full attention to the hallway and frowned.
Slapping footsteps came from where the lost one had gone, and Shawn flew at them, screaming wordlessly as he did.
Tom grabbed Allison's nearest arm and pulled her to the wall while Sammy pushed Buddy behind him.
"Spoke too soon," the horned woman said as the lost one raced out of sight.
"Seems so…" But now he was hearing whatever had had Buddy's attention. The ink man turned to peer down the hallway.
There was a low ticking of reels from down the hall, and hot sepia floated from around the corner to turn their way.
Sammy held a hand to shield his eyes. "Norman!"
The light dimmed.
"Well!" Sammy crossed his arms. "Guess we don't have to go looking for you, then!"
A slow shake of his projector, and the amalgam reached for Buddy with a cable.
Buddy smiled widely and gestured to the group, before sticking a finger in the air and spinning it in a circle.
Allison smiled. "Buddy, is that how you say Bendy-Land?"
The wolf nodded without looking.
Her gaze fixed on Norman's light. "Henry's waiting for us there."
The amalgam perked at that. Norman turned back where he'd come from and walked on, Buddy close behind.
Sammy blinked. "Guess he's leading."
The horned woman smirked and took Tom's mechanical hand in hers. "Seems like it. Let's go."
/
Bertrum was and forever would be a pain in the ass.
But it surprised Henry how he could still handle the angry eggbeater on his own!
Still exhausting, and no Susie to be seen. Bendy hadn't even shown up when he'd gotten the switches down below. So. He waited at the steps of the haunted house, axe in his lap. The blade was slicked with oil and ink. Nicks where gears and sheet metal had scraped its head shown silver in the dark sepia world.
"Moping, errand boy?"
He turned, axe ready only to find Susie standing on the tracks of the ride.
He huffed and lowered the weapon. "Always gotta get the drop on me."
She flicked her hair over a shoulder. "Well, I am a fright. Where's the rest of your little band?"
"They're close."
She sauntered closer. "Are they?"
"Yup." He went back to studying the axe blade.
The twisted angel hummed. "Henry…"
He tilted his head to her but didn't look.
"From what I've heard from my surveillance, you were a doctor of sorts?"
"Field medic."
"Mm… what have you seen?"
Anxiety dug curled fingers behind his sternum. "Too much."
"Do you know the damage a pen knife can do?"
He paused. "I've seen a lot of injuries. Patched up a lot, too." He peered at her out of the corner of his eye. "Why?"
She shifted. "I know you've seen my throat." A clawed hand reached for her neck and covered the wound. "One swipe from behind, then I was thrown into the machine."
"... I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't save anyone."
He sighed lowly. "I know."
She let out a gruff, low noise from her under voice. "At least you're trying to help."
"Yeah."
"So then, Henry. What exactly is the plan from here?"
The cartoonist hopped off the platform and turned her way, axe blade out over one shoulder. "We pair the clones and lost ones so they're whole again. After that? I don't know."
Her good eye squinted. "Don't know?"
"No."
"So all of this work you're doing? All this hard, difficult, messy work… it might not be enough."
"Exactly. But not doing anything sure won't help."
She shrugged. "Keep telling yourself that, errand boy."
"Oh, I will." His brow furrowed at the sudden noises coming from somewhere down a corridor. "I think that's them."
"Then that-" Susie turned back to the haunted house and climbed down onto the tracks- "is my cue to leave."
"Wait, why even come out if you're going to go back to hiding?"
"You never tried to take my head off with your axe, or snap my neck, or run me through with a sword." She smirked his way, half gone in the dark. "But I'll keep an eye on you."
He swallowed and adjusted the axe. "I wish you'd join us."
"Well… wish in one hand…" She turned down the track and ducked out of sight.
She was well out of sight by the time Sammy and the rest showed up.
"There you are!" Sammy crowed as he spotted him. His bright gaze melted at the sight of the open doors behind Henry. "You managed?"
"Yup."
"On your own?"
He managed a weak smile. "I'm surprised, too. Thought I was loosing my edge."
"Edge. Right…" The ink man frowned, still looking at the doors even as he slowly stepped closer. "How did your, ah, discussion with Susie go?"
A sigh, and Henry passed Sammy the axe. "Well, she's… not going to be in the way. She's more willing to help us but doesn't want to be here face to face. Not yet, anyway." He quirked a brow. "If you run fast enough, you can probably catch up to her."
"I'd rather not."
Allison headed their way. "I have to agree." But her smile was bright as she looked to Henry. "Henry. I have good news. Progress, and… something else."
Sammy slid the axe into a loop on his overalls. "I know the progress, but not the something else."
"Well, you can both hear it, but… Tom remembers." She blinked, eyes glassy. "He remembers us being married. He remembers himself and me. He just… can't write or talk. Only draw."
Henry smiled, the anxiety behind his sternum easing completely. "That's great. That's another piece to the puzzle. But the other part?"
"The something else, right." She glanced over at Tom, who was with Buddy and Norman over by the haunted house tracks. Tom was examining the bottom of a car that Norman had graciously tipped over, pointed at some rusted gear with Buddy over his shoulder. Norman looked down to give them light. What they were doing was beyond her. "The something else is about when you fell in the river."
The cartoonist and musician shared a look. "What about it?"
"You said you saw a mouth destroy the ink machine?"
"Yes?"
"Then… Tom showed me what we have to do. We have to destroy the machine." If the aggressive ink exes Tom splattered over the schematic had meant anything.
A beat.
"How? Does anyone know where it is before I start it?" Henry turned to Sammy and lay a hand to his arm. "Does the loop start when I go through the door or after I start the machine?"
Sammy hummed lowly in thought. "My day starts the same each time a loop begins. An hour after I wake, I'm told that someone has started the machine. But in these last few, I'm already in the music room before the hour is up."
"So… if the loop exists before I come along, why hasn't anyone destroyed the machine yet?"
Amber eyes glowed. "Above all, fear the machine."
A blink. "But why?"
The ink man sighed and ran a hand over his head. "The machine is only a machine. Harmless until started. But it is what gave the ink a way to… create. The same way that a pencil can't create a drawing until it's picked up. Or a banjo is just wood and strings until played. But instead of cute toons or bright music… nightmares. Lives broken apart. Even when inert, the machine endures… and we've been at the mercy of its machinations enough to know it's not worth touching."
Henry set his jaw and peered at Sammy over his glasses. "So… an hour? Before I start the machine?"
"Yes."
"Every single time?"
"Yes."
"Then… everyone on this side has to wait that hour. Time it if you have to. When the machine doesn't start after that hour is up? Destroy it." He looked to Allison, sensing her curious stare. "I have a path in Joey's apartment. If time passes an hour here on a loop, that means I broke it."
"Okay. I can remember that. What do we do for now?"
Henry grabbed Sammy's hand and turned to the haunted house track.
The car that the two wolves and Projectionist had been examining had been righted, and Buddy was looking their way.
"We go to the docks and handle the giant hand."
\
Heads up; chapters are gonna be shorter after this one.