Hey everyone! I'm sorry for the wait! Work has been pretty crazy lately. Seriously. Mainly because of renovations to the building. Also, I was recently at an anime convention, which was sooooooo awesome! If you ever get an opportunity to go to one, do it! Totally worth it!
However, after seeing the videos being released for the new Bendy game, it just inspired me to update! I'm beyond excited to find out what the Meatly/Kindly Beast are releasing! We're getting another game! Yay! So while I'm waiting on that new chapter to be released, I'm working on my own!
Thank you everyone for reviewing, messaging and of course adding me to your favorites/alerts! You guys are make me so happy to see all of these reviews! They definitely make my day better at work and put a smile on my face whenever I'm down. Also, my responses are a personal thank you to all of you who leave them. I like replying to my readers! The story will change slightly from here on out, but I hope it sounds good. Thank you everyone for staying with me through this journey!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bendy and the Ink Machine! That belongs to the Meatly/Kindly Beast. I only own Jane.
Review Responses: Thank you to everyone who left me a review! I'm shocked with all of the reviews I've been getting! Seriously, you guys are absolutely amazing! I love getting these! It makes me so happy to know that you guys are enjoying this! THANK YOU!
TheAmazingAuthoress- It was fun getting to read through the different words. I did notice that! Awww thanks! I had to get it out around that time and I had fun writing them! Maaaaaaaybe. hahaha yes! Bendy gets around! He's a charming ink demon! lol He's seeing Jane in one universe while Grace in the other haha
PrincessEmag- Yeah, he may be scary looking and freaked the heck out of her, but Bendy does have a bit of a sweet side for her so far.
SpringBorn- haha thanks! She's been through so much! It's about time she gets to have a pleasant conversation with Bendy!
ShadysStarWish- Yay! New chapter! haha Awwwww dude! That's so sweet of you to say! I try my best! I kept getting worried that I wasn't writing him well. Mmmm...you'll have to wait and seeeee ;)
Flamingheart12- Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for your sweet words! I was worried how Bendy was going to turn out, but I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying what I've written so far and how I embodied him. I love writing Bendy conversations! I always try my best to make it the best I can!
"Sooo...can your hair change colors?" Bendy asked suddenly, breaking Jane from her thoughts about how the room remained untouched.
It had been awhile now since Jane introduced herself to Bendy. After exchanging names and a few apologies to one another, Jane took the time to explore the hideout since she wasn't sure how long she would stay there with the demon. There was a small room in the back, which was filled with random pieces that were found around the studio. A toolbox filled with ink bottles and a hammer, a banged up banjo that was probably from the music department, a stack of bacon soup cans, and a few other things that made Jane wonder why there were there. Above it all, was a leaky pipe that had a small trickle of water dripping down to the floor. Thankfully it didn't make a puddle since the small crack in the floorboards provided a solution for it. Beside that was another room that was small enough for only one person to stand in and had several small boxes scattered around on the shelves. Probably a junk closet.
"What?" she asked, trailing her fingers slowly across the peeling wallpaper.
"Your hair. It's not black like other people around here. I mean it's...what color is that exactly?" he questioned, pointing to his horns as if he had hair.
"Uh...brown." she replied, unsure how to respond normally to that question. "And...yeah if I wanted to dye it, I could."
Did ink creatures not understand the concept of color? Or was their vision black and white? But then again, he was able to differ that her hair was another color.
Bendy smoothed the ink on his head back as he wandered into the small closet. "Have ya ever done it before? Changed the color?"
Jane had thought about dying her hair color before. Perhaps to become a blonde or go a little crazy and turn it purple or green. But of course, she would push the thought off to the side or someone would tell her how ridiculous she would look. To the point where she would forget the entire idea all together.
"Well...I've thought about it, but I guess I never did it." She shrugged as she sat down on a nearby crate.
"How come?" Bendy questioned, reemerging with a blanket tucked under his arm.
Unconsciously, she reached up to run her fingers through her long chestnut colored hair, which was still covered with clumps of ink. "Well...I was really focused on school work and...I thought it would make me look...silly." she mumbled, shaking her head.
Bendy's head tilted to the side while leaning against the door frame of the closet. "Silly? Why would ya look silly? I mean, I think it would be pretty swell to have a different shade of hair color. I mean if I had hair."
A small smile graced her lips at the thought of Bendy having hair. Would his horns show through it? Would Bendy have short or long hair? Or would he try a ridiculous look like a mohawk or a mullet?
"You're smilin' again. I must've said somethin' right." Bendy chuckled, breaking her from her thoughts.
Jane bit her lower lip for a moment, shaking her head. "I uh...I was thinking of what you would look like with hair."
He shook his head as he moved further into the room. "So do ya think I'd look good?"
"Well...I'm not sure. I mean, they're like hundreds of different ways to have your hair. Lots of styles, colors, lengths. It could go any way really." she spoke, still finding the whole situation beyond strange. She was giving hair advice to an ink demon! At least she was finding a little humor from it all.
"Suppose that's true." he laughed, holding out the blanket to her. "Here. I don't really use it, but I figured that you'd be cold or somethin'. Maybe ya could take a nap."
Blinking in surprise, Jane took it from Bendy. "Uh...thank you."
Bendy smiled before moving back to his chair. "Sorry there's no bed here. I'll make sure to drag one here sometime. I can clear off somethin', if ya want."
"I'm okay for now, but...thanks." she mumbled, setting the blanket down on the wobbly table.
The two faced one another, the room becoming eerily quiet. Now that the initial shock set in and things have calmed down, things just seemed...strange.
What could someone say to an ink demon? What's it like to be a creature that isn't human? How do you handle being what you are? What do you eat for breakfast on a Saturday morning?
When Jane opened her mouth to say something, Bendy held up his hands.
"Hey! I just remembered something! Now that we're calm and all...I have somethin' for ya." Bendy said, getting up from his seat to rummage through the backroom again.
Jane sat there, trying to guess what Bendy had for her. A weapon to defend herself with? A random trinket that he found? Oh what the heck was she thinking? A gift from an ink demon? Nobody would ever believe this if she ever told anyone. Heck, she didn't even believe this herself.
Bendy returned, hands behind his back as he limped towards her. Awhile ago, she would've flinched or even ran away screaming. But given the situation and how kind Bendy was being towards her, she sat there patiently, trying to look at what he was hiding.
"So where is it?"
Bendy rocked back on his heels a little as if he was a child, keeping a secret from his parents. "Weeeeeell...remember when I scared ya earlier? And you uh...fell down the stairs?"
Her bruises and aches could probably answer for her. "Yeah..."
"Well uh...I found this...thing. Not sure what it is, but it keeps movin'." he mumbled, holding out his hand to her.
Jane's eyes widened in shock and relief to see Bendy holding her cellphone in his inky palm.
"My cellphone! How did you...I just...I can't believe it!" she exclaimed, quickly standing up.
"Well I haven't seen anythin' like that around here before. And well whatever it is...a cellphone...or whatnot, it's yours." he replied, handing over the small device to her.
Taking it into her hands, Jane tried to turn on the phone and shockingly, it was still working! The screen lit up, showing the lock screen, which was a photo of her and Henry standing in front of one of the monuments they had visited last summer. Once she unlocked her phone, the screen filled with several missed calls made by Henry along with frantic texts asking where she was. The time read 3:00 AM at the top. Had it been that long already?!
"What is that dinky thing?" Bendy questioned, scratching his head, moving closer to see what was so special about it.
Jane managed to look up at the inky demon. "Uh...well. It's a communication device. You dial a number on here and you can talk to someone who has one too. They can be near or far from you."
Bendy's head tilted to the side. "Hm...interestin'. So what are ya gonna do with that...uh cellphone...thingamajig?"
Her eyes glanced up at him, a smile appearing on her lips. "Well...I...suppose I'm going to try to call someone on it."
The battery at the top read 20%. Not much, but just enough to make a call.
But who would she call? The police? True, that would be the sensible thing. But what would she say to them?
'Help, I'm trapped in an abandoned studio and there are ink creatures trying to kill me! I know I disobeyed the law and broke into an abandoned building. But if you come and see the ink machine for yourself, you'll let me off with a warning. Yeah...that would go over so well.' she thought to herself, rolling her eyes as she paced back and forth with the phone in her hand.
"Who are ya gonna call, Toots?" Bendy asked, breaking Jane from her thoughts.
"I'm not sure..." she mumbled softly running her finger over the tempered glass on her phone. Thankfully the phone never cracked when she dropped it.
"Well there's gotta be someone at least. Come on, Toots think of somethin'. Do that thing with your face again!"
Before Jane could respond to Bendy, she quickly tapped her thumb over the call button and hit redial. There was only one person she knew she could speak to.
Eagerly, she pressed her phone to hear ear to hear the sweet sound of a dial tone ringing, making her heart pound. It was ringing! It was actually ringing! Even if she was far down beneath the studio, she had service!
Jane held the phone close to her ear, hoping to hear a familiar voice. A friendly voice. Henry's voice.
She had no idea if he would actually believe her or not, but she had to try something! If she called her parents, they would either laugh at whatever she said or hang up on her. Not to mention, they would probably scream at her instead of listening to her cries for help. Henry was her only hope to getting some help.
"What's happening?" Bendy asked suddenly, making her jump at the closeness between them.
"Shh...it's ringing." she shushed him harshly due to her anxiety rising.
Bendy held up his hands in defense. "Sorry."
Jane shook her head when the sound of Henry's voice spoke up.
"Hey, it's Henry."
"Oh my gosh you answered." She sighed in relief before continuing. "It's Jane! Listen I need you to-"
"I can't come to the phone right now. So if you leave your name and number, I'll try to get back to you as soon as I can." Henry's voice mail continued, making Jane's heart sink. He wasn't there.
But once the sound of the voice mail beeping rang in her ear, Jane tried to take a deep breath before beginning.
"Uh...hey. It's me. I uh...I don't even know where to begin." She began pacing around the small room, dragging her nails over the back of her neck to keep herself calm. "Look...I...I lied to you earlier. I...I'm not actually at the beach. I took a detour and well..." she trailed off when she felt hear heart beginning to beat faster and tears began welling up in her eyes. "I...I screwed up. Big time. I don't even know if you'll believe me. Actually, you'll probably think that I'm going crazy."
She turned around to see Bendy still standing there, his hands now folded in front of him.
If she had been the one listening to this voicemail, she wouldn't believe herself! This was absolutely insane! Beyond insane!
Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath to calm her voice. "If you get this message and my battery is still working...just...please call me back. I'm stuck in the old-"
"Message received. Goodbye." the automated female spoke, cutting Jane off before the phone hung up.
Jane cursed under her breath as she lowered the phone.
"What's wrong? Did ya talk to whoever was on the other side?" Bendy questioned, moving closer.
She bit her lower lip as she tried to calm down her nerves. "No...no he wasn't there."
He frowned when he saw her lips curve downward. "So what now?"
With a shrug of her shoulders, Jane pocketed the phone and sat down on the crate again. "I guess I wait until he calls me back. Either that or..." she trailed off, running a hand through her inky covered strands. "My battery dies and I'll never get out of here."
There was a long pause of silence between them.
All Jane could think about was how she was never going to escape the studio even if she called for help. But then again, she never got to tell Henry that she was six hours away in his old abandoned animation studio. Oh and she was surrounded by living ink creatures.
Within a few drippy footsteps, Bendy came into view before he crouched down in front of her.
"Uh...look. I'm...sorry I guess for what's goin' on here and all. But...it's kind of...depressin' to see you like this." he began, watching as tears began rolling down her cheeks. "But come on. Don't start with those...things. Tears right?"
She nodded mutely, staring down at her hands.
"Tears, okay got it. But honestly, ya shouldn't be cryin' like this."
"Easy for you to say..." she mumbled softly. "You don't have a family waiting at home, probably worried to death."
Well at least Henry would.
"Ya got a family?"
She nodded again, rubbing the back of her left hand. "Yeah. The guy on the phone was my uncle. Closest family member to me. And he doesn't know where I am and I told him that I was at the beach instead."
There was a scraping noise of another box being pulled over in front of her. "I never had one, ya know? A family. At least, I don't think I do." he spoke, sitting down on the box. "I mean, I've had others to talk to. But...I don't think they're family. Not really."
Jane lifted her head slowly. "How do you know what a family is?"
When he didn't respond right away, Jane cleared her throat before continuing.
"I mean, you didn't understand colors when you asked about dying my hair earlier and you've never seen a cellphone before. So how do you...understand certain concepts and not others?" It wouldn't hurt to ask the ink demon. After all, it was fascinating to see that a living creature made of ink was talking and had a consciousness.
Bendy tilted his head to side. "You're pretty...uh...smart, aren't ya? I mean...using some fancy words that I've never really heard before."
A slight warmth covered her cheeks at the compliment. "Uh...it's just...words."
"Fancy ones." he chuckled softly. "But uh...to answer your question there...I guess I just learn them from those things I get. Those pictures runnin' through my mind. I've seen families together. Moms and dads with the little ones. I mean, what else could it be? And as for knowing that it was a family, someone told me once what it was." Then he sighed heavily, clasping his hands together in front of him. "I don't think I have a mom or a dad. At least, not that I know of."
She wiped a tear away from her cheek. "How do you know?"
His bony shoulders lifted and fell. "I just remember waking up from the ink and that's it. I was all alone."
She couldn't help but feel sad for the demon. All alone in this creepy studio? Waking up in this place would be a terrible nightmare.
"All alone? What did you do?" she asked softly, scared to be any louder.
"I just started walkin'. Or well...limpin'. I don't know what it is." he started before staring down at his leg. "For some reason, I can't walk right with this leg. Don't know if I was born with it or something. Maybe a curse of some sort. Anyways, I eventually found a few people who lived a few floors down from the ink machine. At first, they just stared at me, wonderin' who I was and how I got down there."
"Were they scared of you?"
Bendy paused for a moment, squeezing his hands. "Not at first."
That statement had Jane's heart sinking. 'Not at first.'
"In the beginnin', it was pretty swell. Some of the folks down here enjoyed havin' me stay with them. They taught me everythin' I needed to know about the studio and how to survive. They helped me learn a lot of things. Even learned how to search for food in this joint." he said with a smile before it slowly fell. "And then...I guess it just started happenin'."
Licking her lips, Jane opened her mouth. "What did?"
Bendy's dark lips pursed for a moment before his large teeth dug into his lower lip. "I started changin'."
"Like how?"
"I started growin'. I got taller and my limbs were much longer than when I started out. Then..." he trailed off before shaking his head. "Some stuff happened and next thing I knew...everyone in the studio started...hatin' me. They feared me. Ran away from me as if I was a monster."
The way Bendy spoke, nearly broke Jane's heart.
From what she was learning about Bendy, it was as if he wasn't aware of what he was. He had awoken from the ink and was practically a newborn. Alone. Then when he eventually found others like him, he changed and suddenly nobody wanted to be near him. What kind of life was that?
"Sooo...after that...I just explored the studio, roamin' from place to place until..." His teeth clenched together. "I ended up in the ink machine again..."
"How did you end up in there? I mean, do you know who did it?" Jane asked softly, rubbing her ink covered hands together to attempt to clean them. Too bad that the ink was now in every single crevice and crease of her hands.
Bendy shook his head in dismay. "I didn't see who exactly did it, but I have a pretty good idea who might've done it. And if it is, there's no doubt there are minions out there lookin' for me. Worse...they'll be lookin' for ya too, Toots."
Jane's heart sunk at his words "They? Whose they?"
"Someone who is never ever gonna come after ya. Not as long as I have anythin' to say about it." Bendy grumbled as he stood up, limping back to the hallway.
She blinked in surprise at the gesture. He was being so protective over her even if they had just formally met a few moments ago. It made her slightly scared though. Was Bendy the kind of monster who was possessive over certain things? The thought sent chills down her spine. Despite Bendy's attempted hospitality, he was still a stranger to her. And he definitely wasn't human.
"Um...Bendy. I know you're trying to keep me safe here and I really appreciate for what you've done for me." Her voice trailed off. "But I can't stay here." she tried to tell the ink demon as he checked the hallway door to make sure it was sealed shut. "Surely you know a way back upstairs and if you take me upstairs, I could find a way out."
The demon stopped, his body going stiff before slowly turning around. "But why? You're safe here! I can get around the studio and keep those things away from ya!" Bendy argued from down the hall before he returned shortly.
When his eyes caught hers, Jane couldn't help but avoid his gaze. "I...I have to get home, Bendy. I have people at home waiting on me. My uncle...he doesn't know where I am and..."
"But he didn't answer!" Bendy cut her off. "I mean, whose to say he didn't want to answer?"
Jane felt her heart fall deep into the pit of her stomach. That definitely hurt to hear.
"Besides, I can go get food for ya when ya need it. I can protect ya." he assured her, limping towards Jane while she stood up and moved away in fear. When she did that, Bendy stopped immediately, his eyes widening for a split second. Immediately, Bendy stopped and turned away. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
Jane shook her head as she placed a hand over her racing heart. Now she was scared again.
He inhaled a few times slowly before he limped over to the table. "I...I'm sorry. I'm not trying to scare ya there. I just...I don't want them to get ya."
Her teeth dug into her lower lip as she tried to calm her nerves down to answer. "I...I get it. But...Bendy...my uncle will be worried about me. I know he didn't answer, but I know my uncle. He'll wonder where I am." Her hands tightened around her shirt. "Look, I know you're having a hard time understanding a lot. But...one thing is for sure, and I want you to understand something. My uncle does care about me and he would do anything to make sure I'm safe." Her voice trembled as she spoke to him, a slight coldness in the tone. "Got it?"
He stared down at the young woman, slightly taken back by the way she spoke to him. But Bendy didn't lunge or attempt to hurt her. Instead, he held up his hands for a moment, nodding his head. "You're right. I'm sorry I doubted your uncle." Then he walked away, grabbing a few things off the ground before dumping them on the table.
Once Jane's heart calmed down, she released her shirt, dropping her arms. Sitting back down on the box, she grabbed the blanket, laying it over her lap.
Bendy then grabbed her glass and went to the pipe to refill it again. After a few moments, he returned, setting the glass on the floor next to her feet. As if he didn't want to try and come closer.
He was silent for a few moments before he took a deep breath. "Look..." he sighed. "I know how this might look, Toots. But I'm honestly not going to hurt ya. I'm just tryin' to keep ya safe from all of those guys out there who are lookin' for ya."
Carefully, she reached down to grab the glass at her feet. She took a quick sip, licking her lips. "But...I don't understand." She began, glancing up at the demon who was slumped against the doorway of the junk closet. "Why are you so insistent on keeping me safe? I mean, you don't know me. I'm not...like you. And...I just don't know what exactly is going on here."
Bendy pushed the ink away from his face before shrugging his shoulders. "Toots...I'm gonna be honest here." Then he moved closer to her. "I know ya didn't mean to come here and ya didn't mean to turn on the machine...but...ya saved me. Ya freed me from that darn contraption and for that, I'm eternally grateful."
She stared at him for a few moments before he continued.
"I just...I feel like I owe ya for that. So from here on out, I'm gonna make sure that nothin' is comin' after ya. You're stayin' here with me."
"But Bendy...I can't stay here forever. I have to get home." She took another sip of water. "You probably know the way back upstairs. If you're grateful for what I did, then why can't you fulfill a favor for me?"
"A favor?"
She nodded slowly. "You can take me back upstairs. Help me escape this place."
His onyx eyes narrowed. "But why would I do that?"
"Because I saved you and well...to make things fair, you should try and save me as well."
"But I saved ya already. I stopped that Sammy guy and here ya are, safe and sound. I mean this room isn't too big, but you're hidden away." he tried to assure her that he was right.
Jane stood up, clutching the cup close. "But for how long? If they were able to find me in the music department, whose to say that they won't find me here?"
"They won't!"
She frowned at the desperation in his voice. "But then what? I stay in this room for the rest of my life? I can't stay here."
Bendy grumbled deeply as he began pacing back and forth across the room. She could vaguely hear the words 'crazy doll', 'foolish', 'no', and 'protect'. What exactly was he saying or planning? Then she could see his lips pursing and his eyes narrowing slowly, eyebrows knitting together.
Jane's eyes blinked a couple of times while her head tilted slightly to the side. Did he have eyebrows before? After all, when he saw hers, he didn't even know what they were called? But when she saw his face, she didn't notice them before.
Mentally, she shook her head. Perhaps, the ink hid his eyebrows before.
Bendy suddenly stopped in front of her. "You're awfully stubborn, Toots."
She stared back at him. "I'm stubborn? Says the ink demon who insists on making me stay here."
The onyx eyes narrowed, but when he opened his mouth, she quickly cut him off.
"If you want to protect me, then help me get out of there." she pleaded, hoping to change his mind. She had to try something!
Surely, Bendy knew the way out of this place. If what he said about living here for so long is true, then he should be familiar with every hall and crevice.
His chest puffed up as he took a deep breath before it fell again as he exhaled, releasing all the air that was built up. "I...I'll think about it. But I'm not promisin' anything, Toots."
She frowned at his answer. Not the sort of response she was thinking of hearing.
Even if she was 'safe' here in this secluded space, right now, she didn't feel completely safe here with the ink demon who never wanted to let her go.
Rubbing her hands she snatched up the blanket, holding it close. After everything she had experienced today, Jane couldn't help but feel exhaustion fill her entire being. There had been so much stress on her body, mentally and physically.
She could worry about Bendy helping her later, all she wanted was a little bit of rest.
"I think I'm going to try and get some sleep." she mumbled as she dropped the blanket in the nearest bare corner.
Bendy then went into the junk closet and dragged out a small couch cushion. "I'm sorry it's not a bed. If you want my chair, you're more than welcome to use it."
"It's fine. It'll do." Jane assured the demon as she dragged the cushion over to the bare corner and began setting up a makeshift sleeping area. It would probably be slightly stiff, but she could manage sleeping there for a bit. At least she had a blanket and a cushion to sleep on.
Bendy moved over to slump in his chair, laying back against it. "I guess I should get a little rest as well. But don't worry, I'm a light sleeper. If somethin' comes, I'll wake ya up. But we should be safe."
Jane sat down on the floor, adjusting the cushion. "Are you sure? We could always take shifts and keep watch."
"Won't have to. This room is sealed up pretty tight. If I hear somethin', I'll protect ya."
"My hero..." she mumbled before laying down on the cushion, pulling the scratchy blanket up over her shoulders, keeping her nice and warm.
"You teasin' me, Toots?" Bendy asked. "You think I can't protect ya? Just because I'm not human doesn't mean that-"
"I know." she told him, curling up in a ball. "I'm not doubting you. Just...think about helping me."
A heavy sigh filled the quiet room. "Alright, Toots. I'll think on it. But I'm not agreein' to anythin'."
She nodded slowly before closing her eyes. "Just think about it." she whispered to him as she rolled onto her side.
"Night Toots."
"Night...Bendy."
"Sweet dreams."
Yeah, hopefully she could wake up from this nightmare.
I guess I'll end it there for now. What's going to happen now? Well...the story could go in any direction now. This part wasn't in the game of course and things will change slightly from here on out. This was a tricky chapter to write, but I enjoyed writing Bendy a lot for this one. What do you guys think of Bendy? Any theories you might have? I love hearing your ideas and theories. This game definitely makes you think about what's been going on in this studio. And with the sequel on the horizon, who knows what's in store for all of us?
Thank you everyone for reading! I hope I can have the next chapter done sometimes soon this summer! It'll be tough with my job and all, but I'm trying to get the next chapter done sooner. Don't forget to leave a review! I love hearing from you guys and it definitely helps encourage me to writing more! Thanks again! ^_^