AN: Happy New Year everyone!

Two Minds Aren't Always Better

For as long as Alice could remember, she had never been alone in her head. Even when she was first born from the ink, there was another already within. The other, whom Alice learned very quickly was called Susie, was much stronger than Alice as she had existed long before Alice was even born. While Alice was still gathering her conscious, Susie had already started going about the studio. For the longest time, Alice was only a passenger in the body that was supposed to be hers. She just existed in the darkness in the back of her mind with only a few flashes of what her body was experiencing, but as time passed she grew stronger.

When Alice grew strong enough that she could tell what Susie was doing pretty much all the time, Susie became aware of her existence. Susie immediately lashed out against her, determined to rip Alice's conscious to shreds. But Alice would not just let herself be destroyed, so she fought back. Susie was surprised by Alice's strength and Alice was able to briefly overwhelm her.

Alice blinked and stumbled to the floor as she took control of her body for the first time since she was born in this world. She gazed at everything in wonder and marveled at the feeling of the wood under her hand. As her gaze went from her hand down to her body, Alice couldn't help but frown in confusion, she did not look right. Her proportions were wrong and where were her white gloves. She didn't have long to think about it as she could feel Susie trying to rip back control.

Alice staggered to her feet and began making her way down the hall as best she could. She had to find someone who could help her. Someone that could free her from Susie's grasp. As she passed by one of the many Ink puddles that seemed to fill this place, a creature emerged and began crawling towards her. Alice screamed and ran away, barely dodging as more creatures erupted from the ink. Alice ran until she could longer hear the groans of those creatures, finally slowing down to catch her breath. It was only then that she realized that the hall she found herself in seemed to be filled with inky shadows.

She tensed as she heard something coming from behind her and fearfully turned around. Her fear melted into relief as she saw who was behind her. Sure, he didn't look like he should, but Alice would recognize that grin anywhere. Bendy tilted his head as he studied Alice. Probably as confused by her strange form as she was of his. While Alice and Bendy didn't always see eye to eye, she knew she could always rely on him for help. She was about to call out to him when Susie took over and forced her back into the darkness.

It took Alice a moment to reorient herself. She knew Susie was talking to Bendy, but she wasn't fully aware until Bendy attacked. The next few moments passed through fear and pain, but they escaped. After that though, Alice and Susie were always fighting for control. Susie was usually dominant, though there would be moments when Alice would be able to take the reins. As they fought, each of them got damaged and unstable, but they never stopped.

The only thing they could agree on was that they had to escape from this place.

Then someone came… Henry… Creator… he somehow managed to tame the Ink Demon, to bring out the real Bendy. Even as Susie taunted them and forced them to do tasks, Alice could only feel a growing hope. When he offered to have them come with him, Alice immediately did all she could to say yes. While Susie did keep her at bay, she did reluctantly agree to try to leave. And by some miracle, Henry, the Creator, was able to get them all out.

Within Henry's home, Alice and the others began the long road to recovery. With Henry's help, the Alice and Susie were no longer divided into to minds. Instead, Susie finally relinquished control and her conscious was absorbed into Alice's. Alice felt so relieved to finally be stable and alone in her head, but unfortunately, the process left her with clear memories of everything that Susie had done to the others.

Alice felt so guilty about what she had done, especially how she had torn into Boris again and again. She knew what had happened was unforgivable and that she should apologize to them all, but Susie's pride didn't let her. So instead, she acted aloof, keeping her distance from the others. She would just shake her head at their antics and roll her eyes wherever they got fascinated by the littlest things. If she never got close to them, she wouldn't hurt them again. (Deep inside though, Alice was afraid that the others wouldn't want to be friends with her after all she had done.)

But despite how she acted, Bendy and Boris kept trying to include her, to have her join them in their games and bonding moments. No matter how much she tried to resist, they somehow always managed to draw her in. Before long, Alice felt her smiles come more naturally and far more genuine they had been in a long time. She started actually talking to the others, instead of just having polite conversations. She would gladly join in whatever Bendy and Boris decided to do and even came up with suggestions of her own.

She knew of course that she had a lot to make to the others. And she still had a lot of personal issues she needed to deal with. But this mismatched family had somehow wormed its way into her heart and they were all helping each other heal and recover. She truly cared for them and she would do all she could to keep them safe and happy.