Chapter 4
"Sorry demon feller, but I've got the show booked for today. Come another time or have a pint on me." The rounded moustached man said, pointing his thumb at himself. The people bustling about themselves in the big wooden pub, the big burly men clapping along to a mule in lederhosen playing the pipes near the back.
"You've gotta be kidding Walter!" Bendy replied. "This has gotta be the fifth time this week. Squeeze me in will ya? There's gotta be something I can join in on."
Walter stares at the ceiling while fiddling with the curl of his brown stache. "Well.. I suppose you could share the stage with the main act tonight."
"Really?" Bendy gleamed. "What's his name? Whatever he does, I'll hold it to him to do just as good. "
"It's a she actually." Walter said happily. "And her name's-"
"Alice." Bendy groaned.
"Yes indeedy! Do you two know each other?" he asked while tugging on his suspenders.
"Thanks for the time Walt." Bendy sighed, grabbing a pint on his way out the door. "I'll see ya next week maybe."
"Oh alright then! Take care little feller!" Walter waved. Everyone cheered as the mule blew out a stream of beer from his high note of finality, the boys going round to collect their drinks in hand.
Bendy shoved his hands deep into his suddenly existent body pockets as he kicked an empty bottle through the alleyways of the bars exit. The walls plastered with signs and faded newspaper clippings. Her face was popping up more by the day.
Ever since that first performance at Envoya's, word quickly spread about Alice Angel the sweetheart singer. Since she was mostly considered angelic, bars, clubs, and even the high swanky joints wanted to hear her voice for themselves straight away. Even with all his natural talent and charm he still couldn't get into all those places. They found a demon performer a bit too unheard of and tricky. They'll warm up to him eventually one day, he was sure of it. But Alice?
Bendy growled with frustration, kicking the nearest wall with a dull thump. A slip of paper rattles off and lands right on his face.
"Huh?" he said. He yanks it off and inspects it. There she was in his face again. Her smug little smile written off as innocent. The little dot under her left eye winking like she knows something you don't. She even added his signature bow at the center of her little black dress, a mockery on his own style.
Her face blew a raspberry at him. He seethed and tore the paper to shreds in a matter of seconds.
"Hey!" a voice shouted. "Hey you!" Bendy looked around his surroundings, seeing nobody in his sights. "Up here two horns! I'm talkin to you!" He looks up to a big lipped bee shouting down at him from above, its white gloved fist shaking in fury. "Yeah thats right bugger! Finally lookin the right way. Now next time watch whose houses you go destroying before I give you the sting! Scram!"
"Sorry pal! I wasn't paying any mind." Bendy waved frantically. "I don't know what got into me. Really."
"Yeah, yeah not paying any mind my stinger. Got my nice front porch all ripped to tatters right after knocking me out of my own good sleepin' chair." The bee drawled. "Ey! Wait a ticker." He squinted with a grin. "Is this about a dame?"
"What! No." his eyes rolled to the side. "Well yes but no?"
The bee flutters down. "I knew it! I know it when I see it!" He laughed. "Boy must've been something fierce too. Dames I tell ya. Notin but trouble." He pulls out a blunt and perched it on his lips. Resting himself on bendy's shoulder. "Was it the one from the papers?" He asked. "She is quite the looker."
"It's not like that." Bendy kept strolling along the town. "Everywhere I look, I see her face. Words spreading in town like fire and beating me up like it's not even hard. Hell she's even got my best pal wrapped around her little finger!"
"Say it ain't so!" the bee exclaimed.
"It true" Bendy replied, "He's been keepin it a secret from me all along. Then I saw it."
His memories melt into the moment of that stone cold realization. The performance for the children's books was already done. Bendy was near booking it earlier than usual cause one the priests that happened to be there thought it'd be funny to try giving him a lifetime supply of bibles. He whipped around the corner of backstage and tumbled into the back room where Boris kept the equipment. Smacking into a revolving trash can with a dusty clang.
From outside the room and safety of his metal can he could still hear the priest and that rapsy old man wheeze of his. "Bendy! Little dancer won't you please take a look inside a scripture? Little demon fellow?"
He shuddered as he further sank into the trashcan, blinking through its darkness as Boris slunked through the doorway, double checking the entrance before shutting the door behind him. Oh no. Bendy thought. Was the holy geezer going after him too? Or was he looking around for him?
Just before Bendy could utter a word to his pal to let him know everything was alright, Boris whipped out a picture frame of what he could only assume was Reese, pressing it against his cheek, the wolf sighed. "You and me one day Mon Cherie'" He blushed before shutting his eyes and puckering his lips planting a big wet one dead center on the picture.
Bendy felt a twinge of pity for his poor deluded friend. Boris and Reese couldn't be. They both knew better than that. He would have to take it off his mind somehow. Maybe take him out to meet a few available gals. The loveliest he could find too, it'd be easy with how sappy his bud could get with the hearts and the flowers.
"The sun to my moon, and the brightest one of all. Oh so beautiful." The wolf continued in a deep suave voice, kissing the picture repeatedly. It was then his wrists must've grown tired, he spun around and it was revealed right before his eyes that the woman in the picture wasn't Reese at all but Alice. Not only that, but a picture of Alice signed by the angel herself.
His stomach curled at the memory of how much he puked in the can afterwards.
"Lookin back I should've known. That way he looked at her that first night. The last time he fell that hard for a gal was Lady Reese. And Reese is taken! Knowing him, it's just a matter of time before he tries something." He holds onto his arm. "Then if he does sweep her off her feet, they'll get married, she won't let me be near either of them and I'll just be..here."
"Aw keep ya chin up bud. Still got a job dontcha! You could make new pals."
"No sir. Not a pal in the world like Boris." he crossed his arms. "And I think with the way things are going so far, I'm starting to disappear. Just cause of that angel-it's all gotten so bad!"
"Jeez." The bee chuckled " Your job. Your reputation. An' now your longtime chum? Boy you've sure got whipped by this dame, haven't ya?"
"It's not funny!" Bendy growled.
"Wasn't laughin at you pal." The bee stuck out his joint and stared at it for a while blankly in his fingers. "Say, now that I think bout it. Your face seems familiar. A demon right? Two horns and all that."
"Yeah. So?"
He struck a quick match using the crook of Bendy's neck and set his joint ablaze much to his bemusement. Inhaling a deep whiff of the stuff. "Don't you demons know how to set oh I dunno." He puffs out a smoke cloud in the shape of a cross eyed skull. "Accidents?"
"That's not how I work. Who do you take me for?" Bendy asked
"Why not? You'd just be sending her back to her maker right?" He rests back on his nubby elbows, crossing his legs, and taking another drag. "Is killin even a real crime anymore? Now that everyone knows there really is an up and down."
"You don't get it do you?" Bendy shook his head. "Killing is still killing. Once you're there you can't return to wherever you used to be. Ever. It is not a way to go." He waves away the smoke. "Besides she's some kind of half breed. If she were to die who knows where she'd end up?"
"Sammy!" someone called out before a fit of coughing.
The bee rolls his eyes and mutters under his breath before ending the blunt's brief life on the edge of Bendy's shoulder.
"Sammy!" the light voice called again. The next thing the little demon sees is a petite white butterfly landing on his other shoulder.
"What? What is it now Slyvia?!" the bee barked.
"Did you see the front porch?" she huffed before coughing and kneeling over herself.
"I saw. I was there. Boy did I forget for a while." he said as he looked at Bendy. "But he meant no harm on it he swears."
"I'll get you a new one. Sorry for certain." Bendy added.
"Ahhh don sweat it pal. You've got your share of troubles too." He lowered his voice to a whisper as he avoided eyes with the butterfly. "Like mine's right now."
"Sylvia!" he called out in a light tone that seemed out of place and fake for the way he talked earlier. "Dear Sylvia the boy here's got lady troubles." He announced.
"What really?" she brightened. "What kind?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" he shouted before shrugging and smiling at the groaning demon.
"Well dear? What seems to cause you worry?" She cooed. "Is it because she's too cute to say much at all?"
Bendy rubbed the back of his head. "Only if cute were deadly." he chuckled nervously. "She's sort of ruining everything."
"Goodness gracious." she said,cupping her cherub like cheek with a dainty hand. "That's an awful lot for luck. Why don't you go out and ask her to stop? Find a better way to spend her time? Bullies never have enough things to do, I swear it."
"I tried at the start Miss Slyvia. But I don't think she took it the right way. Only made things worse for myself you see-"
His mind flashes back to that night at Rosie's.
She was already there up performing. their eyes met as her smile grew wider. That smile he grew to recognize as malicious and vengeful. A smile he'd prefer to never see again. She tapped her feet that night.
"Ain't he sweet?
with his lit-tle dancing feet? Oh my what a star, hangin in this lit-tle bar
Ain't this a treat?"
Bendy huffed as the spotlight suddenly hit him. Looking above, a stageman fly was winking at him. The crowd cheered and applauded at the sight.
"You asked for it." he whispered.
Clearing his throat he twirled his cane and gripped it in both hands with a final stomp to the ground.
"Hey youu.
You're driving me craaazy." he twirled his finger. "Your beauty, your grace,
the way the light hits your face.
It's quite insaane." he hops off his chair strutting towards the stage.
"How far down I'm on this high.
The feeling just won't die.
Now. Ain't .That .Sweet?" He points his cane inches from Alice's face, grinning from horn to horn. Alice's brows were drawn together for several moments before her eyes darted to the crowd. Everyone's eyes were on him.
"You performin' was the treat
Now go ahead, take a seat
And let me shine" he hops onto the stage and hums to the beat of his song while tapping his shoes against the hardwood floors. Whistles rang through the audience. He lifts his hat and giggles before winking at Alice.
"Why I never-" she sidesteps him, easily shoving herself to the front of the stage as she swayed her hips.
"Darling. What's with all this bargin'?
Isn't it plain to see
that I'm not a piece of candy?
If anyone drives me nuts
I think that's youuu." she grabs his shoulders. "Now take your how do you do's and skiddadle" she said before shoving him off the stage.
More cheering and applause while she scatted lyrical nonsense, skipping and swaying around. suddenly her backdrop moon crashed to the floor and made a huge gaping hole.
Bendy then jumped out. "How do you do's?
More like how do you nots.
This job just ain't suiting you
Holdin on to a straddle
in this lit-tle ol battle
of showing off to a crowd"
The curtains closed abruptly on the demon as Alice stepped forward on the stage.
"Although it's true
I don't like fighting all that much
It's just a single touch" she air kisses to the audience. Wolf whistles and jangling cutlery respond.
"A wave of my hand and they all adore me
Can't you see?
I was born to perform better than the likes of you."
From the slit of the curtain came out his cane, roping over her waist she squeaked as she was yanked into the abyss of backstage.
"Girl. You drive me crazyy." Bendy stepped out.
"I'll tell ya one more time
Of how it's a crime
to bring yourself to my glory, my fame.
Just stand back and let me do my thing."
The trumpets in the room grew louder than the rest of the band as he slid and paraded around the stage floor.
Alice abruptly zwoops up from a hidden floorboard piece, switching places with Bendy.
"It's a shame that you can't though." she said.
They switch again.
"But I can." he replied
Switch again but faster.
"No you can't"
"Yes I can."
"You can't"
"I can. I can. I caaan."
The floorboard kept going in circles until it became a brown wheeled blur. Alice stayed out tapping her shoe before walking off and coming back with a bundle a rope. She ties and strangles Bendy in a neat bundle, finishing her work with a nice little bow before stringing him to the ceiling.
Bendy swung to and fro in the air. A muffled scream coming from the rope tied around his lips.
"Thanks for swinging on by
but I gotta say bye
Thanks for trip
Adieuuu
That's all." She bowed as the light went out. The roaring applause echoing in his head.
"Hmph. You probably said it wrong is my guess." Slyvia waved her hand before taking a seat on the edge and tapped her legs lightly against his shoulder. "Let's see, there still might be a way to fix this."
"Ahhh he should just put a stinger in the gal in my opinion." Sammy replied. "A prick for a prick no?"
"Why you little wise knocker! Don't make me come over there!" Slyvia shouted. Sammy tucked himself behind Bendy's neck and stuck out his tongue.
She sighs. "Don't mind him dear, he's a stinker as much he is a stinger. Has no idea how to treat a lady which is why, clearly, you need me!"
Bendy could practically feel Sammy rolling his eyes.
"Oh! I know!" A lightbulb popped over her head. "What about giving her everything she wants?"
"What? How does that help anything?" Bendy asked.
"Just take it from me dear. Give a lady everything she wants, and she'll figure out what she needs."
"I'm not.. following" Bendy's brow furrowed. Slyvia simply hovered over him and readjusted his bowtie. "Sweet little dear, what I simply mean is give it to her and do it good. Make her taste what it's like to be at the top and then." She pulls him close with a big toothy grin. "Knock her to the bottom."
She lets go , nearly sending Bendy landing on his tail. "You mean.. Like betrayal?" he asked.
"Bigger they are, the harder they fall right?" she chuckled. "Come along now Sammy. And good luck dear! " She waved before flying back off into the night.
After a moment of silence Bendy turned his attention back to the bee. "She's a bit of something." The demon said.
Sammy pulls out another bogie to brush off his shudders. "Tell me about it. Least you don't have to live with her. Sorry for puttin ya on the spot there, but it was the only way she wouldn't plan anythin bad when I get back home." He takes a drag. "Listen. I wouldn't pay much mind to her schemes. If killin isn't your thing, then maybe try twistin a bad thing into a good one. Change perspectives an all that. Nevah know how it'll turn out."
"SAMMY! NOW!" Slyvia hollered from beyond.
"Boy you'll nevah know." he grumbled before taking flight. "Good luck pal. You still owe me a new front house!"
"SAMMY!"
"I'M COMING WOMAN!" he shouted.
As Sammy bee took off into the night after his shouting dame, Bendy could only rub his chin and tap his foot. "What she wants for what she needs? What she needs for what she wants? Wait for something good to happen? Or what for what?" he sighed. "Why is all this so confusing?"
And so our little demon friend wandered on through the night, his mind buzzing with questions until interrupted by the rumbles of his empty belly. It had been quite a while since he had food. Lucifer knows if he had any left in the fridge back home Boris would've eaten it by now.
A little more dawdling and a hop, skip, then jump later his eyes catches a diner not far from where he stood. It's pink door handle literally waving him in with a saucy wink and a smile. Smiling wide he takes a few steps forward until stopped by a shout.
"Someone! Anyone please!" They wailed.
Bendy ran around the restaurant until he found an alleyway behind the place. The feminine wails grew louder and desperate, echoing against the walls, deep within the darkness.
With zoom and a tuck he arrived at the scene. Didn't even have to blink through the darkness since he was born from it. Though seeing clearly through the darkness was always a bit more of a challenge. If it weren't for the light of the moon and a dim light from the flashy store signs nearby anyone else wouldn't have seen this spot entirely. But here it was, with its tossed out crates, scraps, and past a dumpster that looked shoved out of place near the entrance way where he stood.
He could only make out the three shadowy figures hunching over a poor creature that was just as short as he was. All backed up against the left end of the dead end of the alleyway.
The biggest figure slammed the wall behind the victim with a heavy hand, shifting some of the bricks itself behind her. "Oy! Settle down nows kittycat." A rough raspy man's voice said. The man leaned in to its victim's face. "You know what yous gotta pays for." he chuckled. His friends chuckled darkly behind him.
"You tell em now." One of them said.
Up at this point Bendy could feel tremors go up his spine. "That voice." He whispered to himself as he slowly crept past the dumpster to kneel behind the crates.
The victim's tail was frizzing in every which way and their ears swung around crazily before the big one with a smoking pipe pulled the puffer from his lips. There was a moment of silence before he was blowing a ring of smoke into his victims face which they didn't appreciate it in the least by her fits of coughing. Her blue frilly dress swishing as she shook her head.
"I should probably get Boris." Bendy thought as he slowly backed away from the group. Evenly retracing his steps as he willed himself to keep hidden until a loud metallic crunch and clang popped. Bendy lifted his shoe in time to see the half crushed tin of emptied bacon soup. He looked back up as everyone had all eyes on him.
"Cookiescraps." he squeaked.