Chapter 1: Old memories

I ran down the creaky stairs looking for my best friend, Bendy. I technically grew up with him. I giggled softly before tripping over my own feet and falling three steps, scraping my knee in the process. Bendy must've heard me because the next thing I knew he was right by my side helping me to my feet. I was crying a bit while feeling the throbbing pain in my knee.

"Gee, what happened here? You looked like a schmuck!" he chuckled and held me close to him as he always did whenever I was hurt.

"You're talking hooey!" I shouted, embarrassed that he'd seen me crying.

"Hey, I was only making razz, ok?" he wiped my tears, and I smiled back, at last feeling better, "That's the peppy bearcat I know!" he smiled but then my father called us.

We both scrambled to our feet and ran up the stairs towards him.

"Coming, Papa!" I giggled and looked at bendy excitedly. I hugged my father sweetly, to persuade him to allow us to have a sleepover. "Papa, remember last week you said I could have a sleepover if I'm on my best behavior?" I giggled cheekily then looked at Bendy.

"Yes, of course I do, and you have been razz my dear." He smiled knowing what that I was about to ask him.

I hugged Bendy and looked at him, "Can we have one now?" I shouted excitedly then looked at Bendy, who was also excited.

"Hmm, well you have been terrific all week, and helped out with the home chores..." he paused and smiled at us.

We were filled with anticipation and worry about Papa's answer.

"Please, Mr. Calico! I'm sure she was a berry." Bandy vouched for me. He wanted to get out of the studio for a while since it was boring and lonely at night.

Papa laughed softly and nodded, "Alright, Bendy can come over for a sleepover."

Bandy and I gasped, elated by the answer. "Alright, my little bearcat. Let's get to ankling." Papa chuckled and walked towards the door.

I giggled and jumped into the blue Bently six speed. Bandy and I looked out the window at the city, "Look how beautiful it is!" I giggled and felt my hair blow in the brisk wind. I shivered slightly, but Bandy pulled me close to him for warmth and Papa smiled at us as he glanced back. By the time we arrived home, there was still a little light out, Papa allowed us to play outside until the streetlights came on. Later that night, Bendy and I were curled up together, asleep in bed. Papa checked in on us, smiled, then pulled the covers over us.

Everything seemed happy until 1`o clock in the morning when a squall started up, and I was woken up by the roaring thunder. I gasped in shock and fear before I sat up. When I scanned the room, I noticed Bendy was gone, and a thud was heard from downstairs. I got up still quivering and walked down the stairs.

"Bendy? Papa?" My soft voice hardly echoed through the room. I was still groggy from the sudden wake. I made it to the stairs. The creaking from the wooden stairs made my fears grow even more. I heard fighting downstairs, and when I did, I bolted as fast as I could. "Poppy?!" I shouted running towards the living room.

A tall, dark figure was attacking my father and throwing him against the wall. I screamed as loud as I could which I assumed scared him. Papa ran towards me and pulled me close to him.

"Where's Bendy?!" I asked him worriedly. He picked me up and dashed into the closet. That's where we found Bendy scared to the core. "Bendy!" I hugged him tightly and looked at Papa who pulled us both into his arms. I was crying a bit from seeing my father attacked by a man. I felt something wet on my father's arms.

"Daddy? why are you so sweaty?" I looked up at him curiously. The sweat looked red, and it was oozing from his arm.

"I was just trying to protect you and Bendy. Don't worry I will be ok. Just get some sleep baby." He kissed my forehead and pulled us tightly to his arm. The next day, we returned to the studios as usual.

Bendy sighed and looked at me, "That was fun and terrifying." I looked up at Papa who had a bandage on his arm from the nurse we visited earlier that morning. I nodded then noticed Boris approaching us with a worried expression.

"Boris, are you alright?" I looked at him happily unaware of what was to happen next.

"Joey fired your father, and now you both got the bum's rush!" Boris shouted.

"What do you mean?" I asked with confusion and worry.

"Allow your father to explain that to you," He sighed and hugged us both.

Bendy didn't understand what was happening either, but that was last time I thought would ever see Bendy and Boris. Many years have passed, and it was 1938, My father died, but I was seventeen years old which is old enough to provide for myself anyway. I had just enough money for an AJS Silver Streak by using my inheritance from my pops, but it was completely worth it. One day, I walked out to my motorcycle as always, but that day was different from other days. It was a weekend, and I had decided to revisit an old friend whom I abandoned for so many years. I tied my backpack to the side of my motorcycle before I hopped on it and rode off towards the old city I grew up in. I looked around at the beautiful country scenery. Deer were jumping over streams, with the males bucking each other while the female tended to their fawns. Birds were chirping and feeding their young while the gentle summer wind blew the long grass. Finally, I made it to the city, which was less scenic, but just as fascinating with all the people walking. I parked in the vacated parking area in front of the studios. I hopped off my motorcycle and looked at the building which surprisingly was still in good shape. I walked inside and looked around. It was the same as it was when I was little. I smiled and spun around excitedly. I couldn't believe I was back to the place I used to call home. I found a recorder and picked it up, then placed it in my brown satchel. It played while I walked around remembering where each room was in the studio. I saw my father's old drawing desk. I brushed my fingers against the desk and felt dust get caught under my fingers. The glossy cherry wood brought back many memories. I saw my small drawing desk that was placed next to his larger, more heavily equipped, desk. I returned down the hall looking around, and that's when I noticed the ink machine that was right down the hall. I approached the ink machine and saw a logo on it. I picked up a dirty, dust rag and wiped the dust off the side of the engine: the logo called it JOEY`S MIRACLE STATION.

I rolled my eyes and kept playing every cassette tape I could find around the room, but then I saw the most heart-shattering scene I had ever seen in my entire life. A wolf-humanoid cartoon was strapped to a table with his insides shredded. The ink was dribbling from his chest while his ribs were extruding out of his chest. I look at him horrified and angry.

"Boris! What have they done to you?!" I shouted with shock and sadness. "How could they do this to you?" I exclaimed with my voice echoing throughout the empty studio. I looked at his face, then thoughts overwhelmed my mind about what or who did this to him. Boris was the best cook and the most caring character in the studio. If they did this to Boris, then what did they do to Bendy? I thought to myself. Then I got up, wiping my tears while of caressing Boris on the cheek. I picked up another recorder and rushed off while listening to the directions on how to power up the ink machine. I found the room where the items were to go and examine the pictures above each plinth.

"Alright, So I need gear, a wrench, a record, an ink jar, a book, and a Bendy doll," I thought while walking through all the rooms finding each item with the last one being the Bendy doll. When I saw the medium-sized, black plushie, I sighed. "I promise I will find you, my old friend," I whispered to myself.

I placed it on the pedestal then approached the lever and pulled it. I walked towards the ink machine, but it didn't flow. I picked up another recorder and played it. "You must restore the pressure of the ink. The flow button is in the projector room." an unknown male voice said. I made a dash towards the room then slammed the flow button hard enough to leave a slight red mark on my hand. I returned to the same hallway, but the ink machine room had crates and wood thrown in front of the entrance. I heard rough movement like someone throwing things and wrecking the place.

"Hello?" I shouted with my voice echoing throughout the room. The lights flickered which sent chills down my spine. I leaned over one of the containers, but then I was attacked by Bendy who was covered in ink. His eyes were blinded with it. I yelped while falling back and crawling away. "Bendy! It's me, Scarlett!" I screamed at him with terror in my voice.

"So, you finally return after thirteen years. Thirteen years of pain and you show your face around here. How could you abandon us? You're a traitor. You said you would always be by my side, but you weren't! Where were you all those years?!" He replied with a demonic voice. He started to roar and growl like a beast. He threw a crate, and it had almost hit me. I saw ink leaking out of the walls and ceiling. I knew had to get out of there before the ink could rise to a point where I couldn't escape. I got up and ran back down the hall towards the exit. I saw the door, but the floor beneath me gave way, and I fell into a room I had never been in before. In fact, I didn't even know it existed. The Sonance from the ink rushing into the room faster than it did earlier fill my ears. It was a cascade. I saw a pipe and got up before the ink got to knee length. I pulled the valve and watched the black goo drain, which left heaps of ink all over the floor. I opened the door and saw an ax resting against the wall.

"Huh, this will be useful," I chuckled softly and picked it up. I was trying to keep things in a light mood and trying to keep myself from losing my sanity. I was sure no normal human being would be able to comprehend what was happening as quickly as I was. I walked down the corridor swinging my ax against any wood that was in my way. I found a room with an unusual symbol on it. It looked as if someone was worshiping something or someone. I walked around it before I slipped and fell onto the weird symbol. I hit my head which triggered visions of Bendy then a wheelchair and lastly, the ink machine. I was left in shock before blacking out.