AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I got into a car accident two weeks ago and I didn't have a chance to write more until recently.
Also, once the update to the game comes, I will be rewriting some of the earlier chapters.
Chapter 8:
A couple of hours passed after Henry had passed in the pentagram before he finally started stirring. Letting out a groan, Henry opened his eyes and sat up from where the teens had propped him up against the wall.
"Ugh, oh my head," Henry moaned, putting a hand on his throbbing head. "What happened?"
"You passed out when you accidentally stepped on the pentagram," Adrian explained as he helped his Uncle up. "You've been out for a couple of hours. Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Henry nodded slowly as the pain ebbed away. "I saw some weird visions of the Ink Machine, that 'Bendy' Monster, and I think a wheelchair."
"Maybe their some sort of clue," Alya said in thought, tapping her chin. "What do you think they mean."
"I don't know, but I guess there's only one thing to do," Henery concluded, picking up his axe again. "Press on and see if we can find a way out."
Henry used his axe to clear the boards from the doorway before leading the teens through the next hallway. When they came to the end, they found what appeared to be some sort of alter to Bendy with the words 'He Will Set us Free' written above it.
"I don't like this," Marinette grimaced, holding her purse close for comfort. "It's almost like someone's worshiping that monster."
"Like a cult," Nino concluded, looking over the altar. "That's both exciting and kind of scary. Do you think we'll run into them do you?"
"I doubt there's actually a cult down here," Henry reasoned, leading the group on. "Lets' just focus on getting out of here. How did this place get so big?"
"You mean it wasn't this big when you left," Marinette asked in worry.
"The studio was pretty big, but I don't recognize these hallways," Henry explained as he looked around. "But if we can get to a part of the studio I'm familiar with, I know I can lead us out of here."
"Hey, guys!" Adrain called, drawing the groups attention to the tape recorder he was holding. "I found this over by that alter."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Alya asked in excitement as the gathered around Adrian. "Play it already."
"He appears from the shadows to rain his sweet blessings upon me." A male voice said reverently. "The figure of ink that shines in the darkness. I see you, my savior. I pray you hear me. Those old songs, yes, I still sing them. For I know you are coming to save me. And I will be swept up into your final loving embrace. But, love requires sacrifice. Can I get an amen?"
The tape recorder clicked off and the group just looked at each other in stunned silence.
"I said, can I get an amen?"
The voice cut through the silences and seemed to come from right behind the group. They whipped around for the source of the voice but there was no sign of whoever had just spoken.
"W-who was that?" Marinette, with a slight tremor in her voice.
"That sounded like Sammy Lawrence," Henry replied slowly. "He used to be the music director, but I've never heard him talk like that. And it seems like this recording must have been made after whatever happened here."
"Do you think he's still here," Adrian wondered, putting the tape recorder back.
"I don't know," Henry frowned. "And I actually hope he isn't. Come on, let's keep going."
The group went past a few more alters and did their best to avoid looking at any coffins they would find. Henry was leading the group through a flooded hallway when he heard someone muttering up ahead. He looked up to see a humanoid figure walking across the doorway, carrying a Bendy cut out.
"Hey," Henry called out automatically, startling the teens behind him. "Excuse Me! Can you help us! Hello?"
The figured seemed to ignore them as it continued walking without pausing. Henry hurried his way through the ink and turned the corner only to find a dead end. The figure was nowhere in sight with the Bendy cut out propped up against the wall.
"Where the hell did he go?" Henry wondered out loud as the teens caught up with him.
"Maybe there's some sort of secret passage," Nino suggested, studying the walls. "It must be really well hidden because I'm not finding anything."
"Maybe it was a ghost," Alya teased, though none of the others felt like laughing at her joke.
"Either way, I don't think he's going to help us," Adrian reasoned, crossing his arms.
"And that might actually be a good thing," Marinette said, glaring at the cutout. She swears it was watching them.
"No point in arguing about it," Henry cut in, turning towards the other direction. They didn't get very far before their way was blocked by a metal gate.
"We need to power to this gate somehow," Henry said, studying the opening mechanism next to the gate. "There should be a couple switches nearby. Then maybe I can open it."
The teens nodded and split up, looking for the switches to power the door. Thankfully it didn't take long for the teens to find the three switches they needed and they went back to where Henry was waiting. Once all the teens were gathered, Henry pulled down the lever and the door open with a creak and a rumble. Henry cleared the boards away and the group spilled out into a large entrance hallway. On the wall in the middle the words 'Music Department' was written.
"Finally a place I recognize, " Henry said with a smile, looking around. "That means the exit is right over here…"
Henry leads the group around the corner, all them excited at the prospect of finally getting out of this nightmare of a studio, only for their smiles to drop. For the stairs leading to the exit was flooded with ink, making it impossible to get through.
PS: If you're interested in more of my Bendy works, I'm mking a fan comic that you can check out on my tumblr or deviantart account.