Chapter 23:

"We've been in one place too long," Henry said firmly, readjusting his grip on the wrench. "We should get going. We need to find those gears for Alice so we can get out of here."

"Right," Marinette agreed, nodding her head and turning to Adrian. "I won't be able to transform for a while, so it's your turn Adrain."

"Okay," Adrain agreed, hiding his worry and giving Marinette the pipe he had been carrying. Taking a deep breath, Adrain steadied his nerves and held out his ring. "Plagg claws out!"

The transformation went by as usual, though Adrian could tell it was different. There was a different energy mixed in with the usual magic, something a bit more wild and unpredictable. When the transformation ended, Chat's suit looked darker and shiner, as if it was covered in a coat of ink. His ears were slightly more pointed and curved slightly inward. His claws slightly longer, and if he stayed in one place long enough he would leave footprints of ink. Luckily for Chat, or maybe unluckily, these changes were subtle enough that they couldn't be seen unless one was looking for them. And in the dim lighting and with the tense situation that was going on, no one was looking at him close enough to realize anything was wrong.

"Okay, we're ready to go," Marinette said in satisfaction and seeing Chat finished transformation, turning back to Henry.

"Good, but you two are staying here," Henry said seriously to Alya and Nino. "Stay in the elevator with Boris. You should be safe there until we finish getting what Alice needs."

"Come on, we can help," Alya immediately protested, putting her hands on her hips. "I have been left out and behind long enough. I don't run from danger. I run towards it and find a way to kick its butt."

"Alya, please don't argue," Henry said tiredly, getting Alya to calm down. "You saw what just happened. I can't risk any of you kids getting hurts. I can't risk the same thing that happened to everyone here happening to you. If I could convince them, I would have Adrian and Marinette stay back as well, but I know I can't. Please. Just stay where I know you'll be safe."

"Okay," Alya agreed softly, realizing how much this meant to Henry. "I'll stay with Boris."

"And don't worry," Nino assured, putting his arm around Alya. "I'll be here with you. And you're still the bravest girl I know."

"And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is know when you need to stand down," Marinette added, smiling at her friend."

"Alright you've convinced me," Alya replied with a smile of her own. "I'll stay back, so you just be sure to kick butt for me."

"I will," Marinette assured, hefting the pipe she had. Alya and Nino returned to the elevator to wait with Boris. Henry, Marinette, and Chat headed up the stairs to begin looking for the gears Alice wanted. They didn't get very far before a deformed toon, one that looked like Charley, came charging at them. It had a wrench in one hand and a gear stuck where the other hand would be. Chat pulled out his baton while the other two readied their makeshift weapons. Between the three of them, they were able to defeat the toon pretty easily.

"I'm guessing this is one of the gears Alice wants us to get," Henry said, picking up the gear that was left by the defeated toon. "So that's one down. Let's see if we can find more."

They walked farther down the hallway and found a box on the wall which Henry opened up. There was a clear spot where a gear was supposed to be, but it was empty.

"Nothing in here," Henry stated, leaving the box. "Let's find another box."

They walked farther into the hallway, taking out the occasional searchers. After searching for a few more boxes, they were finally able to find two more gears.

"Ah that should be plenty," Alice said once they had picked up the last gear. "Return them to me. And try not to die on the way back."

"She is so encouraging isn't she," Marinette rolled her eyes. Adrian chuckled a little bit before wincing as his shoulder began to burn.

"Guys we need to head back," Chat said, readying his baton. "I think something is coming."

"What do you mean?" Marinette began but trailed off when she noticed inky shadows beginning to appear on the walls around them. The three began running back towards the elevator just as they heard a terrifying shriek behind them.

"Get ready to close the doors behind us!" Henry shouted as soon as they entered the elevator room. Alya and Nino didn't question it as they saw shadows crawling throughout the rooms. The three practically jumped down the stairs and into the elevator.

"Quick press the button!" Marinette commanded as soon as they were inside. Alya slammed the button and the doors began to close as they saw the monstrous form of the Ink Demon making its way after them. Thankfully the elevator doors finally clicked close and the elevator began to descend, taking them safely away. The group breathed a sigh of relief, only to have their moment ruined by Alice.

"Sammy said I had talent," Alice said wistfully before turning bitter. "He was always a good liar. Still, he was once a very handsome man."

"Susie… What happened to you?" Henry mumbled to himself, glancing up at the at the speaker. Now that he knew for sure that the ink creatures were once people, he had no problem hearing Susie's voice in Alice's twisted way of talking. He wondered again what happened that caused all this. Maybe Susie, or Alice, or whatever she was called, could give them some answers…