Chapter 50:

"I trusted you! I gave you everything…" Sammy shouted, raising his ax. "And you left me to rot! …Why? WHY?!"

Sammy charged forward, ax held high. Noir fully braced himself for an attack, positive that Sammy had mistaken him for the Ink Demon. But to everyone's surprise, Sammy charged at Henry instead of Noir.

"I'll cut that smile right off your face!" Sammy screamed as he brought his ax down. Henry dove to the side and barely managed to avoid the deadly blade. As Henry rose to his feet, Noir and Angelbug snapped into action. They charged forward and delivered several kicks and punches, but they barely fazed Sammy. The had to retreat slightly as Sammy flailed his ax violently almost grazing his opponents.

"He lied! He always lies!" Sammy raged, focused only on Henry. Henry managed a solid hit with his pipe, but it had no more effect than the other's attacks. Sammy swung his ax wildly and Henry wasn't able to get out of the way on time, getting cut on his arm. Henry clutched his arm and did his best to outmaneuver Sammy who continued to chase him, losing his pipe in the process. Angelbug and Noir did their best to make use of Sammy's distraction to attack him, but it still seemed useless. Then Noir was able to get a lucky shot on Sammy's mask, causing it to fall off.

"No! Don't look at me!" Sammy screamed, knocking Angelbug and Noir back before he covered his face and running to the center of the area. "Stay away…"

Henry cautiously approached the hunched over ink creature as Angelbug and Noir rose to their feet. While there was no denying that Sammy was dangerous, Henry couldn't help but be sorry for him. He was just a victim of Joey, trapped in this nightmare for nearly 30 years. There had to be some way to reach the real Sammy.

"Sam-" Henry was cut off as Sammy grabbed him when he got close.

"AH! You lied to me!" Sammy seethed, lifting Henry into the air. "You said that I'd be freed!"

"Well, I'm going to free you now!" Sammy declared as he threw Henry onto the ground and held his ax over his head. "Free you're head right off your shoulders!"

"Henry!" Noir and Angelbug shouted in worry. They were about to rush forward when they saw Tom sneaking up on Sammy.

"Sheep, sheep, sheep…" Sammy taunted over his trapped victim. "It's time for… sleep…"

Right before Sammy could bring the ax down and finish off Henry, Tom struck, burying his ax deep into Sammy's head. Sammy swayed back and forth before collapsing to the side. Tom loomed over Henry with his ax, before turning it around and offering it to Henry.

"Here, you need something stronger than a pipe," Tom smirked as he helped Henry up.

"Thank you," Henry said as he took the ax, Tom claiming Sammy's ax for himself. Henry stared at Sammy's body, wondering why Sammy had been so focused on him. Noir was the only one with a connection to the Ink Demon, wasn't he? Was Sammy just so lost in his own mind that he couldn't tell what was really around him anymore. Or… or was it because he was considered the true Creator? He hadn't been thinking about it too closely, but Henry did seem to have a deep and unique connection to the studio and all its inky inhabitants.

"That was close!" Allison said, snapping Henry out of his thoughts as she and the others gathered around. "You're lucky we were able to get here in time."

A sudden rumbling went through the whole cavern, making the group looking around in worry.

"Was that "him"?" Henry asked. He wasn't sure what he would do if they came across the Ink Demon now that he knew it was truly Bendy. He wanted to help the poor toon somehow, but it was too dangerous. As long as Joey had him under control, there was nothing they could do.

"I don't think so…" Allison replied with a slight shake of her head. "The Searchers and the Lost Ones built this place… Sammy must have been keeping them at bay. Now that he's gone-"

Allison cut off as another rumble came through.

"Looks like we're in for a fight. Get Ready!" Allison declared as she and Tom got into defensive stances. "Watch out! Here they come!"

Ink puddles appeared and bubbled as numerous Searchers emerged and were joined by Lost Ones coming out of their shelters. There was only a moments breath before the inky crowd attacked. Angelbug and Noir grabbed onto Alya and Nino, holding onto them as they jumped up to a nearby building.

"Stay safe," Alya said as she and Nino took cover, getting a nod form Angelbug. Angelbug and Noir jumped back down, joining the other in the fray.

"Get back to your puddles!" Allison shouted, easily cutting through several searchers while Tom fought a Lost One nearby. "I've never seen this many before!"

"Why are you attacking us?" Henry couldn't help but ask in confusion as he dodged a swipe from a Lost One. They had always been so passive before, why would they attack now? Henry's question seemed to have triggered something as voices and shouts began bombarding his mind.

"He's making us!"

"Trapped! Enslaved!"

"Betrayed! Trust no one!"

"Sorry Creator!"

"We can't stop!"

"Liar! Liar! Danger! Danger!"

"Must fight! Must attack!"

"I just want to go home!"

"Set us free!"

Henry fell to his knees, gripping his head as more and more voices filled his mind. Noir and Angelbug were immediately by his side, fighting the ink creatures as they attempted to get the vulnerable man. Tears streamed down Henry's face, a combination of pain and the realization that Joey must be forcing these creatures to fight them. They were just scared and tormented souls, forced to do what they must to survive. Joey was going to pay for what he's done!

"Henry! Look out!" Angelbug said as she pulled him out of the way of a Searcher's claws. Henry broke out of his trance and the voices faded into the back of his mind. While the ink creatures weren't doing it of their own free will, it didn't change the fact that they were attacking. Henry tightened his grip on his ax before once again joining the fight. He had to protect the others and survive this if he hoped to make things right, no matter how much it sickened him.

The five of them continued to fight the swarm of ink creatures before, finally, the last one was returned to the puddles. While they may have won the fight, it didn't feel like a victory for Henry. Still… all he could do was press on…