Chapter 53:
"So if the pep talk's done, Let's head in already." Alya's voice coming behind them startled the trio and they whipped around to see that the others had managed to get to them. "I mean we're not accomplish anything just standing here."
"How did you get down here?" Henry asked in surprise as he gapped at them.
"It pays to carry a rope…" Allison replied with a smirk, patting the coil strapped to her side. "You should try it."
"Look I know we have to go face Joey…" Henry began, looking at the entire group. "But it's not going to be pleasant. I doubt he's just going to let us try and fix everything after he's gone through all the trouble of making this place the way it is. Things are bound to get dangerous, especially since he has Bendy under his control. So if any of you don't want to…"
"Look let's just get going already…" Alya interrupted, giving Henry a playful nudge. "You already know our answers. If it makes you feel better, I promise that Nino and I will find a safe place if things go south."
"You're right, I did know," Henry chuckled.
"So it's just through this door right…" Allison looking at the metal door. "It won't be easy to open. I'll need three gears, a crowbar and some kind of counterbalance…"
Noir rolled his eyes and prepared to summon his destructive power, but Tom beat him to the punch… literally… Tom was easily able to bust the door wide open with his metal arm.
"Huh…" Allison said, blinking as she took in this turn of events. "Well, that works too… I guess."
The rest of the group chuckled at that as Henry lead them through the now open door. They passed down a couple of hallways before coming to one that had a large glass window in it with another hallway visible on the other side. Bendy's shadows appeared on the other side of the glass and they all froze.
"Quiet," Allison whispered unnecessarily to the group. "Don't make any noise…"
A moment later, Bendy came walking past. He didn't seem to be looking for them, which was a relief, instead only heading farther down his side of the hallway. Noir frowned and focused on his link as he felt there was something off about Bendy. It took him a moment to realize he wasn't he wasn't feeling the burning anger and hatred anymore. Instead… there was only a feeling of hopelessness and resignation. Noir's eyes widened in worry as he watched Bendy turn a corner. Were they too late to help the enslaved toon?
The others didn't notice Noir's concern and they all breathed a sigh of relief as Bendy and his shadows disappeared. The threat supposedly past, Henry continued leading the group down the hall. When they turned the corner, they saw the word "Death" scrawled on the wall with an arrow pointing towards where they were going. They ignored the warning and continued on their way. They came into an enormous cavern with a lake of ink and giant Ink Machine inside. They could see the original Ink Machine lowering to rest on top of the metal monstrosity.
"Wow!" Allison said, stepping closer to the edge of the ink. "I've never seen this before! I don't see any way around… nothing to build a raft with."
"We'll have to wade across," Henry concluded, also coming to the edge of the ink.
"It's not something we like to do…" Allison replied with a grimace. "As there's always the chance we'll be pulled back into the ink… But we don't have another choice…"
"I can go on my own if it's…" Henry began.
"NO!" the teens cut him off, both fond and exasperated of Henry's willingness to sacrifice himself for them.
"Right, stupid suggestion…" Henry smiled, holding up his hands in surrender before turning serious. "I guess it's finally time to see what Joey wants. Stay close everyone and be careful."
The group carefully made their way into the ink towards the entrance to the machine. Those that had been infected by the ink felt it tugging at them as if it was trying to pull them under. Thankfully the pull wasn't too strong and they were all able to make it through. The walked down a thin hallway before it widened and they could see small windows on the sides. The windows should small chambers with Lost Ones inside being covered with ink. One of them though, looked like it was being molded into a Boris. They realized that this must be how Joey turned people into ink creatures.
Opening the large door at the end of the hallway, the entered a large open chamber. Up against the back wall, so high it was almost to the ceiling, was what appeared to be a large bubbling vat of ink. On the walls around them, clips from old Bendy cartoons and footage of the inside of the studio were being projected. The source of those projections came from the center of the room at the base of a large throne. And sitting in the throne was none other than Joey Drew.
Henry gapped at the sight of his former friend. The man had barely aged, only a few gray strands in his otherwise black hair. He was wearing a suit and tie like he had always worn and it seemed to be in pristine condition without any sign of wear or even a speck of ink. His hands and feet were completely black, most likely made of ink, with ink veins visibly crawling up his forearms. He had a triumphant smirk as he observed the group with glowing yellow eyes. His grin widened as the door slammed closed behind the group and he rose from his seat.
"Welcome back dear friend!" Joey greeted proudly, his arms spreading out in a welcoming gesture. "I've been waiting so long to show you everything I've accomplished!"