Chapter 55:

Henry found himself in darkness, though it wasn't the ink puddles. It was more like he was an empty void though he could feel something holding onto him. He couldn't hear anything specific from his captor, but he felt something like a hopeless apology… It only lasted a minute before Henry was shoved back into the light. Henry stumbled onto a platform. He whipped around to see an ink portal closing behind him.

Realizing that Bendy brought him here, Henry looked around. He was on a thin catwalk over the boiling vat of ink. The steam was making him sweat and made it difficult to see what else was going on. But hearing a deafening roar turned Henry in the direction of the throne room below him in time to see Bendy, now a giant beast, chase after the others.

"I have to help them…" Henry muttered as he looked around for a way to get down.

"Don't bother looking for a way down…" Joey's voice came from behind him, causing Henry to whip around to face him. "The only way you get out of this is through the ink below you…"

"Joey…" Henry replied, struggling to sound calm and reasonable. "If you value the friendship we once had at all… I beg you to let the kids go. It's obvious you won't let me go, but the kids have nothing to do with this!"

"It's because you're my friend that I want you and those you have under your wing to stay…" Joey assured, his voice and body language acting like he's talking to a stubborn child. "What I have in store is for the best of everyone! And I know you'll agree once you've gone through the transformation process. So why don't you just make everything easier by going to the ink…"

"Never!" Henry replied angerly.

"Oh, you'll go into the ink…" Joey said predatorily, his teeth becoming sharp and his eyes glowing brighter. "One way or another…"

Joey began to stalk forward, making Henry instinctively stepped backward. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and almost fell backward through a gap in the railing. Luckily, Henry was able to grab onto the railing and kept himself from plunging down into the ink. Henry tried to think of a way out of this when he and Joey got distracted by a commotion below them. It seemed that Beast Bendy along with Allison, Angelbug, and Noir had returned to the throne room. The three were taking turns fighting Bendy and searching the room frantically. Henry didn't see any sign of Alya, Tom, or Nino and he desperately hoped they were alright.

"You can put a stop to this you know…" Joey said, Henry, snapping his attention to him. "Just go through the process and you'll be able to shape this world. We'll be partners once more, making our dreams come true…"

Henry was about to tell Joey off again when he was overcome by another twisted vision. He could feel something calling his attention and he looked down into the vat of ink to see something shining from deep within.

You're the true Creator…

The vision only lasted for a split second, but Henry now knew what he had to do. Rising to his feet, Henry gave Joey a smirk.

"Alright, Joey…" Henry said, standing in front of the gap. "You want me to go into the ink so bad…"

Henry spun around and dove head first into the ink below him. The moment he hit the surface, every ink creature in the entire studio froze. Most of them barely had the ability to understand what was going on, but they all felt that something monumental was happening. Joey himself looked on in surprise before bursting out into laughter.

"I knew you would see it my way!" Joey laughed, not noticing how Beast Bendy had let out a small whine of worry, reaching in Henry's direction before he was forced to once again start fighting.

Henry felt no pain as he entered the ink, much to his surprise. But he didn't dwell on it, instead focusing on going deeper into the ink. The voices of the souls trapped within the ink immediately began calling out to him in fear and hope, begging him to save them.

I will… Henry tried to say, doing his best to stay together as all the voices pulled on him. Just let me through…

We will help you Creator… came the voice, which Henry now knew was Alice and Boris. They were able to push the other voices back and clear the path for Henry. As Henry swam further into the ink, he could see shadowy echoes of Alice and Boris floating beside him. He took comfort and strength from their presence, especially as the ink around them seemed to get darker and more oppressive.

We can't go farther… the shadows told him as they came to a stop. But you are almost there... Keep going… It's time to set us free…

I will… Henry assured, moving deeper without hesitation. Without Alice and Boris by his side, Henry could feel the dark magic of the ink trying it's best to stop him and to tear him apart. But he pushed through, his love and desire to save those trapped here compelling him forward and letting him overpower the ink. But even with all that… he could feel himself being worn away and there was still no sign of what he was looking for…

Just as he was worried he was lost in the ink forever, a small sparkle of light in front of him caught his eye. With renewed energy… Henry pressed forward. As he got close… he could see a shadowy figure curled around the spark. It was Bendy… cartoon Bendy though Henry could see that this echo was barely holding itself together. Trapped down here under all this oppressive darkness and forced to go against his nature, Henry was amazed that Bendy had survived…

Carefully, Henry placed his hand on Bendy's head between his horns. Bendy flinched and curled tighter around the spark, shielding it with his body from the pain he was expecting. Henry's heart hurt at the reaction and he gently rubbed Bendy's head, hoping to assure the poor toon that he didn't mean any harm.

Henry didn't know how long they stayed floating like that… But Bendy eventually began to relax and slowly lifted his head.

Creator… Henry heard Bendy say once they made eye contact. You actually came…

I promised you I would find a way to save you… Henry replied with a smile. Bendy returned it with a shaky smile of his own.

Here… Bendy said, slowly pulling out the spark he had protecting and held it out to Henry. Henry could see now that it was a cartoon heart. The Liar abused us and nearly completely destroyed us… I'm trusting you to set things right… Please, Creator… Please save us from this fate…

I will… I promise… Henry replied quietly cradling the heart in his hands. It was warm but so vulnerable and fragile. Holding it close to his own heart, Henry began swimming back to the surface. He hurried to the top. He could feel the dark corrupted magic pulling at him desperately, trying to get at his precious cargo and finally claim the toons completely. Henry didn't even let it slow him down the strength from all those that had put their trust in him propelled him forward and through.

Finally… he burst through the surface…