Cuphead groaned as he opened his eyes, he felt his head would crack open. He tried to move his hands up, but something was preventing his arms from moving. His eyes opened wider and quickly realized that he wasn't in his room. He was surrounded by darkness save for a few slivers of light.
Something moved next to him. Cuphead turned his head and, even though there was very little light, he could see Mugman's blue nose and hear his voice.
Cuphead tried to talk but his voice was muffled by fabric wrapped around his mouth. He realized Mugman was gagged too, and they were tied up together with rope.
Once Mugman woke up, the two cups started kicking and trying to wriggle out of the rope with little success.
Bendy was on his knees in the cup's bedroom rereading the ransom note for what must have been the fourth time.
'Dear Little Devil, I have your friends Cuphead and Mugman held captive. If you wish to see them alive again, you will follow my orders. Meet me at Joey Drew's grave at noon for further instructions.
-W. Arch
P. S. Tell no one about this. If I see anyone with you or trying to help you, your friends will be broken from straw to toe.'
Bendy's blood boiled in his veins and his fur started to melt. How dare that old man take his friends!
But how did he do it?
Bendy opens his eyes, takes a deep breath, and his fur solidifies.
'I need to rescue the cups and then tear Wilson limb from limb.' Bendy thought.
The little devil takes the note, hops out the window, and heads to the city.
Back in the city, the convenience store owner, an anthropomorphic robin, was hanging upside down in a cocoon of webbing and was forced to watch the Butcher Gang rob him.
Charley, Barely, and Edgar stole the money register, food, and drinks before they ran to their truck and escaped. The cops followed the truck but after some quick turns around the town, the gang got away.
The gang drove out of town, into the forest and didn't stop till they reached an abandoned cabin out by the woods close to the mountain. They took the stuff inside and shut the doors.
The men took most of the food to the table. Edgar and Barely didn't waste any time and started eating like men who hadn't eaten in days. Which was kinda true unless you count the drugged porridge. Charley took his time chewing his sandwich and chugging down a cold soda. His mind was still thinking about a certain little devil who had saved them last night... for reasons unknown.
"God bless whoever invented super salted potato chips!" Edgar exclaimed happily.
"Arg, certainly a better change to porridge. Eh, boss?" Barley asked. When Charley didn't answer, the sailor asked again. "Boss?"
"Hmm?... Oh! Yeah, better," Charley said.
"What's on yer mind Boss?" Barley asked.
"Nothin'." Charley answered sharply. "I'm just beat that's all,"
"Ye better not be thinking about him,"
"Or what? You gonna make me swab the galley, sailor? Anyway, I'm not thinking about him, I'm just... I need another drink."
Charley gets up, walks across the room, and is about to grab a soda from the stash... but then the soda can rise from the floor on its own and floats out the door. The man froze for a second before turning to his friends.
"I'm a-... I'm gonna go out for some air." Charley said. "Don't wait up,"
Edgar goes to a corner and starts spinning a large web.
Charley slams the door shut behind him and looks around.
HISS
He looks ahead, sees Carley leaning against a boulder and drinking from the soda can.
"Mmmm, I just love these new lime-flavored ones," Carley said casually.
The man walks over to her. "What are you doing here?" Charley asked coldly.
Carley stands up and faces Charley. "I want to be in the butcher gang." She said.
Charley let out an airy chuckle. "You got a funny way of showing it," he said.
"Ok, so I got carried away, so sue me," Carley said with a shrug.
"Sure and while I'm at it, maybe I'll charge ya for trying to stab,"
"I wasn't aiming for anything serious," Carley argued. "Anyway, me in the gang."
Charley crossed his arms. "We ain't looking for any recruits. And even if we were, you wouldn't be on the list." He said. "Besides, why join us? You seem to have your own thing going on,"
"Because... I've been doing my own thing for a long time already. I've been a ghost and the invisible bandit for years now. I thought, maybe it's time I find a crew to work with. And when I heard you guys escaped prison I thought, yeah, these guys will do."
"You're the invisible bandit?" Charley said with disbelief.
"That's right," Carley said. She then changed into her ghost form and flew around the man, "One of the many benefits of being a half-ghost," she whispered. Then she backed away and changed back into her living form.
"Half ghost?" Charley asked. "How does that happen?"
"Ah ah, that's my little secret," Carley said teasingly.
"Well, Miss Bandit, ghost or half ghost or whatever, we're not looking for anyone else to join the gang so why don't you scram and go haunt someone else." Charley starts walking away.
"C'mon Charley, have you got no imagination?" Carley asked as she followed the man. "Think of all the trouble we can cause. Along with being a thief, I can commit other crimes. Like last night, before I went home, some old guy paid me two hundred bucks to kidnap two little boys with cups for heads from a cottage out in the woods and bring them to his place."
Charley flinched and froze in place at the mention of the two cup kids. "Two little boys with cups for heads?" he asked slowly.
"Yeah?" Carley answered, sensing something was wrong.
He turns around to face Carley. "And the cottage. Was it shaped like a teapot?"
"Yeah. Why? Do you know them or something?" Carley asked.
"Yes. I do." Charley said. "Those two are involved with Bendy."
"Who?" Carley asked.
"You remember the little demon from last night? That's Bendy and those cups you stole happen to be his friends."
Carley's eyes widened. "Are you serious?" she asked. Charley nodded and she groaned.
"The old guy who paid you, did he say why he needed those cup kids?"
"N'ah," Carley said shaking her head. "He didn't give much detail. Just grab the kids, leave the ransom, then take them to his place and he locked them up,"
"Ransom? Did you read any of it?"
"Yeah, it mentioned a little devil and Joey Drew's grave and..." Carley gasped. "Bendy is the little devil. That's why The Devil came to the honey vault that day."
"What?" Charley asked.
"Nothin', long story. Anyway, Bendy's supposed to meet the old guy at the graveyard at noon,"
"Noon?" Charley said looking up at the sun slowly rising. "That doesn't give me much time,"
"Whatcha mean?" Carley asked smiling.
"I wanna know what's going on. But I'll never make it there in time even with the truck."
Charley stood there for a second before suddenly being lifted into the air. He kicks around.
"Hey! Hey!" Charley yelled.
"Stop kickin' will you!" Carley yelled. "Just calm down, I can get us there in two shakes."
Bendy walked through the cemetery as the clock was ticking closer to twelve. He stopped in front of Audrey and Joey Drew's graves.
"Bendy," came a croaking voice.
The little devil slowly turned around. "Wilson." He said.
"My, my, thirty years and you've barely changed," Wilson said. "Except you're finally able to look me in the eye."
"Yeah, too bad it hurts to," Bendy said.
Wilson grumbled. "I suggest you watch what you say. After all, I alone know where your friends are," he said.
Bendy frowned. "You mean those cup kids? Pfft! They are not my friends I just use them for cheap laughs," he lied.
Unbeknownst to them, Charley and Carley were hiding behind some tombstones and listening.
"Oh don't give me that. I know for a fact that they are your friends. I've seen you and the cup boy together."
"Great. So you not only kidnap kids, but you stalk them too? And here I was thinking you couldn't get creepier."
"Those kids wouldn't have been in this mess if it weren't for you. But then you are the trouble-bound demon, right?"
"Just tell me what you want already,"
"Very well. As you may know, they just reopened the animation studio. My cousin, Felix Arch, took the job as manager after I was rejected."
"You wanted to manage the studio?" Bendy asked.
"Yes, but I was rejected for my age. They also said I looked unapproachable."
"No! Really?" Bendy said mockingly with a gasp.
Wilson frowned.
"Alright, alright, I'm done," Bendy said.
"But that's not all. Felix also has a book written by Joey Drew on display called "The Illusion of Living". I want that book but that imbecile refuses to give it up,"
"The illusion of living?" Bendy asked slowly.
"Yes," Wilson replied. "You want your friends back? You will steal that book from the studio and bring it to me,"
"That's it?" Bendy asked before he shrugged. "That doesn't sound too hard."
"Oh, but I wasn't finished. Before you bring me the book, you will destroy the studio."
Bendy's eyes widen. "You want me to destroy the studio?" he asked.
"Correct, along with Felix inside."
A look of worry and fear flashed in the little devil's eyes before he shook his head.
"no... No, I can't do that," Bendy said.
"Of course you can. You're a devil." Wilson said. "You've done it once before," he gestures to the graves of the studio fire victims around them.
Bendy felt his heart beating quickly in his chest. He tries to mask his stress with an angry frown.
"Listen, you old goat, I'll steal from and or kick, punch, or scare someone for you, but I cannot, will not, shall not destroy the studio. Period."
"You will or your cup friends will forfeit their very lives."
Bendy's face grew red with rage. He exhaled and the red vanished.
"Fine, but the cups better be okay when I'm done," Bendy said.
"You have my word that they are safe," Wilson said. "I'll be at Jim's Coffee shop, and I expect to have that book before the clock strikes two. After that, you can take your friends back."
"Deal," Bendy said before walking away.
After the little devil leaves, the old man walks over to the damaged tombstone next to Audrey's.
"My old friend, Joey, soon all the secrets you kept in that book will be mine," Wilson said. "And after he does the dirty work, I'll put an end to the darling little devil you and your precious daughter treasured so," Then the old man walks away after kicking some dirt against the broken tombstone.
Charley waited until Wilson walked away before he started talking.
"That's the same guy, right?" Charley asked.
"Yep," Carley answered. "So what now?"
"Well, I don't want the geezer to get Bendy. It's like I said last night if anyone's gonna gut that kid, it's gonna be me."
"Yeah, but you don't wanna help the little creep, do you?"
"Never," Charley seethed.
"But then, you probably have to at this point,"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, he 'rescued' you and the others last night, right? Did he ask for anything in return?"
"No. He didn't even say why he did it. He said he "likes to keep people guessing"."
"Hmmm. When The Devil does something for ya, he's gonna expect something in return. Why should the little devil be any different?"
Charley thought about it for a moment and the idea of owing a favor to the little devil made him angry and a little sick.
"There's no way I'll do that little creep any favors. First, I'm gonna throw a wrench into Wilson's plans then I'll get rid of Bendy myself."
"How?"
"First, I'll need those cup kids as collateral. Where did you take them?"
"If I tell ya, but I get to be in the gang."
Charley tightened his lip. "Get me the boys, and I'll consider it," he said.
Bendy quickly dresses in his kitten disguise and steps towards the gate to Arch Gate Studio. His anxiety rose with each step.
"Calm down Bendall," Bendy whispered to himself. "It's not the same studio."
He was about to pass the gate.
"Hey!" came a gruff voice.
Bendy turned his head and saw an octopus in a security guard uniform. The guard approached the kitten slowly. Suddenly, the guard's tough deminer softened to a friendly smile.
"If you're looking for the tour, it's further up that way," the octopus said before pointing out the tour group.
"Oh yes, thank you, sir," Bendy said before walking towards the group.
A large female broccoli holding up a flag approached the group.
"Hello everyone, are you excited about the tour, I know I am. My name is Brassica and I'll be your guide today," she said. "This way please,"
Bendy followed but stayed close to the back of the group.
Cuphead and Mugman, after a lot of struggle, finally managed to shimmy the rope off of their bodies. They were just about to take off the gags when they heard footsteps and muffled voices.
Mugman grabs some of the rope and loosely wraps it back around his body. He dropped his head and closed his eyes. Cuphead understood and followed suit.
Charley opens the trunk and sees the tied-up kids inside. The boys had visible cracks on their faces.
"Geez, what did you do to them?" Charley asked.
"They cracked themselves trying to get away from me," Carley said.
"Oh, never heard that one before," Charley said sarcastically before grabbing the kids by the ropes. Those same ropes fell apart and once they landed on the ground, the cup brothers sprinted for the basement stairs.
"Hey! Get back here!" Charley yelled.
Cuphead and Mugman were about to reach the door when Carley suddenly appeared in front of them in her ghost form. She jumps and phases into Cuphead's body.
Mugman rips the gag off and grabs Cuphead's shoulders.
"Cuphead, you gotta fight it! Don't let her control you again!" Mugman shouted urgently.
Cuphead stops twitching and then pulls off the gag. A smirk on his face.
"Too late," said the possessed cup. He grabs Mugman and drags him back downstairs.
"Is that really you in there, toots?"
"It's Carley Slicer and ya, I'm possessing the cup."
Mugman tries to break from Cuphead's hold.
"You won't get away with this," Mugman said. "When Bendy finds out, he'll get you for sure,"
Charley grabs the rope and starts to tie up the mug and cup together.
"We'll see, you little punk," Charley said with a confident smile. After he is done, Carley phases out of Cuphead's body, and the boy is left feeling dizzy.
"So, can you possess anyone?" Charley asked.
"Yeah," Carley answered.
"Then that gives me an idea."
Back at the studio...
Up until now, Bendy was sure that if he ever stood in a studio again, he would throw up, and yet here he was taking a tour with a group and he felt his anxiety lessen. Even if it had some of the components and was in the same area, this Arch Gate Studio wasn't much like Drew's studio. It was cleaner and there were no signs of ink tubes along the walls.
"Maybe this place isn't so bad after all," Bendy said to himself. "And there isn't any sign of the old—"
"And now a part of the tour I personally like the most, it's the Drew Studio exhibit," Brassica said before opening two large doors.
The first thing the group saw were vertical banners featuring pictures of Joey Drew and the dancing demon face icon and a brass, life-size statue of Joey Drew.
"JOEY DREW THE MAN AND THE DEMON"
Bendy's anxiety returned at full force, but he did his best to swallow it down and walked into the room with his head held high as he followed the rest of the crowd. Wherever he looked he saw Joey Drew's face and a part of him felt like the eyes were following him. There were also stands with old relics of Drew Studio such as a banjo, a stuffed Boris doll, a typewriter, and a book titled "Illusion of the Living".
"Mr. Joey Drew was the founder and CEO of the studio that once stood here more than thirty years ago and for two and a half years his team of animators, directors, writers, and musicians created the dancing demon cartoons featuring Bendy the demon, Boris the wolf, Cherry the cherub and other colorful characters," Brassica explained. "Here we have a few pictures of the crew behind the cartoon. There's Henry Stein, Samuel Lawernce, Wally Franks, Susie Campbell, and Audrey Drew."
Bendy looked back at the pictures of the crew but looked at Audrey's the longest.
"Sadly, most of the crew in these pictures lost their lives in the studio fire. But we keep these pictures here to honor their memory along with Joey Drew. Are there any questions?"
A dog man in the tour group raised his hand.
"Yes sir?" Brassica asked.
"Will Arch Gate Studios be continuing the dancing demon series?"
"Well, according to Mr. Felix Arch, this studio will sadly not be continuing the dancing demon series and instead focus on a new cartoon series."
Bendy raised his hand.
"Yes?" Brassica asked.
"Are these items authentic?" Bendy asked.
"Yes, although much was lost in the fire, these were recovered from the old studio grounds," Brassica said. "Now if you'll follow me, we will conclude the tour at the gift shop."
The group followed the broccoli woman out of the Joey exhibit, but Bendy hid himself and didn't come out until the doors closed. Bendy opened the case and took Joey's book from the stand. He flips through the pages and shuts it again with a smirk. He pockets the book.
"Now, how to "destroy" this place," Bendy said scratching his chin.
Back at Jim's Coffee shop...
Wilson was enjoying a cup of tea, waiting for the little demon to arrive with the book.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Someone taps on the glass window next to the old man. Wilson looked up and saw a balding man with a large sack over his shoulder.
Charley smiled back and opened the sack revealing the tied-up cup brothers inside.
Wilson spat out the tea he had in his mouth. Charley tied the bag closed and continued to smile smugly at the old man. Before Wilson could say anything, Carley appeared in front of him with a smug look on her face.
At the Arch Gate studio...
The employees were hard at work when they noticed a weird musky scent in the air. Some covered their noses to block the smell, but it was very potent. One animator was working on his animation when a black liquid droplet fell on his paper. Followed by another, and another. He looked up and noticed the black liquid seeping through the ceiling panels. The man rubbed the liquid between his fingers and wiped it against his desk.
"It's... ink," The man said.
The ink wasn't just coming from the ceiling but from the air ducts as well. Some of the employees gasped and exclaimed with surprise.
"What's causing this?" One employee wondered.
"Hey!" Another employee shouted. "In the supply closet! Someone stole several barrels of ink and some inkwells!"
Up on the roof of the studio, Bendy was dumping the ink into the ventilation vent.
"Two down, three more to go," Bendy said before tossing one empty ink barrel.
"Bendy..." came an old voice.
The little devil turned around and saw Wilson.
"What the?" Bendy asked. "How did you get—?"
"That's not important," Wilson interjected. "Did you get the book?"
Bendy was still very confused and suspicious about how this practically crippled old man managed to get up here, but the little devil was willing to move this along anyway. He pulls the book out of his pocket and hands it over to Wilson.
"Here's your book," Bendy said.
The old man took the book before he saw the ink barrels next to the air vent.
"Is this your idea of destroying the studio?" Wilson asked. "A simple prank."
"It's a work in progress."
"Why don't you just burn it down like you did thirty years ago?"
"But I didn't burn it down. That wasn't me,"
"Of course it was. Who else?"
"It was the butcher gang. They burnt it down."
"They claimed they were set up by you,"
"I didn't. That's just Charley's lies."
Suddenly Charley appeared from the fire escape. He was still holding the large bag.
"You're the liar!" Charley shouted. "You burned down Drew's Studio and then framed us!"
Bendy flinched at first but then frowned at the man.
"No, it was you!" Bendy yelled.
"You better admit it," Charley said before pulling the tied-up Cuphead out of the bag and holding him over the edge of the building. "Or I drop him."
Bendy's eyes widened. "But I didn't!" he argued.
"What are you doing?" Wilson asked tensely. "You weren't supposed to be seen."
"You know this big palooka?" Bendy asked Wilson.
"Don't talk about my boss like that, you little hell rat!" Wilson said seething.
"Your—" Bendy was about to ask when his brain put two and two together. He squinted his eyes. "Slicer? Is that you in there?" he asked.
Without a word, the ghost woman phased out of Wilson's body and flew next to Charley.
"I didn't say you were in the gang," Charley whispered.
"I will be though," Carely whispered back.
"Okay, that explains a few things," Bendy said.
Wilson was trying to sneak away, but Bendy spotted him and swept his tail under the man's feet. Wilson fell to the ground.
"Don't you even think about leaving," Bendy said threateningly. "And you!" he points a finger at Charley. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from me and my friends!?"
"You did, but I want you to finally admit that you set me and my men up," Charley said.
"But I didn't!" Bendy's fists shook, and his fur started to liquefy.
Just then Wilson threw the book at Bendy, hitting his back. The book opened, revealing empty pages.
"This isn't the right book!" Wilson shouted. He slowly got back on his feet.
Bendy rubbed his back and his fur solidified. "You said you wanted the book at the studio. And the tour guide said this was it."
"I wanted Joey Drew's original copy. This one's a fake."
Bendy shrugged. "Well, I guess I just grabbed the wrong book," he said.
Wilson swings his cane at the little devil, but Bendy dodges it and kicks the old man back. Wilson stumbles back right to the edge of the building. He falls over the edge. Bendy tried to catch him but was too late. Wilson falls into the open, empty garbage bin.
A window facing the garbage bin opened from the other building next door, and a woman stuck her head out and screamed when she saw Wilson's body.
Bendy winces and steps back.
The woman from the window shouted, "Police! Police!"
Charley stuffs Cuphead back into the sack with Mugman. He was about to head for the fire escape but Bendy blocked his way.
"Ah, ah! Hand them over!" Bendy ordered.
Charley glared at the little devil before handing over the sack.
"This isn't over, runt," Charley said ominously.
Carley grabbed Charly and they flew away.
Bendy glared back at Charley until he and Carley were gone before jumping down the fire escape with the cups.
A While Later...
The three friends made it to the Kettle Cottage and sat down for a late lunch. Ham and cheese sandwiches.
"Gee, I'm really sorry you guys got kidnapped because Wilson wanted to use me," Bendy said. "He was right about one thing, I bring nothin' but trouble."
"It wasn't your fault, buddy," Cuphead said.
"Though admittedly we never did get into this much trouble before you came along," Mugman said. "But you did rescue us in the end. So, thank you,"
"But what did he want you to do?" Cuphead asked.
"Eh, dumb revenge stuff," Bendy said with a shrug. "And some old book that Joey Drew wrote,"
"Joey Drew?" Mugman asked.
"Yeah, the founder of the studio that stood there before it was burned down," Bendy explained.
"The studio that the butcher gang burned?" Cuphead asked.
"Yep," Bendy answered.
"The studio Henry Stein worked at?" Mugman asked.
"Yep," Bendy answered.
There was a pause for a second as the brothers thought about Bendy's involvement in all this.
"Eh, Bendy... are you ready to talk about what happened back then?" Mugman asked.
"Back when?" Bendy asked.
"Back at the old studio thirty years ago." Mugman clarified. "First the gang, then Henry, now Wilson looking for Joey Drew's book. They are all a part of this mystery past of yours and all Cuphead and I know are just bits and pieces. Do you think you could explain it to us?"
Bendy drums his fingers together and looks down nervously.
"It's a... long story," Bendy said. "A really long and complicated story,"
"Well, we're ready to hear it if you want to share it," Mugman said.
"Maybe I will. No! I will share it. But do you mind waiting a bit longer?" Bendy asked. "I'll tell you both about it one day, I promise."
Cuphead and Mugman glanced at each other before looking back at the little devil disguised as a kitten.
"Okay buddy," Cuphead said.
"But don't wait too long, okay?" Mugman asked.
"I won't. Thank you," Bendy said. They resumed eating. 'At least Wilson is gone now,' he thought.
"But can you answer just one more question?" Mugman asked.
"Depends. What's the question?" Bendy asked.
"Why did you give Wilson a fake copy of the book?"
"Oh, because that was the only copy of the book in that studio. But I know where the real book is,"
"Where?" both cups asked.
"In the underworld library," Bendy said with a smug smile.
When the police went to the garbage bin, they didn't find Wilson's body. Just an empty bin except for a broken jar, a broken cane, some splashes of ink, and black footprints that ended at the end of the alley.