~}I{~
Gale-Dragon: Okay, first off, sorry for the long delay. And second, I have gone through Bendy and the Dark Revival. While I know there has been some new information regarding what happened in Joey Drew Studios, I am not changing what I've already written. However, I will slip in a few Easter Eggs from Dark Revival in Chapter 6 and beyond, but nothing too major… Maybe. Anyway, enjoy~.
~}I{~
Miraculous Adventure in Joey Drew Studios Chapter 6 pt 1: Through the Time Loop to Regroup and Recruit.
~}I{~
Well, at least trekking through the Music Department again was faster since they knew where to go and find everything they needed. Everything was how they remembered it the last time they went through it. They couldn't stop Sammy when they saw him with the cutout, but they were hoping to get through to him before the "Sacrifice". The teens and AI really didn't want to go through THAT again. Once was enough, thank you very much! Or nine times in this case… Either way, they didn't want to be sacrificed again.
They thought they could skip finding the keys to the janitor's closet since they had the memories from their prior walkthrough. But the oddest thing was that the music combination they used last time to get into Sammy's Sanctuary wasn't working…
"That's weird, why isn't it working?" Adrien asked as he looked up at Markov hovering next to the projector as it played. He then muttered, "The projector is on and we played the instruments in the right order…"
The walkie-talkie sprung to life when Linda asked through it, "*Ksz* Is everything alright? *Ksz*"
Max answered the device when he hit the talk button, "The instrument sequence doesn't appear to be opening Mr Lawrance's Sanctuary, but we know that we're doing it in the right order that we remember in the last loop."
The walkie-talkie sprang to life when Linda said, "*Ksz* Let me check the prior loops and I'll tell you the code. Keep an eye out for Sammy while you wait. *Ksz*" With that, the device went silent.
As the teens and AI waited, they took another look around this section for anything that they had missed the other times. Marinette still couldn't figure out where those Bendy Cutouts that occupied the seats were hidden, but given the Studio, it's probably not that important. Still creepy and weird, but not essential to their mission.
They waited a few more minutes before Linda called, and the information she had learned was… Weird, but then again, when has it not been weird in this studio?
Apparently, the code to get into Sammy's Sanctuary changed slightly with every loop. This means that the code for this loop was different from the last loop… The keys to the janitor's closet also changed with each loop… Joy, that means more backtracking…
The teens and AI left the Recording Studio and searched the rubbish bins they could find, and the keys were in a different bin from the prior loop. Weird, but nothing much they could do about it. So they backtracked to the janitor's closet, unlocked it, played the Audio Log, noted the new combination, and returned to the Recording Studio to play the instruments in the new order while the projector was running. Sammy's Sanctuary opened to them without any more issues. However…
Why did it feel like they were being watched?
Well, now that they knew about the Surveillance Room inside the Ink Machine, maybe it was just Linda, Benji, and Alix watching them.
Marinette, Adrien, Kim, Max, and Markov walked into the narrow pathway leading to the hidden room without a second thought, unaware they were being watched from the balcony above by a familiar mask.
~}I{ Inside the Ink Machine }I{~
Linda kept an eye on the monitors while Alix and Benji brought in some outside help, namely the other Miraculous Heroes. The first of them to enter was Viperion.
The Snake Holder couldn't stop himself from looking around the safe room of the Ink Machine. "Wow… I didn't expect this place would be this big…" Viperion got out in amazement.
Micro Mare shrugged when she stated, "Well, compared to the rest of this place, it's a helluva lot more comfortable."
Viperion gave a shrug that read 'fair enough' before he followed Micro Mare further into the Ink Machine. He was both impressed and unnerved by how big, complex, and stocked it was.
~}I{ With Team Psi }I{~
They found the key to the janitor's closet in a different rubbish bin. The Team gave each other an unsure looks… Despite them wanting to question how that was possible, they knew it was pointless, so they went back to the Janitor's closet, unlocked the door, and listened to the audio log. Like Linda told them, the code DID change… No one wanted to try to figure out how something like This was able to change with each Loop, it wasn't worth the headache.
Team Psi backtracked to the Recording Studio, turning on the projector and imput the music code to unlock Sammy's Sanctuary. It opened as noisily as before. Once it was open, they trooped into it while having the oddest feeling that they were being watched… Eh, it must be the others inside the Ink Machine… Hopefully…
Sammy Lawrance loomed over the banister to get a better look at the little sheep entering his sanctuary. As he plotted to capture them to sacrifice to the Ink Demon, his eyes were drawn to the bandanas on their arms… With an oddly familiar symbol on it…
Oh! Right!
Sammy looked at the bandana he had around his left arm… With the same symbol as those teens and AI…
'Wait? What is an AI? The flying orb?' Sammy thought as he stared at the symbol on the bandana. Wait… How did he know that the flying orb with the claw was an AI even though he didn't know the term? And how did he even know the term in the first place?
Sammy pressed his right hand on his Bendy mask as he continued to stare at the symbol on the bandana. Memories flooded back to him like a tidal wave. He slowly removed the Bendy mask from his face and then let it slip out of his fingers to fall to the floor. Sammy looked over the edge of the bannister as he gauged the height of the drop.
Sammy hopped over the bannister and landed on the floor boards with a somewhat loud sound as the same time the valve was turned. The former music Director slowly stood up as the teens and AI came back out into the music department.
"Mr Lawrance!" The four teens gasped in shock. Markov had an exclamation mark on his visor.
Sammy gave them a nervous wave when he said sheepishly, "Uh, the bandana worked…" He was taken off guard by a double tackle hug from Kim and Marinette.
Markov cheered when the facts sank in that the Psi symboled bandanas did what they hoped to do, while Max pulled the walkie-talkie out of his bag and radioed in the success.
Linda replied through the device, "I saw! I'm glad it worked. I'll tell Micro Mare, Benji, and your viper friend who just arrived."
Max nodded out of habit when he said into the device, "Roger. We'll continue on the path and try to get Mr Fain on our side."
Linda vocalised through the device, "Okay, but don't overdo it and keep aware of the Ink." Then the walkie-talkie went quiet.
The group looked at one another as they nodded in agreement. They then headed straight towards the Infirmary. It didn't take longer than two minutes.
Of course, everything was the same as the last time they were there, especially the smell.
As Kim pinched his nose when he asked the former Music Director after the door to the source of the smell was fully open, "Seriously, why would Mr Drew put the Infirmary next to the sewer?"
Also covering his nose, Max added in disgust, "Even back in the 40's, that would be a serious breach in safety, completely unhygienic, and counter productive."
Sammy, unfortunately, didn't have an answer to give the teens. All he had was what they had to do to keep the two parts of this section separated. Mostly, keeping the door to the sewer sealed shut and never opening it when there are patients in the Infirmary.
Yeah, it makes sense when you put it that way. But the Infirmary shouldn't have been built next to the sewer, period. Of which, Sammy had to agree to Health and Safety wise.
Markov did have to remind the group that the sewer was filled with ink…
Which meant that Sammy couldn't wad in it unless he wanted to be reclaimed by the Ink. So he offered to stand guard at the Infirmary while the teens and AI go to purify Jack Fain.
And with that, they trekked into the sewers. Maybe next time, they'll make masks in case they have to go through this smelly place again.
}{ In the Ink Machine }{
Viperion couldn't help but stare at the 'security room' with a disbelieving expression when he asked, "This… Is rather complex, Even by today's standards." He also had to add, "Also, if those are recording everything for each Loop… Why? What's the point of it other than some twisted form of entertainment for a sicko?"
Linda shrugged her shoulders when she said, "I have no idea what Joey was trying to accomplish with this kind of insanity, or even how he was able to do this in the first place…" She let out a sigh before she added, "I don't know if the potential loss of his studio caused him to have some kind of mental breakdown or something, but considering what happened to the workers while the place was still open… I can't help but wonder."
Viperion placed a hand on his chin as he went over what he currently knew. The more he thought about it, the more he circled back to the fact that the place was being recorded… Viperion tapped his chin when he asked the grandmother, "Mrs Stein, what happened to all the other people who entered this place? And I'm talking about them being claimed by the ink and the Loops not kicking in."
Linda looked at the snake Holder with a confused look.
}{ With Team Psi }{
Just like the last time, the Retreating Searcher, who was probably Jack Fain, was giving them the runaround the location with the two generators.
Not fun! And that was making it hard to keep him still enough to purify.
With a little creativity, Adrien and Kim managed to corner Jack. Ladybug was able to use the Purification on him. But like last time she used this, she lost consciousness. However, this time, Marinette thought she heard someone humming an upbeat tune.
}{
"First the cat, now the ladybug," Marinette heard someone say. The voice was oddly familiar yet she didn't recognise it.
Marinette slowly opened her eyes to see an adult version of Max, and that's who she called out to in confusion.
Henry Stein let out an amused chuckle when he replied, "Your boyfriend also mistook me for my grandson."
Marinette turned pink as she frantically apologised, and then saying, "You look so much like Max! I mean! I would assume that's the family resemblance! But you really do look like him!" She then paused when she realised what the Spirit referred to Adrien as and got out even more frantically, "And A-Adrien isn't my Boyfriend!"
Henry chuckled again when he waved in an 'it's okay' manner and said, "He's not yet, but I get it, both you and him haven't met me before and my little grandson does have a striking resemblance to me. So I can't blame the mistake." He folded his arms when he asked in a worried tone, "How's Linda fairing?" The cheery mood was gone.
Marinette wrapped her arms around herself when she said in a self-conscious tone, "Aside from being unable to leave the Ink Machine… At least she had Benji to keep her company up until our arrival," She looked at Henry when she asked, "You… You didn't…"
Henry shook his head when he replied, "No, but it explains why it never felt that she was 'there' after the car accident and went into that coma…" He shrank a bit when he added softly, "I've been able to visit her in the hospital… But…" Henry let out a sigh when he said, "Where I am, the only living we're allowed to look in on are the ones close to our hearts." He looked at Marinette when he added, "But given the circumstance of the Ladybug Miraculous and where you are, I can talk to whoever meets the criteria to do so."
The bluette nodded when she said, "I understand. However… I kind of thought that would be more the Black Cat Miraculous's thing. Since it represents Death, and anything under it."
Henry shrugged when he replied, "It technically is, but given what's going on in Joey's old studio I'm not that surprised that it's been shifted to the Ladybug Miraculous to balance things out."
Marinette placed her hand on her chin to think about this and what Adrien learned from Henry when he talked to him. The spirit didn't know about anything that has been going on inside this studio until recently unless… "You found out what's been happening in the studio by 'looking in' on Max," Marinette stated when she put the facts together.
Henry gave the teen a small smile when he replied, "You catch on quick. Yes, I did, but only after feeling how distressed him and Claudie was… I had to check up on him." He glanced to the side when he added, "And that's how This Side found out about the Missing Souls were trapped in Joey's studio…" Henry shook his head when he said, "I don't have to tell you how upset the others and the Higher Beings are at Joey… He's certainly going to get his due when his time comes." He sounded very bitter at that last line.
'Wait a second!' Marinette thought before she asked, "When you say 'His time', are you talking about him… Dying?"
Henry nodded when he said, "Pretty much." He noticed the bluette's expression when he asked, "Are you really that surprised? It's only natural that mortals die eventually."
Marinette shook her head when she said, "No, I'm not surprised about that. I'm surprised that…" she thought about her words before she finally said, "I'm surprised that you don't already know Joey Drew is dead."
Henry was… Genuinely surprised by what the bluette had just said when he collected himself, he stated clearly, "He… Joey can't be dead…" He waved his hands in a 'hold-on there' manner when he added, "While I can't tell you how I can be sure, I can tell you that I would've had to have been informed of his death, and that hasn't happened!"
Okay, that was both interesting and weird.
The black void rippled, signalling that time was almost up.
Henry stared at the sight for a bit before he told Marinette, "I don't know what's really going on, but it's clear that Joey did something he shouldn't have. Use what you've learned, and hopefully you'll set the trapped souls free."
The next thing Marinette knew, there was a bright light. She couldn't help but call out, "Wait! Mr Stein! what do you mean?"
All too soon, it was too bright to see anything.
}{
When Marinette regained consciousness, she was in the Infirmary of Joey Drew Studio, laying on one of the medical beds that wasn't completely drenched in ink. She placed a hand on her forehead, which is how she noticed she was wearing the Black Cat Miraculous. Marinette figured that would've happened, not that she could blame her friends or the Kwami for doing it. The bluette took a deep breath as she thought over her conversation with Henry Stein.
'Mr Stein would've been told that Mr Drew died…' Marinette thought as she narrowed her eyes at the light overhead. She didn't understand the 'told' part, but the fact that it didn't happen despite Joey Drew being dead… Given how much Mr Stein emphasised that he would have been told when Mr Drew died, Marinette was sure the spirit was telling the truth, despite the lack of details…
Something stank… And it wasn't just the sewer…
"Oh, you're awake," a new yet familiar voice was heard from Marinette's left.
The bluette turned her head to see the hard hatted searcher, but now he was looking a little more human, less like a searcher more of a Lost one. "Mr… Fain?" Marinette guessed, memory pieces of what happened before her talk with Henry Stein coming back to her.
The hard hatted ink being nodded when he said, "Jack Fain." He did a slight bow when he added, "Lyricist extraordinaire."
Sammy came up from behind and playfully wacked him over the head when he stated, "What's extraordinary about you was how your wife put up with your smell when you went home." The former Music Director folded his arms when he asked, "But in all seriousness, was the sewer the only place you found that was quiet here?"
Jack sighed when he said, "Sadly, it was. There was too much noise everywhere else… " He took a deep breath when he added with a smile, "But, I'll admit that it smells great."
Sammy cocked his head to the side when he retorted in confusion, "But, there aren't any smells here?"
Jack chuckled when he placed his hands on his hips and stated, "Exactly."
It took a moment for Sammy to realise what the other was talking about. When he did, he rubbed his head and stated, "I walked right into that, didn't I?" Jack happily nodded.
This banter made Marinette giggle a bit. She slowly moved herself into a sitting position, that was when she noticed Adrien sitting in a nearby chair. The blonde had his arms folded, leaning back in the chair, eyes closed, and breathing softly. Marinette guessed that Adrien dozed off while watching over her. The bluette turned to see Kim, Max, and Markov raiding the medical cabinets for anything they could use. There wasn't much, in all honesty. If it was covered in ink or expired, they weren't taken.
Adrien suddenly jolted awake. He rubbed the tiredness off his eyes before he looked at the bed Marinette was sitting on. The blonde boy smiled when he asked, "Did you enjoy your cat nap?"
Marinette smiled as she playfully retorted, "Yes. Did you?" Adrien turned a nice shade of pink at this.
Jack leaned over to Sammy and stage whispered, "Is that normal for them?"
The former music Director responded the same way, "The banter, yes."
That made both Miraculous Holders turn bright pink at this.
Kim chuckled when he stated, "Glad the two of you are in a good mood," as he walked to the rest of the team. Max and Markov followed close behind.
Jack was rather unsure about the AI when he asked the glasses-wearing teen, "Uh, Henry, what is that orb thing?" He indicated Markov as he said the word 'orb'.
Things were awkwardly quiet when Max said sheepishly, "Uh, actually, I'm Max, and, uh, Henry is my grandfather." He then explained, "Uh, you've been trapped in this place for a little over 50 years…"
Jack was quiet for a solid 30 seconds before he exclaimed, "Wait?! I've been what?!" Sammy could completely sympathise with his co-worker.
}{
As Kim, Max, and Markov explained the situation to Jack, making sure to give him a bandana with the Psi symbol stitched on, Marinette and Adrien radioed the Ink Machine. To update the ones in there about the situation.
"Glad that we have Jack with us," Linda said over the walkie-talkie.
Once things were calmer, Marinette told Linda, "Um, Mrs Stein… How aware are you about the… Side-effects of the Purification?" She wanted to gauge how much the ink creature knew before she outright told her about Henry.
The walkie-talkie was quiet for a few seconds before Linda finally said, "From watching the Loops, I'm… Aware that Adrien spoke to Henry last loop… I… Didn't think it would be a good idea to ask about that right away…"
Okay, that means this was going to be a little easier to do…
Marinette then said into the walkie-talkie, "He's worried about you… On top of not knowing that… You and everyone else were trapped here "
The line was quiet for a bit, again, before Linda asked, "You… Spoke to him too?"
Marinette nodded when she said, "Yes, and from what he told me, uh… His side is pretty upset that all the missing souls that were, I guess, supposed to go there were actually here… Uh, does that make any sense? He couldn't go into details because he wasn't allowed to."
Sammy couldn't help but say, "Makes sense to me."
Jack followed up with, "Same. Oh, and hi Linda!" The elderly woman replied with a giggled hello.
Adrien folded his arm when he said, "Well, you got some more details than I did, somewhat."
Markov commented that he would've liked more data, but Kim explained that it was understandable even if it wasn't possible.
Marinette bit her lip before she said into the walkie-talkie, "I'm glad that you all understand but…" She took a deep breath and then stated, "Mr Stein also said something else that raised a major red flag…"
"Red flag?" both Jack and Sammy questioned in confusion.
Markov quickly explained, "A figurative Red Flag is a warning sign that comes from an action, statement, or behaviours. This is also used to quickly inform others that something is wrong." That helped Sammy and Jack understand.
"What was the red flag?" Linda asked over the walkie-talkie.
Marinette didn't say anything for the first few seconds, but she took a deep breath before she stated clearly, "That Joey Drew hasn't died yet."
Things were too quiet… Except for the steady dripping of ink coming from the ceiling.
Sammy scratched his head in confusion when he broke the silence by saying, "Hang on… Didn't your friends say that Joey was dead?"
Adrien looked at the bluette when he said, "Yeah, They did…" The blonde then added, "But… If that side is saying that he isn't, then…"
"Who did the police find in the guy's apartment?" Kim finished in confusion.
That was when Viperion's voice came through the walkie-talkie when he said, "We can use the communicators to contact the rest of the group and ask about that. But it's going to be a little tricky explaining why we're asking about Mr Drew's body and if it's really his body. I can't believe I said something like that."
It took a few seconds to realise what was being implied, but when they got it, there was a sympathy of, "Oh…Right…"
Viperion's voice came through the walkie-talkie when he said, "We can do what we can, while you try to get the other's and anyone you have an item from. Just be careful."
"Will do, over and out," Marinette stated before she handed the device to Kim, who placed it inside Max's pack. The bluette folded her arms at the thought about the reasons why someone like Joey Drew would fake his death in such a way?
Okay! Okay! It wasn't THAT hard! Given the rather publicised incident with Joey Drew Studios, it wasn't that much of a stretch to think he would try something crazy.
But to fake his death… That was a little too extreme… Even with the current situation.
Adrien tapping on Marinette's shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts. The blonde looked at her with worry when he asked, "Are you okay? Did Mr Stein say anything else? Anything that's putting you on edge."
Marinette hugged herself when she admitted, "I'm not sure if it's because he was limited to what he can say but… Mr Stein said to use what we've learned to hopefully set the trapped souls free even if he doesn't know what's been going on…"
Markov couldn't help but chime in, "But what we know about this place since entering hasn't been pleasant, And even the useful things haven't been put into use."
Jack had to add, "If it's any consolation, I wouldn't mind if you review what you've learned." He folded his arms when he added, "I know I would like to know what the heck happened to this place."
Okay, yeah, that's fair.
Max placed a hand on his chin when he mused, "Perhaps when we regroup in the Ink Machine, we should make a booklet for new members to this team that will give a quick rundown of what has happened and what we've found out so far."
Jack was confused when he vocalised, "In the Ink Machine?"
Kim had to say, "Not a bad idea, but I don't think I saw anything that we could use to make them."
Jack looked between the teens when Adrien said, "Well, now we can get them, since we have Portal."
Sammy patted the lyricist on the shoulder when he whispered to him, "I know how you feel, and if they are making a booklet, let's ask them to add a dictionary to it." Jack was quick to agree to that.
With that they left the Infirmary. The next member of the team to find is Buddy Boris!
}I{
Drak-Kon looked over the file detailing the condition of the body found in Joey Drew's apartment. How long the person has been dead, as surprising as it is, and the testimonies of everyone who last saw Joey Drew alive. The Dragon Holder let out a low hum when he vocalised, "According to the DNA… It's Joey Drew, alright…"
Madam Emerald had to ask, "Are we sure that the DNA really is Joey Drew's?"
The nearby officer was quick to say, "We already had Joey Drew's DNA on file, from roughly a decade ago."
The Miraculous Heroes responded almost at the same time, "What did the guy do to have his DNA collected back then?"
Oh, boy, did that make the police officer go quiet. Eerily so.
Before any of the Miraculous Heroes could ask what was wrong, the officer carefully got out, "Uh… He got in trouble involving a young woman… The investigator had to collect his DNA for that "
Mutsubachi couldn't help but ask, "What kind of trouble would warrant that?"
The officer avoided eye contact as he suddenly found organising very interesting when he said, "You Heroes are too young to know about that kind of thing!"
The young Miraculous Heroes glanced at each other, silently wondering what the officer was talking about.
}I{
The door labelled 'Exit' opened and Team Psi cautiously walked through.
"Not exactly an exit," Kim commented as he looked over the 'Sacrificial Room'. He scratched his head when he asked, "But clearly, it isn't, so why table it as such?"
Sammy shrugged when he said, "I have no clue, it was like this when I found it."
Huh, well that's a rather weird thing. But compared to everything else, it was probably one of the more mundane things to learn.
Well, time to get past the shutters to get to Buddy Boris. But there was a weird issue… Well, weirder…
Markov pointed to the open shutter when he stated, "According to my memory banks, that was always closed in the prior Loops. So why is it open now?"
Max quickly radioed his grandma to enquire about this.
}{
"I can tell you that the shutter is never open when anyone first enters that area," Linda said into the walkie-talkie. She couldn't help but ask, "Wait, are you already there?"
Max's voice came over the deviceWhen he said, "We are, why?"
Linda glanced up as Micro Mare and Benji placed some potted plants around the Ink machine, to give the place some more life. She then said into the walkie-talkie, "Nothing yet, but contact me when you see the Ink Machine part, okay." When she heard her grandson confirm that, he lowered the device as she thought about this deviance from the Loops.
Viperion noticed this and asked the older woman, "Is something wrong?"
Linda tapped the top of the walkie-talkie on her chin when she mused, "I'm assuming that it's because they got to Sammy before he got to them, but… That shutter is always closed when people go in there and opens later,"
Viperion narrowed his eyes when he glanced at Benji, who was admiring the greenery, when he asked the grandmother, "Does what you're worried about have to do with Benji?"
Linda motioned the snake Holder to follow when she stated, "It'll be easier to show you rather than tell you, but if I'm right…" She walked into the Monitor Room. While viperion didn't understand, he still followed.
}{
Jack watched as Sammy picked up the axe leaning against a barrel when he asked, "I take it that we're going to proceed with caution?"
Marinette let out a sigh when she said, "We've learned very quickly that there are dangers lurking around every corner."
Jack gave a 'fair enough' shrug before they proceeded on the path.
Adrien couldn't help but glance around as they walked past the shutter, wondering where the searchers were. Not that he was complaining, but it was kind of weird that they weren't there… 'Is it because Mr Lawrance is on our side now?' Adrien thought, thinking on the logical side.
Just like the prior times, wooden beams block much of the path, Those were easily taken care of thanks to the axe. When they saw the smaller Ink machine being lowered, Max radioed his grandma their current location.
The line was quiet for a few seconds before Linda said through the walkie-talkie, "Alright, this is pretty strange but… I don't believe you'll have to worry about Benji in the upcoming Ink Pool."
Kim slapped his forehead when he got out in shock, "Oh! Shit! I forgot about that!" He then looked confused when he asked, "Wait? Why don't we have to worry about that?"
That was when they heard Benji's voice coming through the walkie-talkie. "Beeecause I'm stiiill heeere."
Jack stiffened at the unfamiliar voice as Max got out in confusion, "I should be glad that you are but…"
Adrien then asked, "I'm going to go off on a limb and assume that you've always been forced to jump out of that Ink Pool when someone gets close to that by whoever is controlling the Ink outside the Ink Machine?"
Benji's voice came through the device when he got out bitterly, "Yeees."
The teens and AI looked at each other at this as they all wondered why that was different this Loop.
Jack had to break the sudden silence when he said sheepishly, "Uh, would it be possible for everyone in the Ink Machine to start on making these booklets? I'm kinda lost on what you're talking about." Sammy had to agree, even if he knew more than the lyritist did.
Linda's voice came over the walkie-talkie when she said, "I think that's a good idea. But you still need to keep on guard."
"Roger that," Max stated before he placed the device in easy reach of his left hand on his pack.
The entire current group of Team Psi looked at each other, all silently agreeing that they had to continue. So they did. And just like last time, the axe 'happened' to break on the final wooden board. Then they came to the room flooded with ink.
Cautiously, Marinette told everyone to be ready to run, just in case. As soon as everyone got into position, Adrien took a careful step forward, closer to the ink pool.
But nothing happened.
Still cautious, Adrien took another step towards the ink pool as everyone was a hair trigger away from bolting as soon as something happen.
But nothing did.
Okay! Okay! Okay! True! They were told that Benji wouldn't appear, but they expected SOMETHING to happen!
Everyone on Team Psi looked at one another in confusion. All silently agreeing that this was still weird, but… If nothing is in the Ink Pool to chase them, then…
Maybe they can find out what's behind the door on the other side of the Ink Pool (1). One hiccup to this… Sammy and Jack couldn't touch this much Ink without being claimed by it…
However, once the teens and AI waded across the Ink Pool to the door and opened it, Jack took a hold of Sammy and they walked into a hole in the wall and a few seconds later, they fell through a hole in the ceiling just in front of the now open door. Thankfully, the two landed on the wooden floors and not the Ink.
"Are you okay?" Marinette asked after she heard and saw the two hitting the ground.
Sammy rubbed his sore spots when he got out in a grunt, "Ouch, I'm alright."
Jack moved to a sitting position when he grumbled, "I'm okay, but we might need to practise that a little more… " He adjusted his hardhat when he added, "But at least we've got a way to get past a large body of ink. Somewhat."
Kim couldn't help but say, "Handy." He took a step into the room and looked around. Marinette, Max, Adrien, and Markov walked into the oddly spacious hallway.
It looked like any other hallway in the studio except for one strange thing…
"Who's this character?" the teens and AI asked as they stared at a cardboard cutout of a female character they have never seen before. This character appeared to be a pale ghost with a head that was fluffy and wearing a black bowler on her head, she had horn-like appendages on the sides of her head, wearing a sleeveless top and black pants with big boots, and like all the other characters, this one has oversized gloves on, reminiscent of the 30s. But unlike the other cutouts around the studio, the cutout of this ghost-like character looked handmade. That was when they noticed the posters of the Butcher Gang with this female ghost character. A bunch of different posters, all looked like they were done individually and by hand. The biggest poster in the hall had all three Butcher Gang members with this ghost girl in full figure poses and with their names neatly written next to them.
The word Barley was written right next to Barley. The word Charley was written next to Charley. The word Edgar was written next to Edgar. And the word Carley was written next to the ghost girl.
Adrien raised a brow as he read the names out loud, "Charley, Barley, Carley, and Edgar?" In confusion the blonde questioned, "I don't remember there being a fourth Butcher Gang member? Unless I missed a few episodes."
Kim shook his head when he said, "No, she never appeared in the cartoons and I don't remember seeing her in the known comics."
Markov raised his claw when he vocalised, "Perhaps the studio was going to add this Carley character to the Butcher Gang before it was shut down."
Marinette couldn't help but say, "Hm, that would've been a good idea. As both an attempt to get some renewed interest in the cartoons and add another girl to the cast of characters."
Max nodded when he stated, "True, and while Alice Angel is a popular character, she's the only female among the cartoon cast. Plus, this could've opened up a significant number of dynamics with the existing characters." The other teens and AI had to agree with that.
Jack looked at the handmade poster with Carley when he mused, "So, her name was Carley. Not a bad design and it does match the aesthetics of the other Butcher Gang members."
Sammy scratched his head when he mused in a curious tone, "When did Jane have the time to make all of these?"
The rest of Team Psi looked at the former Music Director when they asked in a confused tone, "Who's Jane?"
Sammy tapped his chin with one hand while he snapped his fingers with the other to think, "Jane… Jane… Jane something… I can't remember her last name… It began with a 'T', that I'm sure of… I know she was part of the Artist Group and created Carley to be the fourth member of the Butcher Gang," He let out a breath in a huff when he said, "That didn't go over too well…"
Adrien blinked in confusion when he asked, "What didn't go over well?"
Marinette put the pieces together the quickest when she asked, "I take it Mr Drew rejected Jane's creation?"
Sammy cringed when he got out in an uneasy tone, "He wasn't the only one." He looked at the handmade poster of a cartoon scene with Carley and the Butcher Gang members sitting around a campfire, apparently telling each other scary stories while roasting marshmallows. Sammy sighed when he said, "I remember Jane talking to me about Carley, asking about what kind of tone would be good to use for a ghost. I didn't mind her creation. But she was determined to get Joey to listen to her pitch."
Jack couldn't help but say, "Passionate about getting Carley into the Butcher Gang?" He did have to admire the time and effort that was put into these artworks, but…
Max pushed his glasses up when he asked no one in particular, "When does passion turn into obsession? Because, that's what it looks like to me, given all these." He indicated all the handmade carley memorabilia.
Team Psi did have to admit that that was a sound theory…
Markov flew ahead to see if there was anything else, but he only found a large, wooden crate at the end of the hallway. The AI tilted to the side as he wondered why that was here. It was so out of place. Markov called out to the rest of the team when he said, "Guys! I found something weird!"
The humans and Ink people made their way over to see what Markov found, only to be just as confused as the AI.
"Why is there a crate the size of a person at the end of a hallway?" Adrien asked in a cluelessly curious tone as he pointed at the thing in question.
The realisation sank in rather quickly at this.
Team Psi glanced at one another before they cautiously made their way over to the crate. Slowly, they moved to get into the right position to open the thing. And without too much effort, the crate was opened.
When Team Psi peered inside, they all jumped back in shock.
The emaciated body of an ink person that looked suspiciously like Carley but this body has an unusually large head with three strings sewn onto her mouth, wearing a bowler hat and has disfigured horn-like pigtails on the sides of her head, was relatively short, with large gaps for eye-sockets and mouth.
Kim was the one to break the silence by asking, "Okay, I know this is pointless, but… Why?" He just pointed to the body and then indicated the crate.
This was weird, even for this place…
Adrien took a step back, his heel accidentally hitting something as he did. That was when the unfamiliar voice of a woman suddenly spoke by saying, "Good things always come in threes, they say. Bendy, Alice, and Boris. It just works."
All of Team Psi's attention was on the Audio Log on the floor next to Adrien's foot, until he moved away from it to give everyone a better look at it.
The Audio Log continued, "So when I showed my coworkers my designs for a new, fourth member of the Butcher Gang, you could almost hear the disgust at the lunch table. "A ghost girl?" they said. "No one's gonna get it." They just laughed at my drawing, crumpled them up like trash. But I'll get Mr Drew on my side. He'll understand. He's got to. Carley will join the Butcher Gang. And she'll be beloved by all. One way or another, I'll bring Carley to life." Then the Audio Log ended with a click.
It took a few seconds for that last line to sink in…
"Please tell me Joey didn't…" Sammy got out in disbelief.
Kim retorted bitterly, "Given the massive pile of evidence we gathered, plus the recording of an Audio Log convincing Ms Campbell to 'volunteer' for his 'little project', I wouldn't be surprised."
A chill went down Marinette's spine when she asked out loud, "Hang on… Oh! Shit!" she quickly turned to look inside the crate, only to let out a loud squeak as she backed away.
The others turned to see what was wrong, and also gasped in shock at what they saw… Or rather, what they didn't see…
The body was now missing…
Oh, did that make Team Psi bolt back to the Ink pool, even the hidden Kwami were freaked. Of course, Sammy and Jack used their Ink Jump to bypass the Ink Pool. They made their way through the weaving corridor. Since they weren't rushing through as fast this time, they reached the end a little later.
Just to be on the safe side, Kim and Jack lowered the wooden board to barricade the door.
Sammy folded his arms when he asked, "So… What happens now?"
The next thing to happen was that the emaciated ink body suddenly appeared, no longer emaciated, had dagger nails extended, had glowing yellow eyes, and suddenly started shrieking. The renewed Ink Person charged at the group. Everyone managed to leap out of the straight path before the ink person disappeared into an ink stain on the parallel wall. Then the ink stain vanished as soon as the new mutilated Butcher Gang member did.
Then everything was eerily quiet, the shrieking still echoing in everyone's ears.
Sammy frantically pointed from where the mutilated Carley appeared and where she disappeared.
Max finally broke the silence by saying, "THAT didn't happen last time…"
Markov then chimed in with, "I theorise that we accidentally released a potentially dangerous threat that could appear at any time."
Jack tilted his hat when he said, "I'm in agreement with little Markov."
That's true, and also a problem…
That was when Team Psi heard a knocking sound. All turned to the sound and saw a familiar cartoon wolf standing in the only remaining exit from this area. When attention was on him, he gave them a sheepish wave.
"Hey, Buddy!"
~}I{~
To be continued.
~}I{~
1… Okay! Okay! Okay! We never found out what was behind that door in the Bendy in the Ink Machine game, since even if you can bypass Ink Bendy it's locked. So I decided to take some liberties with this to add a little something from Bendy and the Dark Revival .
~}I{~