Henry and Linda scrambled out of bed, hearts pumping rapidly in fear and panic. They didn't know exactly what was going on, but they knew Bendy needed them now and that was enough to get them moving. Henry threw open the door and began going down the stairs as fast as he dared, Linda following right behind him. The other toons, already sleeping restlessly after feeling something burning in their ink, immediately jolted awake at the sound of their parents dashing through the house and were soon pouring out of their rooms to see what was going on. They couldn't see much in the darkened house, but they could see Henry and Linda's still glowing eyes as they threw on coats and shoes.
"Mom! Dad! What's going on?" Alice asked in worry as she started going down the stairs, her halo brightening to help provide light. "Something… Something happened to Bendy… didn't it?"
"We don't know what, but we know he's in trouble," Henry confirmed with a grimace. "Your mother and I are going to go find him. Please stay here and prepare for anything. Whatever hurt Bendy might try and attack here next and I don't want any of you getting hurt while we're getting your brother."
"I'll keep an eye on them," Sammy confirmed, Treble trembling in his arms. "Just get Bendy back home safe."
"Don't open the don't the door for anyone but us," Linda instructed, giving the toons each a quick hug. "We'll be back as soon as possible."
The toons looked worried and determined, crowding around the door as Henry and Linda took off into the night. Once the couple was out of sight, the toons shut and locked the door and began barricading all the openings just to be safe while they waited for the rest of their family to get home.
Henry led the way through the night-covered forest, using his connection as a guide. It wasn't the clearest feeling to follow and Henry had to adjust directions several times to stay on course, but he could feel the bond getting stronger and knew they were getting close.
"Can you still feel him?" Linda asked fearfully, an iron grip on Henry's arm both to help keep track of him in the darkness and because of her own heightened emotions.
"The connection's still there but it's quiet," Henry replied, weaving through the thick underbrush. "He must have passed out from whatever was causing him so much pain."
"Hurry Henry," Linda couldn't help but beg, terrified for her toon son. Henry complied as much as he could, picking up the pace as they went through the trees.
After a few minutes, Henry was forced to slow their pace as the golden ink still shining in his eyes began to show traces of magic littering the trees and the ground.
"We're getting close, but we have to be careful," Henry whispered to his wife as he carefully guided her around a dormant circle. "This area is riddled with magic circles, most of them binding circles like the one Joey used on Bendy before. This has to have been a trap set for Bendy specifically."
"And he's still here right?" Linda asked, cautiously following in Henry's footsteps. "Whoever did this didn't take him away?"
"He's still here, I can see his aura now," Henry assured before frowning as he looked around. "But there's no sign of whoever's behind this. They could be gone, but it's more likely to be a trap. My abilities are still new and I have no idea if it would be easy for someone to hide from my sight or not."
"Trap or not, we can't abandon Bendy," Linda said with determination, which Henry readily agreed with.
They were going to bring their son home no matter what.
Despite keeping a sharp eye out for whoever had harmed their family, the woods remained silent and empty and the couple was able to get to Bendy with little trouble. The toon was lying passed out in what seemed like the burnt remains of a circle. Linda wanted to run and check on him but forced herself to wait as Henry bent to examine the circle.
"It looks like the circle exhausted all the magic feeding it," Henry said, examining the blackened grass. "Probably because the caster seems to have left… but why go through all this trouble just to leave Bendy here? What were they trying to accomplish?"
"We can figure that out later!" Linda snapped, her worry grating on her nerves. "Is it safe to get Bendy out of there?"
"It should be safe enough," Henry confirmed, destroying a part of the circle just to be cautious. That was enough for Linda as she sprinted to the center of the circle and dropped to her knees by the unconscious toon and gently pulled him into her lap.
"Henry get over here!" Linda called in distress as she gently ran her hands over Bendy. "Bendy's injured, like that time with the Holy Water!"
Henry was immediately by her side, golden ink pooling in his hands as he looked over the toon himself. Thankfully Bendy didn't seem nearly as melted as that other time and wasn't in danger of dying. With loving care, Henry applied his golden ink to Bendy's injuries, healing the toon. When they turned Bendy over so Henry could reach his back, Henry had to pause as he saw a magic circle he didn't recognize engraved on the toon's back.
"Why'd you stop?" Linda asked in concern and confusion.
"Can you not see that?" Henry asked, gesturing to the magic circle.
"All I can see is several melted spots in Bendy's back," Linda explained, unsure of what would have caused Henry to pause. "Do you see something else?"
"I see a magic circle of some sort," Henry replied, brow furrowing in thought as he looked at it closely. "I don't think it's there physically though, which is why you can't see it."
"Is it hurting him?" Linda demanded, clutching Bendy close as if she could somehow protect him from such an intangible threat.
"I don't think it's active, but I have no idea what it is," Henry explained as he continued healing the toon. "I won't be able to do anything about it now. Let's just get Bendy out of here!"
Linda was more than happy to comply, carrying the toon while Henry lead the way out, destroying as many of the magic traps as they could just to be safe. They hurried home once their task was complete, Sammy opening up the door to them just as they got close as he could sense Bendy getting nearby. The toons all gathered around their parents in relief at seeing them back safe and worried upon noticing Bendy's unconscious form. Henry and Linda did their best to assure the toons that Bendy was alright and that he should wake up after some rest, but they weren't as successful as they hoped.
It was unanimously decided that they would be spending the rest of the night together in the living room. The toons quickly and efficiently gathered enough pillows and blankets to make everyone comfortable and decided on a schedule for everyone to take turns keeping watch. Snuggling close together with Bendy between them and surrounded by their toons, Henry and Linda soon dropped off, silently hoping their family would be alright.
Thankfully the rest of the night passed without incident and Henry was woken by the sun shining through the window and the toon stirring in his arms.
"Wh… what's going..?" Bendy yawned, looking around at the sleeping pile he had found himself in somehow. "Did we have a surprise sleepover?"
"What do you remember?" Henry asked gently, sitting up and holding Bendy close.
"Um… flying home after a quiet night?" Bendy replied in confusion, thinking it over. "I was almost home when I noticed… something… whatever it was, I knew I had to stop it so I chased after it. And then… and then… I don't remember. What happened?"
"You were led into a trap of some sort," Henry informed grimly, getting a fearful gasp from the toon. "I was woken up when I felt your pain and came to find you with Linda. We found you alone and passed out in a burnt-out binding circle. There was no sign of whoever cast the circle, but you have some sort of magic circle engraved in your aura. Do you have any idea who is behind it?"
"No… I don't remember any of it!" Bendy said clutching Henry fearfully and prompting the man to rub soothing circles on the toon's back. "What did they want… what did they do to me?!"
"I don't know Bendy, but we'll figure it out," Henry assured, rocking gently to keep the little devil from panicking. "I'll figure out what that circle does and find some way to safely remove it. I promise Bendy."
"Thank you, dad," Bendy sighed in relief and Henry hoped he'd be able to live up to that promise and the trust Bendy had in him. He couldn't help the sinking feeling that they now had some sort of ticking countdown hanging over their peaceful lives.
Henry dreaded what would happen if the timer ran out.