Sammy Lawrence

"No."

"Please?"

"No!"

Henry and Sammy were arguing on whether Norman could come with them or not. Henry seemed very reluctant to be with the predatory projectionist.

"So," Linda said to Norman, who watched them from the corner of the elevator, "how's life for ya?"

"We can't hold another person in our group. When we get Wally back, another will just slow us down." Henry made a frustrated sigh and gave Norman a very angry look. Norman hissed at him in return.

"If we get him back," Sammy said to himself. Henry raised his eyebrow. "We could use Norman. Nothing gets past him; not with that mammoth of a light."

Norman whined.

"No offense," Sammy added quickly to avoid being cuffed on the head.

"Sure. You only want him for personal needs," Henry huffed.

"Shut up. You know that's not the only reason."

"Ha! See? You admit it!" Henry poked a finger to Sammy's chest. "You really do like him."

In the corner of his eye, Sammy saw Norman shake his head. Linda whispered something to him, then he straightened up and stood proud.

"So? It's no secret." Linda went to pull Henry aside and speak to him, their angry voices dropped to a low whisper.

Sammy didn't notice Norman come up behind him. He nearly screamed when he felt his hand on his shoulder. Jerking around, he let out his breath in relief. Too jumpy. Some first impression.

Norman tilted his head in confusion, probably wondering why Sammy was on edge.

You have no idea.

"I wish you could talk," Sammy admitted. "I really do."

For some reason, Norman made a loud screech. Everyone jumped and stepped back. Norman gripped his chest in pain and howled again.

"Told you!" Henry shouted over Norman. "I knew he was going to be a problem!"

Sammy made no reply. He was terrified, and not for his safety, but for Norman's. He was doubled over in pain, shaking the lift with his spasms. Sammy refrained from covering his ears to muffle the Projectionist's screams in attempt to show that he wasn't worried, but couldn't help but take a few steps towards his friend. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but he only opened and closed his mouth in confusion.

Don't just stand there! he yelled to himself, throwing himself onto Norman to hold him back. He was surprisingly cold, like deathly cold, and shaking violently.

"Sammy, what the hell are you doing?" Linda gasped. Henry stopped her from going any closer.

Sammy didn't reply. He was more focused on not being bucked off. When the lift finally stopped on Level 9, Norman stopped, his tense muscles relaxing. His light flickered for a moment in exhaust.

"Get off," he rasped. His voice came out clear, unlike the last time Sammy heard it.

"Did you just—"

"Get off."

Sammy let go of Norman's arms, staring dumbstruck at him. Henry and Lina glanced at Sammy, then at Norman. Linda was more terrified, unlike Henry, who's good eye gleamed mischievously.

"Say anything and I'll tear out your other eye," Sammy grumbled.

"There is nothing between us, I'll have you know," Norman snarled at Sammy.

Sammy tried to ignore the growing pain in his heart. "I never said there was," he replied, wincing at the sadness in his own voice.

"Aw, look at you two," Susie crowed. Then she growled, "Hurry up. I don't like to be kept waiting."

Linda

When the four tried to step out of the lift, it shuddered violently. The doors slammed shut with a loud bang, then the lift began rising upwards.

"On second thought, I don't want to share my new toy," Susie said.

"But she promised!" Henry whimpered.

"That's what I'm worried about," Linda said. "If she really is working with Joey, it wouldn't be like him to break a promise. We might not be happy with the outcome, though."

"And, of all people, you bring that pest to my door. Do you have any idea how much trouble that thing has caused? He's taken too many of my things, and it's time for it to stop. Enjoy your descent. I enjoyed our little date."

The lift stopped rising. There was a long silence.

"What's going on?" Sammy whispered, his eyes searching frantically for an escape route.

"We die," Norman answered. The projectionist sighed deeply. "Like always."

"We always fall," Henry echoed. He was fixated on the floor outside the lift.

"We're not going to die," Linda said, though she barely believed herself.

The lift suddenly lost all momentum, dropping into a rapid descent. The four staggered on their feet, flailing for a grip. Henry fell on top of Linda and shouted in pain. His arm was twisted at an odd angle. Sammy fell forwards and nearly brought down Norman with him.

The lift screeched loudly on its track, sparks flying. Then there was a huge shudder as it hit the bottom, and all went black.

Norman Polk

Norman groaned and clutched his side. He only saw darkness, but he could hear the others struggling to their feet. Norman rummaged around the sides of his head, searching for the light switch. When he finally found it, his vision became clear, though he couldn't bear what he was seeing. The lift was off of its track, wood planks from its walls scattered all over the room. Henry, Linda, and Sammy were all trying to help each other up. Henry was in the worst shape of them all, his right arm at a peculiar angle. Sammy was tending to it, his own injured arm bleeding.

Norman shakily stood up, trying not to tangle himself in his own wires. He began to walk forwards, but, of course, on wire was caught on a broken plank. Cursing angrily, Norman tore the wire away and refrained from screaming in frustration. He hated these damn things. They were always getting caught on things.

"Lord knows how much I hate my life right now," Henry moaned. He fell back dramatically and reached out to open air. "I can't go on."

Linda rolled her eyes and kicked him softly in the side.

"Hey, watch it! I'm already hurtin', you know!" Henry tackled her back and they wrestled playfully.

"I don't know how they can mess around at a time like this," Sammy growled to Norman.

"Reminds me of a certain composer I know," Norman sighed. Sammy glowered at him. "You were just as bad, admit it."

"I was never as childlike as they are!" Sammy retorted.

"Really? Does that include the first time we met?"

Sammy went silent. Norman tried hard not to laugh. He didn't say no.

Sammy observed the broken lift and sighed. "There's no way to go back now. Might as well keep going; we've made it this far."

"Without Wally?" Linda said sharply. "Are you insane?"

"I'm sure we'll find him," Henry reassured her, but he seemed to doubt himself.

"Way to change the subject, Lawrence," Norman teased. "Too shy to admit that you like me?"

"I'm sure you don't feel the same for me."

Sammy's sad tone made Norman feel bad. It could never happen.

"There's no saving him."

The three turned to look at Henry. He was staring into nothingness, his good eye clouded. There was something unworldly about him now, something that gave Norman chills. He didn't know Henry very well, but he scared Norman sometimes.

"What are you talking about? Of course, we can save him!" Linda whimpered to Henry.

"It hasn't been done before," Henry replied, almost too quiet for them to hear.

Norman and Sammy exchanged concerned looks.

"Henry, what's wrong?" Sammy asked, shaking Henry slightly. He blinked and clutched his head.

"I don't know," he replied groggily. "I must be seeing things. Unless you can see it, too."

"See what?"

"The golden ink. It says it right there: There's no saving him."

"Henry, are you feeling all right?" Linda looked around for whatever Henry was seeing.

Henry shook his head and made a puzzled expression. He shrugged. Norman swore that there was something seriously wrong with this guy. He didn't trust any demon, no matter how nice they were. Or if they were really human. From what he'd been hearing, Henry was a famous artist, known for being the original designer of Bendy. It didn't surprise Norman that the ink turned him into his own creation, but the ink must have done something to his mind.

"We should keep going," Sammy announced. He cast a confused look at Henry.

"God, Sammy, let us take a break! We just faced imminent death, and you want us to keep going and ignore our broken bones?" Linda reprimanded. She pulled Henry to her side protectively, and he shouted in pain. She had pulled the wrong arm. She muttered a quick apology before giving Sammy an especially angry glare.

Once again, Norman wished he could show his amusement. He watched Sammy struggle for words, their "brave and loyal" leader dumbfounded. Norman looked away quickly, growing hot with both rage and embarrassment. How could he have feelings for that liar? Norman found himself at a strange predicament.

You have nothing for him. Give it up. It'll never last.

Henry Stein

Shooting a final glance at the golden message on the floor, Henry followed the others out of the dark room. How could he see it and the others can't? Was this normal for creations from the ink, or was Henry just... different? He tried to forget about it as he slept before they left; Sammy had let them rest for a little while longer. But his dreams were tainted with death and deception. The golden ink came in flashing images, all forming very confusing and terrifying words. He felt like he didn't sleep at all, and he was more exhausted than before he rested.

Henry nearly fell on top of Linda when she stopped suddenly. She, Sammy, and Norman were all whispering amongst each other. The hall had split into two different directions, though the way they wanted to go was blocked off by an iron door.

"The handle's missing," Sammy told them. He tried pushing on the door to force it open, but it didn't budge.

"You don't say? I just thought it was part of the wall," Norman retorted sharply. He shoved Sammy aside and looked closely at the broken handle. "It looks like a clean break. If we can find a replacement, it might open."

Something shimmering caught Henry's eye. Looking to his side, there were small floating in a small path to the right. While Sammy and Norman were bickering with each other, Henry followed the golden ink. There were two doorways at the end of the hall, and the ink disappeared. Henry narrowed his good eye in frustration. Why did it lead him here?

"Where are you going?"

Linda's voice nearly made Henry jump out of his skin. She had come up behind him without warning. He'd forgotten that she was there for a couple moments.

"Henry?"

"Just looking. Might find something in one of these rooms," he replied. Lina nodded and tried the one to the left, but it was locked.

"Nothing here. Try the other one."

Henry opened the right door effortlessly and suppressed a gasp. The walls were covered in writing, each sentence a grim message on taxes and money. The only part of the room that wasn't covered in ink was an audio recording that sat on the corner of a desk. Linda, being her, stuffed the tape into an already over-filled bag. While she investigated, Henry rummaged around in the rubble of a collapsed wall. He lifted a stone off the floor and nearly shouted in delight. The missing handle was there.

Sammy was actually seemed impressed when Henry came back with the handle. He usually was never impressed, but instead a know-it-all grump most of the time. Norman offered to place it in the correct spot; he seemed tired of Sammy's crap already. They were all happy to move on, but when the iron door finally creaked open, Henry felt more than eager to turn back.

Joey Drew

Joey took a deep breath and let the pulsating pain in his head subside. The migraines had been growing worse over the week and it was beginning to distract him from his tasks. He had no idea why it was happening; one minute he was fine, and the next, he felt like throwing his head against a wall. Joey felt another rush of pain and he screamed in agony. This was probably the worst one yet. He felt feverish and tired, but he couldn't sleep. He hadn't slept in years.

There's your problem, idiot, he scolded himself. But if that really was his problem, why hadn't he felt this way before?

Joey was even dripping ink more than usual. He'd melted a hole right through a Searcher today, and couldn't help but feel a little guilt for it's suffering. Maybe the Dark Ink was beginning to affect his mind.

Ignoring another wave of pain, Joey limped across his lair to place something on his throne. Henry would never find it here, and even if he did, he wouldn't dare set foot in the Ink Demon's domain. Joey smirked evilly and pictured Henry and his friends dying at the hands of a corrupted Wally Franks. The Boris clone had become very aggressive, and it was only a matter of time before he could be set loose. Until then, he was being fed Dark Ink to keep him alive. Joey only hoped that Susie wouldn't over-feed him.

Joey sat down with another sigh. He rubbed his temples in attempt to ease the pain. If only there were some ibuprofen or something lying around. The infirmary was too far away from here, and Joey was in too much pain to go anywhere. He'd probably collapse within the first couple minutes.

Some great and powerful lord you are. People are supposed to cower before you, not laugh at your pain.