Henry Stein

"Linda!" Henry leaped forwards and tried to grab her before she fell, but she had already fallen too far. Henry's hand grasped thin air, and he cried in despair. He could hear her panicked screams.

"We can't do anything, Henry! Get away from the edge!" Henry felt Alison pull him back, but he planted his feet in the ground and yanked his arm away. He took a step back, then dived into the dark pit. He heard Alison and Tom's helpless calls, but it was drowned out by his fear when he realized how deep this abyss went. It seemed to be over a few seconds before he actually hit the ground. Henry splashed into the ink and landed on something strange. He heard a muffled grunt from whatever was beneath him.

"Get... OFF!" the creature yelled. It sounded vaguely familiar, though Henry couldn't quite place it when the voice was muted by ink.

Henry scrambled away, grabbing the edge of the nearby floor and heaving himself up. He watched as a small shape popped up from the ink and gasped for air. When all the ink had dripped off the figure, Henry was absolutely relieved to see Linda.

"You're alive!" Henry cheered, hesitating before jumping into the ink again to greet her.

"No thanks to you," Linda grumbled. She rolled her shoulder and cradled her broken ribs. "I already fell about a hundred feet; I don't need you falling on top of me. Plus, with the already broken ribs, yeah, it was painful."

"Sorry," Henry apologized, but he couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice.

"I can't believe you!" Linda punched Henry in the arm playfully.

"Well, I can't just leave you alone down here!"

"Well,excuse me. I think I can handle myself, thank you very much. Besides, if I had died on the way down, you would have died, too. What good would that do to the others?"

Henry looked down at his feet. She had a point. Though he didn't have to search for a reply, spotting the familiar golden outline of Wally.

"Wally!"

"Wally?" Linda echoed. She watched Henry run up to an unseen object. "So, you cansee the dead!"

Henry stopped mid-step and looked back at Linda guiltily. "Maybe?" he said slowly. Wally laughed behind him.

"Sure can," he said. "In fact, I bet he could see dinosaurs if he looked hard enough!"

Henry caught two more voices from a dark corner. Sammy and Norman were laughing, too. They seemed much closer now than they had when they were still alive.

"Linda will think I'm insane," Henry whispered to Wally, attempting to drop his voice low enough so that Linda wouldn't hear.

"Insane?" Linda asked. "Henry, you're not insane! This is amazing!" She leaned away and gave him a quizzical look before adding, "Unless it's a sign of depression."

"What?"

"Oh, he's depressed alright!" Wally mused, bursting into another fit of laughter.

"But you can't see them," Henry explained. "I think this is part of the hidden messages and visions. I'm not like the rest of you. Or, in Joey's words, I'm special."

"Joey?" Linda asked. "What's he got to do with this?"

"Never mind. Anyways, I might have an idea on how you'd be able to see them, too."

"Is it safe?"

"Eh. I've never tried it before, so there's no guarantee that it won't hurt, let alone kill you."

"No thanks, I choose life."

"I like her," Wally giggled. Henry refrained from smacking him across the head for his sarcasm.

"Shut up. So, you came here for a reason. What do you want?"

"Nothin'. Just wanted to see how you were doin'."

"I have something to say," Sammy chimed in. "You are in probably the most dangerous part of the studio. And without a weapon, you won't stand a chance if those idiots catch you."

"Dangerous? Damnit! Why do we always get caught up in the worst crap?" Henry growled.

"Why? What's he saying?"

"Just hang on," Henry snapped, sounding angrier than he intended.

"The Butcher Gang. This is their death maze. You'll never know what's around the corner. Luckily, it's an easy route from here to Joey's lair, and probably quicker depending on how long it takes to get past this hell-hole." Sammy exhaled sharply and looked away for a moment.

"Expect the worst," Norman continued for him. Sammy glanced at him with reassurance. "Especially if Joey finds you. The closer you are to his domain, the more aggressive he'll be. He'll do anything to drive you away. He's hiding something; something we believe to be the key to his defeat."

"But if we don't survive before we get there..." Henry trailed off into a thoughtful silence. "It's not his fault that he's like this. He's innocent. He never wanted this."

"His mind was corrupted by the Dark Ink. But that doesn't mean that all this isn't his fault," Wally argued.

"So now you're acting smart," Sammy hissed, taking an angry step towards the now cowering wolf.

Henry sighed in annoyance and faced Linda. He explained what was being said, trying his best to describe the situation. When he was finished, Linda narrowed her eyes while she processed the information.

"So," Henry said, "What're you guys up to? You must be doing something to keep yourselves busy."

"You could say that," Wally replied. He gave Sammy and Norman a mischievous look. Norman tensed and sidled away from Sammy. Henry had just now noticed that the projectionist and Sammy were holding hands.

"Holy shit. You guys really are into each other," Henry laughed. Norman looked away in embarrassment whilst Sammy kept a straight face. Though it was obvious that the songwriter was trying hard to hide how flustered he really was.

"Couldn't you tell before? All Sammy did in his free time was mourn over Norman," Wally said.

"Yeah, I guess. But then that thing at the cavern happened..." Henry trailed off as he recalled the awkward moment between Sammy and Norman.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, right. You weren't there. Long story short, Sammy fell on top of Norman and they sort of enjoyed it. If their faces were any closer, they would have kissed."

"Ha. It didn't take them long at all, then. Sammy must have made the first move, then. He kissed Norman not too long ago, actually."

"What? No way! Why do these kinds of things happen when I'm not here to see them?" Henry growled at himself and glanced back at the two lovebirds, who were giggling with each other like a couple of little girls.

"Ladies, ladies, please," Linda sighed. Henry almost forgot she was there. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were a seventh grader, talking about love and stuff."

"Wait, how'd you know—" Henry began, but was interrupted by Wally's question.

"What about you and Linda, Henry? You're always with her, even when I wasn't around. Surely you two have made some kind of progress in your, er, relationship."

"None of your damn business, mutt," Henry snapped, turning away in attempt to hide his madly blushing cheeks. Linda cocked her head in confusion, unaware of what the two were talking about.

"Ooh. Suspense. I like it," Wally teased. Henry restrained from slapping his friend across the face, biting his bottom lip instead. But he gasped in pain and surprise as he easily drew blood.

What the...Henry put a finger to his teeth, freezing suddenly when he discovered that they'd grown sharper. Is this Joey's doing? Am I really turning into a monster like him?

We're not as different as you think, Henry.

Henry perked his head at the quiet voice. It was the same as before, from the battle just recently. Not only that, but it was the same one that Joey talked to.

I'm nothing like you.

There was no reply, only a low growl until the voice went silent.

"I'm nothing like you," Henry repeated, this time aloud, making the others stare at him in confusion.

"What?" Linda asked, but Henry mumbled something under his breath, a warning for her not to ponder any further.

"We should get going. We don't have much time," Henry commented, walking through Wally's ghostly spirit, making it waver and disappear from view. Sammy and Norman soon followed. But before Sammy disappeared, he gave Henry a thoughtful glare. Was the prophet onto him? Did he know about Joey's "voice"?

Henry didn't have long to dwell on the question, for as soon as he stepped into the labyrinth, three pairs of raspy growls sounded behind him.

Linda

Great. Not only were Linda and Henry cornered by the Butcher Gang, Linda had a nagging question at the back of her mind. She gasped as Charley swiped for her, missing her throat by a hair. She heard her clone's nasty cackles as it watched its friends draw closer to their prey. Edgar's teeth clacked with every laugh, sending chills down Linda's spine. She hated that thing so much.

"Don't these things ever give up?" Henry muttered. He kicked at Barley, sending the Fisher stumbling backwards.

Linda went to reply, but had to dodge Charley again. The Piper kept going for her neck. Of course. It was Linda's weakest spot, still soft around the scars from her quarrel with Joey. It was the valuable life-line, too, containing the most important blood vessels and air supply. If that was threatened, then it wasn't long until she died of blood loss and lack of air.

If Charley kept going for that area, hen his movements were predictable. Linda waited until he struck again, ducking down and sliding in between the toon's legs. Charley grunted in surprise, then howled in agony as Linda kicked him square in the crotch. Using the weakness to her advantage, Linda knocked Charley off his legs, making him fall flat on his face. Winded, Linda's enemy didn't stand a chance. But as Linda went for the killing blow, she was suddenly pulled back by three strong hands. Twisting around to see her new attacker, she gagged at Edgar's rancid breath. Her clone's humanoid eye rolled limply in its socket, a wound from their previous encounter.

How these things were still alive was beyond Linda. Norman supposedly tore their hearts out. Were these guys immortal or something?

Linda struggled in Edgar's grasp, gasping for air. Edgar noticed that she was weakening, squeezing tighter on her throat. Linda thought she would die when all the sudden everything went dark. Not because she fainted, as she could still see what was happening, but because Joey had stormed into the room. Linda couldn't see Henry from her situation, but she could hear his breathing grow faster as the larger demon drew nearer. Linda finally breathed new air, savoring it as it filled her lungs again. But why? Wasn't Edgar choking her a second ago?

Then sudden realization hit Linda. She looked up to see Joey strangling her clone, Dark Ink seeping into the Striker's flesh. The spider died in Joey's arms, convulsing violently as the poison coursed through its body. Joey glanced at Linda and Henry quickly, acknowledging their presence before going after the other two members of the Butcher Gang. Barley squeaked in terror, but it was cut off abruptly as Joey plunged his bare fist through its body. Joey gripped the Fisher's heart, pulling it out and letting Barley's body fall to the ground. He tore a chunk out of the heart, making Linda's stomach twinge. Joey was a cannibal.

Joey dropped the heart and slowly stepped forwards to Charley, who just realized what was happening due to his weakened state. Linda had to look away when Joey easily tore off Charley's head, devouring the body whole.

Now all who were left were Henry, Linda, and... Joey. The huge demon looked them over, eyes resting on Henry for a moment, before retreating back through his portal of ink. Linda was extremely confused now. Why hadn't Joey finished them off while he had the chance? And why did he seem to look pitiful for Henry?

"God," Henry whispered, staring in awe at the spot Joey disappeared through. "That was close."

"Why didn't he kill us? If anything, he just saved us," Linda said.

Henry hesitated before replying, "I don't know. Maybe he's just playing with us."

Linda almost didn't notice the faraway look in Henry's eyes. He knew something.

"Why don't you trust me?" Linda blurted, immediately regretting that she said it. Henry stopped and looked at her quizzically.

"What do you mean?"

"You're hiding something. Don't deny it, either. I know that look, Henry. You have that look every time you're keeping secrets. Especially the year Joey installed the Ink Machine. You were always talking behind closed doors with him then. I thought you'd talk to me of all people."

"You remember that?"

Do I?Linda was surprised when she found herself repeating old memories like they happened just yesterday. She didn't remember anything before the incident, so why now?

"Yeah. I guess I do. But don't change the subject! You're plotting with him again, aren't you? You're just a little traitor, pretending to be on our side! Pretending... to love me." Lind's last words were choked with tears. She saw Henry's face turn from confusion to fear. So, he was talking with Joey.

"Why would I do that?" he asked, reaching out for Linda's hand, but she pulled it away.

"Tell me why," Linda continued. "Tell me why you're working with him."

"I'm not working with him! We talked once, okay? He offered to let me join him, but I turned him down. You know who was on my mind when I did that? You. You changed my mind, Linda. I seriously thought about joining that liar until I thought of you." Henry paused to lift Linda's chin so that their eyes met. "No one else. Just you. No one else matters to me more than you, Linda. I love you with all my heart, and nothing can change that."

Linda felt a huge weight lift from her heart. Hearing Henry say this gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling. She stared into Henry's eyes for a couple more seconds before pulling away. Why did that have to end?she thought sadly as Henry's warmth faded. Only the cold ink from her own body remained.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I don't know why I ever doubted you."

Linda began walking away into the labyrinth again when she felt Henry touch her shoulder. Linda turned to see his lips connect with hers. It was soft and passionate, not forced like they used to be when they were still human. When Henry parted, he looked away in embarrassment.

"Sorry. I don't know what came over me," he mumbled. A terrible excuse, in Linda's opinion.

"Don't apologize," Linda replied, intertwining her fingers with Henry's. She leaned her cheek on his shoulder, smiling at how nervous he seemed at their contact. "I love you too."

Norman Polk

"Well, that escalated quickly," Wally muttered. He, Sammy, and Norman stood gaping at Henry and Linda. "See? This is what happens when you leave two lovebirds alone." The janitor shot an amused and accusing glance at Sammy and Norman.

Sammy flipped Wally off and began to fiddle around with a slip of paper he was holding. He seemed excruciatingly bored.

Maybe I can do something about that, Norman thought, then shook his head. Get your head straight, man! (AND GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTERS, READERS (insert Lenny face here))You can't make a move like that, not this early. Plus, you don't really have the lips to do that.Norman growled in annoyance and scratched at the area where his neck fused with his projector head. Stupid head. Stupid body. Stupid Joey. Stupid place. Stupid love.

"I'm still curious about why Joey didn't kill them," Sammy said, almost to himself.

God, his voice is beautiful. As Norman thought this, he felt surprised at himself. Why was he acting so lovestruck?

"It got me thinking though," Sammy continued. "Henry mentioned something about Joey not too long ago. What did those two talk about?"

"Knowing Joey, he probably cooked up some crazy story to make Henry go to his side," Wally replied.

"Maybe. What do you think, Norman?"

"M-me?" Norman stuttered. He began to feel mad at himself for being so distracted. He forgot what the other two were talking about while he gawked over Sammy. "I, uh... I think..."

Even while Norman talked, he couldn't think straight when he looked at Sammy. Why does he have to be so handsome? Why do Ihave to be so distracted?

"Um..."

Sammy shrugged, knowing he wouldn't get an answer out of his boyfriend. Then something so amazing happened that Norman's heart skipped a couple beats, causing him to go into a complete awestruck silence; Sammy lightly touched Norman's hand, signaling that he wanted to hold it. The mere feeling of Sammy's hand gave Norman shivers. Norman agreed, returning with the same passionate nudge. They held hands and stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours until Wally finally broke them apart.

"Come on, you two," he muttered. "They're going without us."

"Oh, shit, you're right," Sammy gasped. He pulled his hand from Norman's and sprinted down the hall.

Norman felt sad that their moment ended, but he followed nonetheless. Stop gawking over him and get your head in the game, he scolded himself. The sooner we get there, the sooner we're free... and the sooner we can be together.

Joey Drew

A loud clatter sounded from behind Joey. The Ink Demon whipped around, finding a small Searcher. It looked up at Joey with fear and regret. It seemed to hesitate before scrambling away, terrified of what Joey would do to the poor thing.

"Shame," Joey said to himself. "My own spies can't even scrounge up enough courage to face me."

At least you're not bothered very often, his voice chimed. The creature made a deep, rumbly chuckle.

"Pfft. Yeah, right. If I'm not dealing with my disciples, I'm murdering traitors. Take those three freaks back there for instance. I specifically told them not to kill Henry, or even attempt to, and what do they do? Attack. The cockroach nearly died."

You need to stop having feelings for others. It makes you soft. No one needs a weak leader.

"I'm weak anyways. Compared to other great leaders in history, I'm the last one among the most dangerous. Take Atilla the Hun for example. He was a murderer, and he was one of the most feared and respected soldiers of all time. I kill, but I'm barely a leader."

You're not weak. Theymake you weak. The Butcher Gang are idiots. Even together they don't make up half a brain cell. You must stop caring for Henry, Joey. He's your enemy now, not your friend.

I still need him alive, though, Joey thought. He would have said it out loud, but he stopped himself when he noticed the strange looks the other Searchers were giving him.

Of course. Our plan would be worthless if he died.

The key to freedom.

And our deaths. If one thing goes wrong, we all die. He mustn't reach The End before us.

Joey entered the large vault, the large iron door torn off its hinges; courtesy of the demon. He scored his talons down the edges of a cardboard box, ripping it open. Inside, a single reel sat on its side. Turning it over, the label read The End. Joey snatched it and left for his lair, reaching it in a matter of seconds due to how close he was.

Wait. Leave the reel here, then circle back. Maybe we can get one more scare out of Henry before our final