An Inkwell's Stain //BATDR Fanfiction\\ [Female Reader]

Chapter Five: A Heavenly Visit

'This room feels a bit cosier...' you say, examining your whereabouts. While the place was littered with boxes and assortments of different objects and materials, the candles sprinkled throughout reminding you of a simpler time. 

When you were seven years old - only three years ago - there was a blackout at Arch Gate Pictures. You, as a young child, were scared. Your mother however, lit many candles in her room and let you sit on her lap while she drew... She also sang a little lullaby to you while stroking your hair, and even though you didn't want to admit it, it calmed you down a lot. That lullaby... about sunshine and grey skies and love... It meant so much to you, even if you couldn't remember the name of it. And even though it was a very simple and forgettable memory, you still held onto it, and it made your heart ache for your mother even more.

There was a cassette tape a top the table, which made you curious. Tapping the triangular play button, you heard a familiar voice. 

'I just received a call... Joey Drew is... dead.' Nathan Arch said in dismay through the cassette player. 'What a quiet end to an extraordinary life... Last I heard, he was staying in some... cramped apartment downtown. You could practically hear the rats in the telephone when he called me last April. Despite of that, old Joey seemed quite happy when last we spoke!' 

You listened to him intently, picking up on some emotion with his wording and tone... They must have been good friends.

A sigh came through the receiver. 'Well... Farewell, my friend... What will become of your creations now?' The line dropped. 

You knew the end to that story, however. Nathan Arch took over Joey Drew's legacy and took all rights to the characters... but now you weren't certain if it was a good idea, judging from the look of this place you were standing in. 

"The ink is calling us", Wilson had said. So, is this all just because of the ink? Or is it Nathan's fault? All of the options and questions started to hum in your brain again, only to fizzle out when you shook your head to rid them.

A cabinet was above the work bench, which you opened to see if anything valuable was inside. A glowing battery caught your eye, which you grabbed quickly. Who knows when you might need this? 

But something else grabbed your attention. 

A baseball with cursive handwriting written on it. Intrigued, you reached up and grabbed it with your dainty fingers. "Bud Louis". You placed it back on the shelf where it belonged.

Looking around the room, you only found a wall with some bricks left protruding out of place, perfect for climbing up to the next floor. You grabbed hold of one, surprised to feel the feeling of actual brick, and started to climb. 

Once at the top, you stood still for a second to get your bearings. There was a path to the left, and a lever to the right. Piquing your interest, you headed toward the lever, which had the words "Security Override" above it.

A small grin escaped your grasp and eased onto your face as you pulled the lever down, reaching high with all balance on the tip of your toes. The door to the right of you rolling open, and your heels plopped in a squish to the ground. Your legs slowly quickened into a run as you started to relax. 

Nothing has tried to attack you yet, and everything looks so, so interesting... you couldn't help the adventurous mood starting to arise through the nerves.

A figure walked around the corner up ahead, startling you. 'Hello? Hello, can you help me?' 

They didn't reply, and you hadn't had enough time to see who or what it was. '...Hello?'