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

Chapter Twenty-Five [Artist's Rest]

Bendy... you slouched a little at the loss of your friend. Please, please let me see him again... Continuing forward, you started to walk up a flight of stairs, but an echoing and croaking familiar voice erupted from the shadow, making you jump. 

Your journey will end as you are consumed into my dark kingdom...

'Leave me alone!' you cried out, emotion flowing through you at the events that had just taken place. 'I just want my friend back!'

Your friend? No one down here loves you, we're all sinners... here to corrupt your mind.

'Shut up! He was my friend, he loved me as I did him!' You clutched your weapon in a fit of anguish, not caring if your voice would lead the Ink Demon straight to you. You didn't care right now. 'He's scared! What are the Keepers, why did their name make him so afraid...'

The Keepers lie, for they do not see all... only I have been granted that privilege to look over my domain...

'Then why was Bendy so afraid of them?' You stood at the top of the stairs ready for him to strike. You thought you were ready. The Ink Demon didn't answer, which made you more frustrated. You think you're so high and mighty... but you're just cryptic.

Know this, dear child... trust no one down here, as we all are set to torment Angels like you... I would be foolish to go out and believe everyone's word... Foolish...

Leave me alone. You kept walking, not wanting to talk to him anymore. Another flight of stairs stood before you, and you walked up them alone. Where is he? 'Bendy?' you called, hoping he would come out and explain why he ran.

He won't answer you.

I didn't ask you, now did I? 

Disrespect to those higher than you won't improve your rank...

I don't care, talk to me when you're ready to give me answers. 

He listened to your word and didn't say anything. You continue forward, trying to rid yourself of the rising anger bubbling inside of you. A sign that flickered showed the way to an elevator, which reminded you of what Alice had told you to do. "Head to the upper levels". You walked over to where it was, but the ceiling collapsed before you could enter. You yelped at the sudden motion of floorboards and metal tumbling to the ground along with the gate to get through. Are you serious?

A door behind you opened, revealing a new area to you. A cut out of Bendy sleeping was displayed, with the words "Artist Rest" written below. On either side of this display was the path forward. Interesting... 'How big is this place?' Entering the gigantic room, you saw many halls connecting to each other and going up in storeys, and a big control centre in the middle. 'Y/N!' A familiar soft voice call over to you.

'Porter?' You asked, looking around for him. 'Over here, I'm coming down!' Sure enough, he used his ability to flow over to you, and you were surprised to see him here. 'Porter! Gosh, I've missed you!' You go to hug him, but he looked confused. 'Where's Robert?' He peered around you, looking for Bendy. 'Oh, uhm... he ran off somewhere... I don't know why.' Being reminded of Bendy's absence brought down your mood a little.

'Hey, now. Everyone has a reason for everything. It's up to you to know when to ask.' While what he said didn't really make sense to you, you nodded a thank you and smile. 'Want to join me? If you're not busy, of course...' He gave you a happy chuckle. 'I'm always busy! I'll stay with you a while, but I will have to go soon enough. I'm an adventurer, and adventurer's never sit still!' He laughed his signature laugh and patted you on the back. 'Where are we off to first, Y/N?'

'We may as well have a look at the control panel and see what there is. I need to get onto the elevator to get to the upper levels.' Porter snapped his fingers, knowing what you were meaning. 'Ah, heading to a safer zone, are you? Makes sense, down here's a bit intense... let's hop to it, then!' You and Porter walked over to the control station in the middle of the room and went inside. 'Ah! There is quite a lot of loot here, do you want to split it in half?' You shrugged in reply. 'Why not?'

'Get over here!' Two Lost Ones ran straight for you two, shrieking as they swung their weapons left and right. 'Seems like we've got some enemies on our hands.' Porter grabbed hold of his rope that was wrapped around his shoulder and held the grappling hook on the end menacingly. This was the most violent you'd ever seen Porter get. He ran and swung his grappling hok around and it clawed into the back of one of the Lost One's they cried out in pain as the blades jabbed into his spine. You hit the other one with your pipe as hard as you could on the side and they fell over, toppling on top of the other enemy. 

'Get off of me!' The one with the injured spine cried as the other tried to scramble off of them as fast as he could. You were faster. You stood on top of them and applied as much pressure as you could to their neck. Then with your Gent Pipe in hand, you plunged it straight through their head. With how much strength you put into this, it went through and into the other Lost One's stomach. Both died in seconds. 'Wow...' Porter pulled his weapon out of the dead body and stared at you, perplexed. 'Never knew you could do that, missy.'

You laughed awkwardly and pulled your pipe out of the Lost One's neck. 'I honestly didn't think I did either...' You placed both of your hands on the Lost One's allowing happy memories to flow through you to give them the time they needed to escape their bodies. 'What are you doing?' Porter asked, disrupting you. 'Oh! Uhm... it's an ability I have. I can free people, you could say. From here, not just to the Dark Puddles.' He gave you a surprised look. 'Free? As in, out there?' Turning away from you and looking above, he seemed to get a happy memory from the past.

'That's... incredible...' You saw him upset, and feeling rather nostalgic. Taking the opportunity, and making sure your weapon wasn't going to dig into him, you hug him tightly. 'Maybe you'll go back one day.' You whisper loud enough for him to hear. He sighs in reply. 'I wish.'