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

The Epilogue: The End...?

'Her legs are going to be fine,' Nurse Heather told your mother in the other room, and you fidgeted uncomfortably in your bed. It was Christmas Day, and only now had your mother come to see you. 'But what about her arm?'

Silence filled the room out there, and you could feel the tense air waft over to your hospital bed as you listened. 'Sadly, we will need to amputate it. It's too far gone... whatever deadly substance eroded her skin got into her bone as well. Your insurance will be able to cover it, as well as to get her a prosthetic arm. Was she lefthanded?' 

You sigh and tune out of the conversation, looking out your open window. The sky was clear, and it was the perfect weather to go for a picnic with your mother on the day off. Your predicament changed those plans, however. The door to your hospital room opened slowly, and in came your mother, carrying a lot of luggage. She held a small present wrapped in paper, and a big suitcase.

'Hello, darling...' she said quietly, giving you a sweet smile. You returned it. 'How are you feeling?' You nodded. 'Same as yesterday, really. The anesthetics just make me numb for a couple hours...' you chuckle before coughing into your right arm. 'So, a lot happened yesterday... Bendy told me about it.' She looked away with a smile. 'I still can't believe he exists... it's a dream come true for us animators, honestly. We grow attached to what me make and draw, to the point where we dream for the impossible.'

'Joey was the dreamer that took it too far though...' you pointed out, and your mother nodded. 'That's correct... I never knew what that man had did...' You felt a twinge at your words and looked away. She still doesn't know... 

The big suitcase rumbled a little, and you gasped at the movement. 'Ma, what did you-' At your words, the suitcase burst open, and out tumbled Bendy. He fell to the ground with a huff, and quickly dusted himself off. 'Sorry, Bendy. I had to sneak you in somehow...' your mother smiled at the small fit Bendy pulled. Bendy huffed and crossed his arm, but immediately ran straight to your side when he noticed where he was. 'Hey, bud!' You laugh as he grasps your hand in his tightly.

'Taking care of Ma for me?' Bendy nods with pride, and you giggle at your mother's face. 'I'm the one taking care of him, here.' You laugh at the playful glare Bendy shot at her. 'Any news?' You ask, and your mother fidgeted with her hands. 'Not anything more exciting than having a living cartoon as part of the family, dear.'

You snorted, but shut yourself up when you saw a nurse walk by the room. Bendy stayed low and out of sight behind Ma to make sure he was safe. 'Here, my dear... Merry Christmas.' She passed you the present and you flipped it around in your fragile hands, trying to guess what it is. 'Oh, just open it!' You mother laughed, and you giggled in return. Pulling apart the parchment paper, you find a sketchbook, free range for you to draw in. 'Thank you!' You sighed happily, hugging it to your chest. Two things fell to your lap through the pages as you did so. Looking down, you notice a piece of folded up paper and a note. 

'Oh?' You open the note first and find fancy and neat handwriting inside. "You're one of a kind, Y/N. And because of this, we have given you the rare opportunity given below. I hope you consider." Underneath in red marker, the words "I love you" were written by your mother. You open up the folded paper and you hold your breath at the words you saw at the top. "Job Application". 

'I already signed the parental figure's part, as you are still a child. I was going to quit my job there, but seeing how much you loved the place, and how it is tied to Joey Drew Studios mystery somehow... I knew you would be happy about this. You get to be my proper apprentice, and I can show you the ropes of being an animator early, so you don't need to work extra hard when you become an adult. Plus, it gives you free-range to... "explore".' You mother giggled and you stared at her with an ever-growing smile. 'This is, of course, if you want to.' You shake your head. 'How in the world would I turn down this offer?' You reach your sore arms out, and you mother leans down to hug you.

Everything was perfect.

 'Oh... one thing.' You mother looked at you with worry as she pulled away. 'I went back to work to have a look at that machine you were talking to me about yesterday... are you sure you weren't imagining it?' You cock your head to the side, confused. 'What do you mean?' She shook her head, her face uncomfortable. 'The machine was gone.'

Your skin went pale as the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end. 'It's... gone?' you repeat, and she nods in confirmation. 'That and the pedestal items too.' Bendy turns to look at you with worry. His smile drooped into a grimace, thinking of what could have possibly happened. 'Bendy... do you know of anyone else who knows about the machine?' He shook his head.

'Seems like there's a lot more we don't know about Joey...' you say quietly, looking away. Both your mother and Bendy nod, and you sighed. Well, one thing's for sure.

Your Friday nights were going to be a hell of a lot more interesting.