🖤Heart of Ink🖤

Chapter 1: Strange Places and Stranger Faces

You woke up lying on the floor as if you had fallen asleep there. Your vision was hazy as you opened your eyes, looking straight at the roof. It was wooden and old, with an odd yellowish tint. The smell of ink was strong in the air. Sitting up and looking at your surroundings, it was clear why that was. The floor around you was covered in the stuff, and so were you. You looked down at your body. Something felt off about it. You were wearing a button-up shirt with some buttons open and overalls. The ink was all over you, especially your lower legs and left arm. Noticing you have a blind spot in your vision, you touch your face and realize there is a thick coating of ink over your left eye. You try wiping it away, but it seems almost attached to you. Sighing, you give up on trying to rid yourself of the ink... there were more important things to worry about: such as how or why you were here in the first place.
You stand on your feet and look around you... everything, including yourself, was an odd old-timey yellow color, except the ink, which was pitch black. It looked like you were in some corridor. Seeing nobody around, you decide to think to yourself for a moment. You can't remember how you got here, where here even is, or even who you are as a person... and it hurts your head to think about it too much. You decide you should at least figure out where you are. With no other choice, you start to walk down the halls.

After walking and wading through uncomfortably thick puddles of ink, you come across something. It's extravagant writing on a wall that reads 'Music Department.' There are a few different halls from here, but you decide to head down the north hall. Suddenly, as you're about to walk down the corridor, you feel something grab your ankle. Whipping around to face whoever snagged your leg, you see a large mass of living ink. It had no legs, only arms and a head with soulless black eyes. You screamed and kicked the creature in the face, but it wouldn't let you go. It swiped at you in retaliation, hitting you in the chest and leaving an inky stain. You kick and punch and struggle with all your might... until the creature finally loses its grip, melting into a lifeless puddle.
Breathing heavily, you try and process what just happened... What the HELL WAS that thing? Why did it try to attack you? Where did it come from? Well, whatever it was, there were most likely more of them, and it was obvious to you that it wasn't safe to be out in the open like this... You decide you'll try and figure things out later as you walk down the hallway. Maybe you'll find other people that could help you get out of here...

The further you walk down the hallway, you start to hear something from farther down. Fearful that it might be another creature, you pause, holding your breath. As you listen, you realize it sounds almost like... music? A string instrument of some kind. Maybe a banjo? Someone was playing music! That means someone may be able to help you get out of this place and might even help you figure out who you are. You follow the sound until you reach a doorway where it sounds like the noise is coming from. Above the door, there's a sign that reads 'Recording Studio.' That fits, considering this is supposedly the music department of... whatever this place is. You notice the door is also ever so slightly ajar... gently placing your hand on the door, you slowly push it open, half expecting this to be a trap. The door creaks...
Looking inside, you see the source of the sound. A man is sitting in a chair, his back to you. He's, of course, the one playing what you can now confirm is a banjo. He's black and inky, just like the weird blobby creature you saw before, except this man is more humanoid. He's wearing yellow pants and suspenders. You can also see part of a mask of what looks like a devil from here. He continues playing the melancholy tune on his banjo before speaking, though he doesn't turn to look at you or even stop playing.
"Are you going to stand there with the door open or say something to me?" The man says dryly. "You're already making me lose my focus."
It seems like this person isn't dangerous, as irritable as he is.
"I'm sorry-" You blurt out. You don't say anything else for a moment as you're shocked by the sound of your voice. You realize you didn't even know what your voice sounded like until this point. You put the thought out of your mind for now and continue. "I'm... looking for some help. I don't know where I am and-"
"If you're going to blabber on, close the door first. I don't want those damn Searchers to get in." He interrupts. "One annoyance is enough for now."
You turn and close the door. "...sorry." You apologize again to the apparent annoyance of the person, who's now put down his banjo and stood up to look at you. He looks you up and down before speaking again.
"...I don't recognize you. For a moment, I thought you were that sheep I tried and failed to sacrifice."
You shift around on your feet for a moment. You aren't sure what that means and aren't keen on finding out.
"Either way... you're bothering me. What is it you want?"
"I was seeing if someone could help me get out of here." You tried to keep your explanation brief, as you didn't want to annoy this man further. He was taller and more muscular than you, so he could easily hurt you if he chose to do so. He gives a reaction that you, well, you weren't quite expecting. You hear him chuckle to himself and then just burst into laughter. You're taken aback, and he notices, so he tries his best to subdue his laughter.
"Out of here? There is no getting out of here. We're all stuck here. Stuck here to do nothing but sit, wait, and suffer. I used to think there was a way to leave this place, that HE would set us free. That HE was the answer to it all. I devoted all of my time and effort! But what do I get? NEARLY KILLED, THAT'S WHAT I GET, ALL MY HARD WORK, ONCE AGAIN SHOVED AWAY."
You cover your ears when he raises his tone, a tad frightened, and you almost expect him to attack you... but that attack never comes. He returns to his calm, slightly annoyed demeanor as if he never started screaming in the first place.
"Ahem. If that's all you came to bother me for... then leave. I have music to play."
"I... actually have a question to ask..."
You can't see it, but you can tell he probably just rolled his eyes at that.
"Could I stay in here with you, then? It seems safer in here than..." You point to the door that leads back to the hall behind you. "...Whatever is going on out there."
He thinks for a moment. You almost expect him to immediately say something similar to 'no, now bugger off,' but he doesn't. He actually seems to be considering it. Finally, he sighs, almost sounding defeated.
"...Fine. You can stay with me. But don't distract me or bother me while I'm trying to focus on my music, and don't bring any other imbeciles in here with you. Capice?"
You were only able to nod before he spoke once more.
"Good. With that... my name is Sammy. What should I call you?"
That was when you remembered... you don't have a name; at least, not one you could remember. You look up at Sammy, a little worried about how he might react when you tell him that information.
"Well... I don't know." That's the only way you can put it. It confused you just as much as it would probably confuse him. He only facepalms.
"Gods, don't tell me I have to name you..."
You nervously rub the back of your neck while he thinks to himself.
"Fine. How about this? Y/N. Your name is Y/N from here on out."
You smile. For some reason, that name seemed to fit well. It was oddly perfect.
"With that out of the way..." He sighed. "Follow me."

Sammy leads you to the back of the recording studio, and he stands in front of what looks like a closed garage door. You look at the door, then at Sammy, confused. He then plays a short set of chords on his banjo, and the door opens. It was like some secret passcode. He walks into the now open room, and you follow behind him. The door slowly closes behind the two of you.
"This is where you'll be staying. Don't make a mess, don't touch my sheet music, and DO NOT bother me when I'm trying to play my music." He seems... particularly focused on that final rule, having said it twice now. You nod in agreement to his regulations for the second time, and he sits down on a stool to go back to playing his instrument. There are no other chairs in the room, so you sit on the ground on the opposite side of the space in front of Sammy.
Looking around the room, you notice it's more like an oddly furnished hallway than an actual room, almost like it was meant for something else, but Sammy repurposed it. A few large pipes are jutting out of the walls and roof that look filled with ink. One of these pipes has a valve connected; you decide not to mess with that. The furniture in the room is relatively scarce, which makes sense, considering Sammy was only expecting himself to live here. There's a small desk next to the stool that Sammy's sitting on with some candles and an odd-looking plush. You notice the plushie looks like the mask Sammy wears - or is it the other way around? There's also a small shelf on the wall with a violin lying on it. It seems it's been collecting dust for some time. There are a few loose boards of wood lying around as well. There are a few music sheets scattered about. On the floor, pasted on the walls, and folded neatly on the desk. You would take a closer look at them, but you'd prefer not to be kicked out of what is essentially a safe haven to you right now. You're so lost in your thoughts and your analysis of your surroundings that you're a bit startled when Sammy suddenly speaks.
"This is my sanctuary, you know. You're lucky I'm letting you stay here."
"You... could have just said no..." You expect some snarky or annoyed response... but there is none. He is quiet as he continues playing his banjo as if you hadn't said a thing.

This has been the strangest hour of your life... and possibly the only hour of your life. You may as well have been born yesterday, with no past and no family or friends to remember. Only this strange place with a stranger new face, and a grumpy one, at that. Despite his demeanor, there's something about him you're drawn to. Something enticing. And as far as you know, he's the only living thing in this world that isn't out for your blood. Maybe, just maybe, in time... you can become friends with Sammy. It'll take some persistence and patience, but that (as well as time) is something you have plenty of.

Sammy is going to become your friend, and there's nothing that can stop you! Besides maybe dying, that is.