Old Songs- Sammy x Jack

Buried Secrets

Jack's POV:
Jack turned his small red truck into the parking lot of Joey Drew Studios and willed his hands to stop shaking. He was finally rested and clean, but the sight of the studio ensured that the events of two night ago were still fresh in his mind. As he put the car in park, he exhaled deeply and tried to formulate a plan in his mind. If he had a course of action to focus on, he wouldn't focus on a potentially spiraling train of thoughts.

Get inside, find Sammy, and figure out whatever the hell it was I saw in there.

He casted a wary glance up at the massive Bendy sign above the main entrance as he hurried his way across the asphalt. He had already connected the face of the creature he had seen with the familiar cartoon devil, and that idea had already begun to counteract his dread with curiosity. Why did that thing resemble Bendy? Where did it come from? Why was it here? 

I don't know, but I will find out, Jack thought, fueled with newfound determination. With his fears firmly in check, Jack half ran the rest of the way to the front doors, swung them open, and entered the well-lit studio.

"Morning, Mr. Fain," said Helen, the secretary, in her usual bored tone of voice. She peered at Jack from over the top of her favorite fashion magazine. Jack grinned when he saw it was the same issue he had bought for her a few days ago.

"Good morning, Helen! I'm glad to see you're enjoying that one," Jack responded, gesturing to the magazine. She smiled back at him as he made his way to the elevator doors. 

"Oh, by the way," she called after him. "Mr. Lawrence was looking for you earlier. Said I should let you know if I saw you."

Jack had been expecting that Sammy might want to talk to him, but for some reason the mention of his name made Jack's heart skip a bit. No, nope, we are not dealing with whatever this is right now, he thought. We have much bigger things to worry about than...

Jack didn't let himself finish that train of thought. He wasn't quite ready to face these strange feelings for Sammy. "Thanks!" he called back to Helen as he began his decent to the Music Department.

As he made his way to his small office, his anxiety was soon drowned out by the bustling noises of shouting mangers, voice actors, and ragtime music. It was easy to get caught up in the swing of the studio; there was always something to do. He tried to sink back into his familiar, everyday routine. He waved hello to Lola as she tuned up the organ, he stopped to correct a piece of sheet music one of the musicians had thrusted in his face, he even exchanged a few pleasantries with the studio's co-founder, Henry, but that feeling of unease followed him everywhere, and he found himself peering nervously around corners and behind his back.

Focus, focus. You've got to keep it together if you want answers.

After what seemed like ages, he arrived at his office and was surprised to see Sammy waiting for him. The musician was seated at Jack's desk, looking over the chorus Jack had written up and mouthing to himself. He glanced up and locked eyes with Jack, who couldn't stop the tiny smile spreading across his face.

"There you are," Sammy said as he stood, pushing his work to the side. "Everything ok? I mean, are you feeling alright?"

Jack winced a bit at Sammy's pity, but reminded himself that he meant well. "I'm alright, Sammy, promise."

Sammy sighed with relief. "Good, I don't think I could handle another day without you here. Did you bring the sketch?"

Jack nodded as he closed the office door behind himself. He pulled the sketch he had made of the creature out of his satchel, shivering a bit as he set it down on the desk. For a while, the two men stared at the shaky outline of the monster. This studio was hiding a dark secret, Jack was sure of it, and all they had to go on was one drawing.