Charley And The Swap Machine: Re-Ink'd

CHAPTER 5: Part 2 - Sailing Upon Unsteady Waters

The Voice Of Joey Drew

I know how much this part means to ya, Susie.

Edgar means a lot to me too. Gosh, all of my characters do! In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret:

I, too, really believe my characters are more than just drawings. They're alive. They're part of us. And I want people to know them as well as I do.

I want people to be able to shake their hands. Spend an afternoon with 'em.

Love them.

Susie, I'll be straight with you.

I'm putting together a small project... a little ceremony if you will. If it works, a lot of dreams will come true.

And I want you to be a part of it.

...I want you to bring Edgar to life once again.

What do ya say?

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Henry sat upon his bed as he looked around the room, processing the previous events. Had he just been freed? What would he do now? He was unsure if Boris had even intended on telling the others on what happened.

Slowly and carefully, so not to make a sound, he eased himself out of the bed and quietly looked for any way to escape.

He felt around the walls for any peculiarities. Perhaps a crack in the wall, a hidden door, anything. But as he did so, his hand soon grabbed a hold of a wooden spoon hanging on the wall as a simple decoration, pulling downwards on it by mistake.

The wall next to the spoon cracked open to reveal a hidden passageway. Well, there's my way out of here. Henry thought to himself, grabbing the looking glass Alice gave him and slipping through the wall.

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It only took a few steps before Henry found himself completely enveloped in the darkness before him. Looks like I'm stuck. If only I had some light...

As soon as he thought that, he noticed a small glint in the looking glass he held onto. He put it to his eye and took a glance around, admiring the glowing arrows that were now revealed adorning the walls. ...Neat.

He slowly walked through the corridor before him, following the path revealed to him. After a while, he found himself standing on a wooden dock upon a lake of rippling, thick ink. Before him was a small boat, which rocked slightly back and forth in its place. One foot slowly after the other, Henry stepped into the raft and pulled the lever to activate the engine.

The engine hummed to life, and Henry sat himself down and steered the boat as it drifted along the dark, murky liquid. Occasionally he would take out the looking glass and look around for anything of use, then continued his way across the lake.

About halfway across, the boat froze in place as the engine seemed to stall. Well that's just great. What's the issue...? He turned his head to stare at the engine.

Looks like it's still running. Did...something get stuck in the fan blades? Maybe the ink got it all sticky and messed up...

He stood up and walked over to investigate the blades, bending down to get a better look.

Wait. Is that....a hand...?

The boat soon tilted drastically towards one end, and Henry scrambled to the higher part as someone- no, something- attempted to drag itself onto the raft.