Devil's Swing • Book 1 •

• Where's Boris? • Chapter 3 •

*(Y/n)'s P.o.v*

"He... wak.. p!"

I felt a slight pressure on my torso.

"W...ke up!"

I felt it again. Something pressed against my lips for a second, then the pressure returned.

"Wake up, (Y/n)!"

The same little cheeky voice pleaded. I felt awake, but I couldn't move. Something was stopping me from breathing. I slowly felt myself fall back asleep. I felt the leather gloves against my neck, then more pressure.

"C'mon, kiddo."

Air was pushed into my throat, almost ridding of all the blockage. The pressure returned, but quickly exchanged for my lips again. This time, I felt it break apart. I began to cough against my will, choking up huge blobs of ink. It came out so quickly, covering my face. It ran down the sides of my cheeks like water.

"Breathe, kid. C'mon." Two hands supported my back and neck, helping me breathe. Soon enough, I did. It was scarce though, I still had a little ink left in me. "Hey, it's alright now." He said as I frantically searched for something to grab. The memories of what had just happened hit me like a train--

A bullet train.

My breathing was normal by now, but it was a little fast. Bendy patted my back as I regained my mind. His eyes had a sympathetic look to them, almost as if he felt sorry. His smile wasn't his normal cheeky smile, it was more like a doubting smile.

"Are you alright now..?" He asked. I snapped him a rude look. "I'm taking that as a 'Hell no.'" He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. This is.. my fault. If I hadn't gotten so mad, you would've.." He got lost in his train of thought. His sentence trailed off, and so did his eyes. The ink ran down his face as he thought. I wanted to act quickly; I thought he was going to melt away.

"No.." I mumbled, my voice a little raspy, "it isn't.. it isn't your fault, Bendy.." I coughed at the end of the sentence, which only made everything worse. A little bit of ink came further down my throat. I felt like throwing up.

Bendy gave me a sour look, brushing back my hair as it was in my face. I silently thanked him. It was dripping excess ink into my mouth.

"Oh, but it is. I was the one that ordered him to turn on the ink machine, I.." He paused, taking a big breath, "forgot you were back here. I followed the whistling as soon as I heard it.. but when I got there, the door was locked. Luckily, it was a pull door, and the ink had cleared out in the hallway. I broke it open." He turned his head towards the door, a little confused, "Yet, the ink continued to poor in your room.. what the hell happened..?"

I shook my head, "I.. I don't know.." I muttered.

He sighed, the ink still dripping. He let go of me, and paced around the ink-covered floor. It looked like he was merged with it, like he was some merging monster. I giggled at the appearance. He looked up at me, tilting his head. I shook my hand saying, "Nothing, just thinking."

I realized the ink was gone. Finally. I took a deep breath, relieved.

"Looks like you're all cleared up. Now you're free to go. You're not my problem anymore." He said with a bored tone.

"Hey, excuse me," I scrunched up my face, a little angry, "you can't just kick me out like th-" He snapped his head towards me, making my mouth slam shut.

"Oh, but I can. And I will. This is my studio, not yours. I am the bo-" I snapped right back at him.

"No, no, this is Joey's studio. Not yours. You belong to Joey, Bendy. He's your creator." I stated. Bendy's face shown a hint of anger, his smile bending.

"He is not my creator anymore.." He growled, "He lied to me.." His eyes travelled down to my feet, which was obviously covered in ink, "He lied to us." He snarled. His short body came stomping over to me, the ink on his feet still connected together with the ground. I tried backing up, but Bendy's feet covered mine from afar; his walking had picked up a lot of it. His hand grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. It hurt me to see how much he was pained. He was my favourite after all. "I was right before.." He whispered to me, "You are just like Joey.. you're nothing but a dumb liar." His smile picked up again, but this time more sinister.

"Bendy, no!" Tears formed in my eyes, but I refused to repeat this, "I'm not a liar, Bendy. I am nothing like Joey. I am your friend!" I said, trying to reassure him. He stood still, his facial expression remaining the same. "I promise you! Let me help you.. please! I can help you with what you're going through!" I pleaded. His head lifted a little. He seemed to loosen.

"Help me..? Why would you want to help me?! All humans are the same! You don't want to help me, you just want to live!" He yelled. I shook my head.

"No Bendy, I want you to live! Look at you, you're melting!" I said, pointing to his distorted body parts. He stuck his eyes on the mess, letting go of me. "Listen to me, you don't have to kick me out! I can be your friend, I won't betray you.." I reached out my hand towards him, laying it on his head. It felt cold, but it was moving.

It must be the melting process.. I hope.

"Bendy, I promise." I smiled a warm smile. Two skinny streaks of ink leaked from both of his eyes, like tears. His body slowly began to take its original shape, all of the ink being sucked up by his limbs.

"I-I'm trusting you.. but if you betray me once, you're really gonna get it." He threatened.

"Yea, sure." I chuckled. He sighed, sitting on the ground. I sat beside him, and we started a conversation. It was awkward at first, but then he returned to his normal, happy self. He rambled on about animation, and what it was like to see yourself being animated. I was intrigued.

××××××

After a while of talking, it struck me that I haven't even heard or seen a peep from the one and only: Boris the Wolf.

Bendy kept talking as I rethought everything a had encountered. I've always remembered Boris whistling, but it didn't sound like him.. I took the possibility of him being the first creature I heard once I walked in through the door, but it really didn't sound like him.

I looked at Bendy once I ran out of ideas. His voice faded out into mumbles as he continued to look at me with confusion.

"Yes..?" He asked. I blinked a few times, looking down at the ground.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to know where.." I thought for a second, but continued my sentence, "w-where Boris is?" I asked.

Bendy's smile was struck down once again. He took a seat near me, and began to fiddle with his gloves.

"Boris is.." He paused and sighed, "Boris is dead.." He mumbled. My eyes widened, and I took a step closer to him. He looked away, which told me not to go any closer.

I stood still, feeling a little queasy. I didn't exactly like Boris, but I sure as hell didn't hate him. I never wished for him to die.

"W-when did he-" Bendy glared at the door.

"A while ago." He answered sternly. He suddenly jumped onto his feet, and grabbed my hand. He began to drag me out of the room, and down some hallways. Everything was broken down, and there were loose floorboards everywhere. Ink was left from the flood.

Bendy pushed me into a room, making me lose my balance. I stumbled back onto my feet, gaining support from a post with a candle on it. My eyes trailed the post, and met one of the worst sights I've ever seen.

I covered my mouth, and backed up. My legs felt as if there were weights in it, like something was pulling me down.

I was staring at Boris' dead body.