It's Time to Believe

Problems

Throughout the next few weeks, many changes have been happening around the studio. There were multiple levels of the studio, a giant ink machine has been placed in the building. Giant metal chains were attached to it to make it capable of pulling it up and down. Everyone is moving around like crazy, Thomas has retreated into his study, you haven't seen him since. Sammy is having to make twice as much music for the episodes. Susie is able to voice some characters, but Alison is voicing Alice Angel's lines. Henry is in charge of actually creating the episodes and drawing them. You've noticed there's a new worker-Wally- he and Thomas don't seem to get along well, but you think that it's because of stress from work. Your worried, you haven't seen Joey come out of his study in hours. Deciding to go check on him, you walk through the busy studio, click the new elevator and head down to his new workplace. Coming to a door, you knock on it. "Who's there?" You here him say. You open the door and peek your head through and show him it's you. "Oh, hello dear. What brings you here?" "I just came to check on you that's all. Everyone seems so stressed out, I was worried about you and your sanity." You say chuckling. "Oh, it's going ok Jill." He says. "It's just that with everything going on it will be just a little bit more that we need to make those big companies see us as a competitor." You nod. "What are you working on?" Pointing to the scribbled notes on the desk. "Nothing! *cough* I mean, nothing dear. Just papers and status reports. Do you like the studio so far?" He asks you. Ok..that's odd. "Uh, yeah! It's so pretty, a huge improvement than it was before. It's great." He grins at you. "I knew you'd like it!" He pulls you down to his level to give you a kiss. "I hate to ask this of you dearest, but would you mind helping create some of the cutouts of the characters? We need a lot more of them and I can't get anyone to do it with how busy they are." "Of course, you know I will. I love you." You say as you kiss the top of his head. He laughs. "I love you too, I don't know what I'd do without you." You smile, and leave his office.

Taking the elevator, you watch the floors pass by you. You see Wally and Thomas trying to fix some more pipes that had burst from the pressure of the ink. Then you see other rooms and hear the wonderful sounds of Sammy's music. Once you reach the first floor, you head into the animation studio. Noone is here besides Henry, and you walk up to his table. He jumps, and you back away a little bit. "Oh! It's just you Jill, sorry..I haven't gotten much sleep here lately. Guess I'm a little jumpy." You soften your gaze, "Don't worry Henry, I've noticed there's a lot of stuff going on around here lately. I would have been more surprised if noone wasn't exhausted." He just laughs. "What are you doin' here Jill?" "I came to help you guys out...cutouts I think." You say. He looks surprised, but smiles anyway. "Ok then, uh, head over there to that desk. There is some paper over there you can use. It's just Bendy and Alice for now alright?" You nod and get to work on the little devil darling first.

After two hours you think you made enough. You turn around to show Henry, but you noticed that he's passed out at his desk from exhaustion. You frown, and walk over to his desk. Deciding to let him be, you turn off the little desk light and move his papers aside so he wouldn't damage them. Before you leave the room, you turn off your own desk light and pick up the stack of cutouts you made. You left the room and head right back to Joey's work room. You needed to say a few things to him, and show him the work you made. You reach the stairs, but notice the way is flooded with dark black ink. Your eyes widen, surprised that it had gotten this bad. Turning on your heel, you walk back to the elevator careful of damaging the cutouts. Mashing the button, you watch the doors shut and the floors that pass you by as you head further down into the studio. Stepping out, you walk towards his door but hear him talking to someone. You put your ear to the door, wondering who he could be talking to. "I believe there's something special in all of us. With true inner strength, you can conquer even your biggest challenges." You smile to yourself, there's the kind hearted man you knew-inspiring others. "You just have to believe in yourself and remain honest, motivated and above all, who you really are." You are about to open the door at this point until...something shocking happens. "Ok let's stop it right there." Huh? "I can only do so many takes of this trash a day. And tell the guys in writing I want more use of the word dreaming in every message. Keep rolling on that, get it? Dreaming! Dreaming! Dreaming! People just eat up that kind of slop. Hmm What? It's still on? Well turn it off damn it!" You cover your mouth as you hear the click of a tape ending. That wasn't your husband, not the one you loved. He sounds harsh, hateful... obsessive. You hear the door opening, and you dart and put your back against the wall. The door opens and you see one of the workers-you couldn't catch their name- walk out and luckily didn't see you as they walked up the stairs. You wait a few moments, before knocking on the door. "Didn't I tell you to- Oh Jill it's just you. Sorry about that thought you were someone else." You carefully walk in, and walk up to him. "Are those the cutouts? They look wonderful my dear! I knew you'd do a great job!" He takes them from you and puts them up against the wall. "Joey, honey, may I ask you something?" He smiles "Yes darling, anything." "Are you alright? You don't seem like ....yourself...here lately." He frowns "Whatever do you mean?" "Well, your never around anymore. Noone is allowed to go home to their families because your so obsessed about the show. Do you even notice what is happening throughout the studio? Ink is flooding everywhere, passages are being blocked off. You yourself don't even talk the way you used to....I'm getting really worried about you and everyone that works here." His gaze burns into yours, and his gaze softens after a few moments. "Don't worry dearest, I've just been put under a lotta stress here lately. As for the passageways I am currently working on a solution, but it might take a while. The pressure of the ink flow is what's causing it to burst. For everyone else, well, I need as much help as I can get to be able to get as many episodes out of Bendy as possible!" You stare at him. "But what about going home?" "NO-ONES GOING HOME UNTIL IT'S DONE!" He yells at you. You stare at him, shocked. He freezes and tries to touch your cheek with his hand, you back away from him. "Darling, I didn't mean-" "I...I'm going back upstairs. Sorry to bother you." You say as you turn away. "Jill! Wait ..please! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take all this stress out on you. I promise I'll figure a way for everyone to get what they want, alright?" You turn to him, eyes watching his tired and frustrated face. "Alright. I believe you, you better keep your word though." You say, eyes glinting mischievously. He smiles and kisses your hand. "Of course, my devil darling, anything for you." You smile once more at him, before walking away.

All I have to do is believe....Right? 

Notes:

Let me know what you think of my story so far in the comments! -Until next chapter.