BatIM AU: Henry's Path (OLD - rewrite in progress/consideration)

Act 3, Scene 21: Not the End

Linda

The four proceeded through the labyrinth for what felt like hours. It was easy to get lost in the huge maze of hallways and rooms, some containing useful information while others were just dead ends. Linda insisted that they search every one until they found everything valuable. It was worth it, though, as they found a couple audio logs by Joey himself, along with a brief description on the Ink Machine's first victims.

Henry seemed especially jumpy for some reason. He always wanted to keep moving, never agreeing to stay behind and waste time. Because of that, the group of four had to remain on their toes. Linda couldn't help but keep an eye on him, in hopes of finding out more to his conversation with Joey. But something else was on her mind, too.

"There it is!"

Henry's exclamation startled Linda out of her lovestruck thoughts. They had finally reached the film vault, but their happy and cheerful smiles soon vanished when they saw the ruins of their supposed holy grail. The huge iron door was torn off of its hinges, large blots of ink the greatest bits of evidence that it was Joey's doing. Already scared out of her wits, Linda reluctantly stepped inside the vault. She instantly felt colder.

"The reel," Henry whispered. He shouldered past Linda, not caring that she nearly fell over, and rushed to the far end of the room. He crouched down at a small cardboard box and gasped in sorrow. "No, no, no, no!" He grabbed the box and dumped it upside down, small crumpled pieces of paper falling to the ground. "It's gone!"

"What's gone?" Alison asked. She took the words right out of Linda's mouth.

"The reel. It's the only thing that could destroy Joey. He must have it. Now we have no hopes of getting out of this mess," henry muttered. He dropped the box and fell to his knees. His eyes were clouded in despair.

"You didn't say anything about a reel," Tom said. "It seems like you know a lot more than the rest of us about Joey. Suspicious, if you ask me."

"For the last time, I'm not working with Joey!" Henry yelled. He sighed deeply and shook his head. "I'm nothing like him."

Linda swallowed a gasp of surprise when she saw tears welling up in Henry's eyes. She took his hand and smiled at him. Henry looked up and softened his gaze.

"Then we can take it from him. We're close to his lair, if what Sammy said was true. He won't know what's coming," Linda offered.

"A bunch of bullcrap if you ask me," Tom growled. Alison gave him a scathing glare, but he ignored it. "If you want to go on a suicide run, fine with me," he continued. "Just don't expect me to come running when you start crying for help."

"You know what," Linda hissed. She squeezed Henry's hand harder. "I'm tired of you treating us like trash, Tom. If you hate doing this so much, then leave! It's not worth it to make us suffer more than we already are. We've just dealt with three deaths in such a short time span, and being on the run is hard enough. I know who you are, Thomas Connor, and your intentions. It's not our fault your wife can't remember who she is. It's nobody's! I know how it feels to be her. I can't remember anything, either."

"And being the one that knows who she was before this mess is hard. I can't talk to her about happy memories with each other because we don't have any; at least not that she can remember. Even though I don't have the Linda I knew back then, I have the Linda I know now. She's strong—a warrior, even. She is the most beautiful creature to ever walk the face of the earth, and I'm glad to call her my love," Henry added. His gaze flitted from Tom to Linda.

"Wait, what's all this about?" Alison asked. "Wife? I don't remember Tom mentioning anything about me being his wife."

"I never mentioned it because you didn't know me!" Tom howled. "I was afraid you'd think I was some random creep and that you'd leave me. I don't know what I'd do without you. You have no idea how difficult it is to see you and not call you 'sweetie' or 'honey' like we used to. I miss you, Alison. Even if you can't remember, at least try to accept me. I need you. Please."