BATIM: The End (Some BendyxHenry)

Ink

Henry woke in his cabin. Everything hurt, his chest felt like it was on fire. He laid there for awhile, focusing on his breathing and reflecting on the fact that he was somehow still alive. Henry through off his blanket to reveal his chest had been wrapped with white cloth. Of course, his wounds. Henry felt his breathing become slightly labored as he remembered the Demon's claws digging into his skin, and it's teeth biting him over and over. His chest burned, as if just thinking of it made the pain worse. What had happened? He could almost feel it nibbling on his neck, licking at Henry's skin-Oh God. Was it.... D-Did it t-try to rape him? Henry shuttered, tears threatening. Shivers ran down Henry's back. He could still taste ink. "Henry?" Henry sat up (with a little difficulty) and faced the doorway. Jacob was standing there, peeking in. "Your awake." He entered, sounding relieved. "How are you feeling, man?" He seemed... odd. On guard. Henry sighed. "I've been better." He admitted. Jacob nodded, his eyes wary. "How much do you remember?" He asked. Henry stiffened. Jacob notices and said quickly, "Sorry, You don't have to say anything if the memories are painful." Henry shook his head to clear it. "It's fine." He said. Everything was fine. The Demon was gone. Right? Henry studied Jacob. He looked troubled. "What is it?" Henry asked. He frowned, then glanced at the door. "When... When we found you..." He started. Panic erupted in Henry's chest. They don't... know what it did, right? "You were a mess." He whispered. "You... you didn't have your hat." It took Henry a moment to realize what Jacob was trying to say. His hand automatically reached for his head, then froze. Jacob smiled halfheartedly, though his eyes held fear. Henry turned his head away, feeling ashamed. Why did he have to be such a freak? A tear traced its way down his face. Jacob hesitated, then, "You don't seem evil, Henry." Henry glanced at him. Jacob blinked at him. "Alice has a way to see our souls, how pure we are, so to speak. She wouldn't have brought you here if you weren't a good person." Jacob seemed to be trying to cheer Henry up. "I don't even think anyone else saw them." He added. "I'd put your hat back on before anyone else noticed." Henry blinked at him. "You'd do that for me?" Jacob smiled at him. "We're friends, aren't we?" Henry blinked at him gratefully. "But." He added, glancing at Henry. "You have to tell Alice, at least." Henry flinched. "I-I can't." He stammered. How would she react, knowing..? Jacob hesitantly put his hand on Henry's shoulder. "Henry, the Demon was torturing you! She's not gonna think your working with it. Trust me." Henry was quiet. His instincts were to hide his horns around Alice. And.... all the other Angels as well. The horns had become a sign of the Ink Demon. Henry recalled what the Demon had whispered when it was kissing him. 'Mine.' Were the horns another way to mark Henry as his, like the pentagram had been? Henry traced the mark on his neck, lost in thought. Jacob frowned. "What are you..." Then he saw the pentagram. His eyes widened. "It branded you?!" He hissed, sounding shocked. Henry glanced at him, startled. He usually hid the mark with the collar of his shirt, but with everything that had happened, he'd forgotten about hiding it. "It... was awhile ago." Henry mumbled, glancing away. Jacobs eyes were wide. "You have to tell Alice." He insisted. "Your the reason it's been trying so hard to break through our defenses. He's after you." Henry flinched. Jacobs comments echoed Henry's own thoughts. "I should leave." He mumbled. Jacob gaped at him. "What? No!" Henry nodded, trying to gather his courage. Unfortunately, the thought of leaving the sanctuary made his knees turn to jelly. He went to stand. "Henry!" Jacob put his hand on Henry's shoulder, preventing him from rising. Unfortunately, this triggered the memory of the Demon holding him down, and Henry panicked. "Don't touch me!" Henry shrieked, and shadows raced along the walls. Both Henry and Jacob froze. The Ink Demon? Henry began to shake. No, it wasn't supposed to be able to get in here! Jacob gaped at the walls and then at Henry, as if he'd just realized something. "Henry, calm down!" He gasped, holding up his hands. "I-He's not here. Calm down." Henry stared at him. Calm down? Where else would the shadows be coming from? Henry felt ink drip down his forehead and shrieked. He was panicking. A part of him knew this. It... It was coming for him. He had to hide. Ink dripped down his arm, and he ducked into the closet. Henry heard someone rush inside and he tensed. Jacob. Henry hoped his friend had the sense to hide. Then he heard voices. "Alice." He heard Jacob greet in a tense voice. There was a pause, then, "Where-" Jacob swallowed. "It's not him."
"What?" Alice sounded astonished. "Is anyone else aware of the shadows?" Jacob asked. "No." Came Alice's short reply. "I think it did something to Henry." Jacob was speaking fast now, as if he were afraid of being cut off. "I-I put a hand on his shoulder, and he freaked over me touching him. I-I think I might have triggered his torture. That's when the shadows appeared, all around Henry." Henry couldn't make sense of Jacob's words. He was the cause of the shadows? But only the Ink Demon could cause those... Alice was quiet. Then, "Where is Henry?" Henry became aware that the shadows were gone, they had faded while Henry was focused on Jacob's words. Henry awkwardly poked his head out of the closet. Alice gazed at him, surprised. Then she shrugged. "Well, that's one way to hide, I suppose." Jacob peered at Henry. "I hope you didn't aggravate your wounds." He muttered. Henry blinked, suddenly realizing he no longer felt his wounds. He slowly took off the cloth. Jacob yelped. "Henry-don't-" His voice cut off abruptly when he saw Henry's bare chest. There was no sign of the bite and claw marks, only faint, black lines that, as they watched, faded from sight. Henry stared, feeling shocked. Alice let out a shaky laugh. "Well, I guess that takes care of that problem." She said. Jacob nudged Henry. Henry jumped and glanced at him. "Tell her." He hissed in a low tone. Alice frowned. "Tell me what?" Henry stiffened. "N-Nothing." He muttered. Jacob frowned at him. "Henry, you have to tell her." His voice was gentle. "She's not going to hurt you over something you have no control over." Alice was still. "Henry.." She questioned. Henry turned his head away. "No." He muttered, holding his hat down on his head. Unfortunately, this left his pentagram exposed. Alice let out a gasp. "That thing branded you?!" She gasped, moving closer and holding his head still so she could see. She let out a shudder. "You can't leave here." She said, lightly touching the pentagram, which made Henry jerk back. "W-What?" She gazed at him. "That's how it found you so fast." She explained. "The mark is like a tracker. Once you step out of the boundary.." She didn't have to keep explaining. Henry understood. It would take him again, and this time, it wouldn't let him go. Henry let out a shudder. Alice studied Henry, then, "How did you do it?" Henry stared at her. "Do-Do what?" She gazed at him. "Henry... I think Jacob was right. You were the cause of those shadows. Also.." She looked at Jacob, for help. "You were... losing your form, Henry." Jacob admitted. "You were... melting. Your ink..." Henry stared at his hand. It seemed so solid now, but it had felt different, more... runny, before. Henry took a step back and sank to the floor. What was wrong with him? Even among other people who'd been changed, no ones ever had the problem of melting before. Henry didn't care who saw. He rummaged in his drawer and pulled out his plush, holding it to his chest. Alice let out a small gasp. "Is that a Bendy plushie?" Henry ignored her, staying silent and clutching his plush tighter. Jacob sighed. "It doesn't matter." He muttered. "It's only a plushie." Alice frowned. "Well, yes, but.... why?" Jacob shrugged. "Henry has a soft spot for Bendy. It's something I've noticed, hanging around him." Alice frowned. "But he trapped everyone inside that simulation of the studio! He killed Henry!" Henry looked up and glared at her. "That wasn't Bendy." He snapped, feeling weirdly protective. "The Ink Demon has nothing to do with Bendy! Bendy is a small, lovable little demon with a strike of mischief. He would never hurt anyone! That's not my character." And with that, Henry looked away, pissed. Jacob and Alice were quiet. Then, "Your character?" Jacob's voice was shocked. Oh. Shit. It'd been a long time since he'd thought of the cartoons as his, but it felt right. Henry felt a tinge of defensiveness. "Yeah. So?" Alice let out a sob. Suddenly he felt her arms wrap around him, holding him tightly. Henry yelped, taken by surprise. Her wings wrapped around them both, and Jacob let out a small laugh. "I'll just... leave you two alone." Henry heard Jacob leave, but he was practically paralyzed from his past experiences. Alice noticed and immediately let go. "I'm sorry!" She yelped quickly. Henry shook his head. "T-That's fine." He muttered, turning to look at her. "You just startled me." She glanced down with a small smile, then shyly looked up to meet his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" Henry hesitated. "It's... not really something I go around advertising." He mumbled. Her eyes were wide as she gazed at him. Then, "That's why he wants you so bad." She whispered. Henry shrugged. She smiled reassuringly. "Henry Stein." She whispered, sounding like she enjoyed saying his full name. "I knew about you, of course, but I never thought I'd actually get to meet you."