BATIM x Reader (Bendy and the Forgotten Dream: AU)

Chapter 7: Last Smile Seen

Art Credit: Henry and the Ink Abyss Tumblr

Smiles. Endless smiles and toys circled around in a wooden labyrinth. Like childhood had come to visit you again. But you were not happy, you couldn't be. Cutouts still stood in the path to your friends' safety and you had to knock them down.

"She's Quite a Gal!" Oh, yeah. She sure is now alright, quite the angel we were looking for. I honestly expected everyone to worship her if anything, although it's clear why they don't. Honestly, if the ink turns me into anything- or an angel like Sammy mentioned- I'd rather not be anything resembling her.

Eyes widening, you pulled in a sharp breath going through your speedy forward motions. The axe in your fingers almost slipped.

Sammy. I never apologized to him; I need to do that... he was so concerned... I just blamed him for what Bendy did. So, so stupid. I should know by now it's usually Bendy who decides what HE does.

The hollow feeling from your thoughts pushed you on, turning until the Demon and Angel paths pointedly stood in front of you while pointing in their respective directions, the Angel Path being shut off. And a demon made of cardboard resting against a barrel. You gave it a fiery glare before throwing your axe straight up into its face and watching it crack until it fell.

Bendy wouldn't be gaining your forgiveness anytime soon.

The Demon Path was quiet. Silent. Every cutout lingering inside tumbled down quickly enough in an echo. ...You honestly hoped it hurt Bendy. Henry had felt far worse after all. All that was around you now were landmarks, your vision, darkness, and coldness.

...You should've known from the swirling darkness around what would be wrong.

Ahead of your swerving and traveling figure was the stretching hall that clawed all the way down to several other passageways, thick and steady steam rising from the vents thrown in the floor. It gently hissed out noise and cooled off as it got higher floating around and obscuring what was beyond. You flicked your eyes over its moisture before walking where you were looking straight ahead.

Machines from afar groaned; maybe even the ticking of clocks skimmed by your auditory senses. You only focused on seeing though, locking your eyes to the steam in search of any Bendy cutouts your axe could fling to, completing the task. Bendy sure seemed the most aggressive with this one. You faintly recalled something that had to do with Bendy was beyond that floating gray, a cutout possibly. The steam darkened, catching your eye and making you stop. You were fairly close to it by now.

It spun around, in the way air does. Adapting. Fleeing around constantly. Slowly, ever so slowly, it hardened into shapes.

Triangles? It's... darkening, odd. Long and slim shapes, tall. Something...new? A clue to the way out?

Curiosity drove you to go further still. Shapes molded together pushing through the steam slowly, becoming a towering silhouette limping on through the steam. One with... ragged and raspy breathing raising above the other noises.

A horned silhouette.

Gloved and stained yet still white claws swiped at you along with black ones, partially digging down your backside. Your lips did the work of parting to scream in pain from the cutting feeling and your adrenaline pushed you to swing your axe into the creature's arm- which was currently trying to grab yours. A booming growl too loud for your ears sounded in what seemed like a noise of pain from the demon while you ripped your axe back out.

A Miracle Station is around the corner- back where I was-

Ink flew along with your scrambling feet. To say the least, you were GONE. Just because you held some anger towards Sammy's lord didn't mean your toxic fears of his power drained down some ancient pipe into a lower level. And the knowledge that Bendy had slain your best friend several times didn't help. NOTHING in the studio did. Stress only piled up higher and higher after you got off the train with Sammy- possibly before. It was all too much...