Same Story, Something New

6 - Bendy and Allison

Allison's POV

I was cooking dinner when Bendy ran in with an excited look on his face.

"Allison! Allison!" Bendy exclaimed as he ran in. "You'll never guess who I found!"

I chuckled. "Who did you find?"

"My creator! Hailey Stein!"

I frowned at this. "Joey made you though."

"He did not!" I turned to see who must've been Hailey, who seemed shaken by something. "I'm Hailey by the way, what's your name?

"Allison Connor." I replied.

"Nice to meet you Allison. Where's the bathroom?"

I pointed to the small hall behind me. "Down there, it's the door on the right."

"Thanks," she replied before sprinting down that direction.

I turned to Bendy. "Is she okay?" I asked the demon. "She seems rather shaken."

"She met the Ink Angel, and her acolyte." He replied.

I nodded, and didn't need any further information on that. The Ink Angel was universally terrifying. Though I despised her more than I feared her. When Hailey returned she sat down at the table. All three of use were quiet until I finished. Luckily for our new guest, I had plenty of spare bowls. (Mainly because of Bendy's habit of causing trouble on a regular occasion.) I filed three bowls and gave two of them to Bendy and Hailey.

"So Hailey, what did you mean by your claim that Joey didn't create Bendy."

She gritted her teeth. "It's not a claim, it's the damn truth." She growled. "Joey is a liar and a thief." She crossed her arms. "Considering you replaced Susie as the voice actress for Alice Angel, I'm surprised nobody mentioned me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would they?"

Hailey sighed. "Well, you deserve to know the truth anyways. 23 years ago I worked in a small cafe in my hometown. My brother was the only one who ever supported my artistic talent. Then one day Joey came in. It was Sunday, so business was virtually non-existent. As a result, Joey managed to catch me doodling. In the end he was impressed with my skill, and despite the fact I was 19, he made me a compelling offer."

"What kind of offer?" Bendy asked.

"Joey said he wanted to start up an animation studio, and he wanted me to be his business partner. He presented it as an opportunity for me to turn my artistic skills into a career. I accepted, and came with him to New York. Together, we opened this studio."

My eyes widened. "Wait, you were Joey's business partner?!"

She nodded. "That's right. It didn't matter to him that I was only 19." She let out a sigh. "He promised me I'd get recognized for my work. Instead he stole all the credit for it. His success was only possible because of me."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hailey slammed both her fists on the table. "I created Bendy, Boris, Alice, and the Butcher Gang!" She snarled, her voice full of venom. "Joey had nothing to do with them. He stole credit for my work, and used me as a tool to gain money and fame. When I found out, I quit and left this place." She let out a sigh. "Because of Joey, I haven't gone back into animation ever since. It simply hurts too much for me to even try. I never came back here for twenty years. The only reason I have is because Joey sent me a letter."

She placed a paper on the table, then Bendy and I leaned forward and read it:

Dear Hailey, it feels like a lifetime since we worked on cartoons together. 20 years really slips away, doesn't it? Anyways, I know that we weren't on the best of terms when you left the studio, but I'd like to mend fences. So if you ever come back to New York, how about you visit the old workshop? There's something I need to show you. Your old pal, Joey Drew.