FINALLY! So basically BATDR but if my OC was in it

(LET'S GO! LET THE CHAOS BEGIN!)

*Liz inhaled sharply, coughing and sputtering. She rubbed at her stinging eyes. Her face contorted in disgust at the bitter taste in her mouth.*

"Geh, where..?"

*She stumbled to her feet, glancing down at her hands. Stained inky black. No, not stained.*

"What in the- What- I-"

Joey: Ah, you’re here. Come have a seat. This won’t take long. *He gestures to a chair*

"It better be. I have people waiting on me."

*She sat down*

Joey: There’s a little story you need to hear. You ready? Here we go…

*Joey turns on the projector*

Joey: Once upon a time Elizabeth, there was a bitter old man who had lost just about everything…

"You."

*She side-eyed the man, foot tapping*

Joey: Right.

*he nods*

Joey: The real Joey Drew. He blamed everyone but himself for his mistakes. But mostly he blamed his old business partner for abandoning their work years and years ago. A man by the name of Henry Stein. A great artist, and a good friend. In his anger, Joey used an evil machine to create another world. A world made of paper and ink. Where he’d torment his own version of Henry forevermore.

"So that's what this is. A mass torture device."

*Joey nods before continuing*

Joey: But one day, a miracle happened. Two angels came into Joey’s life. A young woman by the name of Allison Pendle, and a hopeful boy named Jasper Merridew. Although one of them doesn’t visit much often, They both saw something good in Joey no one else could. including himself. Through their friendships, he began to see the world with better eyes. So one day, in Joey’s cartoon cycle of hatred, he gave Henry an angel of his own.

"Jasper! He's-"

*Still out there? No, he was here. Was there a different Jasper. Was this just Joey's 'version?'*

Joey: Still out there?…

*he chuckles before giving Liz a solemn look*

Joey: Oh no no. He’s passed long ago. Murdered by his own father. poor lad…He always used to tell Joey how he always wanted to be like Bendy and to escape the reality that confined him to his wheelchair before he passed away. So Joey tried to salvage what was left and give his friend a part to play in. This one may not be the same as the pompous little trickster he once was, but it’s him alright. Living on as essentially the character he wanted to be.

"Oh my god..."

*She croaked.*

"Just... move on. Maybe I shouldn't have asked."

(WHY IS THIS MAKING ME TEAR UP??? OML-)

SAMEEE))

*The light turns on to reveal a man covered in ink and wearing overalls just playing the banjo.*

Daryn: "No way. Sammy! Been what, years since you chased me off? How you been, man?"

Millie: "How long have you been here?"

Liz: "You know this guy too? Why am I surprised?"

Daryn: "Of course I know him. I was in his cult for a while."

Sammy: Oh…It’s you. I’m not surprised you still haven’t been captured- HOLD ON- IS THAT OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR?

*He points to Linith*

Sammy: FINALLY!Y PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED! HE WILL SET US FREE!

Linith: AAND I’m getting outta here.

Daryn: "You haven't changed a bit. Great seein' you! We gotta catch up sometime, pal!"

*Millie waved to Sammy, quickly following after Linith.*

Liz: "You have some very strange friends."

Daryn: "Most of 'em are one-way friendships."

Linith: I hate that guy. he followed me nonstop. I did disembowel him one or two times when he got close…that was fun…

Daryn: "Dang, did I leave before all that? That sounded fun."

Mel: "What is wrong with you people."

Daryn: "A lot. Do you want a list? I've got an alphabetical list of everything wrong with me."

Mel: "There's enough for it to be alphabetized..?"

Daryn: "Yes, in fact, there's enough for every letter."

Mel: "I shouldn't be surprised and yet here I am... Wait, what to you have for X?!"

*Daryn snickers and runs ahead*

(And that is where my brain never fails to disappoint me because I unfortunately don’t get the reference qvp)

Ragdoll: The twenty six letters of the alphabet are probably not enough to handle ALL of the things that are wrong with you.

Daryn: "Yup. What else do we got around here?"

Liz: "You still aren't done?"

Daryn: "Never."

(I'll send the clip I plagiarized)

Linith: There seems to be an upper level over there…

*He points to a set of stairs leading up*

Daryn: "Then up we go."

Liz: "You seem to really like this place. It's practically a prison."

Daryn: "Oh no, I'm beyond stressed. Frantic excitement is a distraction from hating being here."

*Daryn skips u the stairs.*

Millie: "Just don't ask."

If you get this reference, you are truly my new favorite person)

Ragdoll: Don’t worry, this happens to me more than you think, someone else on the other hand isn’t.

*She points down and Liz realized that she landed on top of Jasper*

Jasper: Ow…

"Sorry."

*She apologized, pulling the demon up and turning back to the lost one.*

(Millie's gonna put out one of Ragdoll's eyes for letting themself get that beat-up)

Jasper: Ugh…Note to self, wait for everyone to jump…

*half of Jasper’s face is covered in ink and his right horn was chipped but he doesn’t seem to realize that*

???: Thank you very much for your help! The name’s Porter by the way. And who might you three be?

"Elizabeth, that one's Jasper, the tiny one's Ragdoll."

Porter: Elizabeth?…Elizabeth….Ellliiizzzaaaabeth…Nope! Don’t like it. Doesn’t suit you. I’ll call you…Chad! And to say thanks for your feat of rescue, here’s a little gift! Something I learned.

*Porter takes Liz’s hand and passes something through her. She can feel a strange energy flowing from her hand to her body*

(*poke* you there?)

(lol yes. I had to do something for a meeting, I might disappear again)

all good))

"What the..."

*She staggered back, looking down at her hand. A swirling marking appeared on it's back. She looked to Porter with confusion*

Porter: Hmm, There we are. it’s passed on. Now…You can move like me!

*Porter chuckles as he teleports from one end of the pit to the other while still laughing, then he walks away*

Porter: Goodbye Chad! Try not to die!

"...What just happened?"

*They looked in stunned confusion to the others*

*Ragdoll was just staring wide at Jasper’s half-ink covered face since he got hurt from the fall*

Jasper: “Wh-What are you starin’ at?”

*She finally properly noticed the damages, being hit by another pang of recognition*

"You've... looked better, I'll say that."

*Unfortunately Daryn can’t get into that room.*

Linith: Hmm…Hey uhh….Erica?…Don’t you have powers? Can’t you just phase in there?

Liz: "Right."

*She attempted to flow into the room, but couldn't*

Liz: "Damn it- I haven't used it at all. It shouldn't be on cool... down... The towers block it off. I can't get in."

Daryn: "Oh yeah, even the swirly bit's gone-"

*Liz kicked a crate. Wonderful. This was just great. First Jasper, now this.*

Millie: "Okay, everyone's unhappy."

Linith: Wait…I have an idea. HEAR ME OUT but what if-

Ragdoll: I know what you’re thinking. No we’re not shoving Liz inside that room.

*….*

*Linith proceeds to throw Ragdoll into the room*

Millie: "Ragdoll! Are you alright?"

Mel: "I... like that plan. But uh... how are we gonna get her out?"

Linith:

Millie: "We can't just LEAVE her! Insufferable as she can be, she's still part of the team."

Mel: "Must I bring up the rhyme that nobody on the demon's inky earth likes?"

Liz: "I have the feeling she'll find a vent system or something."

Millie: "Well how are we meant to get the code from her if we can't get her out?"

Ragdoll: Guys! The code is 523! There’s another room that has it written all over the wall!

Millie: "...I stand corrected."

*Liz nodded and ran to the door, putting in the code*

Daryn: "Try not to get eaten! We'll come for you probably- ow."

*Millie punched Daryn in the shoulder.*

*The group enters to the next room which has computer screens on it*

Liz: "The hell IS all this?"

*Daryn stepped forward, peering up at the screens with fascination*

Daryn: "Interesting..."

*Liz approached the screens.*

Liz: "Hello?"

*She shouted. Who knew. Maybe someone'd be there. Daryn looked to her, head tilted like she'd just said something confusing.*

???: REEEEEEEEEEE!

*The small creature was very fast, maybe able to keep up with Liz’s flow ability but his attacks are not that strong but not weak either. Safe to say that thing isn’t much of a danger except to people’s eardrums.*

*As much as she tried to push it back, it caught right up. She'd focused so hard on fighting it, she hadn't even realized the larger one had wandered towards the lever.*

???: "You've made this a heck of a lot easier..."

*Liz knew that if she didn’t get rid of the little creature attacking her soon, she’d die. It looked pretty stupid, maybe she could distract it*

*She looked around, finally realizing the other creature was leaving. Perfect. Perhaps she could kill two birds with one stone.*

Liz: "Hey, stop! Your... king- thing is leaving!"

???: Huh? *He looked behind him, perfect spot to hit him on the head*

*She aimed and slammed the pipe down over the creature's head with every once of force she could manage*

*The creature fell limp on the floor, the yellow colour fading away from it’s eyes, whoever was controlling that thing had lost connection. but she isn’t safe for now, this striker will wake up at any moment, confused on where it is and will attack Liz.*

*She shook her head. That was Later-Liz's problem. Now-Liz's problem was keeping the other creature from escaping. She ran after it as it pulled down the exact same way as its target, with way too much anticipation.*

Liz: "Leave them be! There are a lot of people in there that'll have your head if you try it!"

???: "Heh? Oh, you made it. Damn it! 'Least you got rid of Chatty. Perhaps I should thank you."

Liz: "What do you even want them for anyhow?"

???: "That's none of your business, Swirly."

*Liz paused. The thing's tone, that edge to it's voice, it was near identical to Daryn's, not even counting the same use of nicknames. She thought back and remembered something Daryn had mentioned.*

Liz: "Are YOU her brother?"

*The creature seemed startled by the question. It chatter-growled.*

???: "I got nothin' to do with that- that... DOESN'T MATTER! I don't care what she says but she's NO sibling to me."

Liz: "I'll have to tell them you said that."

???: "Oh trust me, they know. Now OUT OF MY WAY!"

Liz: "You don't have to tear up the mansion. I could easily bring them here. You don't know exactly where they are. I do. Why kill your only lead and waste your energy looking for someone who's clearly much better at evading you than you are at finding them?"

*It snarled.*

???: "I give you twenty minutes to bring them, or I'll come find you myself."

Liz: "That's all I need."

*The creature's eyes narrowed on her as she backed away down the hall. Of course, Liz had no intent of actually returning. All she really needed was time for the Keepers to find it. She could warn the others in case.*

*After wandering the corridors and halls, and avoiding the keepers, she managed to get back to the main part of the mansion, everyone is out and about, exploring the library or the other rooms.*

*Daryn was sat on top of a shelf in the library, books knocked to the ground where they'd stepped to climb up. Liz ran up to them first. They looked almost expectantly to her.*

Daryn: "Swirly. Where were you? Millie's been freaking out. Jas! She's back!"

*The lost one shouted out into the hallway.*

*Jasper and Bendy seemed to be missing. Ragdoll also caught up, she seems to be peacefully chatting with Mel*

Ragdoll: Oh hey Liz! I heard what happened in the sewers from Jas. So now you’re a cult leader? *she chuckles*

Liz: "Y-yeah. Cult leader... Where'd Jasper and Bendy go?"

*She looked around*

Ragdoll: Bendy went missing while you were gone and Jasper went all over-protective mode and is probably searching for him.

Liz: "Of course he did. Let's go. I've got the keycard to get into the Gent workshop."

Millie: "You don't seem all too rested. What were you doing up there. You sound upset. Your heartbeat's out of control."

Mel: "Yeah, I know disturbance when I see it."

Liz: "I can explain everything when we find Jasper. He'll want to hear this more than anything."

Daryn: "You said 'Gent workshop,' right?"

Liz: "Yes, why?"

Daryn: "Also unnecessary to elaborate on. Let's go."

*Daryn took the lead quickly, bouncing out the door. Liz followed after, then the others.*

*The group returns to the door with the card slot. Jasper was pacing back and forth with his hands on his head*

Jasper: Oh mon dieu where did Bendy go!? This is all my fault!

Liz: "Jasper. Are you alright?"

Mel: "He's been like this for a while..."

*Liz ran over and jostled him a bit. He was real. He was there. Joey was still a liar. And she could excuse it as just snapping him out of it.*

Jasper: Liz! You’re here! Bendy went missin’ and now I don’t know what to do! He’s so small and fast, he just disappeared when I wasn’t lookin’!

*He started to cry*

Jasper: I’m scared somethin’ happened to him! I don’t wanna lose Bendy after I met him! It like…He’s a part of me…

Liz: "It's alright. We'll find him. I'm sure he'll pop up. For now though, we have to keep moving."

*Her stomach squeezed as she placed a hand on his shoulder. The moment she moved away to open the door, Mel swooped in to hug him. She had to crouch down a bit to do so.*

*Jasper was giving Mel the tightest hug he could ever give, almost even choking Mel.*

*Liz used the card on the door and it opened, allowing the group to go inside*

Mel: "Ack- Jas- You can let go- ow-"

Liz: "Let's go, you two."

*Daryn sat back a bit, even letting Millie go first before following*

“You need to hide. Now.”

*He sees a vent*

“Get in the vent. Don’t worry ‘bout me, I’ll be fine.”

"Alright..."

*She shuffled into the vent. She felt a chill she definitely knew.*

"Is it the Ink Demon?"

*Jasper didn’t say anything. He just winked and made a shushing sign. There was a lot of déjà vu from this interaction. Then Jasper hid somewhere out of sight*

*She inched deeper into the vent, watching the outside intently. She kept as quiet as she could.*

"When has this happened before?"

*She muttered to herself.*

*Then Liz hears a chilling deep voice.*

???: “The dark puddles awakens…A voice…a soul…The ink speaks to me…it whispers your secrets…Who are you?….Tell me your sweet name…That I may devour it…”

"Who..?"

*She looked around. It wasn't Jasper or Wilson or just about anyone she could think of. She curled in a bit.*

*The shadows have disappeared for now. Jasper climbed out of his hiding spot and opened up the vent for Liz*

“That…was close…”

*Soon Ragdoll woke up*

Ragdoll: “THE SHIPOCALYPSE-! Oh…It was just a dream…Anyways what did I miss?…”

“Well, I met a few more demons. And wouldn’t you know, only one of them is dangerous.”

*She glanced to Jasper*

“That I know of at least.”

*She crawled out of the vent*

Ragdoll: You met MORE!? How many did Wilson miss!?

Jasper: Who?…

"Jasper, this is Ragdoll. Ragdoll, Jasper."

*Liz introduced the two. She held up the picture.*

"Now, Ragdoll, you weren't awake for this, but someone won't let us through unless we find his pictures. We've got one. We need four more."

(Ello?…)

‘Twas asleep ))

(Oh sorry- XD

Jasper: Pleased to meet ya!

*Jasper held his hand out to kiss Ragdoll’s hand*

Ragdoll: Yeah…you too…

*Ragdoll whispers to Liz*

Ragdoll: Doesn’t “Jasper” seem….off to you?…

"A bit, but... I dunno. Something tells me I shouldn't be too worried."

*She whispered. Should she mention the strange voice? Had Jasper heard it? She looked at the demon briefly before returning to the task at hand, finding the pictures.*

"Are you rested enough to walk on your own?"

Ragdoll: yup!

*She slides off of Liz’s shoulder*

Jasper: Well what are we waiting for? Let’s find those pictures!

*She nods and wanders around a bit, checking just about every other piece of paper.*

"Jasper, you have absolutely no memory of where you put these things?"

Jasper: Well not ALL the time!….Maybe?…Okay yeah, I constantly lose things and often forget. Sometimes even my own name! Ha ha….

"I see."

*She continues to search*

Jasper: BUT I came up with a way to remember my name so I don’t have an identity crisis! By turning it into a poem about my best qualities!

*Jasper inhales as he’s about to recite the poem but Ragdoll covers Jasper’s mouth*

Ragdoll: How about we save that for another time? We don’t want to attract the ink demon!

"Does he tend to come back often?"

*She peered over her shoulder*

Jasper: He heard us, obviously he will come back…

Ragdoll: Wait YOU GUYS SAW THE INK DEMON!?

"Yeah, one of the two I mentioned."

*She replied*

"Didn't realize he'd be so chatty."

Jasper: Fine! Just one more hug!

*Jasper hugs Mel tight before going back to his room*

Ragdoll: What a day, huh? We have the whole gang back together now…

Liz: "Yeah, both Linith AND Jasper. Now I gotta get myself some of whatever knocked Millie out like that. I've never seen someone comfortably sleep face-down."

*She returned to her room, finding a page with the recipe on a desk*

*She had to look for a Gilson. What is a Gilson?*

"Of course, this can't just be simple. Ragdoll, any clue what a gilson is?"

Ragdoll: Sounds like a brand of soup Wilson would make to replace bacon soup.

"Well, I suppose we'll have to find out. Come on, let's go find this thing..."

*Ragdoll happily climbs back onto Liz’s shoulder and together they exit the room to go find what a Gilson is. Linith’s door to his room was open. Strange…*

"Maybe he's out looking for it too."

*She carried on wandering about.*

"It'd be convenient if this place had a map. I'd appreciate not being torn apart by Keepers..."

Ragdoll: Didn’t Betty already tell us where everything is?…Oh! The Library door is open! Maybe we can find something in there!

"Right."

*She turned into the library, looking over the books left laying out*

*Liz takes the drawings and puts them on all the easels.*

"Okay pal, drawings returned."

*She knocked on the door.*

*Suddenly the door barges open and the mad artist starts to attack you, accusing you of stealing his drawings*

"Oh for the love of-"

*She bashed it in the shoulder, grunting in pain as it swatted back.*

*Eventually Liz finishes off the mad artist then Jasper and Ragdoll come out of Animation Alley*

Jasper: “We’re back! And we- OH- It seems things didn’t…go well?”

Ragdoll: “Good thing ya gave Liz that pipe…”

"I'm fine, don't worry."

*She knelt down by the body, nudging it just to make sure it was dead. It burst practically at the touch. That was confirmation enough*

"We've dwelled here long enough. Let's go."

*She marched off into the room the artist had claimed.*

Jasper: We saw that claw thing again. I managed to kill it…I think…

Ragdoll: It was brutal…

*They continue to follow the halls and tunnels until they reach a large industrial area.*

Jasper: So…What now?

Ragdoll: there seems to be a REALLY deep hole down there…

"And we're headed up, aren't we? So try not to get yourselves killed. We'll need to find a way around it."

Jasper: ooh! Fancy lever!

*Jasper points to a lever on the side of a wall*

"Jasper..."

*She warned*

“Pictures?…y’mean the ones I spread around in different parts of the rooms?”

"You stole that guy's stuff?"

*She sighed.*

"Somehow I'm not even surprised..."

“Stole?…i found them layin’ around near a corpse. Poor guy must’ve been killed by the ink demon…”

"Well, clearly not if he's out there asking for 'em back. Do you remember where you put them?"

“Yeah I think I do! I put them in uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..”

“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….”

"You don't remember. Wonderful. Then you're helping me find them again."

*She marched off down the hall*

“Maybe I can ask Daryn if they might know somethin’ bout you…They have this collection of papers that they wrote everythin in before they forgot!”

*Liz manages to find one of the drawings*

"Is this one?"

*They pointed to the paper*

“Yup! That’s one of em!”

*Jasper’s horns twitch and then he freezes*

“Something’s coming….”

"What is?"

*She blinked. Was it... dimmer?*

Jasper: Oh sorry Mel!… *he quickly lets go as Ragdoll gets in between the two of them shouting at the two in a sing-song voice*

Ragdoll: JASPER AND MEL! SITTING ON A TREE! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Mel: "Ay- Shush, please..."

Liz: "Ragdoll, for the love of god..."

Ragdoll: FIRST COMES LOVE AND THEN COMES MARRIAGE AND THE-

*Jasper just punts Ragdoll to the floor*

Jasper: Finally some piece and quiet. I sometimes wish you were inanimate, Ragdoll.

*Millie peels Ragdoll off the ground.*

Millie: "I think you need a minute. Let's go. Daryn, are you coming?"

*Daryn shuffled around a bit before hesitantly following, stepping through the door as if expecting it to slam shut on them.*

Daryn: "Yeah, yeah. Comin'."

Liz: "Are you scared?"

Daryn: "I don't feel fear. I told you, it's irrelevant."

Millie: "He's not here, hun. We'd know."

Daryn: "I know. Now let's just go."

*Jasper follows along, holding Mel’s hand tightly. Something was definitely going to happen. Ragdoll was in Millie’s arms, recovering after being punched in the face by Jasper*

*Liz approached the entrance to the warehouse. Daryn still hesitated to come much closer. Millie flinched.*

Millie: "Something's..."

Jasper: …Coming…

*There was a pause*

Jasper: This don’t feel right…Like we’re bein’ watched…

Millie: "I think we are..."

*Daryn tensed up, leaning into Millie.*

Daryn: "Do ya think-"

Millie: "I don't think so...."

*She whispered, shaking her head to the shorter lost one.*

*Liz opens a door that lead deeper into the workshop. There was a sign that says “We are the Keepers”. They went ahead and suddenly, the ink demon appeared, ready to maul the group*

Liz: "JESUS-"

Millie: "I should've said it-"

*Mel broke out of Jasper's grip, attempting to retreat before pulling herself back. Her halos closed in on her face like a defensive shell*

Jasper: W-Whaddya mean I’ve looked “better”? I-

*The ink drips on Jasper’s left hand, he looks down at his hand and then feels his face. Liz could see the fear and panic quickly washing over him as he starts to hyperventilate*

"Okay, calm down, it's alright. We can just clean you up a bit."

*She stepped over to him, wiping at the ink*

*The ink comes back and Jasper starts to panic and almost crying*

Jasper: Ya don’t understand! It’s not that easy to just “clean” it off! There will be DIRE consequences if this doesn’t get fixed! Oh god the paranoia is startin’ to set in…Quick! I need to find some thick ink ASAP!

"Okay, okay. Uh..."

*She looked across the gap. It was the only path they could go.*

"God, how does this work?"

*Ragdoll picked up her severed arm from the floor and backed away from Jasper*

Ragdoll: Hey, uhh…Do you still remember the warnings for one of the ink demons Alice told ya about?…

"Yeah. Why?"

Ragdoll: Well ya might wanna use em now…

"Jasper..?"

*She looked from Jasper to the gap. Could she just run? Leave him there? That felt wrong. But she had to keep moving, didn't she? She couldn't endanger herself like this. She stepped toward the gap*

*And then suddenly she was teleported to the other side*

Ragdoll: Hey! Don’t leave me here with the ticking time bomb! He said to look for thick ink right? Well GO GET THEM QUICK BEFORE HE SHREDS ME TO STUFFING!

Jasper: I CAN STILL HEAR YOU!

"Wha- R-Right. On it."

*She darted off, turning the corner. She could so easily leave them there. Something in her really wanted to, to just carry on and find a way out herself. But she couldn't. That was wrong. And she knew nothing about this place like they did. It was best to help them in the long run.*

"Thick ink... what does that even look like?"

(Filler comment here XD)

"How do you know my name? Who are you?"

*She stepped towards the man, pipe clutched tightly*

"You have a light. Show yourself."

???: Don’t you know me? Take a good look.

*He turns on the lantern and holds it up. Liz couldn’t believe it…*

*It was Joey Drew*

"You. You!"

*She stepped even closer, voice raising angrily*

"How DARE you be here. HOW are you here? You're dead! You did you just come HERE to get another look all the damage you caused? Don't you think for a SECOND that I haven't heard about you."

*Why did the face feel so familiar. She knew it well from the pictures back at Archgate, but somehow, it felt more personal than that.*

Joey: Hold on, Elizabeth. This can all be explained. Just calm down and take a walk with me…There’s something I want to show you…

"And I'm SURE that'll go all well. Fine, I'll give you this chance. But if you try ANYTHING I'll make those tribute plaques apply here too."

*She phased up onto the balcony.*

"Let's go."

Joey: There ya go! Follow me! But mind your step. This old place is full of surprises. I should know, i’ve worked here a long time.

"Yeah, I've noticed."

*She begrudgingly followed*

*As they walk along the bridged hallway, Joey starts to explain to Liz what the studio actually is*

Joey: It’s a cycle, Elizabeth. An ink-stained nightmare forever stuck on repeat. With just a pencil and a dream…and a little help from the Gent Corporation, it came into being. From what I gather, it exists in parallel to the outside world, but completely removed from the march of time. And like a record, played over and over again.

*The two arrive at a door labeled “THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE”*

Joey: It’s begun to crumble, wear down…This studio is a monument to choosing the wrong road. Now wether it was built for revenge…or regret, I don’t know. That’s my riddle to solve…

"From what you gather? You don't know? You made this! How would you not know?"

*She paused before she could rant any further. She just had to stay calm, tolerate Joey's presence until she could find the others.*

"Though, a cycle you say? That would explain the deja vu."

*Ragdoll followed Millie, still holding on to her severed plush arm*

Jasper: Oh that reminds me! Daryn, have you by any chance seen a little living Bendy anywhere in the studio?

Daryn: "Other than you? I thought I did, though I was about 89 percent sure I was hallucinating. It ran off about as soon as I processed it was there. THAT is hallucination material if I know it."

Jasper: Well guess what? It’s real! We all saw Bendy! And he was so gosh darn cute! Although Liz and I separately saw the adorable devil on our way here and I blacked out on my encounter! Funny how that works, huh?

Daryn: "As in... not the Ink Demon? Like..."

*They rummage through a heap of pictures, pulling out a sketch of the cartoonish devil*

"...this kinda Bendy?"

*Liz peeks at the drawing and nods*

Jasper: Yup! Except he wore a cute little suit!

Daryn: "Suit, huh. That'd spice up the design a bit. It was startin' to get repetitive."

Liz: "Tell me about it."

*Daryn looked over, leaning in curiously*

Daryn: "Whaddya mean, 'tell me about it?' You didn't work here, didja?"

*That was a... complicated question.*

Liz: "Um... not here I don't think. Archgate took over the franchise after Mr. Drew died. I worked there."

Daryn: "Oh~ Got it. I understood about... halfa that. Lost me at 'Archgate.'"

Jasper: Wait…Joey IS DEAD!?

Liz: "Died last year."

*Should these folks have known? She couldn't blame them for not knowing.*

Daryn: "Dang it! You're tellin' me I missed my chance to do 'im in myself?"

*Millie leaned in, pausing her repairs just to scold her partner*

Millie: "Daryn, we've been over this! Not while Jasper's around!"

Liz: "What did he... do?"

Daryn: "Oh, lemme think. EVERYTHING!"

*Jasper starts to cry*

Jasper: The only one who I had the closest bond with…is dead…

*Jasper collapses onto the floor.*

Daryn: "Well I take personal offense. C'mon, pal. We've been over a thousand times how not-great that guy is. If anything we should be celebrating."

*Daryn tries and fails to pull Jasper to his feet*

Liz: "You and Joey were close?"

*Why did she care?*

Alice: Behind you is the door to freedom. But it will only open if you solve my little puzzle by talking to these lost ones and return to your special chair. Then, I'll throw this... heavenly switch here. If you get the puzzle right, you walk away. Get it wrong... you fry. Let's begin!

"Right then. I can do that."

*She pulled herself up, glancing back at her chair. An electric chair. That explained the threat of frying. She hesitantly approached one of the tied-up lost ones.*

Lost one: The fox thinks the rabbit smells of elderberry. I couldn’t see them sitting together.

"Alright..?"

*She moved to the next. Foxes? Rabbits?*

Lost one 2: The bird won’t have anything to do with the rabbit but I hear he likes to court danger by sitting next to the fox

"Okay, bird next to the fox... fox not next to the rabbit... how many animals are there?"

*She moved on*

Lost one 3: The Rabbit never sits with the bird. He prefers the playful company of the bear

"Okay... I think... rabbit next to the bear, the bird must be between the fox and bear... I think I've got what I need. Where do I put this in?"

*She looked to Alice*

*She points to a ladder leading upwards.*

"Thank you."

*Why was she thanking the angel? Should this go wrong, she was dead. That wasn't exactly something she should thank her for. She walked up to a control panel with various animal icons on it.*

"So it's just the four. Rabbit, bear, bird, fox. Let's try that."

*Liz muttered as if this were just trial an error and not an inevitable death trap. She flipped the icons onto her decided order, and climbed back down.*

"Let's hope those three were enough..."

*She returned to her chair and shut her eyes tightly*

Ragdoll: Good, I was almost about to traumatize you with warnings about the ink demons…

"Well, thank goodness Alice beat you to it."

*She followed after Ragdoll carefully*

Ragdoll: You’re probably right. I tend to talk a lot, especially when I faced one of them myself! I didn’t get these scars for nothing!

*It points to or at least looked like they were pointing to it’s many stitches and patchworks*

"I see. So, how did you find the exit. And if you know where it is, why don't you leave? Why is anyone still here if there's such a simple way out?"

Ragdoll: huh? Exit? Nobody knows how to escape other than…Well that Wilson guy. I’m only trying to get you to the safer upper levels of the studio! The people there are more calmer!

"Oh. I see..."

*Of course Wilson of all people knew the way out.*

"Maybe it's him I should be finding instead then."

*She attempted to joke, though she realized too late she sounded a bit more serious than intended.*

Ragdoll: ARE YOU NUTS!? Going to him is like asking the ink demons to kill you on the spot!

"After what he did, it's me he should e worried about."

*She chuckled. Maybe that could get the 'this is supposed to be a joke' message across.*

*Ragdoll just slowly shook their head with an unimpressed look on it’s face.*

"Alright, anyways, I didn't introduce myself, did I? My name's Elizabeth. Liz if it's easier."

*Betty nods and she leads the group to the next door, leaving Linith by himself in his dark room*

*she knocks on the door*

Betty: Mr. Merridew?…

Jasper: hm?…

Betty: You have guests over. May I let them in.

Jasper: Yeah yeah, open the noor.

*Betty opens the door to let the group in. Jasper was fitted with some clean new clothes and he was wearing his spade pin this time.*

Jasper: H-Hey fellas…

Daryn: "Jasper! Thank god! You know, I personally never thought you were gone."

*They grabbed Jasper by the shoulders, jostling him a bit.*

Liz: "We were worried. Those towers completely shut you off."

Jasper: Towers? Gone? Wha’ddya mean? What happened?…

Liz: "When we entered the Gent workshop, there were these signal towers. They turned the Ink Demon into that little Bendy that we ran into earlier. I'm not sure why you were shut off, but it happened."

Daryn: "Yeah, you missed a lot. We dodged a bunch of keepers, found the cyclebreakers, ran into this guy Henry and, wouldn't you know it, Sammy! Then I pressed a button and here we are! You and Bee are separate people now."

Jasper: L-Linith and I a-are SEPARATE!? H-How did that happen!? And Bendy was the ink demon all along!? HENRY AND SAMMY!? WHAT ELSE DID I MISS???

Ragdoll: *Whispers to Liz* Do we uhh tell him about the cycle or?…

Liz: "Give him a second to process this first."

Daryn: "That about summarizes everything... OH! And Millie finally got some sleep! I'm tellin' you, that sleep drink stuff Betty made works wonders."

Jasper: NO WAY! REALLY??? Aw man I missed out on a lot…Wait where’s Mel?…D-Did something happen?…

Liz: "Mel should be here too."

*she looked back at Betty.*