Chapter Text
Bendy didn’t stop running until they reached the train station. The boys stopped in front of the building, gasping for breath. Bendy put his hands on his knees as he drank in as much oxygen as he could.
Boris leaned against the wall, panting with his tongue lolled out of his mouth. “You could’ve-pant-waited for two-huff-minutes so Mugs coulda'-pant-explained.”
“I wasn’t gonna-huff-wait for our-pant-heads to get blown off!” Bendy answered. The two of them were sweating in the cool air. Several people glanced at them as they walked by. Bendy worried they’d be recognized any moment and have the cops called on them. They only stayed long enough to catch their breath. Bendy had them quickly move inside.
“‘Sides, with the voodoo nut gone and Mugs' brother returned, the truce was over. I wasn’t gonna test the loyalty a single meal would buy us from that guy,” Bendy said, now that he could breathe easily.
Boris frowned. “Mugs was nice, though.” The two found the line for the train tickets and stepped in. Again, they got a couple of glances, probably for their muddy shoes/paws and the rips in Bendy’s shirt, not to mention the cuts on his arms and face. They would have to clean up and change as soon as they could.
Bendy rolled his eyes and shook his head. “We need to sit down and have serious discussion about the difference between ‘nice’ and ‘trustworthy’, bro. You keep this up and we are gonna get mugged, or kidnapped, or killed before we can ever hope to get the machine fixed and running.”
Boris’ ears fell.
“How can I help you?” The ticket agent asked in a monotone voice. He had a large hooked nose and greasy hair brushed back. He didn’t even look at Bendy when he spoke, just focused on the papers on the counter in front of him.
“Two tickets for Toon Town.”
“That’s a two-day trip, sir. Do you want private suites or public?” the agent said.
“Private.”
The fella got the tickets and finally looked out…and then down at Bendy. He paused in the motion of handing over the tickets, looking Bendy up and down. Bendy raised a brow, daring the man to say anything.
The man paled and gulped. “Y-your tickets, sir.” He put them at the edge of the table. Bendy rolled his light eyes and slapped the cash next the tickets.
“Cussing coward,” Bendy hissed as he snatched the tickets away and marched toward the train. The man flinched back as if Bendy had slapped him.
Boris glanced back at the ticket agent before focusing on Bendy again. “Bendy, I think we’d better clean up and change before we get on the train. That guy smelled like trouble.”
Bendy nodded and the two slipped into the public restrooms to change and clean up the best they could.
“What I wouldn’t do for a shower,” Bendy sighed. He adjusted the goggles back on his head after having washed them in the sink. Boris nodded, wrung out his bandana as best he could, and brushed his fingers through his tail a couple more times before putting his gloves back on.
“If the cops show up, we spit up and don’t meet at the room until the trains starts moving.” Bendy handed him one of the tickets.
“Right.” Boris checked that they still had the map and then the two headed out.
Once outside the two saw policemen being led train security and ticket man who had helped them. Bendy and Boris instantly parted without a word and blended seamlessly with the busy crowd. Whispers of the feared B brothers were hissed around different clusters of people as Bendy weaved his way through. He put his head down, keeping his body completely loose and relaxed. He and Boris had years of practice disappearing in a crowd from when they'd lived on the streets. They were used to being unnoticed and acting invisible. It was easy as long as one didn’t panic.
Bendy eventually made a beeline to the train they would be leaving on. He casually avoided any police or security and focused on the whispered rumors as he passed.
I heard they’re in the city, one voice said.
Some sort of mob trade- another whispered and then cut themselves off.
I heard they came to silence the mayor! It's because of his new policy to crack down on the dock cri- Bendy moved on.
-can’t believe things have come to this.
But they’re so young! Can’t they really be that dangerous?
-l a bunch o’ cuss! Told ya demons ain’t ta be messed with!
-uge politically ploy to get that man back in office.
Bendy sighed. It was never ending, it seemed. No matter where he went, there were always crazy rumors. Next, he’d be leading a cult. There'd be insane followers trying to offer him sacrifices or something.
Bendy peeked at the door to the train cars. There were men waiting at every door, asking for tickets. Bendy pursed his lips. It was them combing through the people for him and Boris. Bendy raised a brow as he looked around. He was sure he could slip in, he just needed an opening. He slowly circled the train, looking for his chance. After nearly hitting the end of the train, Bendy spotted the luggage car. With a smirk, the little demon easily slipped by the chests and bags that were still waiting to be loaded. He hopped up the stairs and found a dark little corner between two chests and a pile of crates. He silently chuckled to himself over how easy it was. The room was deem and smelled of old leather, moist wood, and metal.
Then footsteps started to come towards him. Bendy froze. Stars. He had spoken too soon. The steps grew closer. Bendy held his breath. If he got caught now, it was all over. He had cornered himself there.
“Where should I put dis one?” a man grunted.
“Don’t ask me! Anywhere, I guess,” another sighed. “The dame that was rattling off at us just wouldn’t stop. I tuned her out. She can get the annoying yapper when she gets off.”
Bendy saw a pair of shoes walk towards him, a covered cage in tow. The guy lowered the large cage and pushed it toward him. Bendy pushed himself against the wall as far as he could go. The cage stopped short of his boots.
“That should be good enough. C’mon, we’re running behind thanks to all this hubbub,” the second guy said.
“Oh, golly. The thought of thugs like that ‘round gives me the willies,” the guy in front of Bendy said. “Murderin’ and causin’ all kinds a havoc.”
The second fella scoffed as they moved away. “It’s a load of rubbish. The whole nation claimed they've been seen here or there anywhere from the coast ta the border! Ridiculous! ‘Sides, they’re just a couple boys!”
“But didn’t you hear? The little one is...” Their voices disappeared into the wash of noise outside the car. Bendy let out a sigh of relief. That had been too close. He was just about to move when the cage started to growl at him. Bendy quirked a brow and raised a foot to take a step. The cage barked at him now, loud and angry. Bendy flinched and looked around. No one was coming. He lifted a corner of the blanket that covered the cage. It was a very unhappy poodle. Bendy scoffed and hopped on top of the cage.
“Chill out. At least you didn’t have to sneak on the train,” Bendy muttered and slipped off the other side. The dog barked and threw itself against the cage causing it to rattle. "Gee, do ya wanna get me caught?" Bendy frowned. He found a new corner and hunkered down until the whistle sounded. The train workers didn’t come near him again…well, except one time when they passed him and one of them stepped on his tail with their heavy work boots. Bendy had to bite a knuckle to stop himself from cursing and going after the guy.
As the train rolled out of the station, Bendy nursed his tail. He was so sick of stuff happening to his tail. Maybe he should always wrap it around himself like a belt. This was getting ridiculous. Bendy eventually got out of the luggage car and casually made his way to the front of the train and their room. He passed through a dining car, rows of seats mostly full of people. There was an empty seat every so often. Bendy guessed most of these people would be getting off before the day was over.
He didn’t spot Boris at all. He wasn’t worried. They were supposed to meet at the room. No one really looked at him, which was nice. He was able to make his way quickly to the front of the train. He checked the ticket for the room number. He had just figured it out when a hand landed on his shoulder and pulled him into a room. Bendy nearly took a swing at the person.
“Hey, bro.” Boris smiled. “Sorry to give you a start.”
“Boris? What the cuss are you doing? I nearly decked you!” Bendy growled. Boris smiled.
“One moment.” Boris snatched the ticket out of Bendy’s hand and disappeared back out into the narrow corridor. Bendy leaned out of the compartment to watch him knock on a door. A man with a handlebar mustache opened the door. He smiled at Boris. The wolf offered him the ticket and the man took it gratefully.
Bendy looked around the room. There were two narrow beds, bunk bed style, practically fitted into the wall. A simple wood ladder lead up to the top bunk. A small table with two chairs sat by the large window. On one wall was shelves with glasses and an ice box. Other than that there was one tiny closet, a trash can, and a sink in the other wall with a mirror and cabinet over it. There was another door. Bendy peeked in to see a toilet. In a word, the place was tiny and crammed. He didn’t know what he’d expected with it being on a train and all. The walls were simple wood panels and a stiff rug floor.
Boris reentered the room. “What was that all about?” Bendy asked him.
“I traded rooms with someone. Hopefully, that will help confuse any workers that are keeping an eye out for us.” Boris shrugged. “I think as long as we hide you when they come knocking, we should be fine.”
“Me?”
“They’re looking for a wolf and a demon. Which is more common in public?” Boris asked.
Bendy huffed, but didn’t deny it. He had only ever seen one other demon besides himself. “So, how did you get on the train?”
“There was a large family of dogs getting on. I just kept close with my head down and followed them on like I was one of the family,” Boris said unpacking his bag on the top bunk. “What about you?”
“I got on with a dog too.” Bendy smirked and worked on unpacking. He put his toothbrush by the sink. He caught Boris giving him a look, but the pup didn’t ask for more information. Guess he wasn't in the mood for Bendy's jokes.
Bendy pulled out the doll and froze. “Uh, Boris.” His bro looked over the edge of his bed.
“Yeah?”
“I think we got the right doll,” Bendy gulped. Boris tilted his head with one ear raised when Bendy lifted the doll to show him. Boris gasped. Instead of a random looking man in a suit, the doll now resembled Bendy. It had on crude goggles, a simple shirt and vest, pants and boots. His tail was loose and thin. The stitched eyes seemed to be looking back at them.
“How in the world did this happen?” Boris asked in awe. “It looks just like you!”
“I know,” Bendy said, turning the doll this way and that to give it a look over. “Didn’t that paper say something about an imprint or whatever?”
Boris dug up the translated page again and they looked over the description for the doll.
With the application of the doll, differing sizes, ages, and families will no longer matter. The treatment will be applicable to all living beings.
One will have to beware the singular use of the doll. The connection it can have with the form it takes is as real as the doll being an extension of the individual.
To use the doll as a singular function is to give it a physical part of the individual where the doll will imprint and change shape to reflect the one it has part of. It is as simple as a drop of blood, a hair, or claw and so forth.
With the doll in the form of the individual, one can enact their will over the imprinted individual. Pain and damage to the doll will give the same pain and damage to the imprinted. Yet, fixing the doll will also fix the imprinted, as long as the individual is alive. There is a limit, and it will only fix physical damage, not illness. This is not the intended use.
I n application with the machine, the doll will change to the form of the individual without the use of the part of the individual. Thus, the danger of an effective full imprint is diminished. The doll will remove the problem with application to the treatment. The individual’s body will accept the treatment no matter the species of the individual.
“A physical part…so when this dumb thing bit me?” Bendy asked.
“What does it mean ‘one can enact their will over the imprinted individual?’ That sounds a bit scary.” Boris looked over at Bendy with worry in his dark eyes.
“Dunno. Think we should test it?” Bendy asked, looking down at the doll again.
“How?” Boris tilted his head. Bendy offered the doll to him and Boris blinked at it.
“Take it and try something,” Bendy said with a shrug. Boris lifted his eyes to Bendy with a look of apprehension.
“Are you sure?” Boris asked as he gingerly took the doll.
“I trust ya.” Bendy nodded.
Boris looked at the little doll, his brows furrowed in concentration. He pursed his lips and pinched the dolls side. Bendy flinched. Boris’ eyes flew to him. Bendy’s eyes were huge. He had felt that. Like a giant invisible force had just grabbed him. “Sorry!”
Bendy shook his head. “It’s fine. You didn’t hurt me, bro. That was just really weird.” Boris still looked at him worried. “Try something else.”
Boris looked back down at the doll. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. Put it in the sunlight.” Bendy shrugged. Boris put the doll on the table. For a while it seemed nothing happened as the waning rays of sun from the window landed on the doll. Boris kept watching him and then the doll. After a bit of time, Bendy started to feel a bit hot.
“You’re sweating and flushed. Are you okay bro?” Boris said. Bendy brushed at his forehead to feel it was damp.
“I feel hot,” Bendy said. Boris shook his head in amazement and pulled the doll into the shade.
“I don’t know if we should keep messing with this,” Boris said as he shifted uncomfortably. Bendy pursed his lips and got up to grab the doll. Boris watched with wary eyes.
“We gotta know what this thing did to me…or is doing to me.” Bendy took one of the arms and circled it gently. He didn’t really feel anything. He tugged on the arm and suddenly he felt the tug, even though his own arm didn’t move. He pulled a little harder to the point it just barely hurting then let go. Bendy hummed. Could this thing break his bones even if it didn’t have any bones of its own? If it got bent the wrong way, would his arm or leg just snap? He couldn’t really afford a broken arm to test that.
He did bend the arm a little, but didn’t feel anything.
“Bendy?” The demon looked up to see the worrying wolf. “Are you okay? What should we do about this?”
Bendy shrugged. “Be careful with the doll? If messing with it messes with me, we’ll have to keep it safe until we can hide it in Oddswell’s house somewhere.”
“Think there’s a way to stop it?” Boris asked. Bendy shrugged again. He put the doll on his bed. Boris eyed it for a moment.
“It’s fine Boris. I’m fine. We’ll, uh, figure something out.” Bendy smiled. “‘Sides, this means we got the right doll, right? We really did it!”
Boris’ eyes went over to Bendy and widened. “Yeah!” he agreed with awe and a small smile. “You’re right. We did get the part we wanted!”
Bendy looked at the doll. “Though, I have no idea how this thing is supposed to work in a machine.”
“Like you said, bro, we’ll figure it out,” Boris said with a determined grinned. Bendy nodded. Boris’ hopeful smile dropped a little.
“Uh, Bendy, about what happened at the shop.” Boris rubbed his arm and looked at the ground. “Sorry I got caught. I almost ruined everything.”
Bendy blinked and stared at Boris in surprise. “No, you didn’t. Mugs and I got caught too. Don’t apologize. We were all in over our heads there.”
Boris sighed, his ears drooped, and his tail tucked. “I just keep thinking…maybe if I had done something different, then maybe she wouldn’t have been turned into that thing.”
“Hey, that wasn’t on you. Mugs and I broke that orb. We did that, bro, not you.” Bendy frowned and put a hand on Boris’ arm. “Odie even made it sound like it was that lady’s fault in the first place. She had the dangerous orb there, after all.”
“Yeah,” Boris agreed weakly.
Bendy narrowed his eyes. “You’re not feeling bad for her, are you? Boris, she tried to kill you!”
“I know,” Boris said just as weakly. He looked away from Bendy.
“She almost killed me!” Bendy lifted a hand.
“I know,” Boris stated a bit louder.
“And Mugman!” Bendy waved his arm.
“I know Be-”
“And you remember what she did to that other cup guy!” Bendy continued. “She was not a good person, bro. You can’t be nice to everyone and hope-”
“I know Bendy! Would you shut your trap for a second and let me explain?” Boris barked. Bendy’s eyes widened, and he nodded. It was rare that Boris looked at him with such a serious glint in his dark eyes. “It’s not that I pity her. It’s that I worry. I don’t want people to die because of us.”
“Boris-”
“Not done!” Boris raised a finger in warning. Bendy snapped his mouth shut.
“I don’t want my brother to kill. It’s,” Boris seemed to struggle for the words. “It’s not right. We could easily become the people the newspapers make us out to be.” Bendy pursed his lips in order to not speak up. “And I know she didn’t technically die, but Mama Odie said she didn’t remember being human. And then…” Boris trailed off and got a far away haunted look in his eyes. “Then Mama Odie had mentioned something about a boy. I mean, she might have a kid, or at least a family member! And I don’t think it’ll matter much to him if she had died or became that thing and can never be a person again. To that boy, she’s gone. And we did that, Bendy.” Boris looked at Bendy with pain in his eyes. They seemed glassy with unshed tears. “I don’t want people to get hurt!”
Bendy felt his own brows knit together in concern. He hadn’t thought about that. No, he had purposefully blocked it out. She had attacked them. She had what they needed. He had done what he had too. End of story. Black and white…but the world didn’t work that way, did it? He just had to think about how people looked at him, judged him, and knew how unfair reality was.
“Boris,” Bendy said gently. “I understand that. I don’t want to hurt anyone either, but we have to do this. We have to get those parts, it’s the only way we’re gonna get a cure. We can’t just run away from the bad guys like when we were kids on the street. We have to stand and fight now…and that means people will get hurt. If you don’t fight, they’ll kill you, bro.” Bendy let some of his worry show. He fell quiet to let his words sink in. He didn’t want to tell his brother this, but Boris had to defend himself. Bendy couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Boris. His brother had to stand up for himself. Boris took a deep breath and nodded with a bit more energy this time.
“Life is hard, but you have to get up and-”
“And keep moving forward,” Boris finished. “I know.”
“Where’s my happy widdle wolf?” Bendy smiled.
Boris’ smile came automatically. “Here I am.”
“Good. We have a long ride now, and I think we have earned some down time.” Bendy stretched his arms over his head. Boris smiled and agreed.
The boys enjoyed a calm evening as the sun was setting through the window. Bendy was finally able to pull out his book again. After going through his own terrifying temple experience, he saw Felix’s story in a new light. Boris took a nap.
It was nice. There was a minimum of stress compared to what they had just come from. Probably stress free, compared to where they were going. Bendy put down his book to look out the window and think. The crescent moon glowed softly in the night sky. Stars twinkled around it in their usual patterns. The shadowy landscape slipped away into darkness seamlessly. The shadows were calm, hardly a whisper to Bendy.
He guessed they’d head back to the casino outside of town again. He couldn’t really think of anywhere else to go in that city without them getting caught. He wanted to go find the Warners and Red, just to make sure they were okay. It had been week, maybe they were all out the hospital. It would be pretty hard to find them in that city if that was true. They could still be there, but that would mean that the Cups had done a real number on them. Bendy frowned.
He didn’t really know what to think about those guys now…well, at least Mugman. The guy seemed okay, if a bit weighed down. It had probably just been worry for his brother. He hadn’t come off as the big, tough thug Bendy had originally imagined him to be. Sure, he was still force to reckon with in a fight, but he wasn’t a cold, bloodthirsty villain. Maybe…what happened to Wilson had really been an accident? But then, what about Wilson’s team? The owl had been framed for those deaths the way he and Boris were framed. Then, there had been that fire at the other town before the owl showed up in Sillyvision…and the fire at the garage.
Did Mugs do all that? Him and Cup?
At first, Bendy had no doubt, but after meeting the guy, fighting along side him…Bendy wasn’t so sure anymore. Bendy’s mind turned it over and over. Was he being too trusting? If he dropped his guard, that would put him and Boris in danger. It shouldn’t matter. Their truce was over. The next time he saw those two, their magic bullets would be aimed for him. End of story…right? He remembered Mugs yanking Cups shot away. Maybe…
There was a knock on their door. Bendy jerked his head up. “Excuse me?” a man’s voice asked. Bendy dove up the ladder and shook Boris.
“Wake up! Someone is at the door,” Bendy whispered.
“Mmmmmmuh?” Boris groaned. The was another knock.
“If I have to stay out of sight, then you gotta open the door, bro,” Bendy said and slid down the ladder. He hopped into the closet. He heard Boris trip down the ladder and make his way to the door. Bendy peeked through the door. Boris opened it just as the man was knocking again. He almost clunked Boris on the forehead.
“Oh! Terribly sorry, sir,” The man said drawing back. “I am here to inform you that the diner is about to be closed. We haven’t seen you in the dining car. Is everything alright?”
“Uh?” Boris mumbled blurredly. “Ah, uh. Yeah. I have just been tired all day and turned in early. I didn’t really think about food.”
Bendy bit his knuckle to stifle a cough and narrowed his light eyes as he tried to listen. He attempted to silently clear his throat, but the cough turned into a fit. Bendy turned away from the door. He didn't have much room to move. Bendy hunched over and choked silently into his clenched fist. He couldn't make a noise without his hiding place being found. If that happened they'd be in cuffs faster than Bendy could finish a bowl of bacon soup.
It wasn’t until a burning feeling rose up his throat that Bendy realized this wasn’t just a cough. He cursed to himself as he bit his lip and his mouth filled with the disgusting taste of ink. He sank to his knees as he spat it onto the floor, hunching over he watched the black liquid drip thickly onto the wooden floor of the dim closet. The taste was acidic and made him want to gag more. He ran his tongue over his teeth and spat again. Disgusting. He held back a groan of pain as his stomach twisted. Not now. Bendy didn't think he could stay silent through an attack.
Bendy could still hear Boris talking to the train worker, reminding him that he couldn’t make a noise. Hell, even with the guy gone, Bendy still wouldn’t be able to make a sound. The walls weren’t sound proof. If he cried out, they would know. They couldn’t get caught. They couldn’t! They had to get the other parts and find that machine.
Bendy fought the urge to look through the slit of the door. He wrapped his arms around his chest like he could hold himself together. The little demon pushed himself to the far wall of the closet. On the floor it didn't make any difference, but he didn't want to watch as the growing puddle of black spread across the wood sluggishly.
Seconds started to turn into hours as the pain in Bendy grew. All he could do was bite down and curl in tighter-try to hold himself together somehow-as the inner fire became an inferno. His body felt like it was being torn apart, atom by atom, from the inside out. It felt like his lungs were shrinking, stomach and heart were turning into lava. Bendy silently whimpered. His throat closed up and he leaned over to spit up another gush of the foul ink. His breath left his throat in a shaky wheeze and returned in a pained gasp. The demon's tears mingled with the ink that was dripped from his head, running down his face, staining the collar of his shirt and joining the mess before him in the cramped space.
Suddenly the closet brightened. A shadow crossed over him. “Bendy!”
Bendy looked up to see Boris, his mouth hanging open and a look of horror widening his eyes and dropping his ears. He reached down to touch the demon and Bendy tensed. If he moved, he'd break. Bendy was sure of it. The fire would burst out of him if touched. The wolf must have seen that in Bendy's anguished eyes, because he froze, turned, and left. Ink dripped down Bendy’s face. He was panting for air that didn’t seem to reach his lungs. Did he still even have lungs? The ink puddle in front of him swam and wavered. He couldn’t focus, his eyes stung from the ink. His hand wiped at them numbly and came away stained and smeared with ink. His ears roared like a continuous tidal wave. Bendy's scattered mind wondered if it was ink or blood that raced through his veins at this moment. The heat was so intense. A sun must be growing in his chest. Burning away his lungs and heart.
“Here, take it.” Boris was suddenly in front of him with pills and a glass of water. Bendy lifted a shaky hand and took the medicine. Bendy tried to drink, but choked. Another wave of ink and acid rose from his stomach. He hissed and spurted. He hadn't been ready. Ink and water rushed up his nose. He coughed, his nose burning, and spat. Boris patted his back gently. It was cool to the touch, but felt a hundred miles away at the same time. “It’s okay. You’ll be okay.” His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it like he was begging Bendy for it to be true. Suddenly, there was another knock on the door. “Cuss! Not right now!” Boris hissed. Boris glanced at the door tensely, angrily even. Bendy felt himself sinking down to the floor, uncaring of the mess, completely overcome with pain. He lifted one of his hands from the death grip he had on his shirt and chest to grab Boris’ sleeve before he could pull away.
“Too hot.” He was able to cough out. It sounded horse and rough, barely audible. It was the only way he could hold back the shriek that sat at the back of his throat. It hurt to breathe. The pain was coursing through every inch of him. He had to be dying. Had to be.
“Okay, Bendy. Ju-just give me a moment,” Boris gulped and stared at him with watery eyes before he stood up. Bendy thought he saw ink on Boris’ gloves and sleeve where Bendy had grabbed him. His vision swam again, and he was sure his heart was going to burst at any moment. He thought he heard Boris gasp at something, but he couldn’t be sure. It was all drifting in and out of focus with the waves of pain. The knocking came again, more forcefully. Bendy's stomach rolled and another gush of ink left him. If he lost consciousness completely, would he ever wake up?
“O-one minute!” Boris said, his voice cracking. Bendy heard Boris shift around and suddenly a cool sensation came over him. The knocking became demanding. Boris came back to the closet. “I put the doll in the ice box,” he whispered quickly before shutting the door with a grimace. “I’m sorry, bro.”
Bendy couldn’t hold back the tiniest whimper. No, he couldn't do that! He lifted his right hand to his mouth. He bit down on his hand and squeezed his eyes shut. The cool feeling became cold, the icy sensation on his skin contrasting the fire from within. Oddly they didn't seem to mingle or relieve each other. He felt like there should be some sense of relief, but there wasn’t. He began to shiver. How could this get worse? How could he be freezing and burning at the same time? He forced himself to suck in a breath around his hand. What was happening to Boris? Bendy tried to think through the agony, to hear what was going on outside. It was so hard to focus through the pounding of his heart, the suffocation, the burning, the cold. It was all too much. He couldn't take anymore. How long was this going to last? He's stomach clenched again. Bendy had to move his hand. He spat out more ink into the floor of the closet. He quickly refastened his teeth to his hand. The scream was a muffled moaned that Bendy could only hope wasn't loud. He wanted to wail, to curse, to thrash, and not to ever move again.
“S-sorry, sir! I’ve never seen them before! I’m going to T-Toon Town to visit my sister. Boy, my family has been shocked with how much I look like that one fellow. They've been heckling me about running around with that demon non-stop. It's gotten ridiculous, I tell you. I've had three cops call on me the past week alone! If I ever see them, I'd be the first to turn them in.” Boris’ nervous voice spoke loudly and broke through to Bendy. Bendy used every ounce of his concentration to listen, to think of something other than the ink, the taste, the pain, the fact that he was dying, melting, shivering, how sticky his shirt had become, the now slick floor covered in black. The cramped, dim tomb that was this closet.
“Are you sure?” a rough man’s voice demanded.
“Yes, sir! Those brothers have been all over the papers. Do you really think they could be on the train?” Boris sounded really nervous.
“There is a chance. Don’t worry son, we won’t let anything happen to the train or you.”
“G-golly gee, I h-hope not!” Boris said. "I'll keep my eyes and ears open."
“Sorry to have trouble you. Have a good evening,” the man said.
“You too officer,” Boris said, and after another heartbeat the door clicked close. Bendy squirmed and shuddered on the floor. How long had this been going on? Shouldn't this be over?
The closet door opened. “Ben-Oh my stars!”
Bendy looked up and could barely make out the horror on Boris’ face. “I’m sorry!” The wolf knelt and gently picked Bendy up. Bendy whimpered and moaned. His stomach tensed, but nothing came.
“C-c-c-old,” Bendy hissed. Boris nodded.
“You’ll be okay,” Boris muttered. He placed Bendy by the sink and got the doll from the ice box. Boris came back and got a cloth damp and began cleaning Bendy’s face off. The pain was beginning to finally ebb away. It seemed to take forever, though. Bendy focused on breathing, on the feeling of Boris washing the ink away, on the warmth in the room. Why was it taking so long? He’d never had an attack last this long. It had been a few minutes. The worst had lasted maybe a minute even, but this had gone on and on. Were they getting worse?
He glanced over at the table to see the doll, half melted and slowly reforming. What in the world? Bendy stared wide eyed at the strange sight. It seemed to barely shift as it reshaped itself. Bendy narrowed his eyes. Was that it? Was the doll stretching it out? The page had said it didn’t help with the illness and it hadn't. The cold hadn't done anything to relieve him…could it be making it worse? Was the attack lingering because of the doll? Why was it like this? Had it been melting with him? Bendy shuttered.
“Are you okay Bendy?” Boris asked. He offered Bendy a tissue.
Bendy gulped and nodded. He blew loudly and the tissue came away black. The pain in his chest had turned into a dull ache around his lungs. He was still a bit nauseous, but it was manageable. “Could I have some water?” Bendy croaked. Boris got him another glass. Bendy washed out the horrible taste in his mouth. As he put the glass down, Boris grabbed his wrist.
“Bendy! Your hand!” Boris gasped. Bendy looked down to see blood. He had really sunk his fangs in, apparently. “What did you do?” Boris got up to get bandages.
“I couldn’t make a noise. I had to stay quiet somehow,” Bendy muttered, looking at the wounds. He hadn’t felt it at all during the attack.
“What was all that about anyway?” Bendy asked, gesturing to the door. Boris glanced over and then sat next to him with bandages.
“The first guy was just explaining the train’s schedule. The second was a cop that was looking for us,” Boris said as he started to clean up Bendy’s hand. Bendy startled.
“Hey! Don’t move!” Boris ordered.
“Looking for us? He didn’t recognize you?” Bendy asked.
“I may have thrown on your scarf since you left it on the bed,” Boris shrugged. “He seemed suspicious, but with it only being me and no sign of a demon on board, he didn’t sound too convinced that the scary brothers had gone through with their plan.”
Bendy snorted. “Pro'lly thinks we bought tickets for one train and then snuck on another.”
“That’s actually really clever. Can we do that next time?” Boris asked.
Bendy smirked. The two fell quiet for a minute as Boris finished with his hand. The wolf started to clean up the floor with the ink stained towel. Bendy attempted to help, but Boris wouldn’t let him. Bendy gave up and went to the bed instead. He stopped when he spotted a puddle of congealing ink staining the blankets and pillow.
“What happened?” Bendy asked.
Boris looked up and frowned uneasily. “That’s from the doll.” He answered quietly. Bendy raised his brows.
“The doll?” Bendy asked slowly.
Boris hesitated and glanced at the table before looking at Bendy again. He started to wring the towel. “I-it started to melt. I sorta panicked when I saw it?” Boris turned his back to Bendy and washed the towel off in the sink before getting back to work on the floor. Bendy frowned and watched Boris work in silence. “I didn’t know what to do about it and when you said you were hot, I thought maybe the ice box would stop it from getting worse.” Boris’ voice sounded brittle.
“Sorry, bro.” Bendy looked out the window. This little thing was freaking them both out, but Bendy needed to be brave. A little guilt tugged at his heart. He didn’t want to put Boris through this too.
“I’m just happy it stopped. I don’t want to know what would’ve happen if the doll completely…uh.” Boris’ ears fell and he swallowed.
“Yeah, we’d lose a piece of the ink machine! All that work for nothing! No sir, we can’t stand for that, I fought too many reptiles for that stupid thing to lose it,” Bendy tried to cover up the unspoken thought. He huffed and walked up to the table. The doll was completely fine now. Bendy could have sworn it smirked at him. He noticed there was a tear in the doll’s arm. Bendy blinked. He picked it up and looked at it. The tear was at the end of the stumpy arm and it almost looked like…
Bendy glanced at his bandaged hand and then back at the doll. A thought came to mind. That page had said it worked on injuries, right? “Hey Boris, do you have a sewing needle and some thread?” His little brother tilted his head to the side.
“Uh, yeah, but it’s pretty late Bendy. Don’t you think you should get some rest?” Boris asked.
“I will after I try something. ‘Sides my beds a mess.” Bendy waved his hand toward the ink puddle. Boris finished cleaning up the floor and went to get his little patch kit. Bendy looked at the closet, silently thankful that it was wood and not rug like the rest of the compartment.
In a few short minutes, Bendy had a threaded needle in his hand and a very nervous Boris at his shoulder. “Whatever you are thinking, bro, I don’t like it.”
“Noted. I want to try something,” Bendy said. He took the sharp end of the needle and placed it beside the first hole in the arm. He and Boris knew how to patch a shirt or pants, but he had never tried to work a doll before. For a second the unnerving image of him messing up and disfiguring his hand via stitch work crossed his mind, but he shook that thought away.
“Bendy,” Boris murmured softly. “Don’t.”
“You don’t have to watch,” Bendy said. He refocused on the needle. He placed the two torn edges close to each other and pressed the needle into the first edge. He hissed as his hand stung.
“Bendy stop!” Boris reached for the doll, and Bendy leaned away.
“Bro, just trust me for a moment here.” Bendy frowned and shrugged him away. “Go do something else if you’re just gonna get in the way.”
“But you're hurting yourself!” Boris growled.
Bendy gave him a look. “If I am right, it’ll only hurt for a moment. Just let me do this.”
Boris scowled, not happy with this at all. “We don’t know that. We don’t know how it works!”
“Exactly! We need to figure this out if we want this machine to work and make a cure,” Bendy said. The brothers stared off for a few tense seconds before Boris huffed and stomped away. The edge of Bendy’s mouth quirked, but he didn’t allow it to become a smile.
He went back to slowly stitching together the tear. Now that he knew to brace for pain, he didn’t flinch or hesitate. This was a tickle compared to the ink attack earlier. It was strange to feel the needle and tugging, but to not have is hand move from the tugging. He carefully finished the stitches and snipped the thread. There was a weird tingling feeling in his injured hand. Bendy paused on the second tear and put down the doll. He unwound the bandage and gasped.
Half his injury was gone. All that was left was a shadow of it with a stitch pattern over it…and even that was fading quickly.
“What?” Boris was pushing Bendy’s ruined sheets to the door. He dropped it to see what Bendy was staring at. “Woah! How did you do that?” Boris looked at his hand closely.
“It was the doll, bro. I was right.” Bendy smiled. “I’m gonna do the other one.” He grabbed the doll and needle again. Bendy saw Boris’ ears drop from the corner of his eye, but the wolf took the other seat to watch. Bendy worked just as carefully as the first time, trying not to show any sign of pain.
“Bendy look!” Boris’ shocked voice broke through his concentration. Bendy glanced at his hand see the shadow of the stitches pulling and weaving in his skin. Bendy blinked. He looked back at the doll and kept working until he snipped the thread with his teeth.
Again, the tingling feeling came to his hand. This time he watched as the stitches seemed shifted and wiggle under his skin, pulling his torn skin together neatly and filling in the space until there was only a shadow of the fang marks there.
Boris watched speechless.
Bendy flexed his hand. It was like the injury was never there. “Well, at least it's good for something.”