Bendy and the Ink Machine: Pallette of life. (Volume 1)

...Where am I?... All black… So quiet…

— Finally… You've become perfect.

What?… Who are you?

— Everything worked out thanks to you, my old friend. Now everyone will be able to see a real dancing demon in front of them - you, Bendy.

I'm... Bendy?

***

...Bendy?...

      When he heard me, he started and hid behind the door, but did not close it. He's what... Afraid of me? «It doesn't seem like it to me... does it?...» — H-Hey, kid, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you, — I tried to say confidently, but my trembling voice betrays me from shock. «God, I'm afraid of him myself. This place makes me scared of almost everything that I would never have been scared of before... Before? Was I brave before?»       I do not know what to do in such a situation, how to react to all this. In fact, I now see a live cartoon in front of me. It was as if they took a piece of paper, drew this baby and "pulled" it out of the sheet, making it voluminous. This... This is something beyond the real. — Wh-who... — the black and white face appeared again from behind the door. I held my breath, afraid to scare him again. — Who... Are you?       Although I see a revived character in front of me, but now there is a frightened boy in front of me who does not understand what is happening. For a moment I saw my little sister in front of me, who saw her father for the first time in her life when he returned from the war... Remembering this, it became somehow easier inside. — Hi, — I said softly, not loudly, trying to show him that he shouldn't be afraid of me. — My name is Rosalia Stein. But you can just Rosie). — Rosa-       Suddenly, the baby grabbed his head sharply, crouching as if in pain. And for some reason I think I know what kind of pain it is. — Bendy?! What happened? — I wanted to touch him, but at the last moment I stopped, afraid that I would only make it worse. — I don't know... I hear some voices... He squeezed his eyes shut even harder. He's shaking all over. «What... What should I do?»       But I didn't have to look for a solution. After a few seconds, he suddenly opened his black eyes abruptly, as if his pain had passed. But the shock of what happened still remained. — It doesn't hurt anymore... — Bendy said, staring at his hands in surprise. — Thank God... — for some reason, it made me feel better myself. — It seems to me... — he looked at me with such a curious look that I felt uneasy. He came out completely, standing in front of me. It seems that he is not so much afraid of me anymore, rather, on the contrary, he became interested. — It's like I've heard that name before... — I don't think so, because I've never seen you. Only drawn by my father on paper... — now that I see Bendy come to life in front of me, it's kind of awkward to talk about such a thing. And then a thought occurred to me. — But maybe you could have known my father - Henry Stein! He was once an animator in this studio and... Sort of, is your creator. — The creator?... — here the kid's face distorted into a kind of discontent. — My creator was Joey! He created me out of this ink machine, used me like a pet and betrayed me, leaving me alone! — I admit, this reaction took me aback. — What? No, it can't be Joey. My father invented you and drew you... — then I remembered about my father's workplace. — Do you want me to show you his workplace? Then you'll be completely convinced of it! — Well... Okay, — it looks like Bendy doesn't trust me much yet. Now the reason is clear to me. But I will try my best to make sure that he does not consider me his enemy.       Walking to my father's place, Bendy's words and the strange moment of his pain did not leave my mind. «It feels as if he too has forgotten something and now the memories are making themselves felt. If he has the same "amnesia" as me, does that mean he got here the same way I did? It turns out that it was also created in the real world? But how? And why does he think that Joey is his creator?... My father was the first to invent it and put it on paper... But maybe it was Joey who revived him. But, wasn't my father working in the studio at that time? If so, Bendy would surely have known him. But, on the other hand, how then does my name seem familiar to him? Only my father could tell him. Or... Or did I see him once, too?» — Rosalia? — Eh? Oh, sorry, Bendy. I was just thinking), — I didn't notice how we had already arrived at the right table. It's like my legs brought me here by themselves. — This was once the workplace of my father, Henry Stein. He was the one who invented you and was the first to draw you on paper, — and I pointed to the sketches lying on the table.       Bendy climbed onto a chair with childish curiosity and began to examine the sketches. His height is about 5-6-year-old child. For some reason, I'm not surprised, because, as a character, he is not an adult. He looks at the sketches as if some truth has been revealed to him. He also noticed the name and surname carved on the table. — It seems to me... — he's like me, lightly ran his hand over the clipping. — Like I've seen this place before. And for some reason in the chest so... Warm? — So you knew my father? — a small flame of hope lit up inside me. Although I don't understand why I hope so much. — I... don't know, — he was saddened, as I was. — I... I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember is waking up in this place and then finding a room with a radio and listening to music... And then you came. But, for some reason... Your name and your father's name seem very familiar to me, — he looked at me so intently, as if trying to see the answer on me. — I see... — my chest tightened uncomfortably. — What are you doing here, Rosalia? — the kid asked, turning fully to me. — When I got here, I don't remember anyone else being here. — I, like you, found myself in this world and I don't remember anything from the past... Almost nothing. Over time, some of my memories come back. For example, when I saw my father's workplace, I remembered something... And I remembered that he was an animator and worked in the Joey Drew studio. And before that, I saw posters, cardboard, and remembered how my father told me about you). — Really? And what did he say? — Bendy looked at me curiously, as if I was telling a fairy tale. It's so cute. — Well, the fact that you are a cheerful, mischievous demon, enjoying life. And you also have a very wide and bright smile), — I tried to smile broadly, but I could hardly convey his main feature. — It's like that - I really like to have fun), — and he gave me his cheerful, happy smile, which even a cardboard can not convey.       For some reason, my lips themselves broke into a smile, admiring this baby. Apparently, his smile is very contagious. Not only his smile - even just being next to him, I feel so good, as if I'm not afraid of any problems. It's like I've met a soul mate. I even managed to forget about this place. — Listen, Bendy, — I bent down a little to be on the same level with him and looked straight into his eyes. — I... don't know how I got here, but I think… I hope that somewhere in this studio there is another exit, since the main one is locked for some reason. I have no right to ask you, but... Would you like to come with me and help me? Help... Each other?       At first he looked at me as if trying to understand the meaning of my words or not believing what I said. But after that, he happily, I would even say, happily smiled, like a child receiving a gift. From so many positive emotions, he clapped. — Of course! I really liked you, Rosie. I want to be near you! — and he jumped off the chair, right at me.       My hands caught the baby by themselves. His little arms are wrapped around my neck, and his head lightly touches my cheek. I flinched, not expecting such a reaction. For some reason, I thought that because it consists of ink, it would be very cold. But this is not the case. It's so warm, like I'm touching the real sun. A pleasant warmth that feels very dear to me… It reminds me of home. — I'm so glad… Thank you, Bendy), — I hugged the baby tighter, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting to part with this warmth again. — Then, let's not delay and go look for a way out! — Yes!       I'm glad I was able to meet someone here, even if it's a cartoon come to life. It's hard to believe that the drawn character has become real. But it is. And I'm even glad of that. I am sure that my father would be happy to know that his character has become alive. Next to Bendy, I feel more confident and calm. Even though we are in a strange place together. I wonder if it's a coincidence? — By the way, have you been sitting in only one room all this time? — I asked as we started to approach that corridor. I decided to let Bendy go, but now it's very inconvenient to tilt my head down all the time. — When I woke up, I immediately went to this corridor and looked into this room. When I saw the radio there, I couldn't pass by and turned on the music, and then... I just started having fun, — he smiled awkwardly. — I like to listen to music, especially fun. And, apparently, I lost track of time and didn't hear how someone else appeared here...       When I reached this room, I looked inside. Due to the lack of lighting in the corridor, there is a real twilight here. Only one candle burning on a shelf near the table. As Bendy said, there is an old radio on an ordinary table. But besides him, there is also a sheet with a message on the table. — "He will set us free", — I read, picking up the sheet in order to get a better look. — Who will set us free? — Bendy asked, standing on a nearby chair to look at the note too. — Did you see that? — Oh, that. I read it, but I didn't understand anything and just started listening to music, — he calmly replied. — I'm amazed at your carelessness.       The meaning of these words is really incomprehensible. Who will release? Whom? And who exactly is this message addressed to? Us? Or someone else? Only one thing is clear - there is nothing else important in this room, so there is nothing more for us to do here. — Okay, Bendy. Let's go further explore this place.       I didn't notice right away, but there is another door parallel to this room. But, as expected, it was locked. — Is there at least one opening door besides that one? — this situation is starting to annoy me. — Or is there someone sitting there too? Hey! Is there anyone? — I don't think there is anyone else here besides us. I'm sure of it, — Bendy said. I looked at him skeptically, remembering his carelessness. «Well, at least I know I'm not going crazy and now I'm not alone... I hope so.»       Going further, we came across something interesting: on the left, a wide passage is closed with roller shutters, on the right is another door, and in front of the corridor leads somewhere further, or to be more precise, thanks to the sign at the top, to the ink machine. And I have some vague feeling… — And of course, this door is locked, — I am no longer surprised by the situation with the doors. On the contrary, I will be surprised if there is at least one more open door here. — Well, there's no point trying to open the roller shutters, so... Bendy?       For a second I lost the baby, which instantly filled me with horror. But the next moment I noticed him at the end of the corridor near some huge table. He was looking at something with interest. — Bendy! — I immediately approached him. Glancing at me, I gave him a displeased look. — Don't run away so suddenly! What if I had lost you? My heart almost went into my heels! — I'm sorry, Rosie, I didn't mean to scare you ... — he said sincerely, guiltily lowering his gaze. — I was just curious and I didn't notice how I was already here. «Well, exactly the carelessness of a child.» — Just don't run away from me so suddenly, at least without warning, okay? — having calmed down, I said, bending down slightly. — Good). — Well done), — I gently stroked his head. When he smiles, I immediately feel calmer in my soul.       This moment helped me suddenly remember something from the past… Or rather, my childhood: — Rosalia! Rosalia, where are you! — I'm here, Mommy!       Worried mom runs up to me, breathing heavily and holding the newly purchased groceries in a bag in her hands. — Rosalia, where did you run away to! What if you got lost? How would I find you? — Sorry, Mommy. I just saw a very big and beautiful butterfly and wanted to catch it, but I missed ... — Oh, dear... How careless you are, — her warm, gentle palm was on my head. — If we go for a walk somewhere, then you should always be next to mom. Or next time, warn me so I can see where you ran off to, okay? — Okay, Mom). — That's a good girl)…       For some reason, I grinned. It seems to me that I am noticing more and more similarities between us. Bendy looked at me with incomprehension. — Nothing. I just remembered something. And now, — straightening up, I looked at what Bendy was looking at with such interest a few seconds ago. — What is it?       A huge table is hanging on the wall. This table shows the ink production schedule: from Monday to Saturday. It would seem that there is nothing remarkable here. Except that a lot of liters of ink were used - a lot. Minimum 32 liters - maximum 468! Who in their right mind would use that much ink? In addition, I was confused by the last number in the last day - 1923 and two exclamation marks. — What does this number mean? — Bendy asked, pointing to this number. — And why does she have an underlined two? — I would like to know, but I have two versions: either it was used so many liters, or it's a year… But it's unlikely, — I replied, surprised at such a thing. For some reason, these values scare me a little. «If I remember correctly, there was a wide pipe at the beginning of this corridor, which is completely black inside... Is ink passing through this pipe?… My God, what was going on in this place? Was it definitely an animation studio?»       Someone's signature and some initials "T.C." are also painted at the bottom. And under them it is written "GENT off". I wonder what that means? — Rosie, look, the trumpet!       Bendy points to a wide pipe that "lies" on the floor, making it difficult to go on normally. And there's a sign on the pipe: "Watch your step." This place surprises me more and more. What kind of genius thought of laying a pipe right through the corridor? — Can you climb over, Bendy? — I asked, stepping over the pipe with ease. — Of course! — he replied, stepping back a little. Then he ran away and jumped over this pipe. — Did you see that, Rosie? Have you seen it? — I saw you, you're good). «Even in such a place, this kid finds time for fun. He surprises me more and more every second.»       And then the corridor ends, leading us to a small balcony. But the view from here is fascinating and terrifying at the same time. — Wow... — Bendy expressed the general opinion, going to the very edge and grabbing the railing.       A huge room, somewhat resembling a barn. Light makes its way through small cracks in the old walls and roof, so that almost everything can be seen here. Everything except for a huge hole located right in the center of the room. It's so dark there that the huge, thick chains hanging all over the room are simply absorbed by this darkness. It's as if they are plunging into the abyss itself... One look makes me shiver. It seems as if something unclean can get out of there... Or is there something there?       I suddenly felt someone clinging to my hand, squeezing it tightly. Bendy's gaze is fixed on this hole, and it looks like he doesn't like it either. — Don't worry, Bendy. Everything will be fine), — I squeezed the baby's hand loosely in order to calm him down in this way. Although I myself am afraid of this place and the fact that there is a sign on the wall that says "Dangerous - keep out". «There is some kind of switch and generator here... Ahead, there is a way out of this "shed", but I don't see an opportunity to go down there anywhere. And jump down there... Too risky. And, somehow, neither Bendy nor I want to get closer to this abyss...» — And... what are we going to do? — Bendy asked, looking at me and then at this hole with slight excitement. He's still holding my hand tightly. — There's a lever here that activates something... — I glanced at the generator. — Hmm... it looks like in order to activate it, we need to put power supplies in here first. — Do you want to turn something on? — I see how the baby is getting scared. He doesn't like something. — It seems to me that it's not worth doing this... — Bendy, listen, — I crouched down in front of him, putting my hands on his small shoulders. — As long as we are together, nothing terrible will happen to you, understand? — Yeah… — I won't let anything happen to you, — I patted his head again. — You're a brave boy, aren't you? Come on, where's your smile?       He calmed down a little and smiled, though not much. But even that was enough to give me a little confidence. «I won't hide it - I'm scared too. This place is fraught with many different secrets, which I would not like to learn about. But, I have to be brave, at least for the sake of Bendy.» — Well done). And now we need to find something that looks like power supplies. Maybe some batteries?... — as soon as I began to look around, I found an unusual rectangular thing with a lightning pattern on it on the shelf of the rack that stands on the other side of the balcony. — Oh, apparently that's what we need.       While I was going to get the first battery, Bendy decided to check the chest lying next to it. — Rosalia! I found it too! — and as proof, he picked up this battery, which is almost the size of his head. — Uh, heavy. — Come here, — I said, approaching the generator with my battery.       It was not difficult to insert them into the connectors. The scariest and most interesting thing will happen next when I pull this lever... If I say I'm not worried, then I'll blatantly lie. But for Bendy's sake and for my own, I have to do it. I'll do anything to get out of here. So, gathering my courage, I pulled the lever down. A click - and the huge chains that disappear in this abyss begin to move: some go up, others down. And apparently, these chains lift something very huge and heavy... Something that helps to create something without which this studio would not exist: — Ink machine...       A huge cube-shaped machine, consisting entirely of various gears and pipes. These black pipes lead to a huge tank, which is filled with only one substance - ink. And the contents of this tank come out through a huge pipe, resembling the spout of a faucet, from which water usually flows. But that's not all - pipes also come from under the machine itself, resembling huge long black tentacles of some monster from a horror movie. And all these pipes disappear deep into the abyss. The machine itself causes some horror, but where these pipes lead is even more terrifying. This machine... It's like I hear someone whispering. That strange feeling I had in the hall. She's calling me. — Rosalia!       Suddenly someone pulls me hard by the hand, so much so that I fall and land unpleasantly on my fifth point. But thanks to this, it was as if I was pulled out of a trance, and this savior turned out to be Bendy. He's standing next to me, all excited and scared. So much so that his face seemed to "melt". — What? Bendy, it's okay, — I brush away his drops with one hand and stroke his cheek with the other to calm him down. — Don't worry so much. Your face starts to melt from it. — It's just that you were standing so still, looking at the ink machine... I was afraid that you... — Bendy... — I hugged the baby. I can feel him shaking. — Thank you.       In fact, I really don't understand what happened to me. If Bendy wasn't here, what would I do then? What would have happened to me?... I don't even want to think. But Bendy might know. Because... He himself was born out of this machine. — What do we do next, Rosie? — Bendy asked, still in my arms. — That's a very good question, Bendy... — my eyes fell on the lever. — We pulled the lever and activated the mechanism that lifted the ink machine. Maybe this lever activated something else? — For example, how... That huge iron door? — Exactly! Well done, Bendy! — in my joy, I stood up with him in my arms and ran back to the corridor.       Bendy was right - the roller shutters went up, opening the way for us to the new corridors of the studio. But the joy immediately disappeared, returning the place to anxiety and tension when we saw the door ajar, which was locked. And this time it's unlikely that Bendy did it. — What a frightening place it is... And annoying, — I commented on this situation. — I agree, — Bendy said, gripping my neck tighter.       As much as we would not like to do this, but it is important to check what is behind this door. Maybe there is a cherished exit behind this door?... Expectations were not met. A huge room opened up in front of us, in which there are round tables and chairs. There are also various posters and, most importantly, a lot of lighting. There is no need to think long here - we found ourselves in the dining room. And at the same moment, the stomach made itself felt... So is Bendy's stomach. «When was the last time I ate?» — Looks like we're in the dining room, — I said, carefully going down the stairs and looking around in case of anything. — I wonder if there's food here? It would be very nice. — Maybe there are cans of bacon soup here too? — the kid asked, looking around carefully. He jumped off my hands and began running around in search of, apparently, soup. — What kind of soup? — There were several cans of bacon soup in that room that I ate. It was very tasty! — the kid noticed the door that stands next to the stairs, and immediately ran up to it. Pulling the handle, it opened - surprisingly! - and a room resembling a pantry appeared in front of us. — Look, Rosie! I found the soup! — Yes, you have a nose for this soup, — I joked, going up to him and looking inside. — And there's quite a lot of it here. I think that's enough for us.       Bendy took out all the cans, deftly climbing on the shelves and put them all on the nearest table, on which there is a lot of junk from some books and reels. Watching Brandy, I am more and more amazed by him. Despite everything that happened to us, he continues to remain the same cheerful and cheerful. Perhaps this is because, as a cartoon, he should be like this. But it seems to me that he is like that on his own. He is alive, and has a personality. Besides having fun, he is also cowardly, and at the same time brave enough to help me. Perhaps if I hadn't met this demon, I would have gone crazy back then, near the ink machine, or even earlier. I'm glad I have a new friend.