Ch. To Die is to Live Again

It was a cool dank day when she came across the abandoned animation studio. The sky was grey with approaching storm clouds rumbling overhead. The date was October 31st, Halloween...The day where people would dress up in costumes and hand candy out to little children as they ran around trick-or-treating. But no one seemed to care about this place...not anymore.

The animation studio, once the crown jewel for the owner Joey Drew, now sat dormant for close to 30 years now. Mysterious stories surrounded the old place but that only intrigued her more. Murder...ghost stories...urban legends...anything you could think of surrounded this place in an air of mystery. But that is for another time children...

This is a story about a girl that in order to save herself from danger, she must pursue a creature of darkness...a little cartoon named Bendy... (Bendy is going to be tall and yes even smoke a little...look up LSD Bendy by NotAGuiltyCupcake on Deviant art and that's your guy.)

"Trick-or-Treat!" Little kids exclaimed as they darted door to door, dark clouds shuddered to life with flashes of lightning streaking across the sky. The full moon playing hide and seek in the rain clouds, parents walked with umbrellas protecting their little dears from the dangers that lurked in the darkness. It was getting late in the sleepy little town as the last of the trick or treaters made their rounds.

"Trick-or-Treat!" A group of kids yelled holding up their bags packed with candy as they waited patiently for the front door to open.

"Oh how cute! Here's your candy kids, now scram!" A young woman with black and green hair said giving the surprised youngsters some sugary treats before slamming the door.

"Gah I hate Halloween!" She exclaimed as she walked back to her spot on the floor. A young woman dressed in steampunk attire giggled as she entered the room with her matching boyfriend, Jack.

"You know Tammy you could always turn off the porch light to fool them into thinking you're not home." Tammy rolled her eyes at the very idea but got up and did it anyway.

"Hey Jack why don't you and Sasha (your character) go get some more drinks huh? I think the well is drying up if you know what I mean." Tammy's friend Braxton, a skinny fellow with dark hair and darker eyes, winked at Jack who smirked.

"H-Hey guys I think I'm going to go...I-It's getting late." Sasha stammered as she slowly inched herself toward the door.

"Oh nonsense baby, the party is just getting started..." Jack smirked pulling her into a rough embrace, she tried her best to get him to let go but he refused. She sighed defeated.

"Now you're coming with me and I'll...I mean we...will be right back...right guys?" Jack said receiving smirks and laughter as he violently shoved the poor girl out the front door. Lightning flashed across the sky as a heavy clap of thunder echoed through the night, thick black clouds rumbled threatening to drop their load any minute.

"J-Jack I really should get g-going." Sasha whispered trying to pull away but Jack wouldn't have any of it. Jack, a brawny man, opened the car door and roughly shoved the young lady into the passenger side of his black Mustang before slamming the door shut and getting in the car himself.

"Stop trying to pull away from me when we hug. You're embarrassing me in front of my friends!" Jack growled slapping the poor girl across the face, she whimpered as he pulled her hair forcing her to look at him as he pulled out a shiny 9 mm glock out from under his seat. Her emerald eyes widened at the sight, he hit her again with the gun before laying it down on the dashboard.

"Let this be your final warning." He let go of her hair and pressed on the gas, saying nothing she watched out the window as they passed the abandoned animation studio that sat one block from the store. She peered out at the studio with longing eyes and sighed as the little convent store came into view, thunder rumbled overhead as the rain began to pour.

'I wonder if I could make it down to that old studio before he noticed.' Sasha thought to herself pressing her canvas bag to her side she swallowed hard. This was her only chance, it was now or never. Jack opened his driver's side door and got out, slamming it shut he marched angrily to Sasha's side and ripped open her door.

'It's now or never!' As the door opened Sasha threw off her seatbelt and kicked the door open hitting Jack square in the chest, jumping out she ran as far as her legs would carry her. Rain drops mixed with tears stung her eyes as gunshots rang out, thunder echoed through the streets. Her eyes widened with joy as the door to the animation studio came into view, she smiled.

'Almost there! I'll be free!' Her hand reached out for the handle, but it wasn't meant to be. A burning sensation shot through her left calf, pain swallowed her leg as she felt herself hit the ground, the cold wet pavement a cruel reminder of what was to come. Wincing she looked down at her leg and saw a shiny liquid seeping out, blood...she's been hit. Peering in front of her she was only a few feet away, lightning flashed revealing the sign of "Joey Drew Studios." It was her uncle's pride and joy before he disappeared 10 years ago, but it was her only chance. Cold wind blew against her skin sending shivers down her spine as she slowly got to her feet and limped toward the door.

10 Meters and closing, the loud splashes from his boots was all the motivation she needed to move...to run. Limping she forced open the old door allowing the door to close softly behind her as she crawled through the ink stained corridors. From left to right she looked for a place to hide, cutouts and posters were everywhere as papers and ink splatters decorated the floors. Turning a corner she smiled finding a place to hide and just in time, crawling under the drawing desk and scooting as far back as she could. Little Sasha hid from view. The front door flew open as Jack's loud footsteps could be heard echoing through the halls, she held her hand over her mouth to try to stay quiet and it almost worked...gazing out from her hiding place her eyes widened as she saw a trail of blood leading to her exact location. She gasped, 'Oh no!'

As Jack walked through the little studio searching for his little miss, he sneered at all of the posters that hung on the walls. Smiling like a mad man, he broke every cutout he came across unaware that black eyes watched him from the ink. Jack cocked his gun walking under a light he looked down and noticed a trail of blood on the floor, his smile widened as he heard soft sniffles from around the corner where the young girl was hiding.

"Oh Sasha dear where are you? I only want to take care of you and apologize...come on I'll take you to dinner my treat..." Jack cooed, with each creak of the floor boards he took another step until he turned the corner and smirked.

"Gotcha!" Jack yelled pushing the desk aside as he pointed the gun toward her. Sasha's emerald eyes grew wide with fear as she tried to back away, her breaths were shaky and irregular as she gathered the courage she had and tried to force her way passed the big brute...but failed.

"And where do you think you're going? Huh? You think you can just run from me? I warned you bitch, now it's time to pay the price!" Jack pinned her to the wall shoving the gun to her forehead laughing; behind him a black figure appeared.

"I couldn't agree more." Sasha squeezed her eyes shut, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. But it never came. The gun fell as she suddenly collapsed to the floor, she opens her eyes slowly but all she could see was Jack towering over her. But something was different...his chest...from the darkness behind him a large black claw pierced through his chest holding him level, his large eyes lifeless. After what seemed like eternity the claw retracted and Jack's lifeless body fell to the ground.

Peering into the darkness she couldn't make out anything but she knew someone was there, letting out an involuntary whimper she waited for something anything to happen and it did. But not the way she was expecting, the sound of a match being struck reached her ears as she saw what she thought was a cigarette being lit up. She heard a low sigh as smoke blew in her direction, as her eyes adjusted she saw a tall creature with horns a stark white face and pitch black eyes. The world seemed to stop in that moment as the two stared at one another wondering what to do next.

In her eyes she saw someone that saved her but could also turn around and kill her any second, he saw a scared girl with physical and mental damage the likes he had never encountered before. Taking another puff he exhaled grey smoke before putting it out, slowly he bent down in front of her so they were at eye level. He stayed the darkness watching her with curiously cautious eyes he reached out to her, shaking she backed into the wall with her eyes closed tightly she let a stray tear roll down her cheek leaving a faint trail behind it. He hesitates for a few seconds before softly wiping her tear away, she opened her eyes making him gasp. Her eyes were like precious jewels shining in the dim light, he couldn't take his eyes off them.

"T-Thank you." She whispered startling him out of his trance, he smiled softly and gently patted her head. She smiled making his smile widen. His smile was gentle yet cocky, dark yet comforting.

"You're welcome...I'm Bendy." She nodded, the genuine feeling of safety that she felt in that moment disappeared the moment she introduced herself.

"I-I'm Sasha...Sasha Drew." They sat in silence for a moment before he sighed standing up, he towered over her making it all the more fearsome when he narrowed his eyes at her. Without saying a word, Bendy turned on his heel and left disappearing into a nearby puddle of ink. Sasha sat there in silence for a moment as she tried to wrap her brain around what just happened to her, surveying the portion of the hallway she was in she decided that it was probably best if she left before Bendy came back. Carefully she stood, trying to to put all of her weight onto her injured leg she took one step and collapsed to the floor again. A wave of immense pain surged through her veins as she sat on the floor defeated. After a moment of silence she heard the sigh from before, Bendy had returned and he was not happy.

"You can't walk idiot. Just sit tight and I'll try my best to patch you up." Plopping down on the floor in front of her he crossed his long legs placing her injured leg on his lap he instructed her not to move as he worked in silence.

"Bendy..." Sasha whispered watching as Bendy had a new cig in his mouth that moved from side to side as he worked. Every now and then his tail would appear and push his top hat back onto his head before disappearing again.

"What?" He answered rather harshly, any gentleness that he had shown her a few moments ago was gone.

"A-Are you mad at me?" He said nothing for a minute before a low sigh escaped his lips, he stopped what he was doing and glanced up her eyes. His gaze softened a little as he got back to work, he shook his head.

"Now why would you ask a dumb question like that?"

"Because I'm a Drew..." Bendy sighed again, tightening her bandage he gently laid on of his gloved hands on her leg.

"Well that depends...who's kid are ya?" She winces slightly when he moves his hand, he glances back up at her for a second before redirecting his gaze to her leg.

"Henry and Aminah Drew."

'So she's Henry's girl huh? I guess that explains why she's so short.' Bendy snickered to himself lightly for a moment drawing a confused look from the girl before he softly placed her leg on the floor.

"How's ole Henry?" Sasha frowned, saying nothing he nodded standing up.

"How'd he die?" He asked a little disappointed, 'Such a shame I couldn't kill that traitor myself.'

"H-He died in the war 10 years ago...Mom said he was on a rescue mission and never made it back..." She paused as tears welled up in her eyes, unconsciously she reached for the chain around her neck for a second before dropping her hand back to her lap.

"Hmm...how's your mom?" Silence answered him as she wiped her tears he ran a gloved hand over his horns.

"You're all alone huh?" She nodded, he coughed lightly.

"I see...well...if you help me with something then I'll let you live here." He paused helping her up off the floor, holding out his arms for a moment he waited for her to balance. "If not then you die."

Sasha stared at him for a moment weighing her options, he smiled a cheeky grin making her blush slightly and she nodded. His smile widened as he picked her up bridal style he turned, walking happily to another part of the studio with dim lights flickering overhead as rain and thunder howled outside.

"Great! Come on let's go see Boris!" She smiled at his enthusiasm but deep inside she felt like it was a grave mistake...

'It can't be that bad...right?'

*End Ch. 1*