#scruffy azael | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sonasnowdrop · 2 years ago

Text

Chapter 24: Your purpose.

-Break the cycle-

The girls made their way to a linker pipe. Audrey hopped in first with hesitation; the angel dived in after her.

Swimming through thick ink, the puddles could only take them so far. Eventually, they had to walk to the little devils lounge. The two walked through the sewers once more. They backtracked far until another linker pipe could be found, the animator jumped in, Azael followed.

Audrey lifted herself up and stepped out. Her toon companion sprung outta the abyss not long after. Azael gazed around, she remembers this place.

Audrey marched into the kitchen, Azael followed. The angel picked up a still beating heart. The animator jolted back in disgust as the heart thumped.

"Why…did you pick that up?" Audrey asked, looking rather sickened.

"For big Steve, the note I read had his favorite meal. As well as how I got his name." The angel answered nonchalantly. The artist nodded, but still slightly gagged.

Audrey gathered lots of food and stored it into Azael’s satchel, the two had to make their way back to big Steve. He must be starvin.

Azael strode ahead, heart in hand. Quite Literally. Audrey didn’t quite like the silence, and attempted to make some sort of conversation; she took a deep breath before speaking.

"So…uh, since you’re like, Weeper in a way. Do you have any kind of connection to the Ink Demon?" Audrey inquired, this certain question had been lingering in her mind ever since Azael told her she somewhat was Weeper.

Azael however, cocked her head.

"That’s a fun conversation topic." The angel snarked sarcastically while rolling her eyes. Audrey quickly backpedalled.

"W- no no I just…thought maybe you knew something more about them." The artist seemed like she knew what she was trying to say, but struggled to get to the actual point. Azael got what she meant though.

"…like what?"

"Oh I don’t know, why does he wanna kill me so badly? Perhaps it’s because I’m new?" Audrey said, scratching her chin.

"Or maybe it’s because I have some sort of connection to Wilson?" Audrey continued to theorize, Azael turned her attention forward and allowed the artist to go off the handles with her questions and theories. The angel herself didn’t have any answers for these questions, she kinda just liked hearing Audrey talk; it filled the silence.

The ladies continued back through the sewers, where Audrey approached a linker pipe.

The angel halted, something didn’t feel right. Something felt wrong. Azael hesitantly gazed around, and shushed Audrey, to which the animator zipped her lips. She could see sweat drip down Azael’s cheek, the artist became worried.

"What is it?" Audrey whispered.

"He’s here." The toon stuttered and rushed towards the artist in a panic, Audrey too panicked.

The toon threw her satchel around Audrey; Big Steve’s meal was also inside. The artist wore a confused and worried expression.

"You have to go quick, back to the GENT building. He can’t reach you there." Azael said, further securing her bag around the woman. Audrey shook her head.

"What? No! What about you?!" The artist shouted, stepping down from the linker pipe. The toon shook her head and pushed Audrey back onto the stand.

"There’s no time, it’s you he wants. I can outrun him."

Audrey continued to refute, she couldn’t bare the guilt she felt last time Azael dashed with the Demon close behind. What if this time she’s not so lucky? She couldn’t she just couldn’t, but Azael continued to insist.

Ink sprayed from the walls, the unstable floorboards rumbled. They were running out of time.

"I cant leave you!"

"You don’t have a choice!"

"Why can’t you just come with me?!"

"You’ll get farther if I stall him!"

The Demon was getting closer with each word the ladies exchanged. The angel couldn’t waste anymore time.

Without thinking, the toon shoved the woman with all her might. The harsh push caused Audrey to slip backwards into the linker pipe. A large splash followed as she fell.

The toon shoved a box atop the pipe. Preventing Audrey from rising back up. Forcing the animator to leave her behind and go in the opposite direction.

Azael turned her head, only to see the Demon standing nearly feet away. It growled at her. She stepped back, attempting to get as much distance as she possibly could. To the angels dismay, her back met a wall. The little angel felt a shock through her head, she jolted before clutching her head.

"You cannot keep protecting her." A voice gargled, though the Demon’s mouth didn’t dare move. Azael shook her head.

She never knew the beast could speak. Nevertheless, she had a solid plan.

The Demon dashed forward, quickly closing the space between him and the angel. She acted rather quickly; wasting no time leaping up and boosting herself off the Demons head. He rammed into the space Azael once stood.

When landing, she bolted back into the sewers. Making many twists and turns, she dared to look back; the Demon was hot on her trail. She tried to quicken her pace.

His heavy footsteps gaining on her, it made her ever so anxious. He seemed much more determined now than before. For he gave up rather easy the last time he chased her down.

"I will not allow you to get away this time." He roared. Azael ran and ran as fast as she could until she spotted a ladder ahead.

The angel practically threw herself onto a ladder, and quickly climbed. The Demon clashed into the ladder which caused Azael to lose her grip. She quickly caught herself, and climbed upwards with speed. The Demon was far too large to fit inside the tight space, forcing him to find another way.

"You can’t run forever." The Demon’s voice invaded her mind, causing the angel to stumble. She quickly regained herself however. She didn’t know where she was at this point.

Once Azael reached the top, she frantically gazed around. No linker pipes to dive into. The walls seemingly closed in. Damn these sewers.

She didn’t stop running. Heck, she couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. The angel only slowed down when feeling her stomach turn.

No, no, no!

The toon clenched her stomach and continued to run. Not long after, she lost her footing and tripped. Her legs far to weak to carry her.

The floor rumbled beneath her. The toons hands bursted out of her gloves, and her halo dripped more and more ink onto her face. The feathers that littered the angels wings began to shed and fall to the floor.

"You cannot resist any longer." The Demons voice gargled once again. The angels mind fuzzed, her head stung.

Resist? Resist what? Death?

No, she refused to give up. Now at large, the Weeper attempted to stand. Steam hissed off of her. The large creature barely even got up before she was knocked down again, by a sudden rumble.

Quickly, she looked up. Big mistake. The Demon stood at the end of the hall. The angel scooted backwards, quickly standing to her feet.

You haven’t interacted with me in eons. Why now? What is it that you want? Have you finally decided that you want me gone?

The angels mind raced, surely he could hear her thoughts. She could certainly hear his. The Demon stood, motionless.

"Do not resist, Anne." The Demon chocked, and took the first step.

Anne…?

The Weeper shook her head lightly. The name disturbed her, it sounded all too familiar but she couldn’t figure out why.

"What is it that you want?" The Weeper spoke, her voice shook. She attempted to mask how scared she was.

The Demon took another step forward, Weeper stepped back.

"You have no memory of who you are."

The Demon took more steps, Weeper took as many steps back.

"No purpose. That soul does not belong to you." The Demon hissed.

"What are you on about? My purpose is to fix what you destroy. It has always been that way." The angel sneered, the Demon shook his head.

"That is the purpose you’ve made for yourself. Your existence is a lie." He gruffed.

Weeper raised her head.

"It’s taken me so long to remember you." The Demon continued and took another step forward. This time, Weeper didn’t move. What was he saying? This was unreal, out of his character.

"I can help you remember who we were."

The Angel and Demon stood face to face. The Demon towered over her, all those years ago they stood to the same height. The Demon reached out, pushing the inky abyss that drenched the Angel’s face to the side. Revealing the golden eye that glowed beneath.

"You were weak, gullible, and pathetic."

The angel felt a tear roll down her cheek. However, it’s unlike any tears she’s shed before. Her tears were usually golden, but this one, It was clear, it was human.

"You were…"

"H-human…" the angel chocked, as more clear tears began to fall. The angel couldn’t believe what she was being told.

No, it’s not true. Was he lying?

He had to be, this had to be some kind of joke.

Some kind of sick trick.

This is all he ever did, so he could-

"Anne." The Demons voice broke through her thoughts. Reminding her of that disturbing name. She couldn’t stop crying.

"Join me."

What?

The angel gazed up with teary eyes. He held his hand far to her, in an offering manner.

"Let us become one, let us fulfill our purpose." The Demon simply said, he sounded less forceful. As if he was giving her a choice, to choose.

She looked at his hand before gazing up to where his eyes would be. The soul he spoke of was gone, he knew that. The Angel just managed to somehow gain what the girl left behind all those years ago. She never knew she had a soul before, but she can feel it controlling her now.

She thought for a moment, about Audrey, and…the Weeper then shook her head. Regaining herself.

Without a second thought, the Angel reached her hand over the Demons large palm, she hovered her hand above his for a second. Before finalizing her decision and accepting his offer.

She wished to know what had happened to her.

Why she’s here today.

What’s her purpose.

She knew he had the answers, for he remembered.

Before death, there was life.

And in life, one was once human.

“The Angel of darkness.”

He held the Angels hand, she tightened her grip.

Chapter 23 / Chapter 25

11 notes · View notes

sonasnowdrop · 2 years ago

Text

Chapter 23: Cycle breakers

-Break the cycle-

"W-what was that?!" Audrey gasped with bated breath.

Azael placed one foot onto the other, and looked down; ashamed that she hadn’t told Audrey sooner.

"Answer me! You knew about this?!" The artist demanded. She assumed the toon knew before, since she doesn’t seem in shock. Azael however kept her gaze on the floor.

"My god, I should’ve seen this coming. Makes perfect sense now." Audrey said, seemingly to herself. The artist turned her back to the angel and mumbled to herself. Azael looked up to speak.

"After what you told me. I should’ve assumed you both are the same." The artist unknowingly spat out bitterly before turning back to Azael, who took some steps back. The toon was seemingly hurt by the comment, the animator took notice and quickly retracted the statement.

"T-that’s not what I meant-" the artist stuttered, she had phrased that so wrong. Azaels brows furrowed as she stared at Audrey before looking at the floor again.

They both stood in silence for a minute.

"He can’t control it." The toon mumbled. Though, Audrey seemed to catch the angels comment. The animator wore a sad and regretful expression.

"I’m sorry, I should have told you before." Azael spat out, she tightened her grip onto her overalls before turning to Audrey, who clasped her hands before speaking.

"Hey it’s okay, let’s just…head inside. I’m sure Beebee is around somewhere." The artist smiled, before approaching the large doors. Azael stood in place for a second, staring at the place Bendy once stood. She wiped her face and sighed before following Audrey.

The two stood side by side, walking through the tight corridors. The artist glanced around nervously before spotting a tape. Azael tensed as the girl played the tape. It was quite depressing.

The next room was littered with deathbeds, corpses rotted beneath. Azael didn’t seem bothered, but Audrey failed to hold herself. She sniffed, imagining how horrible it had been before dying to the machine. The toon waved her on.

The next room required a code, Azael wandered into the next room before spotting the code. The angel shouted the numbers to Audrey as she punched the code in.

Audrey cheered before holding her hand out to the angel. Azael tilted her head in confusion.

"Oh uh, it’s a high five!" The artist explained awkwardly, she took the angels hand and bumped their palms together. Azael stared at her palm as the artist chuckled and proceeded forward, the toon followed close behind.

The room ahead was filled with monitors front, right and center. Azael halted but Audrey marched forward. The toon eventually followed the young animator. A sign above read,

UNSAFE AREA.

Before Audrey could comment on the sign, the monitors blared noise before a keeper filled the screen. The girls stepped back, the door shuts behind them as the keeper appears. Azael stood behind the animator, Audrey clenched her pipe.

"Anomaly detected." The keepers voice lagged and rasped, the sound caused both girls to flinch.

"New subject designation required. What are you? What is your purpose?" It continued to rasp, it seemed to only detect Audrey, luckily for Azael. The angel left the animators side to search for an exit, making sure to stay low.

"My name is Audrey! We’re not here to cause you any trouble. Look, I just wanna go home! Please, can you help me?" Audrey shouted but not demandingly, she just wanted to make sure the keeper could hear her.

Azael had spotted a vent and was in the middle of unscrewing the vents cover. The angel used her horn to steadily undo the screws one at a time as Audrey pointlessly tried to discuss with the keeper, it was stubborn and twisted each of Audrey’s words.

"Subject has been deemed hazardous. Toxic fumes activated." The keeper demanded. Just then, the monitors shut off.

"Wait, come back! Please!" Audrey pleaded, the fumes already intoxicating her lungs. The artist coughed before noticing her toon companion wasn’t by her, she frantically looked around.

"Audrey!" The angel coughed while shouting for her. The artist wasted no time dashing towards Azael, and busting the vent open. Quickly, the angel scrambled in, Audrey stumbled behind her. Both girls coughed from the fumes, but soon it died down as they crawled farther into the vent.

Azael halted, causing Audrey to stop aswell. From the vent opening the two girls watched as the keepers cords slid across the floors. Azael crawled ahead when it was out of side. Audrey followed her lead.

"Subject has had broken containment. Execute on sight. Lock down all access to the Cyclebreakers." The keepers lagged voice echoed throughout the vents.

"Reclaim the toon accompanying the subject, return it to its original prison upon capture." The keeper hissed. Azael scoffed and crawled faster.

Azael exited the vent, Audrey exited not long after. The two girls stood in the a large containment room. The angel remembers the roots of this area, since she’s been here when escaping.

Audrey glanced around in slight wonder, only moving when the angel dragged her along.

The ladies searched for an exit, Azael lead on while avoiding keepers.

The two had to force themselves into another cramped vent, Azael was used to it by now but Audrey groaned at the stench. So claustrophobic.

They both snuck into a boarded up room undetected. Audrey took a deep breath before glancing around. The angel spotted a tape and pressed play, only to be greeted by the scrapping laggy voice of a keeper.

The angel winced, but Audrey listened.

It spoke of the success in sedating the Ink Demon and Weeper. The toon growled and stepped away; refusing to listen.

Once the tape had finished. Azael was the first to leave, seemingly in a hurry. Audrey stumbled behind.

Again the ladies were forced into a vent. More and more keepers swarmed as they ventured.

Unexpectedly, the girls ran into a lost one. But this one seemed friendly, like Porter. She said her name was Heidi, Audrey giggled at the name.

The lost one offered to open the door ahead, if they’d play hide and seek. Azael insisted that Audrey denied, but really they had no choice.

The two girls counted to thirty before seeking out the lost one. Azael walked ahead with speed, the artist attempted to quicken her pace.

The ladies entered a large room. A large inky beast revealed itself not long after, it seemed to be harmless as it allowed Audrey to walk up close, just not too close since she wanted to respect it’s personal space.

The angel informed Audrey that this beasts name is “big steve” to which Audrey laughed. The creature blocked a doorway and didn’t seem to wanna move, so Audrey went elsewhere. Azael stayed down with the monster.

Audrey climbed a ladder and stumbled across another audio log, this one was much worst than the last. The artist felt relived that Azael wasn’t close enough to hear.

This tape spoke of the success in pushing both realm rulers into a small harmless form, and finding amusement in the toon’s cries.

The animators eyes watered upon hearing the keepers amusement in Bendys wails and cries but found it quite frustrating when Azael kept a straight face throughout the torture.

Audrey felt bad for the toons, how could anyone do this to such innocent beings? Her fists clenched, as the log continued.

"Audrey." The angels voice broke through Audreys mind, she turned her head to see the toon stand atop the ladder.

Azael quickly shut off the tape, and began dragging the artist along.

Did she hear? Was she reminded of the horrible torture?

Audrey couldn’t help but think. The artist halted, and pulled her hand away. Azael also stopped and turned around.

"I-I’m sorry they did that to you." The artist stuttered, the angel waved her off; like always.

"No, really! I am! You nor Bendy ever deserved such treatment." Audrey continued, Azael stared up at her with an all to memorable blank stare.

"It’s okay, Audrey. Not your fault." Azael mumbled, the artist kneeled down and wrapped her arms around the toon. Much to Azael’s surprise. She hesitated before wrapping her arms around Audrey.

"I’ll keep you safe." Audrey said.

"You don’t have you." The angel replied.

"But I want to!" The artist interjected.

Azael could feel herself slightly tremble in the animators grip.

Why does this feel…so familiar?

The angel thought, she could feel her eyes…water.

She tightened her grip around Audrey, and sniffed. But eventually pulled away, shoving her emotions back into a bottle.

"You…can let it out you know? I cry too, I won’t judge." Audrey reassured Azael. she shook her head. Crying does nothing, it never did. Especially not in this wretched world, Azael learnt that rather quickly.

Audrey gave a smile before patting Azael’s head and standing up. The angel huffed and walked on without Audrey.

Soon enough, the two had located Heidi; who was behind a few boxes. Audrey called out once she had found the lost one.

The lost one clapped her hands and stood up.

"Oh! You did it! You found me! Oh, this is so exciting, you both are so brilliant!" Heidi cheered and continued to clap as she stood. The lost one reached out for Azael and patted her head. Unfortunately, the toon didn’t react fast enough to move out the way.

"Now can you open the door for us?" Audrey asked while smiling. She noticed the girl had moved her hand down to the toons chin; giving it a scratch. The artist snickered as the toons foot silently thumped against the wooden floor.

"Oh, yes the door. I think you’ll find it’s open now." Heidi said to Audrey, and removed her hand from under the toons chin. Azaels eyes flew open and she looked around like if she had forgotten where she was. Audrey again, giggled at the toon.

"Oh! And also, allow me give you both a little something! Something special, just a small reminder of our game together…" Heidi said before reaching to Audrey, the lost one also reached her hand for the toon to hold. She did so.

Both girls felt a power transfer to them, a wave of energy. Once the lost one pulled away, she giggled before sinking into a puddle.

The two ladies turned to each other. Guess they could flow through puddles now, cool. Well, Azael could already do that, but it seems she could travel farther now.

They both made their way towards the door Heidi had opened. The girls walked into a hallway, Azael stayed behind this time.

An automated voiced broke the the silence.

"Decontamination activated." The voice hissed, both girls were sprayed with fumes.

At least they weren’t toxic this time.

Azael sneezed as the fumes hit her face.

"Have a nice day." The voice hissed again before shutting off. The door before them opened. The next room was yet another giant containment room it seemed.

There were windows that covered shudders, preventing them to see inside the cells. Out of curiosity, the artist pulled a lever next to it and the cell shudders opened.

It revealed a toon Boris sitting by himself, strumming a banjo. He was surrounded by candles and a pentagram. A bendy masked lied not too far away. A lost one with yellow scars across their body accompanied the Boris.

Azael tugged on the animator, advising that she’d leave these…people alone.

Audrey was curious however, this was another toon, and possibly a friendly lost one. At least that’s what it seemed like. The artist knocked on the glass. The angel ducked into a blind spot.

Only the Boris toon’s head turned to Audrey, revealing his face melted, and his skull very visible.

The animator gasped at his state. Before she could even get a word out, he scoffed upon seeing her and returned to his banjo. The lost one covered in scars seemed to acknowledge Audrey, but completely waved her off.

Okay…rude.

The artist thought, Azael wandered along without her. It wasn’t a problem, this place wasn’t that big. The angel could find her way back to Audrey.

The artist made her way to another cell, this time she saw another toon. The toon had her back faced to Audrey. A halo sat atop the toons head.

Feeling more lucky with this one, Audrey knocked on the glass. The angel turned to her, with a familiar face.

"Alice?" Audrey gasped, however the angel shook her head.

"The names Addison. Who are you?" The angel replied. Another Alice? How many were there?

"Audrey." The woman answered. The toon looked so tired, but relived that the artist was friendly.

"What are you doing in there?" Audrey inquired.

"Ah, it’s along story. I’d rather not talk about it." The Alice clone sighed, the artist nodded.

"Can you um, help me?" The animator pleaded, the angel however shook her head.

"I’m not sure I can be as much help, but…he can." The angel pointed onward, Audrey turned to see another cell.

She thanked the angel and approached the other cell. She was met with a man drawing in a sketchbook.

"Um, excuse me? Sir? Can you…help me?" She asked, turning back to the angel; who waved her on.

The man turned his head a little before speaking.

"You must be really lost to be asking me for help." He said as he continued to draw. Audrey turned back to the angel again. Addison tapped with rhythm on the glass, causing the man to fully turn around and look at her.

"Um, I’m just looking for answers. About the keepers, Wilson, the cycle. Anything could help." Audrey continued, the man took his gaze off the Alice clone looked down at Audrey.

"What’s your name?" He asked.

"Audrey, and yours?" The artist answered and ended with another question.

A pause, Audrey shuffled her feet.

"Honestly, I’ve almost forgotten. My name is Henry." The man said, Audrey smiled. The name sounded so…familiar.

"Have you…been a prisoner for long?" The artist asked, hoping it wasn’t a sensitive topic.

"When the Keepers think you’re a threat to their plans, they lock you away, forever." He said, looking exhausted.

"Still, it’s given me some time to think. Things like: if you haven’t eaten in years you might not be human." He said, Audrey paused again before speaking.

"W-why would you be a threat to them?" She asked, pulling her thumb. Henry didn’t seem like the kind of person to cause havoc.

"Well, I’m what they call a Cyclebreaker. Once upon a time, I knew how to restart the cycle over." He explained, that must mean everyone is cells must be a Cyclebreaker of some sort.

"And when that happens, everything begins again. Completely new. Obviously, Wilson and the Keepers don’t want that to happen." He continued. That made sense.

"How did you do it?" The artist asked, perhaps she could reset and go home?

"Reset the cycle?" The man asked, Audrey nodded.

"Turns out the realm rulers themself are the keys. This world is theirs, but even they have to obey the rules. Well, for now at least." The man explained. Audrey didn’t like that idea. Searching for the Ink Demon? Not a good idea, Azael probably wouldn’t want to do that either. But she felt as if she had no choice.

"If you can get them to look at something very specific. It will reset everything." The man said, Audrey swallowed her discomfort and asked.

"What is it?"

"It’s just a reel of film, labeled with the words ‘The End’. I can see it in my mind, everyday. They keep it upstairs…in the pit." The man said, Audrey pondered to herself before saying something she thought she’d never.

"I’ll see if I can break in and steal it. Maybe, if I reset the cycle, we could make things better for everyone around here." She seemed hopeful in herself. The man seemed to smile at the thought.

"What about you?" The man asked.

"I just…wanna go home." The artist dropped her gaze to the floor and sighed. All she wanted was a damn coffee.

"So did I." The mans gaze also dropped to the floor. She felt so bad for him, how long has he been here? Surely, much longer than her.

"Good luck, Audrey. If you need me again, you know where to find me." He seemingly closed the conversation and returned to his drawings. Audrey left him to it.

"Good luck, Audrey! Be safe." The angel interjected, Audrey nodded.

The artist went around looking for her angel companion, the toon was sitting near a glassed projector. She stood upon seeing Audrey approaching her.

"Cmon, we gotta head to the little devil lounge. To grab some stuff before we continue." Audrey said, the toon nodded and followed close behind.

Chapter 22 / Chapter 24

5 notes · View notes