The Forgotten One

The Dream

Days go by, drip by drip

And it won't be long till

You may hear

Songs of shattered stars.

______________________________________________

It was at this time that Rose was told she won't live to be older. She had been diagnosed with cancer and didn't think that it would end like this.

  But she was used to the idea of her husband keeping secrets from her. She got used to her cartoon being cancelled. Joey going to the studio and not coming back. To the fact that he had been having lunch with other women. To the inky darkness and despair of it all. She got used to it.

  "Who am I to control him?" she asked the nurse that brought her the food tray."He must do what the people want him to do. After all, my husband has a major role in the cartoon world."

  The nurse snorted. Rose expected this. The nurse tended to do this when she heard Joeys' name. That meant that she still didn't believe that she was married to him. It made sense for the marriage was private.

  Joey used this as an advantage to do his work. When people ask if he is married, he says no, obviously a lie.

  Rose had also gotten used to the lies. She had written to him many times and Joey either didn't respond or sent a letter full of lies. One letter went like this:

  Dearest Rose,

  Sorry I couldn't get back. It was very upsetting that one of the pipes to my magnificent ink machine burst. We had to get that fixed and I had to be there as a supervisor. If you'll allow a week or two, it'll be done in no time.

  But enough of that. How are the kids? I really miss them. Tell them that they can do anything they set their minds to and that their dreams will come true as they did for me.

  I miss your beautiful face and the curls of your blonde hair.

Love,

Joey Drew

  This was before she found out she had cancer. Way before.

  Rose knows that the studio never had an "Ink machine" because it was impossible to build one. Even if it was, it wouldn't work like Joey Drew described. The tip off? Who would need that much ink? The next? Ink comes from life, it can't create it.

  But sometimes she would dream of a little demon made of ink who would say otherwise. She still had her doubts though. What if it was true? She couldn't help it. But still, what if it was that magnificent as Joey said? He would make money off it if the cartoons were at the amusment park he was planning.

  But she was dying. The grumpy nurse had already been preparing her for the funeral.

  "Weight, One hundred ten pounds. Height, seven foot three." the nurse would jot down, frowning for death was near."Hair type, short, curly, and honey-blonde."

  "Why do you need to write down my hair?" Rose asked weakly. The nurse slapped the notes down onto the nearest table and glared at her. "Sorry I asked."

  Days passed and Rose was grateful she was still alive.

  One night, she was having a peculiar dream.

  She was holding a pot of roses while walking towards Joey. When she got there, Rose gave the flowers to him. He looked at them and they started to wilt slightly and disappear one by one in till one was left.

  Joey turned around and ran towards a looming structure. Rose started running after him, but she couldn't reach him. Joey entered the building and instantly it shrank into the lifeless dirt leaving only the outline of it. The world fell away, leaving a world that was neither dark nor light.

  The ink demon appeared. "Your death is near. You have days to live."

  Rose took a look at the demon. It looked similar to one of her husband's Cartoons; two black horns, a wide smile, and pie-cut eyes.

   "I am known as Bendy, and I have come to tell you that your death does not have to be." it continued "The ink machine can save you."

  Bendy wore a pristine white necktie (although he had no neck) perfectly postioned. He was as short a three year old, but he had seemed superior to her.

  "What do you mean?" Rose asked "People can't stop cancer. Its useless to try."

  "To you, perhaps. But the Ink machine can stop death from coming. Go to the studio and to the ink machine room. You will meet your husband there. You will be happy with him forevermore."

  Rose thought about this. If she's going to be given the choice between 1): dying or 2): living happily with Joey, she would have option number two.

  "Okay, what's the catch?" Rose asked finally.

  Bendy laughed "The catch, whats the catch." The smile faded away. "You will not live or die. You will be stuck in limbo until the savior comes"

  Rose wanted to ask him another question, but was interrupted by a screeching sound like nails on a chalkboard.

  "Oh no, its Alice. Gotta go" he said in a hurry, and just like the building, he sank into the ground. The screeching gotten harsher.

  Rose woke up in a fright.