Please, Take It.

~Part 7~

Most parts of the studio were completely mysterious to Shawn. He wasn't one to wander around in other departments unless he was invited. Sprinting down the stairways brought memories of following Miles around as he showed him the faster ways around. Being the most reliable gofer the studio had meant being sought after by everyone to do jobs back to back. Finding a moment to do what they wanted was difficult but Miles always managed. Wandering around Heavenly Toys was always a favorite but convincing Shawn to explore the studio was another.
Watching the final edits of Bendy cartoons that the projectionist had playing in the studios small viewing room. Listening to Wally rant about the latest inconvenience. Visiting and introducing Miles to the few employees at the studio Shawn considered to be great friends. Hiding in broom closets from Sammy down in the music department.

Remembering that caused Shawn to stop unexpectedly on one of the steps. Thankfully Dark had been watching his every step so Shawn stopping suddenly didn't have any bad repercussions. Shawn seemed to be frozen, holding tight to the railgaurd. Dark carefully stepped down to stand in front of him. His face was pale again.

"Shawn?" Dark reached out gently. Lightly placing a hand on his shoulder caused Shawn to jump and almost fall.

Realizing that they had stopped he shook his head to force the memories away but at the same time silently hoping that Miles was far away from here. Hopefully they were sent out to deliver something on the other side of town.

"Shawn," the deep concerning voice of Dark brought him back to realize they were still standing in the stairway. Looking past Dark he saw the signs on the wall of the next lading below them that there were almost to the basement. The only way to the music department was to take these stairs all the way down then back up one flight on the other side of the basement.

Ignoring Dark's growing concern he slipped past him, "We're almost there. Come on."
Waving for Dark to follow him, he continued forward.

Dark watched as the artist hurried down the stairs. The unsettling feeling growing with each passing second but getting Shawn to listen to reason wasn't going to happen. He was fixated on getting to the music department and by the way he was acting he didn't care if he got hurt getting there. He admired Shawn's devotion and determination but the recklessness he was showing had Dark worried. The man he had come to know was careful and meek. Yet the man ahead of him was anything but.

Shawn paused at the next landing of stairs that split going down in opposite directions Reading the signs on the wall haphazardly before trying to sprint in the direction he needed to go. Only this time Dark was ready to catch him.

Stumbling back he yelped, "Dark! What the hell?" Doing his best to regain his balance he squared up to the man that kept him from going down the stairs. "Let me go, we're wastin' time."

"Do you even know what you are running into?" Dark asked sternly.

"I don't care! I know who that voice belongs to and I have to help!" He cried as he tried to pull his arm out of Darks tight grip. "Let go, Dark!"

"Shawn, please!" Dark was almost begging. It wasn't in his nature but something in the air around them was not right and it was causing him to act differently. "Let's go back upstairs to your office and think this through. Someone else has to be in this building; maybe they could be of some help."

"There is someone else in the building and they need the help," Shawn growled as he tried to pry himself out of Dark's grip. The amount of force threw him off balance and caused him to fall to the floor. Dark tried to keep him upright but the way Shawn fell caused him to lose his grip on his arm.

Hitting the floor had knocked some wind out of his lungs. Dark extended a hand to him to help him up but Shawn waves it away.

"Shawn...," Darks voice was somber and somehow sounded tired. "Please, take it. Let me help you."