Dimentio was surprisingly stealthy. Actually, now that I thought about it, it wasn't that shocking, considering how often the former jester used to keep to himself. He was good at timing when to move and was also fairly observant and aware of where each lost one around us was located. 

The only issue I had with him was the soft humming. He was ALWAYS humming. It was a miracle that the lost ones didn't hear him and find us. However, I couldn't exactly tell him to stop. Honestly, it was probably the humming that kept him from completely losing it.

Something else that bothered me was that I couldn't ask him any questions. I wanted to know what really happened to somewhat give him his old body back. It couldn't have actually been the Ink Demon. I doubt the monster cared about him, even if he was its most loyal/only follower.

Did he just wake up like that? That had to be what happened. Was his memory still spotty, or did he remember more now that some of his old self had been restored? Did he know where Mr. L was? Or anyone else for that matter? 

He led me away from the twists and turns of the hallways and down a set of stairs. He checked to make sure the lost ones were all gone, then opened a door that practically blended into the wall. If he didn't draw my eyes to it, I wouldn't have even noticed it was there, as it was tucked into a dark corner. 

Inside there were no lights, but candles had been lit and placed on the floor.

Funny, I wouldn't have thought that he would set up candles so deep into the castle. In past runs, he usually stayed pretty close to the upper floors. He never strayed too far from the music room.

"The music room is gone..." he muttered, seeming to answer my thoughts. "So... I've had to relocate."

I frowned slightly. The music room was gone? What did he mean? Did it just completely vanish? That was practically where he LIVED in this world. What did he mean it was gone? Rooms couldn't just completely disappear, right?

"I was so ready..." he trailed off, sitting down in the center of the room. The shadows from the candles danced all around him. "I had the ritual prepared. I was going to conduct the sacrifice so I could be free at last, but... something happened. Everything went dark. When I woke, news of the Ink Demon being killed was being announced, and I had been reborn like this..."

Thank goodness he was taking the time to explain some of this to me because I was honestly more confused than ever. Why had so much changed this time? This couldn't all be because I didn't just wait around for Timpani to find me. 

"Now? Nothing is the same. The layout of the castle is different. I can't find a single piano," he clenched and unclenched his fists as he spoke as if he was desperate for something to do with his hands. "I'm unsure why I'm speaking to you. You're Brooks. It's not like you can respond..."

He looked up at me.

"Yet, at the same time... you're the PERFECT Brooks. You have... a connection if you will. A connection to my savior..." 

He began to laugh. I never was all that fond of Dimentio's laugh, even before this world existed. 

Come on, Dimentio. Don't lose it on me now. 

He continued sitting and laughing, slowly growing more and more hysterical. I knew I couldn't just leave him like that, so I quickly started searching for something I could use to calm him down. There was nothing in the room besides candles, so I quickly stepped outside. I don't think he even noticed.

The first thing I could find was a random tape recorder. I didn't even see whose name was labeled on it, but I didn't care. I just needed something to snap him out of his laughing fit.

I rushed back in, kneeled down by the laughing maniac, and pressed play.

"'Well... don't worry. I'm going to get you out of here. I'm going to help you escape so you can make music again,' I promised. Did I believe my own words? I honestly don't even know, but it was enough to make him somewhat calm down. What I had learned about Dimentio in THIS world from my experiences and from the audio recordings was that he was DESPERATE for something or someone to believe in. He wanted to believe that something else was going to save him from this nightmare and end all his suffering. That belief was practically the only thing holding him together. So, to calm him down, I just needed to give him what he needed. Someone to believe in."

- Mr. L

Dimentio slowly stopped laughing, then looked at the now silent tape.

I either just fixed the problem or made a big mistake. 

"Mr. L..." he trailed off. He suddenly seemed very deep in thought. 

He tapped his fingers on the ground, making a quiet beat.

"4/4 time signature. Treble Clef, G# minor. Three quarter notes, then a dotted eight note and a sixteenth note leading into the next measure. Next a dotted eight note and another sixteenth note, then a dotted eight note to a sixteenth note tied to a quarter note. A#, A#, A#, G#, F#, G#, F#, D, F#..." he trailed off.

He continued saying random letters and rhythms, but he honestly lost me. I had no idea what he was talking about anymore. Once he was finished muttering to himself, he went back to quietly humming.

After he was finished with his little song, he let out a small sigh and looked down.

"Brooks... permission to tell you a secret?" He asked.

I shrugged, then nodded. It wasn't like I could tell anyone anyway. Besides, even if I didn't want to hear, I couldn't exactly stop him from telling me.

He looked up at me, then lifted his mask, setting it on top of his head as he did earlier.

"A small part of me is thankful that the Ink Demon is gone," he admitted, wincing as he did as if he had gotten burned.

I cocked my head to the side. Technically in this timeline, he had never gotten betrayed by it, so why would he have been glad? 

"I just... the Ink Demon being gone means I no longer have to conduct the ritual and sacrifice the creator..." he breathed. "I never wanted to sacrifice him. I really didn't."

He took a deep breath, then slowly explained all the thoughts whirling around in his head. It seemed like he was just trying to unload baggage. I wondered how long he kept all of this in. "Maybe it's imagining the look in his eyes. Maybe it's the idea of sacrificing someone so I can be rewarded by the Ink Demon. Maybe it was the idea that there would be no turning back after that point. I know everyone thinks I don't have a heart. I don't blame them. I've tried to convince the world that I was heartless. I've tried convincing MYSELF that I was heartless, but I'm not. I just didn't want to do it. It wasn't just about the creator. It was about everyone. If I continued my plan and failed, then everyone would think I was just insane and desperate. Maybe they'd think I was even worse than whatever put us in this world because I'd be the one sacrificing people just to get myself ahead."

I winced slightly.

That's quite literally EXACTLY what I did when trying to destroy all worlds. I sacrificed everyone I ever cared about to end my own suffering. I tried convincing myself and everyone around me that I was heartless, even when I wasn't. I tried too hard to make my plans work, and it only ended up hurting everyone else.

"In some ways, I think I'm broken. I... I'm someone who tried too hard to fool everyone, and in the end, I only ended up fooling myself." Dimentio muttered, slowing his speech down slightly. He looked guilty now. "The Demon is gone. I can't hear it anymore, which means it can't hear me. A part of me is glad it can't hear me... because now I can show my doubts without appearing disloyal..."

He shook his head, then looked up at the ceiling and softly smiled, quietly chucking to himself once again.

"Ah. I've lost it again, haven't I?" He chuckled.

I disagreed. For the first time, I think I was starting to understand him.

I frowned slightly, then reached for him, only to draw back as soon as that horrible voice echoed throughout the castle.

"Attention, my friends," my father's voice announced from seemingly everywhere. Dimentio and I both simultaneously looked up, as if that was where the words were coming from.

"It is I. Your savior. The one who silenced your captor," he stated. Dimentio visibly clenched his fists, then lowered the cardboard mask back over his face while my father continued speaking. 

"There have been rumors that the Ink Demon has been spotted. Do not pay any mind to these. I destroyed the Ink Demon myself. It died by my own hands. So do not be afraid. I shall protect you."

Rumors that the Ink Demon had been spotted?

So one of two things must have happened. Either I really DID see the Ink Demon, or multiple people are imagining the same thing.

My father was a snake. At this point, I wouldn't put lying past him anymore. He was obviously desperate. I just wasn't sure why. 

"Anyway, I am just speaking to thank you for delivering the perfect Brooks to me. I know he was being rather difficult, but trust me, this will help us all. Please keep an eye out for trouble, and don't be afraid to report any suspicious behavior to me," my father chimed. 

Then, there was silence.

He found the perfect Brooks?

Dimentio and I both exchanged confused glances. 

Wait, if I was still here, then who was turned in?