I could tell that Dimentio did not appreciate having a silent companion. He would constantly talk or hum to fill the silence. Sometimes he'd even ask me a question, then turn and wait for me to answer. I suspect that he thinks I'm CHOOSING to stay silent when the reality is that I have completely lost my ability to speak. Sometimes, even writing words on the walls becomes hard. I use to never make any spelling errors, but lately just thinking of words in my mind and trying to project them has become increasingly difficult. 

I know my goal of breaking away from Timpani at the beginning was to try to change things on my own, but I found myself following behind Dimentio and letting him dictate our every move. It was comforting not to have my fate in my own hands, though I knew very well that I couldn't just stand behind him and let him lead the way. Sure, Dimentio was probably on a journey of his own, and our goals may have been similar, but we had different plans for reaching our goals. I needed to get to the root of this all and figure out if there was a way for me to undo everything. Dimentio, on the other hand, was probably on a quest to figure out how to avenge the Ink Demon, or worse, bring it back, (if it really was gone.)

I followed him down a long, dark hallway. At the end of it, there was a large opening. It almost looked like the end of a tunnel. In front of the opening, there was some yellow caution tape, as if someone wanted to make it clear that the area before us was off-limits.

Odd. I wouldn't think that there would be any areas off-limits in a place like this. 

I simply stepped over the tape while Dimentio ducked under. However, the second we stepped foot onto the other side, another announcement rang through the building.

"Just a friendly reminder," my father's voice chimed. "Anyone caught in restricted areas will be punished immediately. So be good. Follow the rules, like you always do..."

The timing of his announcement made me wonder if he knew where we were. It was either triggered by us, or quite an incredible coincidence. Was he watching us?

No, he couldn't possibly have been watching us. There weren't any cameras here, and if he was, then he would have caught me by now. 

"Rules? What rules?" Dimentio quietly chuckles. "There are no rules in a place like this."

Oh, he had NO idea what it was like living with my father. That man generated rules about literally EVERYTHING. Even in a world like this, it wouldn't surprise me if he started establishing a set of strict laws for everyone to follow.

I was about to grab Dimentio's arm and pull him back into the hallway since this was most likely a restricted area. However, I stopped myself. If that section was restricted and my father wanted to keep people away, then that must have meant that there was something important back there, so, we couldn't leave. Besides, since when did I follow my father's rules? If he didn't want people going in here, then my father probably should have gone through more effort than simply putting up some caution tape. 

Although, he was probably able to get most of the lost ones to listen to him. After all, they think he's the hero who saved them from the Ink Demon, so of course they're going to listen to him. My father was the type of person who knew how to manipulate practically anyone. He was playing off of their fear of the Ink Demon and using that to gain their support. It was a smart, yet sinister strategy.

The open area looked somewhat like a train station. Similar to a big city subway. Something that never was in the real castle Bleck, but had somehow found its way into this world. 

"This world never ceases to fascinate me..." Dimentio muttered while stepping forward.

I followed closely behind him. There was no train and no signs indicating that one would be coming soon. I never had seen something like that in this world before, so I was slightly taken aback.

"Hmm... I'll look for something that'll tell us whether a train is coming or not. I wouldn't want us walking the tracks and being crushed like ants beneath a shoe. Aha ha ha," Dimentio laughed, turning and slowly pacing around the area. Upon instinct, I reached out for him, but I didn't grasp him and stop him from leaving. He wasn't completely leaving me, so there was no reason for me to let my separation anxiety act up. I brought my hands together, silently telling my anxiety to knock it off.

I sighed and turned away from him, then walked over towards the tracks, just so I could see if there were any lights from trains in the distance.

I looked to my left into the tunnel where the trains come from. For a moment, there was nothing but pure darkness.

Then, there was the Ink Demon. It appeared in a flash with Ink Dripping from its limbs. I flinched, then silently gasped and sprinted as fast as I could back to Dimentio. I frantically grabbed his arm, frantically pointing at the tracks where I saw the demon.

Dimentio tensed up slightly, clearly sensing my fear, then pushed me behind him. I honestly expected him to laugh and tell me I was acting pathetic and ridiculous, but instead, he slowly made his way toward the direction I was pointing to check out whatever had frightened me. 

I tried grabbing his arm and pulling him back, but unfortunately, Brooks wasn't very strong. It wasn't a part of his design.

"Calm down. I'm just checking out what scared you," he breathed, carefully stepping towards the tracks, then looking to the left, where I saw the Ink Demon mere moments ago.

"... Don't worry. Nothing's there," he assured me. "Anymore."

Anymore. 

He said anymore, which meant that he believed something was there at one point. He didn't think I was just insane and imagining things.

Or maybe he did, but I doubt Dimentio would make an effort to be nice just for the sake of being nice.

Dimentio went back to look for anything indicating whether a train was coming or not while I looked back at the tracks once again. Surely enough, the Ink Demon was gone. It was like it was never even there.

Great. After years and years of keeping my sanity somewhat together compared to everyone else, I was finally starting to lose it.

If I wasn't afraid of being hit by a train and dying, then I would have probably just given up on trying to find a train schedule and walked down the tracks. However, I hadn't died in this world yet and I didn't want today to be the day I started.

On the wall right next to the tracks, there was an inky message that read FEAR SHOWS OUR TRUE NATURE. Whoever wrote it must have wanted to get their point across because from where it was located, someone would have to stand directly on the tracks in order to write it.

I sighed, then looked to the right. 

And there he was.

Not the Ink Demon.

Inky. The little guy I saw earlier.

I was about to go grab Dimentio to show him, but the fear in Inky's eyes made me stop.

I reached out for him, but he flinched and drew back.

I did the same. 

After what felt like a long moment of silence, he reached behind himself and pulled out a sheet of paper. He folded it into a paper airplane, then threw it at me. It landed right next to my right foot.

I kneeled down to pick it up, then looked forward at the little demon. He timidly waved at me, then turned to run.

I reached out to him again, but it was too late. He was gone. He had disappeared down the tracks and into the darkness. 

I let out a breath I seemed to be holding in, then unfolded the paper airplane.

'TRAIN SCHEDULE: ALL DEPARTURES --> CANCELED DUE TO MAINTENANCE.'

My eyes widened slightly. I turned over my left shoulder and ran up to Dimentio, waving the paper excitedly. He turned to face me, then snatched the schedule so he could read it over.

".... Due to maintenance," he chuckled while lifting his mask up so he could read more easily. "How convenient." 

He rolled the schedule up, then handed it to me. "Good work," he added.

Did he just say something nice? 

I think that's the first time he ever, in any life, that he actually told me something encouraging like that. Even when he was nothing more than one of my minions, he never really treated me or anyone else with kindness. All his remarks felt forced.

I smiled and nodded, then followed him as he hopped down the track and looked from left to right.

"The only question is, which way to go..." he trailed off.

I paused to think about it.

I had seen the Ink Demon when I looked to the left. However, when I looked to the right, all I saw was the cute little cartoon character that Mr. L had initially designed.

I grabbed Dimentio's arm and pointed to the right.

He gave me a slightly confused look as if silently asking how I knew. However, after a moment of consideration, he nodded and started walking in that direction, into the darkness.

I followed close behind him.

The dark never was as scary, so long as I wasn't alone in it. It was strange that I somehow found comfort in being around others. Even if those others were, well, Dimentio. Dimentio was perhaps one of the most unhinged, scary people in this world, yet there I was feeling grateful that he was there with me.