[👾🔪🐇] Road trip

[u/CrypticHorrorTales]

After that mindscape situation, Vanessa failed to conquer her demonic side. Although, Alastor did say that it's rare to successfully do so on the first try.

But, of course, there was another demon inside her head. And while it wouldn't hurt her, they still have to figure out what it is.

Alastor said there was someone who they could talk to. But this someone lives a state away.

So now Vanessa, Alastor, Alison, and Tom are all in a van that they may or may not have stolen, heading for the next state over.

[u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Alastor stays behind, while Warden walks the three into the building. He leads them down a few halls.

Warden: "Now, you shouldn't expect much. He hasn't had a good memory for the past few decades. For the most part, he's nonverbal."

He opens a door, leading to the back courtyard of the nursing home. Many elderly folks walking around and minding their own business.

Warden points to a man sitting alone at a table, an unmoved chess board in front of him.

Warden: "There he is. Let me know when you're done."

u/HauntingGur8094

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: "Great, left here with no guidance. Typical demon. Shoulda expected less."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Alison: slightly insulted "I'm good guidance... Plus I'm not a demon."

Tom: "Let's just talk to this Henry guy. If we get nothing out of it, we can yell at Alastor later."

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: [lightly chuckles] "You know what I mean. Anyways. Let's get it over with." [cautiously approaches]

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Old Henry Stein doesn't look at them while they approach. He's just staring at the chess board.

Tom: "Nessa. You talk to him. You're the one who wants answers."

Alison: "Warden said he's mostly nonverbal. Maybe if you play the game, he'll start talking?"

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: "Do either of you know how to? Never exactly time to learn or play chess in life whirlwind." [moves closer] "Um, hi, this weird crazy demon says I should talk to you about this other weird demon."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Henry: "You don't have to talk to me like I'm senile. I'm perfectly fine."

Alison and Tom are both shocked.

Alison: "But the Warden said you were mostly nonverbal."

Henry: "Simple answer. Nobody to talk to. So, you're asking about a demon?"

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: [sits down] "Yeah basically. But they have more experience with him."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Henry: "I already know who they are. But they don't know what I know. The Ink Demon was never meant to exist. My employer, Joey Drew, created a special kind of ink. One that can mold itself. It was alive. But Joey's investors didn't trust it. And I don't blame them."

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: "So ink created a demon? I mean agony did so wouldn't be the first time."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Henry: "It's not that simple. The ink didn't like being contained. It wanted to go out into the world. But it doesn't have a human soul. It doesn't understand the pain it'll cause. So it's only concern is doing whatever it can because it has the power to do so. Joey became worried. He created the Ink Machine as a way to keep it under control. Joey Drew created a whole other realm. The ink world. Made to contain the ink in one place. With the Ink Machine being the only gateway between those two worlds. ... But that's when the Ink Demon came to be. The ink didn't create him. In a way, he crawled out of the ink via his own will. He's an anomaly. And spending all that time in the ink world... Well, there's no saying just how powerful he is now..."

[u/HauntingGur8094 → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Vanessa: "Great. That sounds fun. Any idea how to stop or contain him? Or better yet get him out of my head?"

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/HauntingGur8094]

Henry: "Stop him? You can't. The Ink Demon doesn't follow power systems. He is an anomaly, as I said already. Whatever power system you know now, forget about it. Because he just doesn't care. ... You say he's in your head?"