Inkling_2026_Digital - Flipbook - Page 24
Robert
Atterdam
by Dhanya A.
“M’lady, our presence is required on
chapter 9, page 124.”
Eleanor heard Peyton’s voice before
she saw his form, the ink of his 昀椀gure
materializing onto the page seamlessly as
if he’d always been there.
“What for?” Eleanor inquired, her 昀椀nger
grazing over the hard black strokes of her
hair as if she could somehow manipulate
the ink to fall smoother. But even as she
said it, she slipped behind Peyton as he
crawled from page to page, the ink of her
form turning to smudge as she moved.
“Peyton and Eleanor of page 124 have
abandoned their positions, probably
frollicking about in the epilogue. Very
reckless of them, I must say. The Reader
could open this book at any moment,
and considering the placement of the
bookmark—”
“Oh, let it go.” Eleanor coaxed, her body
昀椀nding solidity on page 124 as she
stopped moving. But, just before the 昀椀ner
penstrokes of her dress and hair nestled
into the teeth of paper, her eyes widened
at the unexpected character that was
already present.
24 | INKLING 2026
“Peyton!”
There, amidst the garden scenery of page
124, was Robert Scarface, the antagonist
of their story. He was also Eleanor’s ex昀椀ance, before she had run o昀昀 with Peyton.
But, what surprised Eleanor the most was
that Robert didn’t look quite as cruel as
the 12-point text in this book surmised
him to be. Rather, even with a ridged black
line that ran across his left cheek and
jugular, he looked oddly placid with the
cup of tea he currently held to his lips.
“Eleanor?” The apparently evil man
frowned.
“Stay back, you vile villain!” It was Peyton,
brandishing the sword he kept strapped to
his side. Only, his illustrative format kept
the blade of his weapon in a scabbard, so
the author hadn’t actually drawn a visible
blade for him, and unsheathing it meant
that there was only a handle and no sharp
point to intimidate with. Peyton 昀氀ustered
at the humiliating display.
Robert wore a surprised expression, but it
was one of good nature, and he raised the
hand not holding a teacup in surrender.
“Oh, please. I mean no harm. I would
