GOLDEN CALL - Guy_Idk - Five Nights at Freddy's [Archive of Our Own] (2024)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

This Chapter is more to describe all the main characters for the first 7 chapters. I will for the most part use this part of the story to setup major themes for Characters and build relationships between characters. Also i will use it to explain many weird plot holes that i never addressed in my first story. Also i am going to Explain all the Restaurants open right now.

Fredbears Family Diner
Open. 1980-1983
Bite of 83 and Charlie's Death close the Diner.

Freddy Fazbears
Open. 1980-1985
Is seperate from Jr's.

Freddy Fazbear Jr's
Open 1985-1987

Circus Baby's/SL
Open 1985-1987

Fazbears Fright
Open. 2023-2023
Same restaurant as the OG Freddy Fazbears.

In Hurricane Utah, there was a family consisting of a Father, Daughter and 2 Sons.
It was a recognisable family and by most standards a decent one.

William Afton was a businessman and the founder of Fredbears Diner, Freddy Fazbears and Jr. He is 35 years old and is 6'2 with a slightly stocky build. He was the man behind the Spring Bonnie suit which he used for birthdays and other celebrations. And he was well known. His wife Clara died 7 years ago when his second son was born. This death caused him to become spiteful at his 2nd son and force him deeper into his work. He didn't neglect his daughter due to her resemblance to his wife and he believes her to be his successor.

The older brother Michael Afton was a grade A student and a popular kid. He was 15 years old and he stands at a height of 5'9, with a lean athletic build. He had dark shaggy hair and blue borderline purple eyes like his father. He was a well known womanizer and is a trouble maker. However, he was still a good kid,he was charitable and very much willing to help people. He was spiteful to his younger brother due to Michael believing him to be the reason his mom died and his father neglected him so he acted out by bullying him with his mates and making him a pariah by blaming him.

The same was true for the Middle Child. Elizabeth Afton was a very well behaved girl with good grades. She was 12 years old with blonde hair and green eyes. She was well-liked within the community. She was best friends with Charlie Emily who was the same age as her. She also held hate for her younger brother due to her believing him to be responsible for her mother's death. She spread rumours about him to her friend Charlie which caused her to distance herself from him. She also picks on a girl called Cassidy Brookes who is the same age as her brother. This is due to her red eyes which caused her to be hated by everyone.

Cassidy had black hair with 2 pigtails held up by a yellow hair tie and she wore a yellow jumper with black overalls. She also harboured a crush on Elizabeth's older brother Evan Afton, which she is really bad at hiding. She was hated and disowned by her parents, who have told her that she will be kicked out when she graduates. She loves SpringBonnie and Fredbear but she hates Chica due to her being bored and 'Fat' in her opinion.

Charlie Emily was the daughter of Henry Emily, who was Elizabeth's father's friend and business partner. Her dark brown hair was loosely tied into a ponie tail and she wore a white shirt with a green jacket. She loves the security puppet robot that was made for her. She has top grades and is very much liked by her classmates and teachers. She is very much against trouble makers and will always defend her friends. Very naïve and believes that Evan deserves the bullying, however her opinion later changes about this and she tries to make up with him.

Henry Emily: Kind guy, same age and build as William. Believes Evan to be a bad person and is very apathetic to his plights. Owns part of the Fazbear brand. Builds robots as well. Stays mostly within the Diner and helps William with the security of the Robots and offices. Runs errands and is very distracted, which can cause him to be lazy with certain aspects. Doesn't like trouble makers and miscreants. He is very strict but he is caring and kind to all customers. He feels bad for Evan however his feelings are blocked by his negative emotions for him.

Evan Afton
The youngest child in the Afton Household.
He is 7 years old and is hated by everyone. He holds his emotions in public however in private he breaks down. He is slightly above average height and he loves the Robots. He is terrified of Fredbear however and refuses to go near him. His brother drags him close to the stage which causes him to freak out and cry. He is friends with Cassidy and finds her cute. He is also friends with a redhead boy called Fritz who is also bullied due to him liking pirates a little too much. He has a Fredbear plushie which he likes and he has plushies of the entire Freddy's Cast. He likes the Restaurant more than the diner however he rarely goes due to it being further away, also his Father stays mostly in the Pizzeria and forbids him from coming on most days.

Fritz Smith
Redheaded boy with freckles. Is bullied due to his love of pirates and he is friends with Evan and Cassidy. He is the same age as them and he has an average build for his age. He tends to wear shorts and t shirts. He loves Foxy and will fight anyone who doesn't like Foxy. Has below average grades even for a 1st grader.
(Not American so i don't know the age range. Ima assume grade 1 = year 1. So 6-7)
Has an older brother in college.(not much relevance, just adding stuff Lol)

Chapter 2: Nightmare Trials

Chapter Text

'YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF HE CATCHESYOU' FREDBEAR'S HOLLOW VOICE RANG OUT.

In Fredbear Diner,rapid footsteps could be heard. A young boy with blue shorts and a white-striped black shirt was running for his life. Whyyoumay ask. Well, his elder brother in a foxy the pirate mask was in pursuit. The boy ran and ran, using his agility to evade his captor. His attempts were fruitfulandEvan released a sigh. He hated this. His brother....wellthe entire town hated him. He didn't know why until his sister screamed at him when he was6years old

FlashBack 1 Year Ago

Evan sniffledhissister was throwing his stuff around. His room was a messandhe knew dad would punish him regardless. She had always been his favorite child, unlike him and Michael.

He yelled at her to stop and askedherwhy she hated him so much.

'YOU KILLED MOMMY.YOU MONSTER.YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BORN!!!'' Elizabeth screamed furiously. She grabbed Evan's Fredbear plush and threw it in the bin. Evan began to sob quietlyandwhen Elizabethlefthe ran and hid in his closet. He wished Cassidy and Fritz were here. They were his best friendsandhe needed their help right now. Tears flowed freelyandhis body quivered.

He dashed towards the bin and grabbed his Fredbear plushwhichwould occasionally speak to him. He begged his plush to help him. He pleaded and sobbed for his first friend to help him out.

Fredbears hollow voice rang out,' They hurt you again. Why do you never fight back?

'F....Fath.....Father would get mad.' Evan sniffled.

'That may be truebutstill,you can't just let them and the town carry on.If they hate you, hate them more. If they hit you, hit back harder. Don't be a wimp. Think about that pigtailed girl. They hate herbuttheydon't mess with her as much because they know she will fight back.' Fredbear retorted.

'H...How though Fred. They always win.'

'Don't worrytomorrowis another day.'

FLASHBACK OVER

Evan held an immense grudge against his siblings and the entire town. Hewas mocked, bullied, and taunted. Teachers sent him out of class to sabotage himandhe was constantly in detention due to his fighting back. His friendswere scrutinized. Fritz loved pirates andwas teasedfor it. Most of the hatred for him was because he was Evan's friend. Cassidy had been born with red eyes, which in the religious state of Utah was saying,'im the devil reborn'. Cassidy and he formed their friendship because of their love of Fredbear. They called themselves the'Golden Duo.'

Evan fixed his room and placed his broken toys under his bed. Fortunately, his plushies were slightly beaten up but not shredded. He sighed andplacedthem on his bed. He then lay down and closed his eyes. It had to have been 10 minutes before his doorwas caved in. His father stood menacingly. His purple eyes glared at Evan. His hand clutching a belt. Evan shiveredithad been the 3rd time this week. He got up shakily and braced himself for the beating. Unfortunately, bracing himself did next to nothing to stop the immense pain he was in.

SMACKSMACKSMACKTHUDSMACKSMACK

30minutes of pure torturepassed. Evan lay pitfully on the groundhiseyes long since dried of tears. He couldn't get up. He knew if he gave uphisfather would continue. The lashings cameeachstrongerthan the last.

"You foolish brat. I ought to teach you a lesson." His father roared with nothing but hate in his voice.

Evan spat some blood and tried to standhispurple eyesmuchlike hisfather'sshone dangerously. He stood up and gazed at his father, who had a look of mild shock appear on his face.

"You won't winyoufool," His father said,whilegrinning.

Evan spat at his father and retorted, "You wouldn't dare try to kill me" He co*cked his head to the side and gave a matching grin to his father. Blood dripped from his faceandhis body was in immense pain. He ignored it. He staredgrinningat his now shocked father. He tried to walkhoweverhe collapsed. His father left the room in a daze, whowas that? Evan had always been weak. When did he have the resolve to stand up against him? A pair of eyes peered into the room. It was his older brother, whowas usedto seeing this. His father was evil.

"Not that I care as long as it's thisfreak" He muttered hatefully. Hewalked out ofthe roomdenyinghis younger sister's attempts to play with him. She was so spoiled and loved he felt sick. Hewas never treatedwell, anyway, sohe decided to meet with hisfriends:Jonh, Jeremy, and Mikewhowere waiting outside. His thoughts were in turmoil, but he had to put a strong face on for his friends.

SCENE CHANGE EMILY RESIDENCE

Henry and his family,wellhisdaughterwere beloved.Henrya hardworking, strong,andgentle man, and Charlie, who could do no wrong.They were good friends with the Aftons besides Evan. Henry was more apathetic to himandCharlie was slightly hostile.Charlie was doing some homework with her friend Susiewho was ablondegirl,with a dog.She was blabbing about Chica, Pizza, and anything that wasn't the homework. Charlie sighedbutSusie was Susiesoshe dealt with it. After 10minutesthey decided to go to Fredbears.They were driven by Hneryandwhen theyenteredtheywent to the arcade room. They were having fun playing Midnight Motorist until Charlie spotted "her" playing Freddy in space.

"It's the devilgirl" She whispered to Susie, whodueto being in a deeply religioushouseholdimmediately began to scream at her. Cassidy turned around. She grabbed a stonethat wasin her blackoverallschucked it at Susieandran laughing.

"Takethatyou BITCH" She yelled with excitement.

"Get back hereyoubitch" Susie yelled and gave chase.

"Susie wait" Charlieyelledbutit was of no use. Cassidy was fast andnimble. She easily evaded her two captors until she was safe.Shegrinned and ran out of the diner and to the Afton household. She wanted to see Evan. Surprisingly, William let her enterandshe was slightly grateful. She approached the door and proceeded to knock. Afton stood there and let her in. He did warn her like he usually did. She ran to Evan's room and proceeded to enterthereshe found him in his bed resting. He had some bruisesbutshe assumed it was his stupid brother.

AFTER ALL, WILLIAM WOULDN'T HIT HIS SON

Evan looked ecstatic and hugged her.

"HeyCass," He said.

"It's been so long." She replied excitedly.

Evan's eyes glistenedandhe retorted, "It's been like one dayjeez"

Cassidy blushed lightly, not before bonking his head. She then began to pull him to the middle of the room. They were having fun until Elizabeth made her presence known, much to Cassidy's chagrin. She made both of their lives absolutely hell. Elizabeth glared at Cassidyshetried to raise her voice and yell at her. She was interrupted by Evan, who asked her what she wanted.

'I want toplay' Elizabeth whined with her sickly sweet tone.

'No not now. I have come..' Evan tried to speak back but was interrupted.

'Leave that demon bitch and come to EVANNOW' She yelled out furiously.

She began to huff and ran out of the room, not before promising Evan a painful death. He looked at them and sighed in disbelief. Cassidy wasn't too surprisedandshe was about to run and beat Elizabeth's assbutEvan knowing what she wasthinkingstopped her. They inevitably decided to go to Freddy's instead of Fredbears. When theyenteredthey immediately began to eat some pizza. Henry stumbled out of the parts and service room. His eyes collidedslightlywhen he saw the duo. He decided to keep tabs, using the new security system he and William had personally crafted. Anyways, his little 'project' was still incomplete. SoonFazbearwould be amajorhit. He chuckled earnestly and thanked God for allowing himto havea fulfilling life. He waved at passing kids and gave a small talk to parents. He then entered the office to relax and enjoy a break. Evan looked sad his 'Uncle' hadn't been that kind to him since he was really young. Charlie had made up something about himwhich caused Henry to treat him with apathy, sometimes hostility. Cassidy clutched his hand, eliciting a yelp and a slight blush from the boy.They moved to the stageandEvan tensed himself. His nightmares had persistedandhis fear of these bots, while lessseverewas still present. He put on a brave face and looked at Freddy, Chica, and Bonnie. He was able to relax. His posture loosenedandhe listened to Cassidy's rambling about how much she hated Chica while loving Fredbear. He would add his own two cents, which was often ignored by the overactive child.Suddenly, she turned around andwas face to face witha very angry Susie, who tried to swing at her.Cassidy moved back to avoid the hit and pushed the blonde girl back, causing her to release her dog. Evan was stunned, too shocked to move, and was swiftly attacked by the dog. He managed to beat it off, but he wasbitten badlyon his arm. Charlie began to screamandHenry rushed out, having seen the commotion. He took Evan to the service room with Cassidy.Hepatched Evan, who was crying due to the immense pain, upandhe instructed them to relax. He drove them home. William wasn'tthereso Evan began to rest, while Cassidy went home.

Just as he was about to fallasleephis elder brother and Jeremy Fitzgerald barged into the room and scared him. This caused him tofallout of his bed and land on his injured arm. They began to howl.

'Crycrycrybaby.'

'Stupid younger brother.'

'LOOK AT HIS FACE HAHAAHAH'

'HE IS SO WEAK'

Evan took the insultsandwhen they left, not before kicking him alittlehe finally passed out.SuddenlyaHISS woke him up. It was like smoke was being injected into his room. Then he heard them. He ran to his door andusinghis betterarmraised it. He flashed the hall to see a nightmare rendition of Bonnie and Foxy smiling at him. He slammed his door and ran to the closet. He locked it. Then he tried to flash his bedbuthis injury impeded himandhe was thrown to the floor by Freddy. Chica, Foxy, and Bonnie joined Freddy and surrounded him. Evan had tears streaming down his face. He slipped past them and tried to runbuthis vision became blurier the further he got.He knew he was finished ifhewent furthersoheinsteadran back to face his monsters.

SCENE CHANGE: UNDERGROUND BUNKER OFFICE.

A man was sitting there, his arms overlappedwatchinghis lab r...son go through the Nightmare trials.

'It was his punishment fromGod'William whispered to himself. He watched how his son was able to fight the demons, who couldn't actually harm him. He wasvery surprisedby Evan's resiliency and determination.

SCENE CHANGE: BEDROOM

Michael lay on his bed. Foxy mask on the side table and rock posters covering his walls. He was angry, hehated this family. He loved his motherandHEtook her. He was a weakbrat,who had befriended the devil to kill his angel of a mother.God,he missed how she hugged him when he was younger and stroked his hair.He began to fall asleep, his mind constantly reminding him of Evan's murder.

Elizabeth was tired. She had played all day. She was going to meet Charlie tomorrow. Daddy said he would make aresturantfor her and her only. She was his favorite and his successor.Sheknew it.She didn't love her motherreallybutshehated not having the attentionallto herself.She went to sleep with a smile on her face.

Evan breathed a sigh of reliefhiseyes relaxing. He was about to sleep, but his attention was captivated by a glow in his closet.Hegot up and shakily walked to it. It was a heart-shapedpendulum,he knew his mother had made for him. Even if he had caused her death...or that's what everyonesaidhe knew that she loved him.He put it around his neckandhe felt energy soar through himlike volts.His eyes widenedandhe slept comfortably in his bed. He was happyandthat's what mattered.

1 year before the INCIDENT.

Chapter 3: Beneath the Revelry"

Chapter Text

11 Months Later.

Beneath the unassuming facade of the Afton residence, a concealed technological marvel lay hidden—a vast underground bunker crafted meticulously by William Afton himself. This subterranean sanctuary, shrouded in secrecy, stood in stark contrast to the mundane suburban world above. Within these depths, where shadows danced on cold concrete walls, cast by the dim glow of multiple computer screens, William’s latest robotic innovations, affectionately dubbed "The Funtimes," buzzed and whirred with artificial life. These creations were marvels of engineering, far surpassing the simpler animatronics designed by his business rival, Henry.

As William wandered through the labyrinthine corridors of his clandestine workshop, his image reflected grotesquely in the polished metal surfaces, distorting as if mocking his dual nature. He reveled in the isolation, feeling a deep, smug satisfaction bubbling within. He was the unrivaled sovereign of his hidden, technological empire, a kingdom of wires and metal far removed from human warmth.

Yet, not everything was perfect in this mechanical dominion. Recently, his son, Evan, had stumbled upon a relic William thought was securely hidden away—Clara’s ornate necklace, a delicate piece laden with emotional history. This unexpected discovery seemed to ignite a change in Evan, endowing him with a newfound resilience that both impressed and deeply troubled William. Evan had always been an enigma, his very existence tied to the bitter memories of Clara's tragic demise. Despite this, William saw in his son's emerging fortitude an opportunity to exploit for his own enigmatic purposes.

Clutching a small, ominously beeping disc, William murmured to himself with a dark grin, “Oh, Evan, the lessons you are about to learn will reshape everything…”

Scene Transition: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria

The scene shifted dramatically to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, a stark contrast to the bunker's cold sterility. Here, the venue thrived with vibrant life; the air was filled with the sounds of joyous screams and delighted laughter, creating a vivid tapestry of human emotion. Amid the throngs of excited children and the towering, animated figures of the animatronic entertainers, Cassidy moved with deliberate intent. Her gaze was intensely fixed on Evan, who stood alone near Pirate’s Cove, his thoughts seemingly adrift, miles away from the cacophony surrounding him.

Cassidy’s focus shifted abruptly when she noticed Susie and Elizabeth stealthily slipping into the Parts and Services room. Driven by a mix of concern and curiosity, she followed them discreetly, her form melding with the shadows cast by an enormous, discarded Fredbear animatronic. The dimly lit room amplified the sinister quality of Elizabeth’s voice as it cut through the quiet with a venomous edge. “That girl is becoming a real problem,” she whispered sharply to Susie, who nodded in grim agreement, her face set in a mask of determination, “Yeah, she’s totally out of line. We need to put her in her place.”

Their whispered conversation quickly evolved into a sinister plot, outlining a cruel prank for Charlie’s birthday. They schemed to lock her outside the pizzeria and trap her with an immobilized security puppet, effectively isolating her from the party with a barrier of heavy boxes strategically placed to hinder any rescue attempt.

Appalled by the malice she overheard, Cassidy retreated quickly to find Evan and their new friend, Fritz. Her voice trembled with urgency as she relayed the disturbing plot. Evan’s expression darkened considerably, a frown etching deep lines into his youthful face, while Fritz, typically shy and reserved, reacted with unexpected anger, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

Without hesitation, they decided to seek out William, hoping he could intervene before the cruel joke could unfold. They found him in his office, seemingly buried under a mountain of paperwork.

“Mr. Afton, we need to tell you something important,” Evan started, his voice tense with palpable concern.

William looked up, his expression shifting to one of attentive concern as he listened to the children describe the plot against Charlie. Inside, however, a thrill coursed through him, excited by the unfolding drama and seeing it as yet another opportunity to manipulate events to his advantage. Dismissing them with a few reassuring words and a handful of money, he promised to handle the situation. “Thank you for bringing this to me. Trust that I will take care of everything. No harm will come to Charlie,” he assured them, his voice dripping with feigned sincerity.

One week following the ominous events in William Afton's bunker, the day of Charlie's birthday unfolded amidst a burst of vibrancy and sound at Fredbear's Family Diner. The air inside was thick with a gaiety of celebration; colorful streamers danced above in the artificial breeze, balloons in cheerful hues bobbed against the stippled ceiling, and the laughter of children painted the scene with joyous abandon. They scampered through the aisles, their faces adorned with swirls of paint, depicting whiskers and rainbows, entirely oblivious to the darker undercurrents swirling beneath the festive facade.

Meanwhile, tucked away in his modest office, Henry allowed himself a brief respite, his body sinking into the worn fabric of his office chair, his mind heavy with the weight of orchestrating such an event. It was in this moment of weary vulnerability that Elizabeth, with a conspiratorial glance towards her accomplices, decided to spring their malevolent trap.

Outside the joyous confines of the Diner, Charlie stood isolated, her small voice a stark, piercing contrast to the muffled sounds of merriment filtering through the walls. Her calls for entry grew increasingly desperate as she tugged futilely at the locked door. "Please, let me in!" she cried, her voice quivering with chills and rejection, her silhouette small and drenched in the shadows of the setting sun.

It was then that a sleek purple Ferrari sliced through the monotony of the parking lot, its arrival timed with theatrical precision. As William Afton emerged, his demeanor cloaked in a mask of crafted concern, every line of his face arranged to convey empathy and kindness. Approaching the shivering child, he extended a hand, his voice soothing. "There, there, Charlie. Let's get you out of this cold," he cooed, leading her towards a darkened alley with promises of warmth and safety. However, as the alley swallowed them in its shadow, his countenance morphed into something sinister. A cold smile played on his lips as he whispered chillingly, "Don't worry, it’ll all be over soon," the glint of a sharp knife catching the last rays of light.

Back inside, alerted by Cassidy's urgent whisper, Michael Afton and Evan rushed towards the Parts and Services room. With frantic energy, they worked to free the Security Puppet, their movements swift and desperate. "Hurry, Michael! She’s out there alone!" Evan gasped, his voice thick with panic.

Together, they charged into the alley, hearts pounding in their chests, only to find William's grim tableau disappearing into the night and the puppet cradling Charlie’s lifeless body. Rain began to pour, mingling with the tears on Michael’s cheeks as he knelt beside her, his hand reaching out to gently touch the puppet's metallic arm. "I’m so sorry, Charlie... we were too late," he murmured, his voice breaking with sorrow.

As the Diner's lights dimmed and the last of the guests departed, oblivious to the tragedy unfolding, the scene became one of quiet desolation. Police lights flashed intermittently, casting long shadows across the faces of those who remained. Evan, overwhelmed by the weight of what had occurred, followed the tire tracks back to his own home, driven by a need for answers.

Confronting his father, he found William in the garage, his hands mechanically cleaning what looked suspiciously like blood from his clothes. "How could you?" Evan’s voice was a hoarse whisper, disbelief and anger intermingling in his shaking tone.

William turned, his eyes cold and distant, his voice a menacing hiss. "This world is cruel, Evan. Better you learn that under my roof than out there."

In the aftermath, participants were left to grapple with their roles in the night's events. Michael retreated into a shell of grief and guilt, haunted by the image of Charlie's lifeless eyes. Elizabeth, her initial shock fading, rationalized her actions with cold detachment. Evan, now shouldering a dreadful secret and the looming specter of his father's madness, clutched his mother’s necklace—a talisman against the darkness enveloping his heart. As night fell, he sat by his window, Cassidy's gentle presence a small comfort against the relentless ticking of the clock, each sound a grim reminder of the encroaching darkness that had now framed his life.

In the cold, unfeeling bunker beneath their home, the Funtimes continued their ceaseless mechanical dance, unaware and unconcerned with the human tragedy unfolding above them. The only witness to Evan's silent tears was the cold, unblinking eye of a robot, reflecting his sorrow in its lifeless gaze.

Chapter 4: A Labyrinth of Lies

Chapter Text

2 Weeks Later

Evan was violently torn from the clutches of his restless slumber by a jarring beeping sound that invaded his ears with a ferocity that felt almost personal. The abrasive noise erupted without warning, assailing his senses before it abruptly ceased, leaving behind an oppressive silence that seemed to thicken the air with foreboding. It was in this eerie quiet that monstrous figures materialized, their forms vaguely humanoid yet grotesquely distorted, as if conjured from the darkest corners of a nightmare. With a heart pounding in his chest and adrenaline surging through his veins, Evan called upon his well-honed agility and speed to evade the creatures’ relentless advances. Though weighed down by exhaustion, his eyes blazed with an indomitable spirit, ignited by the haunting secrets he carried alone—the untimely death of Charlie and the chilling revelation of his father’s sinister involvement.

As the night bled into the early hours of the morning, with the clock's hands pointing accusingly at 7:30 a.m., Evan found himself whispering in disbelief, "Damn, no sleep again, huh." His solitude was shattered by the low, menacing murmur of his Fredbear plush, its voice a sinister whisper in the shadows, revealing his brother’s latest scheme to degrade him. Since uncovering the dark truth about his family, Evan’s world had spiraled into a chasm of anger, hostility, and distrust. Confronting his elder brother, who recoiled at his sudden appearance from behind the slightly ajar door, Evan felt a cold satisfaction in his brother’s shock. Accustomed to these betrayals, he spat venomous words that hung in the stale air between them before each retreated into their own corners of their fractured home.

Evan felt like a hollow routine as he mechanically moved to the living room. The very air chilled as his father entered, his presence casting a long, dark shadow that seemed to swallow the light. Evan’s breath caught in his throat, a primal fear taking hold as his father’s deep purple eyes locked onto him, a mirthful smirk distorting his features into a mask of cruelty. Their exchange was terse, each word laced with an unspoken threat, before his father departed, leaving a trail of icy dread in his wake.

Suddenly, his sister Elizabeth burst into the room like a tempest, her glossy emerald eyes burning with a tyrannical intensity. "Play with me, or you’ll regret it," she demanded, her voice teetering dangerously on the edge of fury. Undaunted by her intimidation, Evan stood his ground, his refusal to submit setting off a volcanic eruption of rage from Elizabeth. "Get up and play now!" she screamed, her face contorted with malice. Pushed beyond his limits, Evan retaliated with a force that sent her staggering back. "You’re going to kill me like you killed Charlie!" he yelled, his voice dripping with scorn and defiance. The accusations hung heavily in the air, a dark cloud of truth that shocked Elizabeth into retreat. Evan, momentarily taken aback by the ferocity of his own words, wondered if he had finally crossed a forbidden line. Nonetheless, he knew he needed to flee the suffocating walls of his house; he had to meet Cassidy, his only semblance of normalcy, at the park. The house behind him felt more like a prison, haunted by shadows and screams that echoed even in the daylight.

Scene Change: Fredbear’s Family Diner

William Afton entered the diner, his face a mask of feigned sorrow and concern, beneath which roiled a tumultuous sea of pleasure and sad*stic glee. He approached his unsuspecting friend, Henry, in the backroom. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, William conveyed his condolences with practiced ease. "Heard what happened. It's a massive tragedy," he intoned solemnly, his voice dripping with faux sympathy. As they discussed the future of the diner, including new security measures and the addition of new games by a developer named Scott, William’s thoughts were elsewhere, plotting his next move. His plan was clear: with Henry distracted by grief and Evan by trauma, his dark secrets would remain buried.

Out of the corner of his eye, William noticed the puppet. Its lifeless gaze unnerved him; it seemed to see through his charade. Shaking off the discomfort, he focused on his immediate need to install additional surveillance to ward off police suspicion. Once outside, he mulled over his failed experiment and the body he couldn’t secure before his son intervened. Revenge would be sweet, he mused as he planned his next steps.

Scene Change: Afton Home

Back at home, Fury consumed William as he learned of Evan’s confrontation with Elizabeth. He stormed through the house, his anger mounting with each empty room. His son had eluded him, heightening his rage. When Evan finally appeared, William unleashed his fury, striking with his belt as he bellowed, "YOU WILL PAY, BOY!" The attack was brutal, leaving Evan broken and bruised beneath his father’s wrath. William then retreated to his office, his mind already racing with plans for his twisted creations below.

William Afton’s calculated maneuvers in the shadows of his opulent, dimly lit office seemed almost theatrical as he completed his late-night transactions. His cold gaze flitted across the shimmering screen, finalizing deals with a sinister precision that matched the dark undercurrents of his home life. The room was steeped in silence, broken only by the soft clicks of his keyboard and the distant hum of the sprawling machinery hidden beneath the estate. There, his most horrific creations lay in wait, biding their time as parts of a grander, more malevolent scheme. His smirk was a ghastly mask of triumph as he contemplated the absolute control he wielded over his family, their lives puppeteered by his cruel whims.

Downstairs, the air grew thick and toxic as a silent hiss whispered through the vents of Evan’s dimly lit bedroom. The room, cluttered with the debris of childhood and the shadows of fear, suddenly became a battleground. Evan’s eyes snapped open, pain radiating through his body like wildfire. His hands trembled as they grasped the cold metal of his flashlight, the only beacon in the oppressive darkness. The walls seemed to close in, suffocating in their proximity, as he whispered a desperate plea for strength. Clutching his mother’s necklace—a relic imbued with memories of warmth and the faint perfume of her presence—it began to emit a soft, ethereal glow, casting eerie shadows against the stark walls. The mystical light seemed to pulse with the beat of his heart, flooding him with a surge of energy that coursed through his veins, empowering him to confront the nightmarish figures that emerged from the shadows.

Each beam of his flashlight acted as both a shield and a sword, slicing through the darkness to reveal the grotesque features of his assailants. Their eyes, void of soul or remorse, glinted malevolently in the artificial light. As he swept the light from corner to corner, his breaths became ragged and his movements desperate, each flicker of light a temporary reprieve from the relentless advance of his fears made manifest.

As the clock ticked torturously toward dawn, the battle waged on, and Evan’s energy waned. His body ached from exertion, his muscles screamed for rest, and his mind teetered on the brink of despair. In these fleeting moments of respite, his thoughts wandered to his upcoming birthday. He envisioned a day not marked by the shadows of his father’s sins but illuminated by the genuine smiles of his few trusted friends. The thought of Cassidy’s reassuring presence brought a rare, genuine smile to his face. In his heart, he held onto the hope of laughter and light, a stark contrast to the stifling darkness that enveloped his current existence.

In this imagined sanctuary, Evan found solace, a sanctuary woven from the threads of hopeful dreams. Here, the monsters of his reality were powerless, their menacing forms dissolving like mist at the touch of the morning sun. As sleep finally claimed him, his last conscious thought was a whisper of hope, a silent vow to survive until the day when he could live in the light, free from the horrors that haunted his nights.

Chapter 5: The Afton Convergence

Chapter Text

5 DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY.

Dawn unfurled its dim light over the Afton household as Evan stirred from the tumult of his dreams, his mind still ensnared in the thorny remnants of nightly horrors. His eyes, heavy with the weight of unspoken fear, scanned the familiar yet increasingly alien confines of his room. With a resigned sigh that seemed to carry the burden of his dread, he peeled himself from the bedsheets, each movement a silent protest against the day that awaited.

Outside, the world seemed blissfully ignorant of the shadows that clung to Evan's footsteps as he made his solitary way to Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. The establishment stood like a beacon of gaudy joy, its bright colors and cheerful music a stark contrast to the dark undercurrents it masked. Inside, a cacophony of children’s laughter and electronic beeps filled the air, weaving a tapestry of feigned normalcy that Evan clung to desperately.

The ball pit, a vibrant mosh pit of colors, offered a temporary reprieve as he joined Gabriel and Jeremy. The latter, a sprightly boy with an infectious enthusiasm, reminded Evan painfully of the innocence he felt slipping from his grasp. Gabriel, more reserved yet equally endearing with his cautious smile, seemed to sense Evan’s unease, often throwing a comforting arm around him or flashing a supportive grin.

“Hey Evan, look at this!” Jeremy’s voice cut through the ambient noise as he launched himself into the ball pit, his body disappearing beneath a wave of colorful spheres. Gabriel followed suit with a theatrical cannonball, eliciting a shower of giggles from the surrounding kids.

Evan, spurred by a momentary surge of light-heartedness, executed a neat backflip into the pit, the physical exertion dislodging some of the heaviness from his heart. They frolicked like typical children, momentarily forgetting the world beyond the padded walls of the pit.

"Hey, we need to get some drinks," Gabriel called out, a playful challenge in his tone as he tackled Evan to the soft, cushioned ground. Rising with a laugh, Evan lobbed a small yellow ball at Jeremy, who dodged with surprising agility, his laughter ringing clear and true.

Navigating through clusters of children absorbed in a game of "Freddy In Prison," Evan fetched sodas, the cold cans sweating in the warmth of the bustling arcade. Returning, he was greeted by a spirited debate between the brothers over which animatronic reigned supreme, their arguments a familiar comfort.

“Honestly, Freddy’s the best,” Gabriel declared, his voice a mix of defiance and pride.

“Bonnie’s easily the best,” Jeremy countered with a cheeky grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

A gentle voice chimed in, “I think Fredbear is the best.” They turned to see Cassidy approaching, her presence like a soothing balm to Evan’s frayed nerves. Her smile, warm and unguarded, invited a rare smile from Evan, who felt a flicker of something perilously close to joy.

The day unfolded with the innocent chaos of childhood—arcade games blaring, pizzas devoured, and harmless pranks exchanged. Cassidy, with her nimble evasions and witty comebacks, soon became the heart of their little group, drawing Evan out of his shell. Their interactions, light and teasing, began to weave a subtle thread of connection, hinting at the blossoming of a tender friendship, perhaps something deeper, as Cassidy’s laughter became a sound Evan found himself yearning for amidst his darkest hours.

SCENE CHANGE: AFTON HOUSEHOLD.

Nightfall brought a return to the grim reality of Evan’s existence. The familiar, chilling ambiance of his room greeted him as he faced his nocturnal adversaries. The light breathing of Nightmare Bonnie signaled the beginning of the night’s ordeal, each breathing a whisper of impending doom. With a shaking hand, Evan grasped his flashlight, the beam slicing through the darkness to momentarily stall the advance of the monstrous animatronic.

The encounters that night were a grotesque parade of twisted metal and flickering shadows. Foxy, his sharp teeth bared in a sinister grin, halted his charge as the light caught his eye, retreating into the deeper shadows of the closet. The relative quietness of Chica and Freddy allowed Evan brief moments of respite, his breaths shallow and ragged as he braced for the next assault.

The appearance of Nightmare, a ghastly black version of Fredbear, marked a crescendo of fear, its charge sending Evan sprawling. The impact with the bedframe left him dazed, his ears ringing as he was mercilessly thrown into the closet, the space claustrophobic and suffocating.

“Good riddance,” he muttered under his breath, a feeble attempt to bolster his waning courage as the nightmare morphed into the horrific visage of the Puppet. The room, charged with the malevolent energy of the puppet, seemed to shrink, suffocating him with the palpable intensity of his fear. Evan’s gaze locked onto the puppet’s eyes, those of the deceased Charlie, and he felt a chill seep into his bones.

“This is singlehandedly the most powerful nightmare I’ve ever faced so far,” he whispered, the words a mix of awe and terror as he dodged the relentless attacks of the puppet’s tendrils.

With the clock’s final chime at 6 AM, exhaustion claimed him, his body collapsing onto the bed as a fragile peace settled over him, a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of calm in the storm of his nightly battles.

4 DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY.

In the dim morning light that seeped through the curtains of the Afton household, Michael wrestled fitfully with his blankets, as though trying to cast off the weight of his nightmarish visions. His sleep was fraught with the haunting image of Charlie, her body consumed by black flames, her eyes piercing him with a chilling accusation. As he tossed in the oppressive gloom of his room, the echoes of her words seemed to reverberate off the walls, a constant reminder of the impending danger: "Evan will be next. I recommend that you help him."

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he jolted awake, the remnants of dread clinging to him like a second skin. The room felt colder, as if the shadows themselves harbored malice. Rising from his bed, Michael’s movements were mechanical, driven by a surge of protective urgency for his brother Evan.

He stumbled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, trying to erase the vestiges of terror that clung to his thoughts. The mirror reflected a man haunted, eyes hollow with the burden of unspoken fears. "I have to do something," he muttered to himself, the resolve hardening in his gut. It was more than just a fraternal instinct; it was a desperate need to rewrite the dark predictions that haunted their lives.

Returning to his room, Michael began to pace, each stepping a beat in the cacophony of his racing thoughts. He needed a plan, a way to shield Evan from the spectral threats that seemed to loom ever closer. The very atmosphere of the house seemed charged with a sinister anticipation, as if the walls themselves whispered of dark things waiting in the wings.

With a grim set to his jaw, Michael grabbed his jacket, the leather creaking softly as he pulled it on. His mind replayed Charlie’s warning, each word a spike of adrenaline fueling his resolve. “I need to be ready,” he whispered, almost as a mantra to steal himself for the confrontation he knew was coming.

As he stepped out of his room, his mother's old necklace caught his eye, hanging from a hook by the door—a talisman that seemed to pulse with a silent power. On impulse, he grabbed it, feeling a surge of emotion as the cool metal touched his skin. It was a link to a past that both comforted and haunted him, a piece of history laden with unspoken stories.

Heading towards Evan’s room, his footsteps echoed ominously through the hallway. He paused at the door, his hand hovering over the knob, heart pounding with a mix of dread and determination. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open.

Inside, Evan lay still on his bed, the morning light casting long shadows across his young face. His eyes were closed, a deceptive peace that belied the torment of his dreams. Evan's room was filled with the cold, lingering echoes of his nightly battles—shadows seemed to flit in the periphery, a visual testament to the nightmares that frequented this space.

As Michael approached, his gaze fell upon the necklace around Evan's neck—the very necklace he had just taken moments before. Confusion turned swiftly into searing anger. How could Evan have this—their mother's necklace? His hands clenched into fists, his initial concern curdling into fury.

"Evan!" His voice was sharp, a stark contrast to the soft, eerie quiet of the room. Evan stirred, confusion marred his features as he woke to his brother's livid expression.

"Michael, what—?" Evan's voice was small, barely above a whisper, eyes wide with burgeoning fear.

"Why do you have this?" Michael thrust the necklace in front of him, his voice thick with accusation. "This was Mom's. You shouldn't be touching it! You're defiling her memory by wearing it like some kind of trinket!"

Evan recoiled, the accusation stinging as he fumbled for words. "I—I thought it would help me feel safer," he stuttered, the innocence of his plea only fueling Michael's anger.

"Safer?" Michael's laugh was bitter, echoing around the room. "You think clinging to the past will save you? You're naive, Evan. Naively dangerous."

As the brothers' conversation spiraled, the room seemed to close in around them, the air thick with unspoken history and raw emotion. Michael's gaze hardened, his protective instincts warring with a newfound resentment.

"You need to grow up, Evan. You can't hide behind memories. Not with what's coming." Michael's words were cold, each syllable a hammer driving the wedge deeper between them.

Evan, caught between the desire to explain and the instinct to shrink away, remained silent, the hurt evident in his eyes. As Michael stormed out, the door slamming behind him with a resounding thud, he felt a tumult of conflicting emotions. His stride was heavy as he left the house, the morning air doing little to clear the fog of anger and confusion in his mind.

Like a candle flame flickering in a sudden draft, his sense of purpose wavered,his sense of purpose wavered, torn between the fierce loyalty to family legacy and the raw, painful hatred that bubbled up every time he saw Evan. He was no longer sure of what was right, his heart a battlefield of doubt and resolve. The true nightmare, it seemed, was the war within himself, just as much as any spectral horror that haunted their nights.

SCENE CHANE: FREDDY'S

The corridors of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria had grown eerily silent as a sudden power outage eclipsed the usual hum of activity, casting Elizabeth and Susie into an unexpected gloom. Security monitors, once lively with the looped antics of animatronics, flickered erratically before plunging the room into an uneasy darkness. As the backup generator sputtered to life, the screens lit up sporadically, each flash revealing brief, haunting snapshots of Charlie’s demise—her spectral image lingering like a baleful specter over the establishment.

“Impossible,” Elizabeth gasped, her voice whispering against the static hum of the rebooting system. Susie stood frozen beside her, her eyes wide with a dawning horror as the puppet, a grotesque caricature of gaiety, stared back through the grainy feed from its position outside the security office.

“It can’t be out there,” Susie murmured, her voice trembling as much with disbelief as with fear. The images of Charlie, distorted and flickering on the monitors, seemed to pulse with a malevolent life of their own. The girls were momentarily paralyzed by the visceral fear that gripped them, the air thick with an unspoken dread that this was no mere malfunction of technology.

Suddenly, the office lights stuttered back to life, illuminating the stark fear etched on their faces. Henry, with his own features drawn in concern, stepped through the door just as the normalcy of light seemed to banish the shadows of doubt.

“What’s going on here? Are you both alright?” Henry’s voice was steady, a stark contrast to the palpable tension that hung in the air.

“We thought... we saw something on the cameras. It was like—like she was there again,” Elizabeth stammered, unable to fully articulate the chilling experience. Susie nodded in agreement, her gaze flicking back to the now-stable monitors as if expecting the ghastly apparition to reappear.

Henry’s eyes softened as he took in the frightened state of the young girls, his protective instinct mingling with a growing unease. “It must have been a glitch, just a trick of the light,” he suggested, though his voice carried a note of uncertainty that did little to assuage their fears.

As he ushered them out of the security room, his mind raced with the implications of their words. The history of Freddy Fazbear’s was marred by tragedy and mystery, each incident layered upon the last until the truth was as obscured as the motives of the animatronics themselves. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the darkness lingering in the corners of the pizzeria was gathering strength, feeding off the fears of its occupants.

Outside, the midday sun did little to warm the chill that had settled over Elizabeth and Susie. As they stepped away from the building, the relief of daylight did nothing to dispel the darkness that had taken root in their hearts.

“We can’t tell anyone about this,” Susie whispered, her voice a fragile thread of sound. “They wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t believe us.”

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes haunted as she glanced back at the deceivingly cheerful facade of the pizzeria. “Let’s just try to forget it happened,” she agreed, though the tremor in her voice spoke of the impossibility of such a feat.

As they parted ways, each lost in their own troubled thoughts, the foreboding sense of an approaching storm seemed to mock their attempts at normalcy. Behind them, the pizzeria stood silent, a sentinel of secrets too dark to be fully understood, each ticking second drawing them closer to the inevitable reckoning that awaited the Afton family.

SCENE CHANGE: UNDERGROUND OFFICE

William paced the dimly lit, concrete room of the underground office, the flicker of the monitors casting ghastly shadows on his face. His eyes, wild with a fervent gleam, locked onto the inert robot behind him. "Ah, my silent sentinel," he whispered, his voice a toxic mix of fondness and derision as he patted the cold metal. "You witness a lot, say little. Perfect qualities for the company in my endeavors."

He turned away, his mind a tempest of dark thoughts. "Evan," he spat out the name like a curse. "The poison in my life's garden. You see, my dear silent friend," he addressed the robot again, his tone mockingly conversational, "Evan embodies every failure, every misstep I've had the displeasure of suffering. And suffer, I have."

William's voice dropped to a sinister whisper, his face contorting with malice. "But suffering... ah, suffering is a delectable spice, isn't it? It flavors life with such... intensity." A harsh laugh escaped him as he reminisced. "The screams of dear Charlie, oh how they filled these hollow halls. Music, pure music to my ears. The perfect lullaby for her murderer."

He paused, his gaze lost in the flickering light of a monitor. "My beloved Clara, they took you from me. And for that, they must all pay. Evan most of all." His voice rose in a crescendo of rage. "But the boy's birthday approaches, does it not? What gift does one give the child who has unwittingly orphaned himself? Fear. Despair. Oh, the possibilities."

William's mood shifted as he pulled out a dusty tome from under a pile of mechanical parts. "But the ultimate gift still eludes me," he murmured, flipping through pages filled with arcane symbols and diagrams. "Resurrection, my ultimate conquest. To bring you back, my Clara, to defy the cruel hand of fate itself. How they will scream, how they will beg! And how I will revel in their agony!"

His laughter echoed through the underground chamber, a chilling sound that seemed to make even the shadows recoil. "Yes, my plans are grand, my hatred deep. An artist of despair, a sculptor of dread. And soon, very soon, I shall craft my masterpiece."

William's soliloquy ended as he slammed the book shut, the sound a grim punctuation to his dark reverie. The robot behind him flickered briefly, as if in response to its master's madness, its eyes glowing faintly in the dark like silent witnesses to the horror unfolding within its master's mind.

Chapter 6: Siblings Rivalry

Chapter Text

3 DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY

Evan walked into the kitchen, clutching his Fredbear plush, which murmured, "He is behind the TV." Evan nodded, mentally making a note to avoid the living room for as long as he could. The days were pleasant, but the nights were straight from the darkest pit of his soul. His attention was drawn to his older sister, who seemed to be deep in thought. He tried to ignore her, but she called out to him with anger in her tone.

"Hey, loser. I need to ask you something," she said with surprising calmness. This actually somewhat unnerved Evan, but he readied himself and nodded.

"Was Charlie's death my fault?" she asked instantly. Evan was taken aback but smiled ever so slightly. So the guilt was eating her alive, he thought, slightly happy. Deciding not to answer, he left the room. She called his name, but he ignored her. She had some nerve coming here, begging for pity when she backstabbed her best friend on her own birthday. He walked to his room and slammed the door. He began to chuckle; she deserved every bit of pain, and he felt no remorse.

Chapter 7: A Day to Remember

Chapter Text

SCENE CHANGE: Evan's Morning and Fredbear's Family Diner

Evan awoke peacefully; his nightmares hadn't attacked him. For once, his sleep was undisturbed, and he felt a rare sense of calm as he opened his eyes to the morning light filtering through his window. Today was his birthday, and he was especially happy because he would get to see Cassidy. A smile spread across his face as he imagined her laughter and the fun they would have together.

He jumped out of bed, quickly got dressed, and rushed downstairs, the excitement bubbling inside him." His father, William, was already waiting with his siblings, Michael and Elizabeth, who were bickering as usual.

"Can we just get this over with?" Michael grumbled, rolling his eyes as he slouched in the backseat of the car.

Elizabeth, equally unenthusiastic, crossed her arms and stared out the window. "I don't even know why we have to go. This is so lame."

William, already irritated, snapped, "Enough! Just behave for once, will you?" He sighed deeply as he started the car, his grip on the steering wheel tight with frustration.

Evan, sitting quietly in the front seat, tried to ignore the chaos around him. His mind was focused on the day ahead and the hope that it would be perfect.

"Why can't you two just be happy for once?" Evan muttered under his breath.

Michael shot him a glare." "Oh, shut up, Evan. Not everyone gets excited about a kiddie party."

"Michael, that's enough," William warned, his tone sharp.

Elizabeth leaned forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, Michael, let Evan have his little fun. Maybe he'll finally stop whining."

Evan clenched his fists, trying to hold back his frustration. He wished they could all just get along, at least for one day.

When they finally arrived at Fredbear's, Michael immediately spotted his friends and rushed off, barely muttering a "see you later" to the rest of his family. Elizabeth found Susie and, despite her earlier complaints, seemed to cheer up a bit as they started chatting. William, without a word, headed to his office, leaving Evan alone in the main area.

Evan looked around, searching for his friends. The familiar sights and sounds of the diner were both comforting and slightly overwhelming. The smell of pizza, the flashing lights of the arcade games, and the cheerful music filled the air. Spotting Jeremy and Gabriel near the ball pit, he hurried over, his heart lifting.

"Hey, Evan! Happy birthday!" Jeremy called out, waving enthusiastically.

Gabriel grinned and handed Evan a small, neatly wrapped package. "Happy birthday, Evan. We got you something."

Evan tore open the package, revealing a coloring book and a Fredbear plastic figurine. His eyes lit up with joy. "Thanks, guys! These are awesome."

Jeremy and Gabriel smiled, happy to see their friend so pleased. "We knew you'd like them," Gabriel said. "Ready to have some fun?"

Evan nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Let's go play."

The three boys began to run around, laughing and talking about the robots. They weaved through the arcade games, taking turns at various machines and competing to see who could get the highest scores. Evan felt a sense of freedom and happiness that he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Despite his fear of the animatronics, Evan couldn't help but glance at the stage occasionally. The towering figures of Fredbear and Spring Bonnie loomed there, frozen in their cheerful poses. Even from a distance, the sight of them made his heart race and his palms sweat. He made sure to steer clear of the stage, staying within the safety of the arcade and ball pit areas.

"Let's play hide and seek in the ball pit!" Jeremy suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah, that sounds fun!" Gabriel agreed.

Evan hesitated for a moment, but the enthusiasm of his friends was infectious. "Okay, let's do it!"

They dove into the ball pit, the colorful plastic balls shifting and crunching beneath them. Jeremy covered his eyes and began counting while Evan and Gabriel scrambled to find hiding spots. Evan burrowed deep into the balls, trying to quiet his giggles.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Jeremy shouted, plunging into the ball pit.

The next few minutes were filled with laughter and playful shouts as they evaded capture and switched hiding places. Evan's worries and fears seemed to melt away in the warmth of his friends' company. For once, he felt like a normal kid, enjoying his birthday without the dark clouds of his nightmares hanging over him.

After several rounds of hide and seek, they clambered out of the ball pit, breathless and happy. They headed to the snack bar for some pizza, their stomachs growling with hunger.

As they ate, they talked about their favorite games and shared stories about school. Evan felt a sense of belonging that he rarely experienced. Gabriel and Jeremy were not just his friends; they were his escape from the fear and sadness that often plagued his life.

"So, Evan," Gabriel said, smirking slightly, "is there anyone special you were hoping to see today?"

Evan's cheeks turned pink, and he looked down at his plate. "What do you mean?"

Jeremy nudged Gabriel playfully. "You know exactly what he means. Is Cassidy coming?"

Evan's blush deepened, but he couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, she said she'd be here."

"Ooh, Cassidy!" Jeremy teased, wiggling his eyebrows. "Our little Evan has a crush!"

Gabriel laughed. "Watch out, Evan, you might turn as red as a tomato!"

Evan tried to act nonchalant, but his grin gave him away. "She's just a friend."

"Sure she is," Gabriel said, nudging him. "But we see the way you look at her."

Evan's mind wandered to Cassidy, and he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest. He hoped she would arrive soon. Just the thought of her made him smile. He imagined her walking through the doors, her face lighting up when she saw him. He imagined the fun they would have together, playing games and sharing laughs.

As they finished their pizza, Gabriel nudged Evan again. "Check out the new game they set up in the back. I heard it's really cool."

Evan nodded, eager to see what new adventure awaited them. "Yeah, let's go!"

The three friends dashed off to the back of the arcade, their laughter echoing through the diner. For now, at least, Evan could forget his fears and just be a kid, surrounded by friends who made him feel safe and happy.

Just as they reached the new game, the doors to the diner opened, and Evan turned to see Cassidy walk in, her eyes searching the room until they landed on him. Her face lit up with a bright smile, and she waved excitedly.

"There she is," Gabriel whispered to Jeremy, who both exchanged knowing looks.

Evan's heart skipped a beat, and he waved back, trying to hide his nervousness. "Hey, Cassidy!" he called out, his voice cracking slightly.

Cassidy ran over, her pigtails bouncing with each step. "Happy birthday, Evan!" she said, giving him a quick hug. "I have a present for you."

Evan's face lit up, his earlier nerves forgotten. "Really? What is it?"

Cassidy handed him a small, wrapped box. "Open it and see!"

Evan carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a beautifully crafted wooden box. He opened it to find a collection of small, hand-painted dinosaur figures. "Wow, Cassidy, these are amazing! Thank you so much!"

Cassidy beamed. "I'm glad you like them. I thought they might help you with your dinosaur collection."

Jeremy and Gabriel exchanged another look, this time one of genuine happiness for their friend. "Looks like this is turning into the best birthday ever, huh, Evan?" Jeremy said, clapping him on the back.

Evan couldn't stop smiling. "Yeah, it really is."

With his friends and Cassidy by his side, Evan felt a sense of warmth and joy that made this birthday the best one yet.

SCENE CHANGE: Cassidy's Morning and Fredbear's Family Diner

Cassidy woke up with a flutter of excitement in her chest. Today was Evan's birthday, and she had been looking forward to it for weeks. As the sunlight streamed through her window, she stretched and jumped out of bed, a smile already on her face. She couldn't wait to see Evan and spend the day with him and their friends.

She quickly washed up and brushed her teeth, humming a cheerful tune. Today had to be perfect, and she was determined to make it so. Cassidy carefully put on her favorite dress—a simple, yellow one with a matching bow—and tied her hair into two neatly done pigtails. She glanced at herself in the mirror, twirling one of the pigtails with a blush creeping up her cheeks. She wanted to look nice to Evan.

After breakfast, Cassidy double-checked the small, wrapped gift she had prepared for Evan. It was a beautifully crafted wooden box containing a collection of hand-painted dinosaur figures. She knew how much Evan loved dinosaurs, and she hoped this would make him happy. With the gift securely in her bag, she headed out the door, her heart racing with anticipation.

Cassidy's mom drove her to Fredbear's Family Diner, and the closer they got, the more her excitement grew. She could already imagine the fun they would have—playing games, eating pizza, and laughing together. But most of all, she was excited to see Evan's reaction to her gift. She hoped he would like it and that it would make him smile.

As they pulled up to the diner, Cassidy thanked her mom and hopped out of the car. She smoothed her dress and took a deep breath before walking inside. The familiar sights and sounds of the diner greeted her—the flashing arcade lights, cheerful music, and the delicious smell of pizza. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for Evan.

She spotted him near the back of the arcade, laughing and playing with Jeremy and Gabriel. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Evan looked so happy, and she couldn't wait to join him. She walked towards them, her steps light and quick, and waved when Evan noticed her.

"There she is," Gabriel whispered to Jeremy, both exchanging knowing looks.

Evan's face lit up when he saw her, and he waved back, his voice cracking slightly as he called out, "Hey, Cassidy!"

Cassidy felt her cheeks flush as she ran over to them, her pigtails bouncing with each step. "Happy birthday, Evan!" she said, giving him a quick hug. "I have a present for you."

Evan's face lit up with excitement. "Really? What is it?"

Cassidy handed him the small, wrapped box, her heart pounding as she watched him unwrap it. "Open it and see!"

Evan carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing the beautifully crafted wooden box. He opened it to find the collection of small, hand-painted dinosaur figures. His eyes widened with joy. "Wow, Cassidy, these are amazing! Thank you so much!"

Cassidy beamed, her heart soaring. "I'm glad you like them. I thought they might help you with your dinosaur collection."

Jeremy and Gabriel exchanged another look, this time one of genuine happiness for their friend. "Looks like this is turning into the best birthday ever, huh, Evan?" Jeremy said, clapping him on the back.

Evan couldn't stop smiling. "Yeah, it really is."

Cassidy's heart fluttered with happiness. Seeing Evan so joyful made her day. She joined them as they ran around the arcade, playing games and competing to see who could get the highest scores. Every now and then, she would catch Evan glancing at her, and each time, it made her blush and smile even more.

After a while, they headed to the snack bar for some pizza. Cassidy sat next to Evan, feeling a warm glow of contentment. They talked about their favorite games, shared stories about school, and laughed at Jeremy and Gabriel's silly jokes.

The day of the party arrived, and Michael's heart pounded with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He met his friends outside the diner, where they donned their Fazbear masks, blending seamlessly into a crowd of animatronic characters. The anticipation in the air was palpable, and Michael's thoughts swirled with the plan they had concocted. His anger simmered just beneath the surface, a dark undercurrent to his outward calm.

"Are we ready for this?" John asked, his voice muffled by the Chica mask.

"Yeah, let's do it," Howard replied, adjusting his Freddy mask. "It's just a prank. It'll be fine."

Michael, wearing his Foxy mask, nodded. "Remember, we need to time it perfectly. We wait for the lights to dim."

Jeremy Fitzgerald, who had the Bonnie mask on, looked around nervously. "What if something goes wrong?"

"Nothing will go wrong," Michael said firmly, though his own nerves were on edge. "Just follow the plan."

They slipped into the storage closet, waiting for the right moment. The confined space was filled with the scent of cardboard and old costumes. Michael's mind raced with anticipation, thinking of Charlie and his mother, Clara. Their faces flashed in his mind, fueling his anger. He thought about how this prank would teach Evan a lesson, how it would make him feel powerful.

Finally, the moment came. The lights dimmed as the birthday cake was brought out, and the guests' attention shifted to Evan, who was beaming with joy. Cassidy stood next to him, her smile radiant, while Gabriel and Evan's younger brother Jeremy looked on happily. Elizabeth, their sister, and Susie, Evan's friend, stood nearby, enjoying the celebration.

"Now," Michael whispered, leading the way out of the closet. They moved swiftly and quietly, slipping through the crowd towards the stage where the massive Fredbear animatronic stood ominously.

"Hey, Evan," Michael called out, his voice carrying through the now quiet room. "Come here for a second."

Evan looked puzzled but approached with curiosity. "What's up, Michael?"

"We've got a surprise for you," Michael said, forcing a smile under his mask. "It'll be fun. Trust me."

Evan hesitated, glancing back at Cassidy, Gabriel, and Jeremy. "Uh, okay," he said finally, following Michael and his friends.

As they neared Fredbear, Michael's heart pounded harder. "Grab him," he ordered, and the four older boys moved quickly. They seized Evan, ignoring his protests and struggling.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Evan cried, his voice filled with fear.

"It's just a prank, Evan," Michael said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Don't be such a baby."

With a final, determined push, they shoved Evan into Fredbear's jaws. The bot's mouth opened wide as part of the prank, and Evan's head slipped inside.

"Michael!" John shouted, panic rising in his voice. "He's stuck!"

"What? "No, he can't be," Michael said, tugging at Evan's arms. But Evan was wedged in too tightly.

"Guys, help!" Jeremy cried, pulling at Evan's legs. "We need to get him out!"

Evan's muffled cries echoed through the room, and tears streamed down his face. "Please, help me!"

Cassidy, Gabriel, and Jeremy watched in horror, their joy turning to dread. Elizabeth and Susie, who had been nearby, turned their heads towards the commotion. The room seemed to close in around them, the festive atmosphere replaced by fear and desperation.

"We have to be careful," Howard said, his voice trembling. "The springlocks—"

But it was too late. In his frantic struggle, Evan's movements triggered the springlocks. The sound was sickening, a series of metallic snaps followed by a scream that pierced the air.

"Evan!" Michael screamed, his heart shattering as he watched his brother crushed by the mechanism.

John, Howard, and Jeremy pulled with all their might, but it was no use. Evan's body went limp, his cries silenced.

The room fell into a stunned silence, the horror of what had just happened sinking in. Michael collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Evan... no..."

Cassidy sobbed uncontrollably, clutching Gabriel, who was too shocked to speak. Jeremy stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Elizabeth, who had been watching from a distance, felt her heart break into pieces. Despite the anger and frustration she often felt towards her brother, he was still her family. Seeing him die so gruesomely tore her apart. She fell to the floor, her sobs mingling with the echoes of the room. "Evan, no! Please, no!"

Susie, who had been Evan's best friend, was paralyzed with shock. The sight of her best friend's brother being crushed in front of her eyes was too much to bear. She felt a wave of nausea and fell to her knees, her cries of anguish filling the room. "Evan! Oh my God, Evan!"

The prank had gone horribly wrong, leaving them all haunted by the tragedy that had unfolded. The festive masks they wore now felt like grotesque reminders of their folly, and the darkness of their actions loomed over them, an unbearable weight of guilt and sorrow. Michael's thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind of regret and the images of Charlie and Clara, his anger now replaced by a crushing sense of loss and despair. Elizabeth's grief mingled with the weight of family loss, and Susie's heart shattered as she mourned the brother of her best friend, an image of his final moments forever etched in her mind.

Henry stood in the dimly lit office, his eyes fixed on the photograph of his late daughter, Charlie, on his desk. The news of Evan's death had hit him like a freight train, leaving him reeling with a mixture of sorrow and guilt. Despite not being his father, Henry had always felt a responsibility towards Evan, the son of his business partner, William. Evan's tragic end stirred up memories of his own failure to protect Charlie.

Henry had never been particularly close to Evan, but the boy's innocent smile and eagerness to please had always touched him. Now, that smile was gone forever, snuffed out in a moment of horror that echoes the circ*mstances of Charlie's death. The parallels were too painful to ignore. Another young life, filled with potential, lost under his watch. He felt a deep, gnawing sorrow and an overwhelming sense of failure.

Just then, William entered the room, his face a mask of grief. "Henry, I just heard," he said, his voice trembling. "Evan... my boy..."

Henry looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears. "William, I'm so sorry. I can't believe this happened. I failed him... just like I failed Charlie."

William placed a hand on Henry's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "It wasn't your fault, Henry. It was an accident. These things... they happen." Inside, however, William felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Evan, the boy he had always resented for being a constant reminder of his wife's murder, was finally gone. He felt a sick pleasure knowing that his wife’s killer had now paid the ultimate price, but he hid these dark feelings behind a facade of mourning.

As they stood together, an ambulance pulled up outside the diner. The flashing lights cast eerie shadows through the windows. The paramedics rushed in, bringing a stretcher to carry Evan's lifeless body.

Cassidy, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, ran towards the paramedics. "Please, let me go with him! I need to be there! He’s my friend!" she begged, her voice breaking with desperation.

One of the paramedics gently held her back. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you can't come with us. We'll take good care of him, I promise."

Henry watched Cassidy with a heavy heart. Her love and desperation mirrored his own grief. He turned to William, his voice barely a whisper. "We should follow the ambulance. We need to be there for Evan."

William nodded solemnly. "Yes, we should. Let's go."

As they made their way to the hospital, Henry's mind was a whirlwind of regret and sorrow. He glanced at William, who maintained his mournful expression. Henry couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but he dismissed it as his own grief playing tricks on him.

At the hospital, they were met with sterile hallways and the smell of antiseptic. Cassidy, despite the paramedics' earlier words, had managed to follow them, her eyes pleading as she clung to Henry's arm. "Please, Mr. Henry, I need to see Evan. I need to know he’s okay."

Henry knelt down to her level, his voice gentle but firm. "Cassidy, I know you want to help, but right now, the doctors need to do their job. We have to be strong for Evan."

Cassidy nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Okay, but promise me we'll see him as soon as we can."

"I promise," Henry said, hugging her tightly. The sight of her pain added another layer to his own sorrow. He felt the weight of all the lives that had been shattered by the events of the day.

William stood nearby, watching the exchange with a carefully controlled expression. He knew he had to keep up the act, to maintain the facade of a grieving father. "Henry, let’s sit down. We need to be ready for when the doctors come out."

They sat in the waiting area, the minutes dragging by like hours. Henry's mind kept replaying the events, wondering what he could have done differently. He felt a deep connection to the boy he had failed, a boy who reminded him so much of his own lost daughter.

Finally, a doctor emerged, his face grave. "Mr. Afton, Mr. Emily, can I speak with you?"

They both stood, Henry's heart pounding in his chest. Cassidy clung to Henry's hand, her eyes wide with fear and hope.

"I'm sorry," the doctor began, his voice heavy with sympathy. "We did everything we could, but the injuries were too severe. Evan didn't make it."

Henry felt his knees buckle, the weight of the news crashing down on him. He pulled Cassidy into his arms as she wailed in grief, her small body shaking with sobs.

William lowered his head, feigning deep sorrow. "Thank you, doctor," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Inside, a part of him felt triumph, but he masked it with a performance of utter devastation.

As they left the hospital, Henry held Cassidy close, his heart breaking for her and for the loss they all shared. The tragedy had shattered their world, and he vowed to honor Evan's memory by doing everything in his power to prevent such a nightmare from ever happening again.

For Henry, the day was a cruel reminder of his past failures and a challenge to his resolve to protect those he cared about. For William, it was a dark victory masked in sorrow. And for Cassidy, it was a heartbreaking loss that left her clinging to the memory of her dear friend, her love and sadness intertwined in the shadows of their grief.

The Bite Of 83

Chapter 8: Face to Face with Regret

Chapter Text

Michael couldn't sleep. His mind was assaulted by the guilt he felt over Evan's death. Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in that nightmare. In his dreams, he was running through a set of familiar hallways, ones he had navigated countless times before. The flickering lights and the distant hum of machinery echoed around him. He made it to the office and began to relax, but a deep, menacing laugh brought him back to full alertness. Quickly, he checked the cameras. His brows furrowed when he saw Fredbear on cam 3B, standing on the Diner stage, eerily still. Michael briefly noted Fredbear's black hat and tie, but he knew he had to act fast.

The sound of fast footsteps to his right caused him to shut the door abruptly. The robot seemed to move at supersonic speeds, a blur of metallic fury. Michael flicked through the cams frantically until he reached cam 8, the view of the alleyways. That's when he saw it—the puppet. Its hollow eyes stared directly at him, and Charlie's death flashed into his mind. Overcome with grief, he realized Fredbear was coming, but he was too late. The golden bear robot lunged at him, and Michael awoke with a start, sweat pouring down his face.

He sat up in bed, his heart racing. "I'm an idiot," he whispered to himself. His brother, Evan, was never responsible for their mother's death. Evan wasn't a freak; he was just a scared little boy who had been blamed for something he didn't do. Michael looked up at the ceiling, tears welling in his eyes, and began to beg Evan and Charlie for mercy.

Feeling restless, Michael got up and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the faucet and began to wash his hands. His eyes drooped, and his vision blurred. All he could see was blood on his hands, a vivid reminder of his guilt. No matter how hard he scrubbed, it wouldn't come off. Panic set in, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

After what felt like an eternity, he left the bathroom. It had been less than a day since the incident he didn't want to think about it. He walked down the hallway, passing his father's office, where the door was slightly ajar. Michael had always been curious about what was inside. His father was gone for at least two hours, so he seized the opportunity and slipped into the room.

The dimly lit office was filled with blueprints and endoskeletons. "Of course, he'd have this," Michael muttered hatefully, thinking about his father's obsession with animatronics.

As he walked to the desk, his eyes locked onto a book titled NIGHTMARE TRIALS. He wondered if it was a niche horror novel but decided to read it. Within minutes, he felt sick to his stomach. The book detailed experiments and tortures that his father had conducted on Evan. No wonder his brother was terrified of robots.

"I'm so sorry," Michael whispered, his voice breaking. He took a deep breath and continued looking through the documents. One caught his eye: plans for a new restaurant, Circus Baby's Pizza World. The name struck a chord with him. It was what his sister had wanted to call Freddy's. He assumed it was clown-themed and focused on blueprints.

"What's the need for a scooper?" he wondered aloud. He saw mentions of voice mimicry and illusion discs. Was his father involved in something far more sinister than he had realized? He needed answers but knew he couldn't stay any longer. It had been nearly an hour, and he had to leave before his father returned.

"It's like Dad's up to something. It almost seems like he is experimenting with something. I'll figure you out, Dad," he muttered with force and determination.

Michael left the office, a whirlwind of emotions churning inside him. He walked through the darkened house, each step echoing his resolve. He couldn't shake the images from the book or the plans for Circus Baby's Pizza World. His father's actions were shrouded in mystery, but Michael was determined to uncover the truth. He owed it to Evan, to Charlie, and to himself. The weight of the past bore down on him, but he knew he couldn't rest until he had answers.

SCENE CHANGE: Henry's House

Henry sat in his worn, leather armchair, the room dimly lit by a single lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Elizabeth sat across from him in a wooden chair, her face pale and her eyes hollow. She was deathly quiet, and Henry could feel the weight of her silence. He was deeply worried about her mental equilibrium. She had always been his practical daughter... hell, he was her and Michael's godfather. He was Michael and Elizabeth's "Uncle Henry."

"Are you okay? I know what you're going through, believe me," Henry said, his voice soft and comforting, trying to bridge the gap between them.

"No, you don't. I killed CHARLIE," she screamed, her voice breaking as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Henry was taken aback, confusion etched across his face. "What do you mean?" he asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

Through her tears, Elizabeth confessed her plans with Susie to lock Charlie out as a prank on her birthday. Henry listened in stunned silence, the color draining from his face. He had to take deep breaths to calm himself, fury and sorrow battling within him. It was a terrible mistake, but it was still just that—a mistake. He rose from his chair, walked over to Elizabeth, and pulled her into a tight embrace, gently stroking her back until her sobs subsided and she fell asleep in his arms.

As Henry held Elizabeth, the front door creaked open and Michael walked in, his shoulders slumped and his eyes red from crying. He glanced at Henry, and in a shaky voice, he and Henry began to talk about their days, the mundanity of life now overshadowed by the tragedies they had faced. They spoke of how things had spiraled since Charlie and Evan's deaths, their voices barely above whispers in the stillness of the room.

"I'm going to add more security features and remove the springlocks," Henry said, his voice firm with determination.

Michael nodded, his gaze distant, and they sat in silence for ten long minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Henry broke the silence.

"Come to the restaurant and work as a guard. You need the money, and it might do you some good," Henry suggested, breaking the silence. Michael opened his mouth to refuse, but Henry's reassuring smile stopped him. "It's for the best. We'll figure it out together," Henry added, his tone gentle yet resolute.

Michael shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "I... I don't know if I can, Uncle Henry. Every time I close my eyes, I see them. Charlie, Evan... I failed them."

Henry placed a hand on Michael's shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. "You didn't fail them, Michael. None of this was your fault. We all made mistakes, but we have to keep going. For them."

Michael nodded slowly, his voice trembling. "I miss them so much. It's like a part of me is gone."

"I know, son, I know," Henry replied, his own voice thick with emotion. "But we have to be strong. For each other. Charlie wouldn't want to see you like this."

Michael looked up, meeting Henry's gaze with a mixture of grief and determination. "Alright, Uncle Henry. I'll come to the restaurant. Maybe it will help."

Henry smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "That's the spirit. We'll get through this together. One day at a time."

Michael managed a small, genuine smile. "Thanks, Uncle Henry. For everything."

Henry nodded, pulling Michael into a brief but heartfelt hug. "Anytime, kiddo. We're practically family. We'll always have each other."

Michael and Elizabeth were driven home by Henry and their father greeted them and they went to bed.

SCENE CHANGE: Cassidy's Home

Cassidy lay in her bed, clutching the sheets, her eyes leaking with tears. The room was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of the streetlamp outside her window. The shadows danced on the walls, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. It wasn't fair—why did Evan have to die? Why? She felt the weight of loneliness press down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Gabriel and Jeremy, her younger brothers, were trying to cope as best as they could. For a six and five-year-old, they were remarkably resilient. They were depressed, but they still managed to find small moments of joy, even in the midst of their grief. Cassidy envied their ability to see the bright side, something she couldn't muster no matter how hard she tried.

She needed Evan; she wanted Evan to be here. Memories of him flooded her mind—his laugh, the way his eyes lit up when he smiled, the way he made her feel safe. She regretted never asking him out, always too shy, always waiting for the perfect moment that never came. Now, that chance was gone forever, and the regret gnawed at her insides like a relentless predator.

The pain was almost unbearable, a constant ache that never seemed to fade. But through the haze of sorrow, a tiny spark of determination ignited within her. She would try her hardest to live her life happily and with care, even if it felt impossible right now. She owed it to Evan to keep going, to find some semblance of peace and happiness, even if it was just a sliver.

"For him," she muttered, the words barely audible through her sobs. She repeated it like a mantra, hoping it would give her the strength to get through the night.

Cassidy sat up, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. She glanced at the photo of Evan on her nightstand, his smile forever frozen in time. She took a deep breath and whispered, "I'll make you proud, Evan. I promise."

She knew it wouldn't be easy. The road ahead was filled with uncertainty and more heartache, but she would take it one step at a time. For Evan. For herself. For the future they never got to share.

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Cassidy felt a small flicker of hope. She got out of bed and walked to the window, looking out at the world that kept turning despite her grief. It was a new day, a chance to start again. She would carry Evan in her heart, and that would have to be enough.

**SCENE CHANGE: NIGHTMARE AWAKENING**

Evan awoke in the dimly lit diner, the flickering lights casting eerie shadows around him. The once familiar environment now felt alien and hostile. He was surrounded by his plushies, their button eyes glinting ominously in the darkness. Their once comforting presence now felt sinister as they whispered hauntingly:

"We are still your friends."

"Do you still believe that?"

Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy Plushes began to twist and contort, their forms elongating and warping into grotesque nightmare versions. Their fabric skin split to reveal jagged metal teeth and glowing red eyes. As the Fredbear plush looked on, its expression became unreadable as Evan’s panic grew. He stood up, his heart pounding with fear and anger. How dare they mock him? His eyes flashed golden as rage consumed him, a searing heat spreading through his chest.

"You think you can escape?" Freddy hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "You can’t hide from us."

Evan’s breath quickened. Two golden spectral arms shot out from his back, one towards Foxy and the other towards Bonnie. Foxy ducked and leapt back, putting some distance between them, but Bonnie was hit and thrown back, letting out a nightmarish scream.

"You can't escape your fate, Evan," Chica mocked, her voice echoing in the darkness.

Foxy swiped at Evan with his hook, but Evan ducked and retaliated with a beam of searing light from his eyes. Bonnie, recovering quickly, grabbed Evan from behind and punched him, sending him sprawling across the floor. Two more spectral arms formed and punched Bonnie, sending the nightmare creature reeling.

Foxy tried to leap at Evan again, but was thrown back by the four golden arms. Both nightmares got up, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent, and charged at Evan. He dodged and weaved, his movements desperate but determined. He unleashed his spectral arms and beams of light, and conjured spectral spears and hammers, barely managing to keep the nightmares at bay. After a fierce struggle, Bonnie was reduced to a pile of scraps, and Foxy fell to a massive beam of light.

Evan was drenched in sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His muscles ached from the constant strain of fighting.

"You're broken," Freddy whispered manically, his nightmarish voice sending shivers down Evan's spine. "You'll always be broken."

"We are still your friends," Chica whispered mockingly, her voice dripping with malevolence. "We’ll never leave you."

They charged at Evan, forcing him to retreat to the storage room. He slammed the door shut and blocked it with his body, his breath coming in short, panicked bursts.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

The door shook with each impact, the wood splintering and cracking. He couldn’t hold out much longer. The door caved in and he was thrown back, crashing into the shelves behind him. Nightmare Fredbear stood before the other two nightmares, a twisted grin on his face.

"We can't help," he roared with immense glee at Evan's pain, his voice echoing through the small room. "We can only watch you suffer."

Evan was at a loss, feeling the weight of despair pressing down on him. But then, he remembered Michael and his desire for revenge. The thought of Michael's face, smug and unrepentant, filled him with a new kind of determination. His eyes flashed golden and erupted in a blinding light, obliterating the nightmares into scraps. He breathed a sigh of relief and began to relax, the tension slowly draining from his body.

"That was rough," he muttered as he walked towards the office room, his footsteps echoing in the empty diner.

"Now, how do I get out of here?" Evan questioned himself, his voice trembling slightly. Suddenly, a rumbling knocked him off his feet. He turned to see the nightmare puppet and Nightmare Fredbear fusing into a horrific amalgamation. The creature had Fredbear's body but was black with a golden tie and hat. Four puppet arms jutted from its back, their fingers twitching and writhing like living things.

"We'll put you back together," it roared, its voice a terrifying cacophony of whispers and screams. "Piece by piece, we’ll make you whole again."

"Shut up," Evan replied angrily, his voice steady and firm. "Bring it."

The nightmares fused into one monstrous entity and charged at Evan. The force of their combined attack was overwhelming, but Evan stood his ground. After 30 minutes of intense battle, Evan was bruised and battered. He found himself on stage next to a limp Fredbear robot, his body aching and his vision blurred. Desperate, he climbed into the suit, the metal cold and unyielding against his skin. The purple tie and hat turned black, resonating with Evan’s vengeance and fury. He erupted in a golden light with black stripes, his power surging through him like a tidal wave.

The robot stood up, its eyes burning with resolve. It faced the nightmare, which snarled back, its eyes glowing with hatred.

"You are nothing without your fears," the nightmare growled, its voice filled with venom.

"Maybe," Evan replied, his voice calm and resolute. "But my fears make me stronger."

They clashed, trading punches, kicks, and beams of light and darkness. The battle was fierce and unrelenting, each blow shaking the very foundations of the diner. After 10 relentless minutes, Evan extended his hand and accepted his nightmares for what they were:

**HIS SOURCE OF STRENGTH**

The nightmare was absorbed into Evan, who laughed maniacally, his voice echoing through the empty halls. He swore revenge on Michael, his resolve unwavering and his determination burning brighter than ever. In reality, he awoke in the parts and service room of the Fredbear robot, his mind filled with dark determination. He stood up, his body still aching but his spirit unbroken. The road ahead was uncertain, but he knew one thing for sure: he would have his revenge.

Chapter 9: Ghostly Surveillance

Chapter Text

1 Year Later

Charlie stood in front of the Fredbear suit, her ghostly form shimmering in the dim light of the room. It had been a year since Evan fought his demons and found himself trapped in the Fredbear suit. Despite their efforts to reconcile, their relationship remained strained and fragile.

"So, do you understand?" she asked, her ethereal voice barely above a whisper as she gazed at the suit.

"Yes," Evan replied, his tone devoid of emotion. "I managed to set up some camera shards in my former house. My father is trapped in his office, and my siblings are coping. They're doing a bit better now."

"It's very interesting, Evan. I can sense some danger with Elizabeth. It seems like she will..." He paused, his voice trailing off.

"Don't finish, Evan," Charlie interrupted, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I have already seen the events of the next year. I know what happens."

Evan left the suit, his ghostly form drifting away as they began to roam the deserted restaurant. The faint sound of old animatronic music echoed through the halls, creating an eerie ambiance. As they floated past the main stage, they saw Fritz, Gabriel, and Jeremy playing together. Evan's heart swelled with bittersweet happiness as he watched them. He wished he could join in their games, to feel the simple joy of being a child once more.

Using his light shards, Evan gently increased their happiness, casting a warm glow over the scene. Charlie observed with a soft smile before turning away. She felt a pull towards the music box in the corner, the one connected to the puppet robot. She longed for rest, to escape the painful memories that haunted her.

"I can't face him, Evan," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I can't face my father."

Evan nodded silently, understanding her pain. "I know, Charlie. It's hard for me to think about my father and siblings. But we have to keep going and keep pushing forward and get our revenge."

As Charlie slipped into the music box, Evan found his way back to the Fredbear suit. Settling inside, he closed his eyes, memories of Cassidy flooding his mind. He missed her terribly, especially her bright smile and the way her two pigtails framed her face.

His thoughts drifted back to the days before the darkness consumed them all, to the times when laughter filled the air and the future seemed full of promise. He was now left to navigate this shadowy existence, bound by the past and uncertain of what lies ahead.

Despite the heaviness in his heart, a faint glimmer of hope remained. Perhaps, in this twisted existence, there was still a chance for redemption, for healing the wounds that time and tragedy had inflicted. As Evan drifted into a restless sleep, the hope that they could find a way to move forward flickered like a distant star, faint but enduring.

SCENE CHANGE: UNDERGROUND OFFICE

William's pen scratched across the form with an almost feverish excitement. The robots and the restaurant were completed ahead of schedule, and the grand opening was set for next month. All preparations were meticulously done. His creations, these mechanical marvels with their advanced luring technology, were the ultimate kidnapping machines. Each one was equipped with voice recognition, voice copying, and illusion discs. The scoopers and capsule tanks were perfectly sized for most children. It was flawless. His latest experiments on remnant were nearly successful. He just needed more test subjects, and that was his overarching plan. After a final review of the files, he left the office, a smirk playing on his lips.

Emerging from the dimly lit basem*nt, William entered his purple Ferrari, the engine roaring to life. He sped towards Freddy's, his mind racing with anticipation. Fredbear and the puppet were to be relocated to Freddy's, along with the addition of more robots.

"Perhaps a pink and white version of Foxy... Maybe a golden Chica... No, that's ridiculous," he chuckled to himself, a sinister glee bubbling up inside him. Since that brat's death, his mood had significantly improved. Michael and Elizabeth were taking it hard, which was surprising given how much they had made his life a misery. No matter—he had far more important things to focus on.

The drive to Freddy's felt exhilarating. His creations were not just machines; they were instruments of his grand design, his masterstroke. Every piece of technology, every algorithm was crafted with precision to serve his dark purposes. The voice recognition could mimic any voice to perfection, the illusion discs could create any scenario to lure his prey, and the scoopers were engineered to extract and preserve the remnant he so desperately sought.

His thoughts drifted to his children. Michael and Elizabeth's distress was a minor inconvenience, an unnecessary distraction. He couldn't afford to be bogged down by their weaknesses; he was on the cusp of something monumental. His experiments on remnant—the very essence of the human soul—were yielding promising results. The power to harness and manipulate this energy was within his grasp, and he wouldn't let anything or anyone stand in his way.

As he pulled into the parking lot of Freddy's, the empty building loomed ahead, soon to be filled with the culmination of his work. The new animatronics would soon be installed, and Fredbear and the puppet would be transferred to their new home. The stage was set for the next phase of his plan.

Stepping out of his car, William looked at the restaurant with a twisted sense of pride and anticipation. The air seemed to hum with the potential of his designs. He was on the verge of reshaping the future according to his vision, a future where his genius would reign supreme. The excitement coursing through him was almost palpable, a dark thrill that sent shivers down his spine.

He took a deep breath, savoring the moment. That was it. The culmination of all his efforts, the dawn of a new era. With a final, satisfying grin, William entered Freddy's, ready to bring his grand, sinister plan to life.

SCENE CHANGE: PARK

Michael and Jeremy were caught up in conversations about their day and how they were feeling. Both felt awful, but things had improved somewhat. Michael still carried the heavy guilt of his brother’s accidental death in Fredbear’s mouth, and Jeremy felt equally responsible for being an accomplice. Their two other friends had left the city, and Michael and Jeremy called them cowards. They walked and eventually relaxed on a park bench.

"I can't believe they just left like that," Michael said, shaking his head. "We needed them here."

"Yeah," Jeremy replied, kicking a pebble across the path. "But maybe they're right. Maybe getting away is the only way to move on."

Michael sighed. "I don’t know, Jeremy. Running away doesn’t change what happened."

Jeremy nodded. "True. But staying here keeps it fresh in our minds every single day."

Michael looked down, his voice trembling slightly. "Do you think we'll ever be able to move on?"

Jeremy shrugged. "I don’t know, Michael. Maybe. But it feels like we're stuck in a loop, doesn't it? Every day, the same guilt, the same memories."

Michael nodded, his eyes distant. "Yeah. It's like the past is haunting us, refusing to let go."

After 30 minutes, Michael stood up. "I’ve got to get to work," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you," Jeremy replied. "Take care, Michael."

SCENE CHANGE: Fredbear's

Michael ran to Fredbear's, where he was greeted by Henry. "Hey, Michael. Ready for your first night shift?" Henry asked, smiling.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Michael replied, forcing a smile.

Henry gave him a quick tutorial, showing him around the office. "This door here can be closed to keep anything out," he said, demonstrating. "And this vent can be flashed down if needed. The cameras are all set up and working properly. Here’s the maintenance panel; you can use it to regulate the robots and order supplies."

Michael nodded, trying to absorb all the information. "Got it. Anything else I need to know?"

"Just make sure you complete your tasks and keep an eye on the time. Your shift ends at 6 AM," Henry said, patting Michael on the back. "You’ve got this."

Glancing at the clock, Michael noted it was only 8:30 PM; he was three and a half hours early. "Guess I'll get started on some tasks then."

"Good idea," Henry replied. "I'll be heading home now. Call me if you need anything."

"Thanks, Henry," Michael said as Henry walked out the door.

Michael performed some basic tasks, the routine work providing a brief distraction from his inner turmoil. As 11 PM approached, marking the official start of his shift, a sense of dread settled over him. He bolted to his office, ready to face the long night ahead, hoping he could make it through without incident.

As he sat down in the office, the familiar hum of the machinery surrounded him. The minutes ticked by slowly, each second a reminder of the long hours ahead. The camera feed flickered occasionally, showing empty halls and darkened rooms.

"Alright, let’s do this," Michael muttered to himself, trying to summon his courage. He glanced at the maintenance panel, double-checking everything was in order. The silence of the office was both a comfort and a curse, giving him too much time to think.

A sudden noise from one of the camera feeds caught his attention. He switched the view and saw a shadow moving in the hallway. His heart pounded in his chest as he strained to see what it was.

"Just a glitch," he whispered, trying to convince himself. "Stay focused, Michael."

The hours dragged on, each one longer than the last. Michael kept busy with his tasks, constantly checking the cameras and the maintenance panel. Every creak and groan of the old building set him on edge, but he pushed through, determined to make it to 6 AM.

He noted the Spring Bonnie bot was moving closer, and he knew it was a security feature to ward off robbers. Michael was told to close the door if it got too close. Michael had finished half the tasks by 2 AM and he had only needed to shut the door once. Then he heard sounds in the vents. He then remembered the mediocre melodies that were reused by Fredbear's. They used to patrol the vents, and Michael was told by Henry to flash them if they came. Happy Frog and Mr. Hippo were the only ones salvaged, so they rarely made it to the office.

As the night deepened, the atmosphere grew heavier, shadows lengthening and flickering under the dim lights. The animatronics seemed to move with a life of their own, their eyes glowing with an unsettling, unnatural light.

At 5 AM, Michael was nearly done with his shift but still had an hour left. He heard a faint, rhythmic tapping coming from the vent. His heart pounded in his chest as he pointed the flashlight toward the sound. The light revealed the twisted face of Happy Frog, its eyes wide and unblinking.

"Stay back," Michael muttered, flashing the light repeatedly until the figure retreated into the darkness. His hands shook as he locked the door and placed the light facing the vent.

With ten minutes left, Michael leaned back in his chair, his eyes heavy. Just a few more minutes, he told himself. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the exhaustion take over.

A sudden, loud clang jolted him awake. The room was filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the faint hum of the machinery. Michael's breath caught in his throat as he looked around. The cameras showed nothing but empty halls and dark rooms, yet he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

He heard it again—a metallic scrape, closer this time. He turned to see Spring Bonnie standing just outside the door, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. Michael's hand hovered over the door control, ready to slam it shut. But the animatronic didn't move. It stood there, its head tilted, as if mocking him.

"Go away," Michael whispered, his voice trembling. He pressed the button, and the door closed with a heavy thud. He heard the sound of the animatronic's claws scraping against the metal, trying to force its way in.

The seconds felt like hours as Michael waited, his heart racing. Finally, the scraping stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the office. He glanced at the clock—6 AM. He had made it.

Henry entered the office, patting Michael on the back. "Good job, Michael. You did well. How was your first night?"

Michael forced a smile. "It was... something else."

As Henry walked away, Michael couldn't shake the feeling of dread. The animatronics, the shadows, the sounds—they all felt too real, too alive. He knew he had survived the night, but he also knew that the horrors were far from over.

Leaving Fredbear's, Michael looked back at the building, a shiver running down his spine. The night had left its mark on him, a reminder of the darkness that lurked within. As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel that something—or someone—was watching him, waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

Chapter 10: The Afton Files and A Glimpse of Redemption

Chapter Text

Michael walked into work with a pep in his step. This job had helped him face his fears and confront his past. Each day, he felt a little bit closer to redemption. He had managed to partially forgive himself and decided to dedicate his life to making his wrongs right. The familiar smell of coffee and grease from the diner greeted him, bringing a sense of normalcy to his otherwise tumultuous life.

Jeremy, his old friend, was lounging in the diner, a broad smile spreading across his face when he saw Michael. They embraced briefly before settling into a booth to catch up.

"Hey, Mike! How's it going?" Jeremy asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Same old, same old," Michael replied with a grin. "How's the night shift treating you?"

Jeremy chuckled. "It's a breeze, man. The bots barely move. Most nights, I'm just relaxing and catching up on my shows. You should really consider moving to the dayshift."

Michael sighed wistfully. "Yeah, maybe. But for now, I've got to stick with it. Someone's got to keep an eye on things at night."

They joked around, reminiscing about old times and sharing a few laughs. As the clock struck midnight, Michael knew it was time to start his shift.

"Guess it's that time," Michael said, standing up and stretching. "See you later, Jeremy."

"Take care, Mike. Don't let the bots bite!" Jeremy teased.

Michael walked into the control room, the hum of the monitors greeting him. He glanced at the cameras, ensuring everything was in order before ordering some materials and products needed for the pizzeria. The recent changes meant more paperwork; he was now required to fill out forms and folders, something he found tedious.

"Henry's really making me work for it, huh?" Michael muttered to himself, a fond smile on his face. He loved his 'Uncle' and thought of him as his de facto father. Henry had been a constant in his life, a source of stability and guidance.

Springbonnie was patrolling the pizzeria, its movements more predictable now due to some updated code. Animatronics rarely ventured into office areas, a small mercy Michael was grateful for. The vent bots were less aggressive these days, and Mr. Hippo was taken out of the vent system and given a stand in the pizza kitchen, adding a quirky charm to the place.

Some new software had been developed by his father, William Afton, called the 'Mimic' software. Despite its basic nature, it allowed the bots to copy movements they saw, adding a layer of complexity to their interactions. Michael couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and resentment towards his father. The man had caused so much pain, yet his brilliance in robotics was undeniable.

"Even when you're not here, you're still causing trouble, old man," Michael whispered, shaking his head with a rueful smile.

As the hours dragged on, Michael found himself lost in thought, reflecting on his past and his hopes for the future. He watched the monitors, occasionally sipping his coffee, and thought about the small steps he was taking towards redemption. Each night at Fredbear's was a reminder of his mistakes, but also a testament to his resolve to make things right.

The pizzeria was quiet, the only sound the occasional whirr of an animatronic moving in the distance. Michael's thoughts drifted back to Jeremy's suggestion of moving to the day shift. It was tempting, but he knew he had to face his demons head-on.

"Maybe one day," he said aloud to no one in particular. "But for now, the night shift is where I belong."

With that, Michael settled back into his chair, ready to face whatever the night had in store. The quiet hum of the pizzeria was almost comforting, a reminder that despite everything, he was still here, still fighting, and still trying to make things right.

Scene Change: The next day. Afton household.

Michael was relaxing after an easier night shift, lounging on his worn-out couch, watching "Immortal and the Restless." The flickering glow of the television bathed the room in a soft, bluish light. He loved soap operas—their drama, their complexity, their escapism. They provided a much-needed distraction from the dark reality of his life.

"So did Evan," he thought grimly, his mind drifting back to the Bite of '83, a tragic event from a year prior that haunted him. The memory of his younger brother's terrified screams echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of his own culpability. But Michael shook those thoughts off and reached for his journal. The leather-bound book was a sanctuary for his thoughts and feelings, a place where he could articulate his goals and process his emotions.

He flipped to a page titled "Goals" and stared at the words he had written: "Investigate Father." With a determined sigh, he decided it was time to take action. He crept quietly down the hallway, the old wooden floorboards creaking beneath his weight. Using a lock pick, he deftly unlocked the door to his father's office and slipped inside.

The office was dimly lit, with shadows dancing on the walls from the flickering desk lamp. The scent of old books and faint traces of cologne lingered in the air. He carefully rifled through the cluttered desk, finding books on resurrection and blueprints for the new restaurant set to open next week. His little sister Elizabeth was ecstatic about it, her innocent excitement a stark contrast to the dread Michael felt.

As he was about to leave, a compulsive urge told him to check under the carpet. His heart pounded as he lifted the edge and found a trapdoor. With a deep breath, he opened it and climbed down into a hidden room. The air grew colder as he descended, the musty smell of the underground space filling his nostrils.

The room was dimly lit by a single, flickering fluorescent light. Michael's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him: walls covered with blueprints and diagrams of scoopers and extractors, machines designed for purposes he could not fathom. His heart raced, and a chill ran down his spine. The sheer scale and detail of the designs were terrifying, with intricate parts and mechanisms that seemed almost alive in their complexity.

The quiet hum of the basem*nt was broken by the sound of metal scraping against metal. Michael spun around, his breath quickening. The blueprints depicted grotesque machines with claws and needles, mechanisms that seemed designed for extracting... something. But what?

He felt an overwhelming urge to flee, his instincts screaming at him to get out. As he turned to leave, his foot caught on a loose floor tile, and he stumbled, nearly falling. He cursed under his breath, his mind racing with questions. What were his father's plans? When did he build this? Why was all of this hidden away?

With shaking hands, he closed the trapdoor and replaced the carpet, his mind still reeling. He quickly left the hidden room, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned off the TV and headed to the garage, where Henry had asked him to fix Bonnie's ears for Freddy's. The garage was cluttered with tools and parts, a testament to Michael's mechanical prowess. He was a prodigy and had been considering starting his own mechanical business. The pizzeria job wasn't his true calling.

As he walked through the house, he passed his father. William Afton's cold, piercing eyes met his, and the tension was palpable. They glared at each other, their mutual animosity simmering just below the surface.

"What are you doing in my office?" William growled, his voice low and menacing.

"Just fixing something for Henry," Michael replied tersely, not breaking eye contact. The air between them was thick with unresolved anger and bitterness.

"You stay out of my business," William snapped, his eyes narrowing.

Michael's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. "Maybe if your business wasn't so suspicious, I wouldn't have to," he shot back, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with venom.

The air was thick with anger, and for a moment, it seemed like they might come to blows. But Michael, with a herculean effort, tore his gaze away and continued to the garage. He needed to cool down, to focus on the task at hand. He found the damaged Bonnie animatronic and set to work, his skilled hands moving with precision and care. As he worked, his thoughts churned, trying to piece together the mysteries surrounding his father.

The grotesque images from the blueprints flashed in his mind, the scoopers and extractors haunting his thoughts. Each piece he examined and each tool he used seemed to whisper questions and fears he couldn't shake off. What was his father planning? And how could he stop it before it was too late? The questions gnawed at him, and he knew he had to find answers, no matter the cost.

Scene Change: Freddy Fazbear's

As Michael finished repairing Bonnie, a sense of dread settled over him. The pizzeria was quiet, the only sound being the occasional whirr of an animatronic moving in the distance. The silence was oppressive, each tick of the clock echoing his growing unease. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the once colorful, cheerful pizzeria feel more like a haunted house. Michael knew that whatever his father was planning, it was far from over. He was determined to uncover the truth, even if it meant facing his darkest fears.

The weight of his discoveries pressed heavily on his shoulders. He had found remnants of his father’s experiments—twisted blueprints and cryptic notes that hinted at something far more sinister than he had ever imagined. Yet he couldn't afford to falter. Not right now. Not when so much was at stake. He had to be strong, not just for himself, but for everyone who unknowingly relied on him to unearth the sinister secrets buried beneath the surface.

As he stood up, wiping grease from his hands, Henry walked in. His presence was a rare comfort in an otherwise unsettling environment. Henry complimented Michael on his work, a genuine smile softening his typically stern features. It was a small moment of warmth that Michael clung to.

"Nice work on Bonnie and Michael," Henry said, examining the animatronics with a critical eye. "You're getting really good at this."

“Thanks, Henry,” Michael said, feeling a small measure of happiness. “Do you think I could move to the dayshift soon?”

Henry nodded thoughtfully. “I’m not opposed. We need to make some changes anyway.” He paused, then added, “Can you head to the smaller office and download some important files onto this hard drive?” He pulled out a Freddy Fazbear-themed hard drive, its garish design bringing a small smile to Michael’s face despite the tension.

“Sure thing,” Michael replied. They chatted briefly, catching up on recent events. Michael shared some of his findings, careful not to reveal too much, but enough to gauge Henry's reaction.

"Henry, I've been digging through some old files," Michael began cautiously. "I found some strange blueprints and notes. They look like Dad's work, but they're... different. More twisted."

Henry raised an eyebrow. "Twisted? In what way?"

"It's hard to explain," Michael said, struggling to find the right words. "It's like he was working on something big, something dangerous. I think it might be connected to the missing children."

Henry seemed surprised but rationalized it as one of William’s weird passion projects. He reassured Michael, promising to keep an eye on William.

"Don't worry, Michael. I'll look into it," Henry said, though his tone held a hint of doubt. "William's always had a strange way of doing things, but I'll make sure he stays in check."

“By the way,” Henry said, almost as an afterthought, “there’s a new facial recognition software we’re installing. It should make the nightshift easier.”

Michael nodded, his curiosity piqued. “Facial recognition? How’s that supposed to help?”

Henry smiled. “It’s a security measure. This will help us keep track of who’s coming and going and make sure only authorized personnel are in restricted areas. It should give you some peace of mind during your shifts.”

Michael nodded, absorbing the information. He asked more questions, probing for details, and Henry answered as best as he could. After twenty minutes, Michael headed to the office, a small, cramped room filled with old equipment and the musty smell of neglect.

He started downloading the files, the hum of the computer the only sound breaking the silence. As he browsed through the documents, a hidden folder caught his eye. It was labeled "The Afton Files." Heart pounding, he quickly saved them and transferred the data to his own night guard hard drive, a device given to all Fredbear and Freddy’s night guards. Michael thanked the heavens for being a somewhat decent hacker and computer specialist. Henry’s teaching had been very effective.

With the files safely stored, Michael packed up and headed to the sleeping quarters at the back of the office. The room was sparse, with a simple cot and a small table. He lay down, exhaustion washed over him, and fell into a fitful sleep, haunted by dreams of twisted metal and shadowy figures.

He woke up at 10 PM, the oppressive darkness of the pizzeria settling around him like a shroud. Determined, he got ready for his night shift. The truth was out there, hidden in the depths of this cursed place, and he was one step closer to uncovering it. With a deep breath, Michael steeled himself for another night of vigilance, knowing that the shadows held more secrets than he could ever imagine.

After finishing his tasks at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, Michael decided it was time to dig deeper. He grabbed his keys and headed to his car, parked just outside the pizzeria. The drive to Fredbear’s Family Diner was short but felt like an eternity. The roads were empty, the streetlights casting long, lonely shadows on the pavement. As he drove, his mind raced with thoughts of what he might find, the secrets that still eluded him.

Arriving at Fredbear’s Family Diner, Michael felt a chill run down his spine. The diner looked well-maintained, a stark contrast to the eerie pizzeria he had just left. He parked the car and took a moment to steady his nerves.

He entered the diner, the door closing silently behind him. The atmosphere was vastly different—clean, bright, almost welcoming. The air smelled faintly of fresh food, a comforting reminder of happier times. He made his way through the familiar halls to the office, his flashlight barely needed in the well-lit corridors.

Finally, he reached the office. The old, familiar surroundings brought back a flood of memories, both good and bad. He glanced at the clock—it was 11:59 PM. He took a deep breath and sat down at the desk, the weight of his mission settling on his shoulders.

As the clock struck midnight, Michael began to sift through the files, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. The night had just begun, and there was no turning back now. He was prepared to face whatever horrors the darkness held, driven by the need to uncover the truth and end the nightmare once and for all.

He had no paperwork to keep him occupied, so Michael found himself practically on guard duty, sitting alone in the dimly lit office. The stillness was occasionally broken by the hum of old machinery and the flickering of outdated fluorescent lights. The silence was unnerving, amplifying every creak and distant clang. Springbonnie approached his door within the first 30 minutes, but the robot didn't attack. Michael was surprised and immensely thankful, feeling a tension he didn't realize he was holding release slightly. He had heard stories of the animatronic's aggressiveness, but tonight, it seemed more docile, almost curious.

Happy Frog began to run through some pre-recorded voice lines, a chilling reminder of William's twisted sense of security. "Welcome to Freddy's, where fun and fear go hand in hand!" it chirped. The lines were designed to freak out potential robbers, threatening murder and torture in an unsettlingly cheerful tone. "If you don't leave now, you'll never leave at all," the voice continued. This was William’s idea, of course, always one step too far. They certainly unnerved Michael, sending shivers down his spine, but he shut the newly added vent door, hoping to drown out the menacing voice. He wasn’t looking for any challenges tonight; he just wanted to get through his shift without incident.

At the back of the office, a cluttered workbench was scattered with parts Henry intended to use to remodel the robots of Freddy’s for a Jr’s location. Wires, gears, and metal limbs lay in a disorganized heap. By next year, Fredbear’s would close due to bad press and mounting public outrage. Michael wasn't sure if he was happy about it or if he would miss the old diner, with its eerie charm and haunting memories. The thought of Fredbear’s closing stirred a mix of sadness and relief within him, a bittersweet end to an era filled with both joy and sorrow.

Michael sighed, the weight of nostalgia heavy on his chest, and began to fill out some blueprints, meticulously completing the models of Toy Bonnie and Chica. They certainly looked more plastic, a stark contrast to the original characters' more lifelike appearance. As he worked, his mind wandered to the good old days, before the tragedies, before the haunting presence that now loomed over his life. He could almost hear the laughter of children and the cheerful music that once filled the diner, now replaced by eerie silence and the whispers of the past.

Suddenly, the office phone rang, startling Michael out of his reverie. He picked it up, his voice shaking slightly. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mike, it's Henry," came the familiar voice on the other end. "How's it going tonight?"

"Uh, it's... it's been quiet so far," Michael replied, glancing nervously at the monitors. "But, uh, Springbonnie came by earlier. Didn't attack, though."

Henry sighed. "That's a relief. Those old animatronics are unpredictable. Just hang in there, Mike. You're doing great."

"Thanks, Henry," Michael said, feeling a bit more reassured. "I'll keep an eye out."

He glanced at the security cams and noticed with a start that the music box was open. The Puppet was in Freddy’s. A chill ran down his spine as he grabbed his flashlight and sneaked into the diner, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The memories of Charlie and the old days at Freddy’s flooded back as he moved cautiously, avoiding the roaming Springbonnie. Each step felt like an eternity, his senses heightened, every shadow a potential threat. He managed to fix the boxes, but then he heard a giggle, a sound that froze him in his tracks. Michael was sure he recognized that voice.

"It can't be... Charlie?" he whispered to himself, his voice trembling.

He pulled out a necklace, a copy of the one Charlie had. It was a birthday gift for them, bought by Henry many years ago. The memories it brought back were almost too much to bear, a poignant reminder of a happier time now lost to the shadows.

He ran back to the office, his breath heavy and sweat running down his face. His lungs burned and his legs felt like lead, but he pushed on, driven by fear and desperation. He shut the door and opened the vent door to get some air, the cool rush a momentary relief. Suddenly, Happy Frog jumped into the office, catching him off guard. The animatronic moved with terrifying speed, throwing him into the wall with surprising force.

"Get away from me!" Michael shouted, panic in his voice. The Frog Bot's eyes glowed menacingly as it approached.

"Why won't you just leave me alone?" Michael's voice cracked, desperation seeping into his words.

Michael grunted as he hit the wall, pain radiating through his body, his flashlight clattering to the floor. He blocked a punch from the Frog bot and managed to send a front kick to the bot, pushing it back. His mind raced, adrenaline surging as he put some distance between them, but the Frog twisted its head and its eyes turned black, with small white dots for pupils. A wave of panic surged through him, cold and paralyzing.

"You're not real! You can't be real!" Michael screamed, his voice breaking.

The animatronic punched and then tackled him to the floor, its strength overwhelming. He spat some blood but managed to grab his flashlight, the only weapon he had. He shone the light on the bot, and it immediately ran to the vent, retreating into the darkness.

After that fiasco, Michael got up, feeling battered and bruised. His body ached with each movement, and he could feel the bruises forming under his skin. On his cams, he saw a ghostly form of Charlie smiling cruelly at him, her face a twisted mask of malice. Tears welled up in his eyes, a mix of fear, sorrow, and frustration. He let them fall, rationalizing it as his imagination, but the emotional toll was heavy. The rest of the night went more smoothly, the routine almost comforting in its monotony, but the emotional scars lingered.

When Henry arrived in the morning, Michael broke down and explained everything, his voice trembling with the weight of his ordeal.

"Henry, I... I saw her. I saw Charlie," Michael stammered, tears streaming down his face. "And Happy Frog... it attacked me. It was like it knew..."

Henry listened, his brow furrowed with concern, a heavy silence hanging in the air. "Mike, I'm so sorry. You've been through so much. We'll figure this out, I promise."

Michael's voice cracked as he continued. "Henry, it felt so real. The way she looked at me, it was like she wanted to hurt me. And the Frog bot... it wasn't just malfunctioning. It felt personal."

Henry put a comforting hand on Michael's shoulder. "Mike, you've been dealing with these horrors for too long. It's time to take a step back. We'll get to the bottom of this, but I need you to rest. Let me handle it from here."

Moved by Michael’s ordeal, Henry reassigned him to the day shift. There was an employee eager to take the night shift anyway—Scott Cawthon, a dedicated worker with nerves of steel. Henry helped Michael to his feet and gave him three days off to recover, his eyes filled with empathy and understanding.

"Take care of yourself, Mike. Get some rest," Henry said, giving Michael a reassuring pat on the back.

Michael accepted gratefully and hugged the man, his emotions a mix of relief and lingering fear. "Thank you, Henry. I don't know what I'd do without you."

As he left the diner, the early morning sun casting long shadows on the pavement, Michael felt a small sense of hope. The fresh air was a welcome change, but it did little to ease the turmoil inside him. He could finally rest, but the memories and fears of the night would haunt him for a long time.

Walking home, Michael's thoughts drifted back to Charlie. "Was it really her?" he whispered to himself, the question hanging in the air. "And if it was... what does she want?"

He reached his front door, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at him. As he lay in bed, exhaustion overtaking him and sleep brought no solace. The images of Charlie, Happy Frog, and the eerie diner lingered in his dreams, a reminder that some nightmares never truly end.

Chapter 11: Fragments of the Soul and The Weight of Hope

Chapter Text

Jeremy sat in Freddy's new office, the faint hum of machinery and distant echoes of the pizzeria reverberating around him. The office was simple, with two unassuming doors and a ticket booth in front. The booth, however, held a dark secret: the Springlock Fredbear, a relic from a past shrouded in mystery and fear. Every time Jeremy glanced at the ticket booth cam, a chill ran down his spine, his mind replaying the haunting memories of the Bite of '83. It wasn’t just the incident itself but the way it symbolized the darkness that lurked behind the colorful facade of the older Fredbear Diner.

He shook off the unease and began his shift, eyes constantly darting to the monitors to keep the animatronics in sight. Their AI still needed updating, but he didn't mind; the new pizzeria was much larger than the old diner, offering him a sense of space and safety. But space could also mean more places for the animatronics to hide.

The quiet didn't last long. His phone rang, and Henry's familiar voice broke the silence.

"Hey, Jeremy. I need you to check your laptop and fill out some basic forms and folders," Henry instructed. "Also, make sure to download the new software I sent over."

"Sure thing, Henry," Jeremy replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Anything else I should know?"

"Just stay vigilant," Henry warned. "The animatronics have been acting a bit... unpredictable lately."

Jeremy sighed. "Got it. I'll keep an eye on them."

As he filled out the forms, Jeremy couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The animatronics' lifeless eyes seemed to follow his every move. Shadows danced across the dimly lit room, and the flickering fluorescent lights added an eerie, unsettling atmosphere. Every creak of the old building sent his heart racing.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke his concentration. He looked up just in time to see Foxy charging into the office, its mechanical eyes glowing with a menacing light.

"Not again," Jeremy muttered, grabbing his flashlight. He aimed it at the fox bot, the beam cutting through the darkness. "Back off, Foxy!"

The light flickered, and Foxy hesitated before turning and bolting out of the room.

"Thank goodness," Jeremy exhaled deeply, his heart racing. He grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Henry.

"Henry, Foxy just ran into the office. I barely managed to scare it off with the flashlight," Jeremy reported, his voice shaky.

"Hang in there, Jeremy," Henry said reassuringly. "The software update should help with their behavior. Just get it installed as soon as you can."

"Will do," Jeremy replied, determined to make it through the night.

As he resumed his work, the sense of dread never left him. The animatronics moved more frequently, their presence a constant, looming threat. He could hear the creaking of metal and the whirring of gears echoing through the halls, a sinister symphony that kept him on edge. The hours crawled by, each minute feeling like an eternity. Jeremy's eyes burned from staring at the monitors, his hand cramped from gripping the flashlight.

By 3 a.m., fatigue was setting in. He blinked, trying to shake off the drowsiness. A soft, eerie lullaby played through the hall speakers, and he realized with a jolt that it was one of the animatronics moving closer. He checked the cameras and saw Chica, her eyes vacant and hollow, standing just outside the door.

"Stay calm," he whispered to himself, switching the feed to another camera. Bonnie was lingering near the supply closet, its head twitching unnaturally.

Finally, the clock ticked closer to 6 AM. Jeremy's nerves were frayed, and he had narrowly avoided several encounters with the animatronics, using the cameras and his flashlight to keep them at bay. The relief that washed over him was palpable as the morning sun began to filter through the windows, casting a faint glow over the office.

Jeremy gathered his things, his hands still trembling. As he made his way to the parking lot, the early morning air cooled against his skin. Sliding into his car, he started the engine and drove home, the events of the night replaying in his mind.

As he pulled into his driveway, the exhaustion hit him like a wave. He stumbled inside, dropping his bag by the door. The familiar comfort of his home was a stark contrast to the nightmare he had just endured. Jeremy collapsed onto his bed, the soft sheets welcoming him. His eyes closed, but the images of the animatronics lingered in his mind, a haunting reminder of the dangers he faced every night.

"At least until the next shift," he thought wearily before sleep finally claimed him.

In his dreams, the animatronics followed him, their lifeless eyes watching as he navigated a twisted version of the pizzeria. Jeremy knew that no matter how hard he tried to escape, they would always be there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike. As dawn broke and the sun's rays pierced through his bedroom window, he knew he had only a few hours of peace before it all began again.

Scene Change: The next day.

Elizabeth was with Susie when they caught up and began to play in the park. The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over the playground. The sound of children's laughter filled the air, creating a sense of normalcy and joy that Elizabeth cherished. While they were out, they saw Cassidy sitting alone on a bench, her face a mask of loneliness.

"Look, there's Cassidy," Susie pointed out.

Elizabeth sighed. "Yeah, I see her. Let's just keep playing."

They exchanged glances and decided to ignore Cassidy, not out of malice, but because they didn't know how to reach out to her. Cassidy had become withdrawn ever since the incident at Freddy's, and her presence was a painful reminder of the past.

Meanwhile, Michael and Jeremy were nearby, discussing their shifts at the pizzeria. They had found a small café where they could grab a quick coffee and chat without the constant hum of animatronics in the background.

"Hey, Michael, how's it going?" Jeremy asked as he sipped his coffee.

Michael shrugged. "Not bad, just tired. I’m getting transferred to the day shift soon, though. Got a three-day break before I start there."

"Finally, some time to relax," Michael said, stretching his arms above his head. "I need this break."

Jeremy grumbled. "Lucky you. I’ve still got to deal with the usual chaos. Anyway, where are you headed now?"

"Thought I might grab a bite at Sparky's Diner. Want to join?" Michael suggested.

"Yeah, why not," Jeremy agreed, feeling the weight of his own exhausting schedule.

They headed to Sparky's Diner, a place that held many memories. The diner was a small, cozy spot with checkered floors and retro booths. The titular dog robot, Sparky, was stationed at the front, its mechanical voice cheerfully reciting programmed lines to welcome customers.

"Welcome to Sparky's Diner! Hope you have a woof-tastic day!" Sparky said in its upbeat tone.

Jeremy chuckled. "This place never changes. Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Michael nodded, his eyes softening. "Yeah, I used to come here with my mom a lot. She loved this place."

He wished she were here with them now, but he calmed himself, pushing the emotions aside. God, he was too emotional, he thought, putting on a stoic face. They ordered lunch and began to eat peacefully, the clatter of dishes and the murmur of conversations around them providing a soothing backdrop.

"Hey, remember that time we snuck out of school and came here?" Jeremy asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

Michael laughed. "Yeah, I remember. We thought we were so clever. Until my mom found out, of course."

Jeremy smiled. "She was pretty mad, but she got over it. She always had a soft spot for you."

Scott Cawthon, the owner and Michael's new replacement for Nightguard at Fredbear's, walked out from the back. Scott was a friendly, approachable man with a passion for his work. He joined them at their booth, and they caught up on the latest news.

"Hey, guys. How's it going?" Scott asked, sliding into the booth.

"Hey, Scott," Michael greeted him. "We were just talking about old times."

"Ah, the good old days," Scott said, smiling. "As you know, we're working on some new AI updates for Fredbear and Freddy. Hopefully, it will make your job a lot easier."

"That sounds great," Jeremy said, nodding. "The animatronics have been acting up a lot lately."

Scott leaned in, lowering his voice. "Yeah, I’ve heard. We’re trying to get everything sorted. In the meantime, just keep an eye on things. Safety first."

They continued to chat, share stories and laugh. It felt good to unwind, to forget about the stresses of the pizzeria for a while. As they finished their meal, Scott pulled Michael aside.

"Michael, could you do me a favor?" Scott asked. "Henry's been working on a new project, but he's run into some trouble. Could you head over and give him a hand?"

"Sure thing, Scott," Michael replied, always eager to help out. "What’s the project about?"

"Some new wiring for a prototype. He’ll fill you in on the details," Scott explained. He turned to Jeremy and smiled. "And you, take it easy. Don’t burn yourself out."

"I'll try," Jeremy said with a tired grin. "But you know how it is."

As they left Sparky's, the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the streets. Jeremy walked slowly, his mind drifting back to the events of the past few months. The animatronics, the incidents, the constant tension – it was a lot to handle. But there were also moments of camaraderie, like the one he had just shared with Michael and Scott.

"Take care, Jeremy," Michael called as he headed towards Henry’s workshop.

"You too, Michael. See you around," Jeremy replied, waving.

He watched as they went their separate ways, feeling a strange mixture of relief and dread. The night was creeping in, and with it, the memories of the haunting experiences at Freddy's. Yet, he knew he had friends and colleagues who understood what he was going through, and that gave him some comfort.

He arrived at his apartment, the small space feeling empty and quiet after the bustling diner. Jeremy dropped his bag by the door and sank onto his couch, exhaustion washing over him. He closed his eyes, hoping for a few hours of dreamless sleep before another long night at Freddy's.

In his dreams, the animatronics moved silently through the darkened halls of the pizzeria, their eyes glowing with a life of their own. Jeremy knew that no matter how many times he faced them, the fear would always be there, lurking just beneath the surface. But he also knew he wasn’t alone, and that thought gave him the strength to face another day. As dawn broke and the sun's rays pierced through his bedroom window, he knew he had only a few hours of peace before it all began again.

Scene Change: Henry Emily Household.

**Scene Change: Henry Emily Household**

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the Henry Emily household as Michael pulled up in his car. The quaint, two-story home stood proudly with its white picket fence and flower-filled garden, a testament to years of care and love. The familiar scent of freshly cut grass filled the air, mixed with the subtle aroma of blooming roses.

Michael took a deep breath and walked up the path, his footsteps crunching softly on the gravel. He knocked on the door, and it creaked open to reveal Henry, his old friend’s father. Henry’s weathered face broke into a welcoming smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Michael, it’s so good to see you,” Henry greeted warmly, pulling him into a hearty embrace. “Come in, come in.”

They made their way to the living room, a cozy space filled with the soft glow of late afternoon light. The room was adorned with family photos and mementos, each telling a story of its own. Michael's gaze lingered on a picture of Charlie and him as kids, their faces beaming with youthful joy.

As they settled into the plush armchairs, Henry’s eyes sparkled with nostalgia. “You know, Michael, seeing you here brings back so many memories. Do you remember those summer days when you and Charlie would run around the yard?”

Michael nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, those were good times.”

Henry leaned back, a playful grin on his face. “Charlie had the biggest crush on you back then. You never knew, did you?”

Michael’s eyes widened in shock. “What? No way! I had no idea.”

Henry chuckled, the sound rich and full. “You were always so focused on your own world. It was obvious to everyone but you.”

Michael laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I guess I was pretty clueless.”

Henry slapped him on the back, his laughter infectious. “You were, but that’s okay. Come on, let’s head to the workshop.”

They walked through the house, passing the kitchen where the smell of freshly baked bread mingled with the sweet scent of apple pie cooling on the counter. They stepped out into the backyard, where the workshop stood, a large rustic building with ivy creeping up its sides. The air inside was thick with the comforting scent of sawdust and oil, the walls lined with an array of tools, each with its own story.

The workshop buzzed with activity as they got to work, the rhythmic sound of hammering and the whir of drills creating a symphony of productivity. They chatted easily, their conversation flowing from old memories to new dreams. Henry, with his innate wisdom, guided the conversation towards Michael’s future.

“Michael, have you thought about what you want to do next?” Henry asked, his voice thoughtful as he carefully sanded a piece of wood.

Michael paused, his brow furrowing. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but I’m still not sure.”

Henry set down his tools and turned to face him, his expression earnest. “I have an offer for you. There’s a prestigious college in the country that offers top-notch courses in robotics and business. I can help you get a scholarship there.”

Michael’s eyes widened in surprise, his heart racing. “Are you serious? I know you have connections, but I didn’t expect this.”

Henry nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. “I’m serious. This college has some of the best programs in the field. You’d fit right in.”

Michael felt a surge of excitement mixed with apprehension. “Do they really offer both robotics and business courses?”

Henry nodded again, his eyes twinkling. “Absolutely. I’ve looked into it myself. Plus, you can work part-time at Freddy Fazbear Jr’s restaurant when it opens. It’ll give you valuable experience while you study.”

Michael’s mind raced with possibilities, his excitement growing. “What about Jeremy? Did he accept the offer too?”

Henry smiled warmly. “Yes, Jeremy accepted. He’s already looking forward to it.”

Michael took a deep breath, his decision clear. “Alright, I’ll do it. Thank you, Henry. This means a lot to me.”

Henry clapped him on the shoulder, pride evident in his eyes. “You’re welcome, Michael. I know you’ll achieve great things.”

They returned to their work, their conversation blending seamlessly with the sounds of the workshop. As the sun set, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink, they continued to build, plan, and dream. The future looked brighter than ever, filled with new opportunities and the promise of success.

Later, as they wrapped up for the day, Henry looked at Michael with a thoughtful expression. “You know, Michael, I’ve seen a lot of potential in you. This opportunity is just the beginning. I believe you can make a real difference.”

Michael nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “I won’t let you down, Henry.”

Henry smiled, his confidence unwavering. “I know you won’t. Now, let’s go inside and have some dinner. I’m sure you’re starving after all that work.”

They headed back into the house, the comforting aroma of the home-cooked meal welcoming them. As they sat down to eat, the conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter, stories, and plans for the future. The bonds of friendship and family strengthened with each passing moment, setting the stage for the bright journey ahead.

Scene Change: Michael's Return Home

That night, as Michael drove home, his thoughts lingered on the day’s events. The warmth of Henry’s home and the promise of a bright future contrasted sharply with the cold, oppressive feeling that awaited him at his own house. He parked his car and took a moment to steel himself before stepping out. The house loomed before him, dark and imposing, with peeling paint and a garden overrun with weeds, a stark reminder of neglect and decay.

As Michael entered the front door, the air inside was heavy with silence, broken only by the distant ticking of an old clock. The hallway was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the worn carpet. His heart skipped a beat when he saw his father, William Afton, standing there, his figure partially obscured by the shadows.

“Michael,” William greeted, his voice smooth but carrying a subtle edge. “It’s been a while.”

Michael nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, it has.” They exchanged pleasantries, each word heavy with unspoken tension. Michael’s thoughts drifted to the past, to memories of the scooper, the extractors, and his father’s unsettling obsession with resurrection. His wariness grew with each passing moment.

“So, you’ve been spending time with Henry,” William said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

“Yes,” Michael replied, choosing his words carefully. “He offered me a scholarship to a prestigious university and a part-time job at his new restaurant.”

William’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. “Is that so? And you’re seriously considering this?”

Michael nodded, trying to maintain his composure. “I am. It’s a great opportunity.”

William’s jaw clenched, a muscle twitching in his cheek. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” With that, he turned abruptly and walked away, his footsteps echoing ominously through the hallway. The slamming of his office door reverberated through the house, leaving Michael standing in silence, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach.

Inside his office, William’s fury was palpable. The room, lined with blueprints, schematics, and mechanical parts, felt like a laboratory of dark intentions. He paced back and forth, his mind racing. He had worked too long and too hard to let anyone, even his own son, interfere with his plans.

A sinister grin spread across William’s face as he thought about his latest discovery. He had concluded that when a person died, a fragment of their soul, left behind by their agony, would remain. He called this substance remnant. This discovery, he believed, held the key to bringing his wife back from the dead and granting him the immortality of the gods. His eyes gleamed with manic intensity as he envisioned the power he would soon wield.

William descended through a hidden trapdoor in his office, entering a secret underground chamber. The walls of the chamber were lined with shelves filled with arcane instruments, jars of mysterious substances, and ancient texts. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, mixed with something more elusive, something almost supernatural.

In the center of the chamber stood a large workbench, cluttered with tools and devices meticulously crafted for his experiments. Each item had a specific purpose in his grand scheme. He needed Henry to open a new restaurant, and Henry had agreed, blissfully unaware of William’s insidious plans. This new location would be the perfect place to further his experiments with remnant.

William’s thoughts turned to the future, a future where he held the key to life and death, where he could bend reality to his will. The promise of eternal life and ultimate power drove him, and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He envisioned a world where he could resurrect his wife and achieve god-like immortality, where the very fabric of existence would bend to his desires.

As he stood in the dimly lit chamber, surrounded by the tools of his twisted trade, William’s mind raced with dark possibilities. He clenched his fist, feeling the determination surge through him. “Soon,” he whispered to himself, his voice echoing in the hollow space. “Soon, I will unlock the secrets of the remnant, and nothing will stand in my way.”

William ascended back to his office, his steps purposeful and filled with resolve. He knew that the opening of his new restaurant was only the beginning. The future held unimaginable power, and he intended to claim it, no matter the cost. As he looked out into the night, a sense of dark triumph settled over him. The game was set, and he was ready to play it to the end.

Meanwhile, Michael lay in bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind. His father's ominous presence and the memories of the past haunted him, but the promise of a new beginning offered a glimmer of hope. As sleep finally claimed him, his dreams were a chaotic blend of past horrors and future possibilities, a reflection of the battle he faced between his father's darkness and his own desire for a better future.

Chapter 12: Vengeful Spirits

Chapter Text

William was mad with glee. His restaurant, "Circus Baby's" had finally opened, and he was talking to some parents, his eyes gleaming with pride. His funtime animatronics were immediate fan favorites. Funtime Foxy and Ballora were at the front, singing and dancing with the kids. Cheers and laughter reverberated throughout the halls, creating an almost euphoric atmosphere. Funtime Foxy and Ballora's voice lines were advanced AI, capable of responding with a human-like charm. They were semi-sentient and could interact seamlessly with kids and adults alike, a testament to William's genius.

Elizabeth, William's only daughter, was amazed. The restaurant was a magical place, full of vibrant colors and whimsical decorations. She walked through the rooms and the clean, brightly lit halls, her eyes wide with wonder. She passed by Funtime Freddy and Bon Bon, who were energetically singing "I'm Still Standing" to a bunch of hyped-up kids, their laughter and applause filling the air.

Curiosity led Elizabeth to another room, where she found Circus Baby, a towering figure with a painted smile and a haunting gaze. The bot's blue eyes seemed to pierce into her green ones. They engaged in a short conversation, and Elizabeth felt an odd connection to the animatronic, almost as if it understood her on a deeper level. As she got close to the bot for some ice cream, a claw suddenly jutted out and crushed her into the robot's abdomen.

A sickening squelch and a spatter of blood covered the robot. William, monitoring the restaurant through his sophisticated system of sensors and cameras, felt the motion sensors go off and immediately charged into the room. He saw the horrific scene and began to sob uncontrollably. His daughter, his precious Elizabeth, died. But amidst the grief, a chilling resolve took over him. He needed to cover this up.

With a heart as cold as the steel of his creations, he rushed the bot to the backrooms behind the stage and meticulously cleaned the blood. He sealed the room, insisting to his staff and the guests that there were some maintenance issues. Inside, he was seething with fury and desperation. First, his stupid brat Evan died in the Bite of '83, and now his beloved Elizabeth is gone.

But William, ever the opportunist, saw a glimmer of hope in this tragedy. He had some remnant, a mysterious substance he believed could grant immortality. Perhaps this sacrifice was what he needed to bring his beloved Clara back from the dead and grant himself eternal life. The day went on smoothly on the surface, but internally, William was a cauldron of rage and twisted ambition.

Later that night, as the restaurant closed and the last guest left, William returned home, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders. Michael, his eldest son, had not gone to the restaurant, and he was suspicious when his father came home alone, looking more haunted than usual. He confronted William, demanding to know what had happened. The argument escalated quickly, voices rising to a fever pitch.

"Where's Elizabeth?" Michael shouted, his face flushed with anger and fear.

"She's gone, Michael," William roared back, his voice cracking. "And it's your fault for not being there!"

They began to fight, the pent-up frustration and grief exploding in a flurry of fists and harsh words. Eventually, William, driven by a rage that bordered on madness, punched Michael into a wall. Breathing heavily, he stormed into his office, slamming the door behind him. In his hand, a jar filled with shimmering, silver liquid stuck out of his pocket, a grim reminder of the dark path he was now fully committed to.

As he sat at his desk, the room dimly lit by a single flickering lamp, William stared at the jar. His mind raced with thoughts of remnant and immortality. He believed he could harness the power of the remnant to achieve his twisted dream. The deaths of his children, he rationalized, were not in vain. They were steps on the path to a grand, terrible destiny. His obsession with defeating death had now consumed him entirely, and there was no turning back.

William's thoughts spiraled into the depths of his past. Memories of his once-happy family, shattered by tragedy, swirled in his mind like a tempest. Clara's death had been the catalyst, the event that fractured his world and set him on this dark path. He had been a loving husband and father, but the loss had twisted his love into an insatiable hunger for control over life and death.

He remembered the night Clara died, a stormy evening filled with thunder and tears. Doctors had called it an accident, a tragic mistake that left him a widower. But in his heart, William couldn't accept it. He blamed Evan, he despided Evan and that hatred morphed into a relentless pursuit of an impossible dream: to conquer death itself.

The remnant was his key. It was a substance he had discovered during his experiments with animatronics, a byproduct of the mysterious energy that powered them. It seemed to hold the essence of life, a shimmering, silvery liquid that defied conventional science. William believed it could reanimate the dead, a belief that bordered on madness but was fueled by his desperate need to undo his losses.

Elizabeth's death was a cruel irony. The very creation meant to bring joy and magic had turned into a monster, a reflection of his own obsessions. Yet, in his grief, he saw a twisted form of hope. If he could harness the remnant and infuse it into his beloved Clara, he could bring her back. Elizabeth's death, tragic as it was, became a means to an end in his warped mind.

The next morning, William resumed his facade of normalcy. He arrived at the restaurant early, overseeing the cleanup and ensuring everything appeared as it should. The animatronics were repaired and reset, their bright, cheerful exteriors hiding the dark secrets within.

Staff whispered among themselves about "maintenance issues," but none dared question him directly. William's reputation as a genius was only matched by the aura of intimidation he exuded. His temper was legendary, and today his eyes held a cold, hard edge that silenced any potential inquiries.

In the solitude of his office, he began to work on his next project. Plans for new animatronics, more advanced and more lifelike than ever before, sprawled across his desk. These new creations would be the culmination of his work, blending the charm and innocence of his original designs with the terrifying potential of the remnant.

Each new animatronic would serve a dual purpose: a beloved entertainer by day and a vessel for his experiments by night. He envisioned a future where death was a mere inconvenience, a solvable problem. In his twisted mind, he was not a monster but a pioneer, a visionary on the brink of the greatest discovery in human history.

As the days turned into weeks, William's obsession deepened. He spent countless hours in his hidden lab, perfecting his creations and experimenting with the remnant. He barely slept, consumed by the drive to achieve his goal. The staff noticed his increasing absences and the eerie glow of the lab lights that never seemed to dim, but they said nothing. Fear and awe kept them silent.

Michael, haunted by the confrontation with his father, grew more suspicious. He noticed the changes in William, the way his once evil yet vibrant eyes had dulled with grim determination. Michael's nights were filled with nightmares of Elizabeth's fate and the horrifying possibility that his father had something to do with it.

One night, driven by a need for answers, Michael snuck into the restaurant after hours. The place was dark and silent, a stark contrast to its daytime vibrancy. He made his way to the hidden lab, following the faint hum of machinery and the dim glow of the lights.

What he found inside chilled him to the bone. The lab was filled with grotesque experiments, half-finished animatronics, and vials of the strange, silvery remnant. Blueprints for new creations covered the walls, detailed drawings of animatronics that seemed almost alive.

Meanwhile, William's thoughts were consumed with his next move. The remnant was powerful, but unstable. He needed more data, more experiments to perfect his process. The restaurant was a goldmine of opportunity, each child a potential source of the precious substance. He rationalized it as a necessary sacrifice, a small price to pay for the greater good.

As he worked, he was oblivious to the growing storm around him. His once loyal staff began to whisper louder, their fear turning to anger. Parents noticed the changes too, the way the animatronics seemed a bit too lifelike, their eyes following movements with an unsettling precision. Rumors of missing children began to circulate, and the joyous atmosphere of Afton's Wonderland started to sour.

But William was beyond caring. He was on the verge of a breakthrough, and nothing would stand in his way. His family, his staff, even the children were mere tools in his grand design. He would achieve his dream, no matter the cost.

As he stared at the jar of remnant on his desk, his reflection on the silvery surface seemed to mock him. He was a man driven by love, twisted by loss, and consumed by ambition. In his quest to defeat death, he had become a harbinger of it. And in the quiet moments when the lab was still and the only sound was the hum of his machines, William Afton wondered if he had already become the very monster he sought to conquer.

It was October 18th, 1985, a day that should have been filled with joy but was instead shrouded in a lingering sadness. Cassidy's birthday, once a day of pure excitement, now felt incomplete without Evan. She missed him so much that his absence was a physical ache in her heart, a void that echoed through every laugh and every smile. Fritz, Gabriel, and Jeremy were there, their laughter and chatter about the robots filling the air with a sense of normalcy that felt almost foreign to Cassidy. She tried to join in, her voice mingling with theirs, but each word felt heavy, as if weighed down by the sorrow she couldn't shake.

Despite her efforts, she found some solace in their company. The excited six-year-olds were a welcome distraction, their joy infectious even if it couldn't fully penetrate her sadness. Susie was there too, her presence a small comfort in the storm of emotions Cassidy was feeling. They had both lost their best friends, and in their shared grief, they found a fragile connection. They spoke about their days, their words a tentative bridge over the chasm of their loss.

"Hey, Cassidy, look at this!" Jeremy called, pointing at the latest robot model. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Yeah, it's cool," Cassidy replied, her voice lacking the enthusiasm she forced into it.

Cassidy received some presents, each one a momentary distraction from the emptiness that gnawed at her. They cut the cake, the sweet frosting a stark contrast to the bitter sorrow she felt inside. They played in the ball pit and the arcade, trying to lose themselves in the games and laughter. For a moment, Cassidy could almost forget the sadness, her laughter blending with the others as they raced from one game to the next.

Then Spring Bonnie walked out, his bright eyes and cheerful demeanor capturing the children's attention instantly. "Happy Birthday!" he exclaimed, his mechanical voice filled with a warmth that made the children cheer.

Cassidy smiled too, though her happiness was tinged with a deep-seated longing. "Thank you," she said softly, her eyes betraying her inner turmoil.

Spring Bonnie mentioned a surprise in the backrooms, and the children's excitement surged. Freddy Fazbear's Pizza was a decently sized restaurant, its bright, cheerful facade hiding the creeping dread that now began to settle in Cassidy's stomach.

"Follow me, kids! I've got a special treat for you!" Spring Bonnie announced, leading the way.

As they followed Spring Bonnie through the dimly lit corridors, Jeremy and Fritz's excited yells echoed off the walls. They asked questions, their voices bright and curious, while Cassidy's unease grew with each step. The backrooms were darker, the air heavier.

"Where are we going?" Fritz asked, his voice a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"You'll see," Spring Bonnie replied, his tone oddly comforting yet eerie.

The man in the suit opened a door, and they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifting from cheerful to ominous in an instant. In the corner, a defunct Fredbear robot slumped lifelessly, its once bright colors dulled by neglect.

"What's that?" Gabriel whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

Fear gripped them all, the cheerful facade of Freddy Fazbear's crumbling away. A sinister click echoed through the room as William removed the head of the costume, revealing a knife. The atmosphere turned icy, the children's playful energy evaporating as terror took hold.

"What's happening?" Susie cried, her voice trembling.

"Run!" Cassidy screamed, but their voices were choked by fear. They fought back, their small hands pushing and hitting, but their efforts were in vain. Cassidy kicked and screamed, with each movement a desperate plea for escape, but she was overpowered.

"No, please!" Jeremy begged, tears streaming down his face.

"Why are you doing this?" Fritz yelled, his voice breaking with terror.

She began to sob, her cries filled with a hopelessness that cut through the air. As darkness closed in, she felt arms wrap around her, the unexpected warmth a stark contrast to the horror she was experiencing. The embrace was comforting, a small island of safety in a sea of terror.

"It's okay, Cassidy," a familiar voice whispered. "I'm here."

When she awoke, it was not in the cold, dark room but in a place of ethereal light. Evan's ghostly face smiled at her, his presence a balm to her shattered soul. His eyes, filled with gentle kindness, told her that she was safe now. She felt a sense of peace wash over her, a sliver of solace in the embrace of her lost friend.

"Evan?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, Cassidy," he replied, his voice soft and soothing. "You're safe now."

In that moment, she knew she was not alone, and that made all the difference. The terror of the backroom faded, replaced by the warmth of Evan's presence. The nightmare had ended, and in its place was a peace she had longed for.

The others awoke with the help of Charlie. She had put their souls into the respective robots. Jerem was bonnie, Fritz was foxy, Susie was chica and Gabriel was freddy. The kids were terrified but also curious about their new abilities. They all shared one thing: hate. They would get their revenge and William would suffer. Evan and others caught up on recent events. Susie and Evan spoke briefly but sorted their differences and Cassidy joined Evan in the Fredbear suit. He still didn't like Susie but they were allies. They over the next few weeks as William never returned. The missing child's incident had had him locked up but he was released due to lack of evidence. The ghosts were furious and began to attack the new night guard. Jeremy Fitzgerald had started in the Jr's location of Freddy's so they were attacking random people. The guards ended up dead or mutilated by 6am and the restaurant by the end of the year had to be closed. They were all shipped to Jr's but were withered and in a state of disrepair. They decided not to use the robots for the preseeable future and wait it out for a year. It was 1986 and they wanted to do some stuff in the new establishment. And off they went, creating havoc. Cassidy had approached Evan and confessed her crush to which eh reciprocated and they became a ...Ghost couple. They tried to keep it a secret but Susie leaked it, leading to a lot of teasing and jokes. Overall, they were having some fun and terrifying night guards was also hilarious especially with 5 more toys to control.

Charlie had a unique gift. With painstaking effort, she managed to transfer the souls of her friends into the animatronics that filled Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Jeremy found himself in the bodies of Bonnie and Fritz in Foxy, Susie in Chica, and Gabriel in Freddy. The initial shock of their transformation was immense as they grappled with the reality of their new, mechanical forms. The sensation of cold metal where warm flesh used to be, the creaking joints and the glowing eyes—everything was alien and terrifying. Yet, curiosity began to creep in, and with it, a strange excitement about their newfound abilities. But overshadowing all their emotions was a burning hatred for William Afton, the man responsible for their untimely deaths.

Evan and the other spirits, who had also suffered under Afton’s hand, slowly caught up in recent events. They found solace in their shared experiences and the bond they formed through their mutual suffering. The group dynamics were complex; old friendships were rekindled, and new alliances were forged in the crucible of their shared torment.

Evan and Susie had a particularly poignant reconciliation. Susie, feeling a deep-seated guilt for past misunderstandings, approached Evan with a heavy heart. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but they managed to bridge the gap, finding common ground in their shared mission of vengeance. Cassidy, who had always harbored feelings of distrust towards Susie, reluctantly joined Evan in the Fredbear suit, creating a tense but necessary alliance.

Weeks passed, and William Afton remained conspicuously absent. The infamous Missing Children's Incident had led to his arrest, but due to insufficient evidence, he was released. This miscarriage of justice fueled the spirits' rage even further. They could not let Afton escape the consequences of his heinous actions.

The group decided to focus their wrath on the new night guards, who had just begun his shift at the Jr's location of Freddy's. The spirit's retribution was swift and merciless. Each night, they orchestrated horrifying encounters that left the guards either dead or severely mutilated by the break of dawn. The grisly discoveries led to the restaurant’s closure by year's end, and the animatronics, now withered and in a state of disrepair, were shipped to Jr's. The management, wary of further incidents, decided to put the robots out of commission.

By 1986, the spirits had devised a new plan. They were determined to create havoc in the new establishment, biding their time and honing their skills. The animatronics, with their tattered suits and exposed endoskeletons, became nightmarish figures lurking in the shadows, their once friendly faces now twisted into grotesque masks of horror.

Cassidy, who had been harboring a crush on Evan, finally found the courage to confess her feelings. One night, as they roamed the deserted pizzeria, she took a deep breath and spoke her heart. Evan, to her delight, reciprocated her feelings, and they became a ghostly couple, finding solace in each other amidst their cursed existence.

Their relationship was initially a secret, but Susie, unable to contain her excitement, let it slip. This revelation led to a wave of teasing and jokes among the spirits, creating a sense of camaraderie and light-heartedness that contrasted sharply with their otherwise grim reality. Despite the dark circ*mstances of their existence, they managed to find moments of joy and laughter.

The spirits took perverse pleasure in tormenting the night guards. The addition of five new toy animatronics to their arsenal only increased their ability to wreak havoc. Each night became a game of cat and mouse, with the spirits relishing the fear they instilled. The halls of the pizzeria echoed with eerie laughter as they plotted their next moves.

Their bond grew stronger with each passing night. They found a strange comfort in their shared purpose and the unity it brought. The pizzeria, once a place of nightmares, became their domain—a twisted playground where they could exert control and exact their revenge. The darkness of their pasts could not dim the light of their bonds, and as they moved forward, they faced their future with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

On one particularly cold night, as they watched another guard flee in terror, Cassidy turned to Evan with a contemplative look in her eyes. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her spectral form, highlighting the sorrow etched on her face.

"Do you ever think about what comes next for us?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the distant hum of machinery.

Evan, his expression serious, nodded slowly. "Sometimes," he admitted. "But right now, we have each other. We have our mission."

Cassidy took his hand, their ghostly fingers intertwining in a gesture of solidarity. "Together," she whispered, finding strength in his presence.

"Together," Evan echoed, a determined fire burning in his eyes.

Their journey was far from over, but for the first time, they faced it with a renewed sense of purpose and unity. They knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face it as one. The spirits of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza were no longer just victims; they were a force to be reckoned with, bound by their shared past and their collective desire for justice.

As the nights grew longer and the shadows deepened, the spirits continued their haunting. They found perverse joy in their nightly activities, each scare and each moment of terror a small victory in their ongoing battle. The pizzeria, with its dark corners and hidden secrets, became their playground—a place where they could exact their revenge and find a semblance of peace in their restless afterlives.

The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the spirits of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza would not rest until they had achieved their goal. Bound by their shared history and their unyielding desire for justice, they moved forward with unwavering determination. In the darkness, they found their strength, and in each other, they found hope.

And so the haunted halls of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza echoed with their presence, a chilling reminder of the past and a testament to their undying resolve. The story of the spirits was far from over, and as they continued their haunting, they knew that their time would come. Together, they would face whatever lies ahead, united in their quest for vengeance and the bonds that hold them together.

Chapter 13: Masters of Fear and Eternal Torment

Chapter Text

Just a more detailed adventure of the Missing Kids lol. More of a side chapter thats why it is short.

The initial awakening was brutal. Charlie's method of transferring the souls was anything but gentle. Each child felt an intense, searing pain as their essence was torn from the ether and forced into the cold, unfeeling metal bodies of the animatronics. Jerem screamed as he felt his bones replaced with servos and pistons, his flesh morphing into synthetic fur and plastic. Fritz's transformation into Foxy was a chaotic mix of agony and fury, his spirit fighting against the confinement of the robotic pirate.

"Why is this happening to us?" Jerem's voice, now a mechanical rasp, echoed through the empty halls.

Charlie, her face a mask of determination, could only offer a weak smile. "It's the only way to give you a chance. To give you power."

The realization of their new forms settled in slowly. They could move, albeit with jerky, unnatural motions. They could see, but through the eerie, glowing eyes of their animatronic shells. The world around them seemed distorted, their senses dulled yet sharpened in inexplicable ways.

As the days turned into weeks, the spirits grew accustomed to their new forms. They learned to navigate the cramped backrooms and hidden passageways of the pizzeria, their movements becoming smoother and more deliberate. Their hatred for William Afton simmered just beneath the surface, fueling their every action.

One night, as the clock struck midnight, they made their first move. Johnathan Ross, the new night guard, was unaware of the horrors that lurked in the shadows. He sat in the security office, eyes glued to the flickering monitors, oblivious to the danger creeping ever closer.

Gabriel, in the Freddy suit, led the charge. "This is for us," he whispered, his voice a low growl. "This is for everyone he took."

The attack was swift and brutal. They played with Johnathan, taunting him with glimpses of movement in the corners of his vision, unsettling noises just beyond the range of his hearing. The fear in his eyes was a sweet balm to their tormented souls. By dawn, Johnathan was a broken shell of a man, his body a testament to their rage.

### More Depth and Horror with Dialogue and Action

As Gabriel, Freddy's menacing form, moved closer to Johnathan, the sound of metal scraping against the tiled floor sent shivers down the guard's spine. "Do you hear that?" Gabriel's voice echoed, mechanical yet filled with malevolence. "That's the sound of your end."

Johnathan's breath quickened. He scrambled to check the security monitors, his hands shaking. The screens flickered, revealing brief, terrifying glimpses of animatronics lurking just out of sight. "No... no, please," he whimpered, his voice cracking.

From the darkness, Foxy lunged, his hook glinting in the dim light. "Yer time be up, matey," Fritz snarled, his voice a blend of fury and pain. He swiped at Johnathan, leaving deep gashes on the desk as the guard barely managed to duck out of the way.

Jerem, now Bonnie, blocked the exit, his glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. "There's nowhere to run," he said, his voice low and haunting. He took slow, deliberate steps forward, each one echoing ominously.

In another room, Susie, now Chica, watched the scene unfold through the security cameras. She turned to Evan, her expression troubled. "I hate this, Evan. I hate what we've become."

Evan, his form merged with the animatronic Golden Freddy, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We have no choice, Susie. It's us or them. We need to make them understand our pain."

As the clock struck 3 AM, the animatronics intensified their assault. Gabriel smashed the security monitors with a powerful swing, the glass shattering into a thousand pieces. "Feel our pain, Johnathan," he growled, his voice filled with unbridled rage.

Johnathan, now cornered, could only scream as the animatronics closed in on him. His cries echoed through the empty pizzeria, a chilling symphony of terror.

The following night, a new guard, a young woman named Lisa, took the position. She had heard the rumors but needed the money. She nervously checked her surroundings, her flashlight shaking in her hand. "Just one night," she whispered to herself. "I can do this."

From the shadows, Cassidy, in the form of the Puppet, watched her with a sad, knowing gaze. "She doesn't know," Cassidy murmured to herself. "But she will soon."

As the animatronics began their nightly hunt, their movements were more synchronized, more deliberate. Lisa's fear grew with each passing hour, the oppressive atmosphere suffocating her. She heard whispers, the voices of the children trapped within the animatronics, a haunting chorus of despair.

"Why are you doing this?" Lisa cried out, her voice trembling. "What do you want?"

Gabriel's voice, filled with anger and sorrow, responded from the darkness. "Justice. Revenge. Freedom."

Evan and Susie, hidden in the shadows, exchanged a glance. "We must make her understand," Evan said softly.

Susie nodded, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of her lost humanity. "But we must also make her fear."

As dawn approached, Lisa was a sobbing wreck, her mind shattered by the relentless torment. The animatronics retreated, leaving her to be found by the day staff, another victim of their endless revenge.

The pizzeria's reputation grew darker with each passing night. Parents warned their children to stay away, and thrill-seekers dared each other to spend a night within its haunted halls, oblivious to the true horrors that awaited them.

Evan and Susie’s reconciliation brought a glimmer of humanity back into their existence. As they roamed the empty halls, their conversations grew deeper, their bond stronger. Susie’s guilt weighed heavily on her, but Evan’s forgiveness was a balm for her tormented soul.

"I never wanted this," Susie confided one night, her voice a mere whisper over the distant hum of machinery. "I never wanted to become this."

Evan's response was quiet but firm. "None of us did. But we have to make the best of it. We have to make him pay."

Cassidy’s confession to Evan was another turning point. The two found solace in each other’s company, their relationship a beacon of light in their dark, cursed existence. Their love, though unconventional, was genuine and deep, providing them with a semblance of normalcy in their twisted reality.

By 1986, the spirits had become masters of their domain. With the addition of toy animatronics expanding their arsenal, each new robot a new instrument of fear. The pizzeria was a labyrinth of horrors, every corner a potential trap, every shadow hiding a nightmare.

The new guards, drawn in by the promise of easy money, were unprepared for the terror that awaited them. Each night was a relentless assault on their sanity, the animatronics' laughter echoing through the halls, a chilling reminder of their torment.

"Let's see how brave this one is," Fritz sneered one night, his voice dripping with malevolence as he watched the new guard fumble with the security cameras.

Their methods grew more sophisticated, their games more intricate. They played with the guards' minds, driving them to the brink of madness before delivering the final, fatal blow. The pizzeria became a place of legend, its dark reputation spreading far and wide. Parents whispered warnings to their children, and thrill-seekers dared each other to spend a night within its haunted halls.

Chapter 14: The Golden Specter

Chapter Text

Jeremy was working his shift at the pizzeria, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He didn't come in often due to his university schedule, but he had a free week and decided to pick up some extra hours. As he sat in the dimly lit security office, sweat trickled down his face, his hand tightly gripping the monitor as he kept track of the withered robots moving rapidly towards him. Reflecting on how he ended up in this precarious position, Jeremy prepared to recount the harrowing events of the past few nights, feeling the weight of dread and fear settling heavily on his shoulders.

Day 1

Upon unpacking his belongings, Jeremy switched through the cameras, familiarizing himself with the layout and the animatronics' behavior. The notebook left for him contained vital tips: put the Freddy head on to ward off the robots, wind the music box to keep certain threats at bay, and flash the older models to stun them. The notebook also mentioned ignoring something called "Golden Freddy." The final, unnerving detail was a patch of dried blood on one of the pages, which he tried to dismiss from his mind.

As he settled into his shift, the flickering, faulty lights in the office cast eerie shadows on the walls. Toy Bonnie and Chica approached from the two adjacent vents. Jeremy quickly donned his Freddy mask, balancing this task with winding the music box to keep the Puppet at bay. At 2 AM, Toy Freddy joined the fray, making his job even harder. Jeremy's nerves began to fray as he sensed unseen eyes watching him. Despite his growing anxiety, he managed to survive the next three grueling hours, relieved when the clock finally struck 6 AM.

Day 2

The second night brought more challenges. Along with the three toys, the older Foxy and Bonnie animatronics also began their assault. Jeremy used the camera lights strategically to halt the withered bots' progress. Foxy charged at him multiple times, but each time Jeremy managed to fend him off with his flashlight. The toy robots were more aggressive, and the music box wound down quicker than the previous night. Jeremy deeply regretted taking this job.

"Why did I sign up for this?" he muttered to himself, wiping sweat from his brow.

Older Bonnie began crawling through the right vent, prompting Jeremy to rush over and flash his light, forcing the animatronic to retreat. After six exhausting hours, Jeremy's shift finally ended. He wandered through the pizzeria's darkened halls, arcade rooms and diner area, his nerves on edge. He glimpsed a golden bot in the corner, which vanished almost immediately. Recalling the tip from his notebook, he assumed this must have been Golden Freddy. Feeling a growing sense of dread, he hurriedly left the building.

Day 3

The third night introduced new threats: the Mangle, a once-beloved toy Foxy, and Balloon Boy, who constantly attempted to steal his flashlight batteries. Jeremy had to fend off the mischievous little bot nearly fifty times. As the aggression of other robots increased, Jeremy found himself narrowly avoiding death multiple times. Foxy's hook and Withered Bonnie's metal hands were constant threats. Toy Chica also attacked, but Jeremy's quick thinking and strategic planning allowed him to manage the onslaught.

"Stay focused, Jeremy. You can do this," he whispered, trying to steady his nerves.

His hands were clammy, and his breath came in hitched gasps as he fought to maintain control. When his shift finally ended, he bolted out of the restaurant, his heart racing. Desperate for relief, he called Michael to ask if he could cover for him, but Michael declined, citing his own obligations.

"Mike, please. I can't do this anymore. These things are going to kill me," Jeremy pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I've got my own stuff to deal with. Hang in there, okay?" Michael replied, sounding genuinely regretful.

Day 4

On the fourth night, Withered Freddy joined the fray, making Jeremy's task even more challenging. The reflexes required to survive were inhuman, and the music box seemed to wind down faster than ever. Jeremy had to juggle fending off the toys with the Freddy mask while using his flashlight to repel Foxy and Balloon Boy. The Mangle managed to hit him, sending him sprawling back into the diner area, where he hid under a table to catch his breath.

Periodically, the words 'It's me' flashed across his monitors, sending chills down his spine. A chilling laugh echoed through the building, keeping him on edge. He barely scraped through the night, emerging with bloodstains on his shirt and fresh scrapes on his arms. Relief washed over him as he realized the next day would be his last.

"Just one more night. One more, and I'm free," he told himself, trying to muster the strength to continue.

Day 5

And that brings us to the present. At 4 AM, the robots shut off the cameras. Jeremy's monitor flickered, displaying the ominous message '2B.' Switching to the camera feed, he saw the Fredbear bot slumped in front of the parts and services room. Its eyes glowed—one white, the other a rich gold. The building shook as the robot stood up, and Jeremy felt a wave of panic wash over him.

Fredbear was infamous—the bot involved in the Bite of '83, the incident that killed Michael's younger brother, Evan. Jeremy's mind raced with guilt and fear as he remembered his role in the tragic accident alongside Michael. Now, it seemed the robot was seeking revenge.

"No, no, this can't be happening," Jeremy whispered, terror gripping his heart.

The bot teleported through the building, moving unpredictably. Jeremy tracked it through the cameras, watching it appear in the vents, then the gift shop area. The relentless pursuit continued for hours. Finally, the bot entered his room, standing menacingly before him. It lunged at Jeremy, knocking him back. He struggled to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth, and kicked the bot away.

"Stay away from me!" Jeremy screamed, desperation in his voice.

Desperately, he tried to escape, but the bot teleported again, cutting off his path. It haunted him relentlessly, its chilling presence overwhelming his senses. Jeremy tried flashing his light, but the bot walked through it unfazed. The clock ticked agonizingly slow, and just as Jeremy thought he might survive until morning, the Mangle snuck up on him, delivering a fatal bite to his frontal lobe. He collapsed, unconscious from blood loss.

As the clock ticked closer to 6 AM, Jeremy's thoughts were a chaotic mix of fear and determination.

"Just hold on a little longer, Jeremy. You can do this," he told himself, trying to stay focused.

But when the Mangle appeared, his resolve shattered. As the bot bit down, his vision blurred, and his mind filled with regret.

"Michael... I'm sorry..." were his final, fleeting thoughts before darkness overtook him.

Henry arrived at the pizzeria, a sense of dread growing as he approached the security office. He pushed the door open and gasped, his heart sinking at the sight of Jeremy's lifeless body.

"Oh God, Jeremy! What happened to you?" Henry's voice trembled as he knelt beside his friend, tears welling up in his eyes.

He reached out a trembling hand, closing Jeremy's eyes.

"I'm so sorry, my friend. I should have been here. I should have done something."

Michael sat on the edge of his bed, clutching his mother's necklace. His eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"Evan... Jeremy... I've failed you both. I don't know how to make this right," he murmured to the empty room.

He lay down, staring at the ceiling, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him.

"Dad, wherever you are, I hope you're suffering for what you've done. I won't let this go on. I promise."

With a heavy heart, he finally drifted into a fitful sleep, determined to find a way to stop the animatronics and the legacy of horror his father had left behind.

Michael knew this nightmare had to end. But what could he do? His father was long gone, on a supposed 'business trip.' Michael no longer lived in his childhood home, but he still had the key. He would never go back there willingly. He cried softly for his dead friend, then tried to sleep, but the memories haunted him. He grabbed his mother's necklace, the one his younger brother Evan had worn. The guilt of causing Evan's death in the Bite of '83 weighed heavily on him, even four years later.

Chapter 15: The Search for Light

Chapter Text

The incident of '87 had left an indelible mark on Freddy Fazbear Jr.'s. The once lively pizzeria, now a hollow echo of laughter and joy, stood desolate and forgotten. By day, it was a haunting monument to childhood nostalgia, but by night, it transformed into a labyrinth of fear. The animatronics, withered and grotesque, were shipped back into the old restaurant, their joints creaking and their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. They had been redesigned and repaired, their outer shells polished, but the air around them still crackled with an unsettling energy. They no longer attacked the night guards; they simply roamed the halls, their presence a constant reminder of the past.

For the spirits of the missing children, the return to the pizzeria was bittersweet. Gabriel and Jeremy, now spectral shadows of their former selves, found a semblance of peace in the party room, their translucent forms drifting through the air.

"Do you remember the parties we had here, Jeremy?" Gabriel asked, his voice a soft echo.

"Yeah," Jeremy replied, a hint of a smile in his voice. "Those were the good days."

Fritz, ever the restless spirit, performed eerie acrobatics, his ghostly limbs twisting in impossible angles.

"Fritz, do you ever rest?" Susie called from the kitchen, her ghostly hands moving through the motions of baking cookies.

"Rest? What’s that?" Fritz responded with a laugh, flipping in the air.

In the kitchen, Susie and Charlie baked cookies, the sweet scent of baked goods a stark contrast to the decay around them. Susie hummed a tune as she worked, her hands moving rhythmically.

Charlie sighed, watching the cookies bake. "It almost feels normal, doesn’t it?"

"Almost," Susie agreed. "But we all know it’s not."

Cassidy, bound to the Fredbear animatronic, was an enigma. Her silent wanderings were a mystery, her presence felt but never truly seen. She drifted silently through the halls, observing but rarely interacting.

"Do you think she’s happy like this?" Jeremy asked Gabriel one night.

"I don’t know," Gabriel replied thoughtfully. "Cassidy’s always been hard to read."

Evan, however, remained hidden in a secret room, a place cloaked in shadows and unseen by the others. To them, it appeared as a solid wall, but to Evan, it was a portal to the backrooms where Springbonnie lay in wait. This room, obscured by his dark presence, was impenetrable to their senses. Evan wondered if Charlie, with her inexplicable powers, could sense its existence, but even that remained uncertain.

Evan's thoughts were a maelstrom of anger and frustration. He couldn't rest, for the thirst for vengeance consumed him. Killing his father, William, would be a fleeting pleasure; his true target was Michael. He had been keeping a watchful eye on his family, using shards of his own essence to monitor their every move. He knew about Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental, and Michael's growing obsession with their father's secrets. Brief, hazy glimpses into the future had shown him that Michael would return in three years. It was 1990 now, and the anticipation of that day gnawed at him.

His hatred was a dark, uncontainable force, festering within him. He needed to kill, to feel the rush of life draining away. The others were powerless to stop him, not even Charlie, despite her formidable abilities. She was a puzzle he couldn't solve, and that frightened him more than anything else. His thoughts turned malicious, a burning need to fight and kill consuming him. He roared, unleashing a blinding light streaked with darkness, a shockwave that rattled the very foundations of the hidden room. He knew they would come.

Emerging from the room, Evan found himself face to face with Charlie. Her eyes were piercing, filled with a mix of concern and suspicion, her presence a chilling contrast to the shadows around them.

"What are you doing, Evan?" she demanded, her voice steady but edged with an unspoken threat.

Evan sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Why don't you just mind your own business, Charlie?"

Her expression hardened, a cold determination igniting in her eyes. "Don't do anything you'll regret, Evan."

"Or what?" he challenged, stepping closer, his aura radiating menace.

She stepped closer as well, her voice dropping to a stern tone. "Or I'll stop you. For good."

Evan's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a dark amusem*nt. "I'd like to see you try."

"You think you're invincible, don't you?" Charlie's voice was low, almost a whisper. "But you're just a scared little boy hiding behind his anger."

Evan's eyes darkened, his smile fading. "I am not scared. And I'm not hiding. I'm planning."

"Planning what?" Charlie's voice dripped with disdain. "Another pointless act of violence?"

"It's not pointless if it gets me what I want," Evan replied, his tone icy.

"And what do you want, Evan?" Charlie's eyes bore into his, seeking the truth.

"I want Michael dead," Evan said, his voice devoid of emotion. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

Charlie took a step back, her eyes widening slightly. "You're a monster."

Evan's smile returned, more sinister than before. "Maybe I am. But at least I'm honest about it."

Their argument grew heated, the air between them crackling with tension. The shadows seemed to deepen, the very walls closing in as their confrontation escalated. Suddenly, the others arrived, drawn by the unnatural light. Gabriel, Jeremy, Fritz, Susie, and Cassidy stood in the doorway, their spectral forms shimmering.

"Evan, what’s going on?" Gabriel asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Just a little experiment," Evan said smoothly, the smooth talk he had inherited from his father evident in his tone. "Nothing to worry about."

The others looked uncertain but eventually nodded, dispersing slowly. Charlie remained, her eyes still locked on Evan.

"I know why you don't trust me," he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. "I know you think I hold secrets."

Charlie remained silent, her eyes narrowing, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.

"And I know your feelings for Michael," he taunted, his words dripping with malice. "He'll never love you. He's a monster, just like me."

A green aura began to emanate from Charlie, her anger palpable and almost tangible. Evan responded with his own golden aura streaked black, the two energies colliding in a silent but fierce battle of wills.

"You think you can scare me with your little light show?" Charlie spat, her voice trembling with rage.

Evan's laugh was cold and hollow. "Scare you? No. But I can make you suffer."

They were on the brink of a violent confrontation, the room filled with a suffocating sense of impending doom, when Charlie abruptly stopped. She turned away, her voice cold and deadly serious. "Don't touch Michael, or you'll regret it."

Evan watched her leave, his mind already plotting his next move. The game was far from over, and in the shadowy corridors of Freddy Fazbear, as the battle for vengeance and redemption continued to simmer, the line between sanity and madness grew ever thinner.

As Charlie disappeared into the darkness, Evan stood alone, the shadows wrapping around him like a shroud. His thoughts swirled in a chaotic storm, doubt creeping into the edges of his mind.

"What if Charlie's right?" he muttered to himself. "What if I'm just a scared little boy hiding behind all this anger?"

He paced the floor, his steps echoing in the empty hall. "But I can't be weak. Not right now. Not when I'm so close." His fists clenched, a familiar surge of anger rising within him.

"But what if it comes to a fight with Charlie?" he thought, his mind flashing to the green aura she had emitted. "She's powerful. More powerful than I want to admit."

Evan paused, his reflection staring back at him from a cracked mirror. "Can I really beat her? Can I really make her suffer as I plan to?"

The doubt gnawed at him, but then his thoughts shifted to Michael. The anger returned, fierce and unyielding. "Michael... He's the reason I'm like this. He's the reason for all my pain."

His eyes burned with hatred as he thought of his brother. "I have to kill him. I have to make him pay. It's the only way I'll ever find peace."

The image of Michael's face, twisted in agony, filled his mind. "I don't care what it takes. I don't care if I have to go through Charlie or anyone else. Michael will die by my hand."

Evan's determination solidified, his doubt buried beneath layers of rage. He turned away from the mirror, his path clear. "This isn't over, Michael. Not by a long shot."

In the dark corridors of Freddy Fazbears, Evan's resolve hardened, the shadows whispering their approval as he disappeared into the night, a silent promise of violence to come lingering in the air.

Scene Change: Show stage of Freddy's.

The core four—Jeremy, Fritz, Gabriel, and Susie—were huddled together in the dimly lit room, their ghostly forms shimmering faintly in the moonlight filtering through the cracked window. The air was thick with a cold, unearthly chill, and the room, once filled with laughter and life, now felt like a hollow echo of their past. Charlie sat across from them, her expression a mix of determination and sorrow. Cassidy had earlier excused herself, citing exhaustion, her ghostly figure flickering before she vanished into the shadows.

"Evans has changed," Charlie began, her voice steady but laced with concern. Her eyes, once bright with curiosity and mischief, now held a haunted look. "I've noticed it, and it's not something that will just go away."

Susie nodded, her ethereal form flickering slightly like a candle in the wind. "I've always noticed it too, but I kept hoping it was a phase," she whispered, her voice tinged with a deep sadness.

Jeremy's translucent eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious, Charlie? He's our best friend. He wouldn't hurt us." His voice cracked, betraying the uncertainty he felt. The light from the window passed through him, casting eerie shadows on the wall behind.

Fritz's spectral jaw tightened. His ghostly form seemed more solid in his anger. "Yeah, Charlie. This sounds extreme. Evan's been through a lot, but he's still Evan."

Gabriel, usually the quietest, spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. "But what if she's right? What if something's really wrong with him?" His eyes were wide with fear, his hands twisting the edge of his spectral shirt.

Charlie sighed and leaned forward, her eyes locking onto each of them with a grave intensity. "I know it sounds extreme, but we need to be prepared. If Evan snaps, we won't be able to stop him individually. We need a plan."

The room fell silent, the only sound the faint rustle of ghostly breaths. Charlie detailed her plan in hushed tones, her voice barely above a whisper. It was a contingency plan, a way to protect themselves if the unthinkable happened. The shadows in the room seemed to grow longer as she spoke, the weight of their situation pressing down on them.

Susie's eyes filled with ghostly tears, which shimmered like tiny diamonds before evaporating. "I hate this. I hate that we have to even think about this. But if it means keeping us safe..." Her voice broke, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to hold on to the warmth she no longer felt.

Fritz ran a hand through his spectral hair, frustration evident on his face. "I can't believe we're doing this. Planning against Evan...it feels wrong." His voice was rough, like a distant echo.

Jeremy looked at Charlie, his expression a mix of anger and sorrow. "I hate this too, but if you think it's necessary, then...fine. We'll go along with it." He clenched his fists, the light passing through his hands creating intricate patterns on the wall.

"I hope we never have to use this plan," Charlie said, her voice wavering. "But we need to be ready."

Once the plan was agreed upon, the conversation shifted to a topic that had been festering in their minds for a long time—William. The man who had caused them so much pain and suffering. They spoke in hushed, angry tones, each of them expressing their desire for vengeance.

As soon as William's name was mentioned, a palpable fear filled the room. Their ghostly forms flickered as if reacting to the mere utterance of his name, and a cold, oppressive feeling descended upon them.

"I want to make him pay," Susie said, her eyes blazing with a ghostly fire. "For everything he's done to us." Her voice was filled with a cold, simmering rage, but underneath it was a tremor of fear.

"But what if he never comes back?" Fritz asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. "What if we never get the chance?" His face twisted with frustration and doubt, but also with a deep, underlying fear.

Gabriel clenched his spectral fists, his knuckles turning an eerie white. "Then we live with the knowledge that we're ready. That if he ever shows his face again, we'll be ready to end it." His voice was steely, filled with a determination that belied his usual quiet demeanor, but his eyes darted nervously around the room.

Jeremy looked around at his friends, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared trauma. "We've got each other," he said softly. "And we'll face whatever comes, together." His words hung in the air, a solemn vow, but he could feel the icy grip of fear tightening around his heart.

The group fell silent again, the gravity of their situation settling over them. They knew their path would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but they also knew they had each other. And in the darkest of times, that bond would be their greatest strength.

As the night wore on, they continued to talk, their voices filled with a mixture of hope and fear. They spoke of their dreams for the future, of the lives they wanted to build if they hadn't met their tragic ends.

"I wanted to open a bakery," Susie said with a small, sad smile, her eyes shining with ghostly tears. "A place where people could come and feel safe. Somewhere full of warmth and light." She hugged her knees to her chest, her voice filled with longing.

Gabriel nodded, a wistful look in his eyes. "I wanted to travel. See the world beyond all this darkness. Find places where I could feel at peace." His voice was soft, filled with a yearning for the freedom he would never have.

Fritz chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with sadness. "I dreamed of opening a mechanic shop. Fixing things, building things. Creating something good out of all this mess." He looked down at his hands, the hands that would never hold tools again.

Jeremy glanced at Charlie, who was staring at the floor. "What about you, Charlie? What did you want?" His voice was gentle, coaxing her to share her dreams.

Charlie looked up, her eyes filled with a fierce determination. "I wanted to make sure none of this ever happened to anyone else. I wanted to protect people, to stop monsters like William before they could hurt anyone." Her voice was strong, filled with a resolve that had not faded even in death.

The others nodded, their dreams now a poignant reminder of what they had lost. Though they could no longer pursue these dreams, the memories of their hopes and aspirations kept their spirits strong.

At that moment, Cassidy reappeared at the door, her ghostly form softly glowing in the darkness. She moved quietly, her expression solemn but curious. "What are you all talking about?" she asked, her voice a gentle whisper that carried through the room.

"We were talking about our dreams," Susie explained, wiping away the remnants of her ghostly tears. "The things we wanted to do if... if things had been different."

Cassidy floated closer, her eyes downcast. "I had a dream too," she said softly. "I wanted to marry Evan."

The room grew even quieter, if that were possible. Cassidy's admission hung in the air, filled with a deep, haunting sorrow.

"I always imagined us growing up together," Cassidy continued, her voice trembling. "I thought we would be happy, that we could leave all this darkness behind. I loved him, you know? And in my dreams, he loved me too."

A heavy silence followed her words. The others could feel the weight of Cassidy's lost future and her unfulfilled love. It was another tragic piece of the lives they never got to live.

"But ever since William," Cassidy's voice trembled at the mention of his name, and the others shivered, feeling his oppressive influence. "It's like he's always there, manipulating us, twisting our thoughts. I fear what he’s done to Evan."

"We were supposed to have a life," Cassidy whispered, her voice breaking. "A life where we could be together, free from all of this. But now... now it’s just a dream that will never come true."

Charlie reached out, her ghostly hand passing through Cassidy’s, but the gesture felt all the same. "I'm so sorry, Cassidy. We all had dreams, and they were taken from us. But we have each other now, and that has to count for something."

Cassidy nodded, her tears sparkling like tiny stars before fading away. "Yes, we have each other. And maybe that's enough."

The group huddled closer, their ghostly forms intertwined in a silent promise. They knew their strength lay in their bond, and that together, they could face whatever came their way.

As the night wore on, their conversations continued, filled with memories of what might have been and the unbreakable friendship that sustained them. Though their dreams had been shattered, their spirits remained unyielding, and their unity would be their guiding light through the darkness.

They all felt a chill at the mention of William's name, a reminder of his lingering presence. Yet, in each other’s company, they found a measure of peace, and the courage to face the nightmares that haunted their afterlives.

A few weeks passed, and the group noticed Evan slipping further and further into madness. His once bright and cheerful spirit was now shadowed by anger and despair. The others tried their best to help him, but it seemed that nothing could reach him, not even Cassidy.

Evan's spirit was restless, constantly on edge. He would lash out unexpectedly, his frustration and rage bubbling to the surface. "Why can't I control it?" he would scream, his ghostly form shimmering with an eerie intensity. "Why am I so helpless?"

Cassidy tried to comfort him, her ghostly hand gently reaching out. "Evan, please, let us help you. We're all here for you," she said, her voice soft and filled with love.

But Evan would pull away, his eyes filled with pain and anger. "You don't understand, Cassidy. None of you do. I'm trapped in this nightmare, and I can't escape. I'm angry at my brother, angry at my father. It's their fault I'm like this!"

The others watched, their hearts aching for their friend. They knew Evan's older brother had bullied him relentlessly, and their father, William, was the root of all their suffering. Evan's anger was justified, but it was consuming him.

One night, as the group gathered in their usual spot, Evan's rage reached a boiling point. "I'm sick of this!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. "Sick of being a prisoner in this place, sick of being manipulated by William. I can't stand it anymore!"

Charlie stepped forward, her eyes filled with determination. "Evan, we know how you feel. We're all suffering because of him. But giving in to your anger won't help. We need to stay strong, together."

Evan glared at her, his eyes blazing with a ghostly fire. "Stay strong? How, Charlie? How can we stay strong when we're trapped in this endless torment? William has twisted everything, even our thoughts."

Cassidy floated closer, her face etched with sadness. "Evan, I love you. I wanted to marry you, to be with you forever. But this...this isn't the way. We need to fight him, but not like this. We need to stay together, not tear each other apart."

Evan's anger flickered, replaced by a deep, haunting sorrow. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't want to hurt any of you. I'm just so tired."

Jeremy placed a ghostly hand on Evan's shoulder. "We understand, Evan. We're all tired. But we can't let William win. We need to find a way to break free from his influence."

Fritz nodded, his expression grim. "We've faced so much together. We can't let him destroy us now. We need to find a way to stop him, for good."

Gabriel's voice was filled with quiet resolve. "We're stronger together. We can do this, Evan. We'll find a way."

Evan looked around at his friends, his eyes filling with ghostly tears. "Thank you," he said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you all."

But even as he spoke the words, a flicker of something darker passed through his eyes. "No," he said suddenly, stepping back. "No, I can't do this to you. I can't drag you all down with me. I won't be the reason you all get hurt."

Cassidy reached out again, her hand trembling. "Evan, please, don't push us away. We want to help you."

Evan shook his head, his expression hardening. "No, Cassidy. I can't let you risk yourselves for me. This is my fight, and I have to face it alone."

Charlie's eyes filled with tears. "Evan, we're stronger together. You don't have to do this by yourself."

But Evan's pride and hubris were too strong. "Yes, I do," he said firmly. "I'm the one William wants. I'm the one he torments. If I face him alone, maybe...maybe I can end this."

The group watched in despair as Evan turned away, his form flickering in the dim light. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice filled with sorrow. "But this is something I have to do on my own."

As Evan moved away from the group, his thoughts twisted with bitterness and spite. "They pity me," he thought angrily. "They act like they understand, but they don't. They see me as weak, as someone who needs saving. I don't need their pity."

Cassidy's tears flowed freely now, shimmering like tiny diamonds before fading away. "I loved him," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I loved him so much."

Jeremy clenched his fists, his expression one of anguish. "We can't just let him go like this. We have to find a way to help him, to bring him back."

Fritz nodded, though his eyes were filled with doubt. "But how? If he won't let us in, how can we save him?"

Gabriel's voice was a mere whisper. "I don't know. But we have to try. We can't let him face this alone."

Charlie looked around at her friends, her heart heavy with the weight of their shared sorrow. "We'll find a way," she said firmly, though her voice wavered. "We have to. For Evan."

As the group huddled closer, their ghostly forms intertwined in a renewed promise. They knew their strength lay in their bond, and that together, they could face whatever came their way. But as the night wore on, the emptiness left by Evan's departure was a painful reminder of their fragile existence.

Meanwhile, Evan wandered through the desolate halls of their old haunt, consumed by a mix of anger and regret. "Why can't they understand?" he muttered to himself. "Why can't they see that I'm doing this for them? I won't let William hurt them like he hurt me."

Evan's thoughts were interrupted by a cold, sinister laugh that echoed through the empty corridors. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice trembling.

From the shadows emerged a figure, cloaked in darkness. It was William, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Hello, Evan," he said, his voice smooth and menacing. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Evan's anger flared. "You!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the halls. "This is all your fault! You've ruined everything!"

William's laugh was cold and mocking. "Oh, Evan. You were always so quick to anger. It's so easy to manipulate you."

Evan clenched his fists, his ghostly form shimmering with rage. "I'll stop you. I won't let you hurt my friends."

William's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing. "Your friends? The ones who pity you? The ones who think you're weak?"

Evan's anger faltered, replaced by doubt. "They don't pity me," he said, his voice less certain. "They care about me."

William stepped closer, his presence oppressive. "They pity you, Evan. They see you as a broken, lost soul. They think you need saving."

Evan's resolve wavered, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and anger. "No," he whispered, shaking his head. "No, they're my friends. They wouldn't..."

William's smile was cruel. "Face it, Evan. You're alone. You have always been. And now, you always will be."

Evan's spirit flickered, the weight of William's words pressing down on him. "No," he said weakly, his voice barely audible. "I'm not alone."

But even as he spoke the words, he felt a crushing sense of isolation. He had pushed his friends away, and now, he was truly alone.

Back in their usual spot, the group felt a chill in the air, a sense of foreboding that made their ghostly forms shiver. "We have to find him," Charlie said urgently. "We can't let William get to him."

Cassidy's eyes were filled with determination. "We'll find him," she said firmly. "No matter what it takes."

The group set off in search of Evan, their hearts heavy with worry and fear. They knew that William's influence was growing stronger, and that Evan was in grave danger.

As they moved through the dark, desolate halls, they called out for Evan, their voices echoing through the empty spaces. "Evan! Where are you?" Jeremy shouted, his voice filled with desperation.

"Evan, please, come back to us!" Cassidy cried, her voice breaking with emotion.

But there was no response, only the cold, oppressive silence that seemed to swallow their words.

Evan wandered deeper into the darkness, his mind unraveling with each step. The shadows seemed to whisper his father's cruel taunts, each one cutting deeper into his fragile psyche. "You're weak, Evan," the voice hissed. "You're a failure."

Evan clutched his head, trying to block out the voice. "No, I'm not," he muttered. "I'm not weak. I'm not a failure."

But the hallucinations grew stronger, more vivid. He saw William's face in every shadow, and heard his mocking laughter echoing through the halls. "They pity you," the hallucination sneered. "They see you as nothing but a burden."

Evan's anger flared, his ghostly form trembling with rage. "I'm not a burden," he shouted into the darkness. "I'm not!"

The hallucination of William stepped closer, its eyes gleaming with malice. "You'll never be free of me, Evan. You'll never escape."

Evan backed away, his resolve crumbling. "Leave me alone," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Please,

just leave me alone."

But the hallucination only laughed, its voice a cold, cruel echo. "You're mine, Evan. Forever."

Back in their usual spot, the group continued their search, their desperation growing with each passing moment. "We have to find him," Cassidy said, her voice filled with determination. "We can't let him face this alone."

They finally reached a room where Evan stood, his back to them, facing the shadowy figure of William. "Evan!" Charlie called out, her voice trembling. "Don't listen to him!"

Evan turned to face them, his expression one of anguish and confusion. "You don't understand," he said, his voice filled with pain. "I have to do this. I have to stop him."

Cassidy stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears. "Evan, we love you. We're your friends. Please, don't push us away."

William's laughter echoed through the room, cold and mocking. "See, Evan? They're here to pity you. To save the poor, broken soul."

Evan's eyes flickered with doubt and anger. "No," he said, his voice shaking. "They're here because they care about me."

William's expression turned dark, his eyes narrowing. "You're weak, Evan. And they'll suffer because of it."

Evan's anger flared, his ghostly form shimmering with intensity. "No more," he said firmly. "I won't let you hurt them."

With a surge of determination, Evan turned to face William, his resolve stronger than ever. "I'll stop you," he said, his voice steady. "Even if it means facing you alone."

The group watched in horror as Evan confronted William, his ghostly form glowing with a fierce intensity. "Evan, no!" Cassidy cried, reaching out for him.

But it was too late. With a final, defiant shout, Evan charged at William, his spirit blazing with anger and determination. The room was filled with a blinding light as the two forces clashed, their energies colliding in a violent explosion.

When the light faded, Evan was gone, and the room was silent once more. The group stood in shock, their hearts heavy with grief and loss. "Evan," Cassidy whispered, her voice breaking. "No..."

Jeremy clenched his fists, his expression one of anguish. 'We just can't let him go like this. We have to find a way to help him, to bring him back."

Fritz nodded, though his eyes were filled with doubt. "But how? If he won't let us in, how can we save him?"

Gabriel's voice was a mere whisper. "I don't know. But we have to try. We can't let him face this alone."

Charlie looked around at her friends, her heart heavy with the weight of their shared sorrow. "We'll find a way," she said firmly, though her voice wavered. "We have to. For Evan."

As the group huddled closer, their ghostly forms intertwined in a renewed promise. They knew their strength lay in their bond, and that together, they could face whatever came their way. But as the night wore on, the emptiness left by Evan's departure was a painful reminder of their fragile existence.

They would continue to fight, to hold on to their dreams and their friendship. But the loss of Evan, the knowledge that he had chosen to face his demons alone, cast a long, dark shadow over their hearts. And in that darkness, their hope flickered like a fragile, ghostly flame, struggling to stay alight against the cold, unyielding night.

Chapter 16: Homecoming in your Sister's Location.

Chapter Text

Michael had finished his studies. It was 1991, and he was traveling back to Utah, a state filled with memories both cherished and haunting. The drive was long, giving him ample time to contemplate the purpose of his journey. He needed to uncover his father's secrets. The old, familiar landscape of his childhood home loomed ahead as he pulled into the driveway, a wave of nostalgia and unease washing over him. The house stood there, unchanged and yet profoundly different in his eyes. It had been years since he last set foot here, years since the family had fallen apart.

As Michael walked up to the door, the memories came flooding back. He could see his mother’s smiling face, hear the echo of his sister Elizabeth's laughter, and feel the shadow of the tragedy that had befallen them. Elizabeth had been born into a world filled with promise, but that promise was shattered when she died during the birth of Evan. The family never recovered. His mother had become a shell of her former self, and his father had thrown himself deeper into his work, leaving Michael and Evan to fend for themselves emotionally.

Entering the house was like stepping back in time. Each room held memories, some fond, others painful. He remembered the cruel pranks his younger brother Evan had suffered, pranks that seemed to have no end. Michael tried to shake off the memories, focusing on the task at hand. His father's study door loomed ahead, a portal to the secrets he was desperate to uncover. With a sense of determination, he kicked the door open. The room was just as he remembered, except for one significant change: two exoskeletons stood in the corner, deactivated and seemingly incomplete.

Michael walked over to the familiar rug and moved it aside. Underneath was a trapdoor, a gateway to the hidden depths of his father's twisted world. He hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before descending the ladder. The air grew colder as he climbed down, the dim light revealing a room filled with blueprints and mechanical parts. It was a makeshift lab, a testament to his father’s dark genius. Among the clutter, he found a book, its cover labeled "Remnant."

He opened the book, his eyes scanning the pages filled with cryptic notes and diagrams:

"This formula seems to be silver with a blue or red hue.

It seems to form through the agony of a soul.

Perhaps this could explain the puppet.

Maybe Charlie's in the robot.

Perhaps Elizabeth is also in the Circus Baby bot. That would explain the eyes.

P.S. Michael, I know you are reading this. Next time remember, I have cameras."

Michael's hands trembled as he read the notes. The implications were horrifying. His sister’s soul might be trapped inside one of these robots, and his father was the true killer behind the missing children and Charlie. The realization hit him like a freight train: Evan had known all along. The weight of these revelations brought Michael to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he tried to process the enormity of it all.

After several minutes, he forced himself to stand. He couldn’t let this break him. He had to keep moving. To his right, he noticed a vent. Climbing into it, he crawled through the narrow space, feeling the cold metal against his skin. He emerged into a hidden elevator, finding a note from his father taped to the wall:

"SAVE HER."

Michael’s heart pounded as he stepped into the elevator. The doors closed behind him, and a mechanical voice greeted him.

"Welcome to the first day of your exciting new career."

Michael sighed, his sarcasm a thin veil over his growing anxiety. "I'm super ready," he muttered.

"Whether you were approached at a job fair, read our ads on Screws, Bolts, and Hairpins, or if this is a result of a dare, we welcome you. I will be your personal guide to help you get started. I’m a model 5 of the Handyman’s Robotics and Unit-Repair System. But you can call me HandUnit. Your new career promises challenges, intrigue, and endless janitorial opportunities."

A drop of sweat rolled down Michael's temple. This was a mistake, but he had no choice. He had to move forward.

"Please enter your name as seen above the keypad. This cannot be changed later, so please be careful."

Michael stared at the broken keypad in frustration. "How am I supposed to use this junk?" he grumbled, trying to type his name.

"It seems you had some trouble with the keypad. I see that you were trying to type it in and I will auto-correct it for you. One moment... Welcome, Eggs Benedict."

Michael clenched his fists in irritation. The door in front of him opened, revealing a caution tape-covered vent. With no other option, he crawled through it, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. After what felt like an eternity, he entered a room with three vents and eerie, human-like heads. The HandUnit's voice broke the unsettling silence.

"Allow me to fill this somewhat frightening silence with some lighthearted banter. Due to the massive success and even more so the unfortunate closing of 'Freddy Fazbear's Pizza,' it was clear that the stage was set, with no pun intended, for another contender in children's entertainment. Unlike most entertainment venues, our robotic entertainers are rented out for private parties during the day. It's your job to get the robots back in work order before the following morning. You are now in the 'Primary Control Module.' There's a crawl space between the two front showrooms. Now, let's get started with your daily tasks. View the window to your left. This is the 'Ballora Gallery Party Room and Dance Studio,' encouraging kids to stay fit and enjoy pizza. Let's turn on the light and see if Ballora is on her stage. Press the blue button on the elevated keypad to your left."

Michael pressed the button, his breath catching in his throat. "Uh-oh. It looks like Ballora doesn't feel like dancing. Let's give her some motivation. Press the red button now to administer a controlled shock. Maybe that will put the spring back in her step. Let's check the lights again. Excellent. Ballora feels like her old self again and will be ready to perform again tomorrow."

Michael was honestly surprised about this job. It certainly was something. After repeating the process with Funtime Foxy, he crawled to Circus Baby's room. This is where Elizabeth was.

"On the other side of the glass is the 'Circus Baby's Auditorium.' Let's check the lights and see what Baby is up to."

"Doesn't seem like she is doing anything," Michael said. His heart was thumping.

"Looks like a few of the lights are out, but we can fix them later. Let's encourage Baby to cheer up with a controlled shock. Let's try another controlled shock."

"What's going on?" Michael asked himself in confusion.

"Let's try another controlled shock. Great job, Circus Baby. We know we can count on you!"

"She's not there. What's going on?" Michael was getting more and more nervous.

"This concludes your duties for your first night on the job. We don't want you to feel overwhelmed. Otherwise, you might not come back... Please leave using the vent behind you, and we'll see you again tomorrow."

Michael felt a chill run down his spine as he crawled back through the vent. This place was filled with mysteries and dangers, but he had no choice but to face them. He had to save Elizabeth.

**Day 2**

Michael returned for another day, each step heavy with the weight of his discoveries. The routine felt eerily familiar, yet every moment was tinged with an undercurrent of dread. The tasks he performed—checking systems, ensuring the animatronics were functioning—were becoming muscle memory, but the fear and uncertainty gnawed at him constantly. The day passed in a blur until the end when the lights abruptly shut off, plunging him into an oppressive darkness. His heart rate spiked as another voice echoed through the silence.

"There seems to be a power malfunction that is affecting our ability to properly motivate Baby. Please stand by while I reboot the system. I will be offline momentarily during this process. Commencing system restart."

Michael’s flashlight became his only source of illumination, its weak beam cutting through the darkness like a fragile lifeline. He held it steady, the faint circle of light trembling as his hands shook. The silence was suddenly broken by a series of mechanical alerts.

"Motion Trigger, Entry Way Vent. Funtime Auditorium Maintenance Vent, Opened. Ballora Gallery Maintenance Vent, Opened."

The words sent a chill down his spine. The darkness seemed to close in around him, thick and suffocating. His breath quickened as he heard the sound of footsteps in the vent behind him—slow, deliberate, and approaching. The metallic clanging echoed ominously, each step a harbinger of doom. Michael’s heart pounded in his chest, a primal instinct urging him to flee. He sprinted to the other side of the room, his flashlight beam dancing wildly across the walls.

A new voice, soft yet haunting, filled the oppressive silence. It was disembodied, echoing eerily through the room.

"I don't recognize you... You are new. I remember this scenario, however. It's a strange thing to want to do. To come here... I'm curious what would lead someone to work in a place like this willingly. Maybe curiosity? Maybe ignorance. There is a space under the desk. Someone before you crafted it into a hiding place, and it worked for him. I recommend that you hurry, though. You will be safe there. Just try not to make eye contact. It will be over soon. They will lose interest."

Michael didn’t need to be told twice. He bolted towards the hiding spot, sliding under the desk and pulling the makeshift

The door shut behind him. His breathing was ragged, his heart thundering in his ears. The darkness was nearly complete, save for the thin slits of light that filtered through the gaps in the desk. He could see eyes peering at him, glowing faintly in the dimness. They were unsettling, devoid of humanity, filled with a mechanical curiosity that sent shivers down his spine.

The tiny hands began to pry at the door, their movements jerky and insistent. Michael pushed back, his muscles straining with the effort. The bots outside laughed, a chilling sound that echoed in the confined space. It was a cruel, mocking laughter, devoid of warmth. He could feel their relentless pressure, the door straining against his grip. Every second felt like an eternity as he fought to keep them out. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the bots gave up and retreated, their laughter fading into the distance.

Michael stayed hidden a moment longer, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He was drenched in sweat, his nerves frayed. Slowly, he crawled out from under the desk, his movements cautious and deliberate. The voice had saved him, but he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

Guided by Baby's voice, Michael navigated through the Ballora Gallery. The gallery was a vast, eerie space filled with mannequins posed in lifelike dances. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional creak of the floorboards. Every shadow seemed to move, every mannequin seemed to turn its head to watch him pass. His steps were careful, each one feeling like it could be his last.

He entered the domain of Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon, a place that exuded a sinister energy. The walls were adorned with bright colors and cheerful decorations, a stark contrast to the darkness that lurked beneath. His task here was to restore power to the area, but as he worked, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. The animatronics here were different, their eyes following his every move with an unsettling awareness.

As Michael connected the wires and flipped switches, he noticed something disturbing. The systems he was powering were strikingly similar to those in his brother’s room. Memories of Evan's frightened face flashed before his eyes. The realization hit him hard—his father had used their own home as a testing ground for his twisted experiments. The anger and betrayal surged within him, fueling his determination to uncover the full extent of his father’s atrocities.

Once the power was restored, Michael made his way back through Ballora’s Gallery, his senses on high alert. He finally entered the control room, a stark, sterile environment filled with monitors, buttons, and more of his father’s haunting creations. The room buzzed with a low hum of machinery, the screens displaying diagnostics and logs of every animatronic in the facility.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Michael began to search the room for any clues that could shed light on his father’s plans. He sifted through files and blueprints, each document revealing more about the dark legacy his father had left behind. Among the clutter, he found a hidden compartment behind one of the monitors. Inside, there were handwritten notes and photographs, each one more disturbing than the last.

The notes were detailed, filled with references to experiments and subjects—children whose lives had been destroyed by his father’s obsession. Michael's hands trembled as he recognized some of the faces of an old missing person, reports. His stomach churned with a mix of anger and sorrow. His father had been a monster, hiding behind a facade of normalcy.

One note caught his eye. It was written in a hurried scrawl, different from the meticulous handwriting of the others:

"Michael, if you are reading this, then you’ve come further than I anticipated. There are things you don’t understand, things I never meant for you to discover. But if you are here, you need to know the truth. The animatronics, they are more than machines. They are vessels, prisons for restless souls. I couldn't save Elizabeth, but maybe you can. Follow the signals, they will lead you to her. Be careful, they will try to stop you."

Michael’s breath caught in his throat. The truth was more horrifying than he had imagined. His father had trapped souls within these machines, and Elizabeth was one of them. He clenched the note tightly, his resolve hardening. He had to save her. He had to put an end to this nightmare.

Determined, Michael returned to the control panel, his mind focused on the task ahead. He activated the sequence his father had mentioned, watching as a series of coordinates and signals appeared on the screen. The path to Elizabeth was clear, but fraught with danger. He took a deep breath and stepped away from the control panel, ready to face whatever horrors lay ahead. The journey was far from over, and the darkness still held many secrets. But Michael was determined to uncover every last one and save his sister from the fate that had befallen her.

**Day 3**

Michael had to go through the usual routine. He walked into the Primary Control Module, noticing immediately that something was off. Ballora was in pieces, dismantled on the floor, and Funtime Foxy was conspicuously absent from her stage. The eerie silence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Determined to press on, he made his way into the Circus Baby Auditorium. The room was filled with the faint hum of machinery and the distant echo of past laughter. Baby’s absence felt like a gaping void. He was about to leave when a familiar, haunting voice broke the silence. It was Baby.

"Did you know that I was on stage once? It wasn’t for very long, only one day. What a wonderful day, though. I was in a small room with balloons and a few tables. No one sat at the tables, though, and the children would run in and out. Some were afraid of me, others enjoyed my songs. Music was always coming from somewhere else down the hall. I would always count the children, I’m not sure why. I was always acutely aware of how many were in the room with me. Two, then three, then two, then three, then four, then two, then none. They usually played together in groups of two or three.

I was covered in glitter. I smelled like birthday cake. There were two, then three, then five, then four. I can do something special, did you know that? I can make ice cream, although I only did it once. There were four, then three, then two, then one. Something happened when there was one. A little girl, standing by herself. I was no longer myself. And I stopped singing. My stomach opened and there was ice cream. I couldn’t move, at least not until she stepped closer. There was screaming for a moment, but only for a moment. Then a man rushed in, but they couldn’t hear her over the sounds of their own excitement. I still hear her sometimes. Why did that happen?"

Michael was stunned, the weight of Baby’s words crashing down on him like a tidal wave. The horrific realization of what had happened to his sister Elizabeth brought tears to his eyes. He fought to keep his composure, knowing that in this place, showing weakness could be fatal. He steeled himself, determined to stay strong.

Next on the checklist was Funtime Foxy's area. Michael approached the entrance with trepidation, the darkness ahead seeming to pulse with a life of its own. He equipped himself with a flash beacon, using it to momentarily illuminate the path and keep Foxy at bay. Each step was cautious, each flash of light revealing glimpses of the malevolent animatronic lurking in the shadows.

After a tense journey, he reached the other side, where Funtime Freddy stood deactivated. The animatronic’s lifeless eyes seemed to follow him as he approached. Michael followed the HandUnit's instructions carefully, his fingers trembling as he worked. He noticed a small disc attached to Freddy that beeped periodically. Inscribed on it were the words "Illusion Disc, Afton Robotics."

Michael's mind raced. What had his father been doing beneath their home? The implications were terrifying. He pressed the green button as instructed, sending the Funtime animatronic off to an unknown destination.

Relieved to have completed the task, Michael turned to leave, but his relief was short-lived. Funtime Foxy, lurking in the shadows, lunged at him. He was struck hard, the impact sending him sprawling. Darkness engulfed him as he lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was the mechanical whirring of Funtime Foxy’s servos.

When he came to, his head throbbed painfully. He found himself in a dimly lit room, the walls adorned with more of his father’s twisted creations. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal. Michael’s resolve hardened. He had come too far to back down now. He would uncover every dark secret, face every horror, and, most importantly, save his sister.

**Day 4**

He awoke in a springlock suit. His mind flashed to the bite of 83 and his brother. He then heard baby's voice.

"Shh... Be still. And quiet... You've been sleeping for quite a while. I think they noticed that you never left the building last night. The cameras were searching for you. But, they couldn't find you. I have you hidden, too well."

What was happening?

"You're in the scooping room. Do you know why they call it the scooping room? It's because, dummy, this is the room where they use 'The Scooper'. I thought that would be obvious. Isn't that a fun name for something? 'The Scooper.' It sounds like something you would use for ice cream. Or

custard. Or sprinkles.

It sounds like something you would want at your birthday party. To ensure that you get a heaping portion of every good thing.

I wonder, though, if you were a freshly opened pint of ice cream...

How would you feel about something with that name?

It sounds like someone else is in the building.

Shh."

**Technician 1**

"Okay, I'll bring her over. Forward. More. Mooore, okay stop. Set it down. Watch the steps."

**Technician 2**

"What happened to her this time? It just seems like these things can't go a day without breaking down."

**Technician 1**

"Who knows? It's always the same, man. Some kinda... hardware malfunction."

**Technician 2**

"Well, I have to be somewhere in 15 minutes. This place gives me the creeps. Can we just get this over with?"

**Technician 1**

"It's all automated. You don't have to be here for it. Just get her on the rollers and we can go."

"I recommend that you keep the spring locks wound up. Your breathing and your heartbeat are causing them to come loose. You don't want them to get too loose. Trust me."

Michael left and had to keep the springlocks wound up while removing the climbing mini-reenas. He was under immense stress but after some time he got out and he bolted out. He left the underground rental area and rested. God this was awful.

**Day 5**

As Michael staggered back to consciousness, he noticed bodies strewn across the floor. The lifeless forms of the technicians lay crumpled and still, their faces frozen in expressions of shock and horror. The sight made his stomach churn, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it. He forced himself to move, his every step echoing in the eerily silent facility.

Michael made his way to the Parts and Service room, each corridor feeling like a twisted maze of shadows and despair. The room itself was a grim testament to his father's madness, filled with disassembled animatronics and mechanical parts. He approached the Circus Baby robot, its once vibrant exterior now lifeless and cold. With trembling hands, he began to disassemble it, piece by piece. The task was intricate, requiring precision and care, but his mind was a storm of emotions, making his hands shake.

As he worked, memories of Elizabeth flooded back—her laughter, her innocence, and the horrific realization of her fate. The weight of it all bore down on him, threatening to crush his resolve. But he pushed through, driven by a need to finish what he started. Finally, the robot was dismantled, ready to be sent off. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard the unmistakable sound of a metal footstep behind him. He turned slowly, dread pooling in his stomach. Emerging from the shadows was a grotesque amalgamation of wires and metal, a nightmarish figure that seemed to stare into his soul. The creature was an abomination, a twisted mass of parts and cables, its eyes glowing with a sinister intelligence.

Michael's instincts screamed at him to run, but he felt rooted to the spot, trapped in a web of fear and curiosity. The creature moved, and he found himself compelled to follow it, drawn by a mix of horror and a desperate need for answers. The path led him deeper into the facility, until they arrived at a room dominated by a single, ominous piece of machinery—the Scooper.

The creature positioned itself on the other side of the Scooper, its eyes never leaving Michael. Time seemed to slow as the Scooper activated. The sound of the machinery whirring to life was deafening, and Michael's heart pounded in his chest. In an instant, the Scooper tore into him, the pain searing and immediate. He felt his consciousness slip away, the world around him fading to black.

When he awoke, he was in agony. His body was bloodied and scraped, his skin tinged with an unnatural purple hue. His eyes, once vibrant, were now a haunting shade of violet. He realized he was in an office, the dim light casting eerie shadows on the walls. In front of him was a plush bear—Fredbear, the same one that belonged to his brother Evan. The sight brought a rush of memories from 1983, a time he had tried so hard to forget.

Three cameras were positioned around the room, their lenses all trained on his brother's bedroom. The realization hit him like a physical blow—this was where his father had watched, and had orchestrated so much of their suffering. Michael's hands trembled as he picked up a book on the desk. He opened it and began to read, his eyes widening in horror with each page. The book details the nightmare trials and the relentless torment that Evan had endured. Every fear, every pain, meticulously recorded by their father.

Michael's vision blurred with tears. The weight of the guilt and sorrow was unbearable. His brother had suffered so much, and he had been powerless to stop it. Sobs wracked his body, each tearing at his already fragile heart. He had to lean against the desk to keep from collapsing, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

With a monumental effort, Michael forced himself to stand. He couldn’t stay here. He had to escape this place, this monument to his father’s cruelty. Slowly, painfully, he made his way out of the underground rental service. Each step was a struggle, his body screaming in protest. He finally reached the elevator and ascended, the journey feeling interminable. When the doors opened, he stumbled outside, the fresh air hitting him like a tidal wave.

Overcome with nausea, Michael doubled over and vomited. To his horror, wires and pieces of metal came spilling out, separating from his body in a grotesque display. He watched in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend what had happened to him.

Gathering what little strength he had left, he stumbled to his car. The drive away from the facility was a blur of tears and pain. He knew now the full extent of his father’s monstrosity, and it filled him with a cold, burning resolve. His father would pay for everything he had done—for Elizabeth, for Evan, and for all the other lives he had destroyed.

Michael drove through the night, each mile taking him further from the place that had been his prison and closer to a reckoning. He had seen the depths of his father's depravity, and now he carried the weight of those horrors with him. But he would use that weight and turn it into a weapon. He would bring his father to justice, no matter what it took. For his siblings, for the innocent lives lost, and for himself, Michael would see it through to the end.

Chapter 17: A Love Rekindled

Chapter Text

In a surreal red landscape, the sky seemed to bleed into the horizon, casting an eerie, crimson glow over everything. Evan sat at the edge of a calm, still lake, his fishing line cast into the water. Beside him, a crocodile with human-like features mirrored his actions, the two figures locked in a contemplative silence. The crocodile man, known as Old Man Consequences (OMC), had an air of wisdom about him, his reptilian eyes reflecting years of experience and knowledge.

Evan had been in this strange place for a day now, grappling with the tumultuous emotions that had brought him here. The crocodile man had spent much of that time trying to convince him to let go of his anger and find peace within himself. OMC's voice was soothing yet firm, a steady guide through the storm of Evan's emotions.

"Michael will face his consequences," OMC had reasoned, "but your friends shouldn't bear the weight of your anger."

Evan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "You don't understand," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. "Michael and William... they ruined everything. They took everything from me."

OMC looked at him with compassionate eyes. "I understand more than you think," he replied gently. "But holding onto this anger will only destroy you. It will consume you, leaving nothing but a hollow shell."

Evan's face twisted with frustration. "You say you understand, but how could you? They betrayed me! Michael watched as everything fell apart, and William... he was the mastermind behind it all. How can I let that go?"

OMC sighed, his gaze steady and calm. "Anger is a powerful force, Evan. It's natural to feel it, especially after what you've been through. But you have to ask yourself if holding onto that anger is worth it. Is it helping you, or is it hurting you more?"

Evan's eyes blazed with defiance. "It's the only thing keeping me going! If I let go of my anger, what do I have left?"

"You have more than you think," OMC replied. "You have the power to choose your own path, to shape your own destiny. Letting go of your anger doesn't mean forgetting what happened. It means not letting it control you anymore."

Evan's jaw tightened, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. "You make it sound so simple. Just let go, and everything will be fine. But it's not that easy."

"No, it's not easy," OMC admitted. "It's one of the hardest things you'll ever do. But it's necessary if you want to find peace. Anger can fuel you for a time, but it will eventually burn you out. Trust me, Evan. I know."

Evan's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of his rage pressing down on him. "I don't know if I can do it," he said quietly. "I don't know if I can ever forgive them."

"It's not about forgiveness," OMC said. "It's about freeing yourself from the chains of your past. It's about giving yourself a chance to heal, to find something more in life than just pain and vengeance."

Evan looked at OMC, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. "But how?" he whispered. "How do I let it go when it's all I have left?"

"You start by taking it one step at a time," OMC replied. "By choosing, every day, to move forward. By finding small moments of peace, even in the midst of your anger. It's a long journey, but it's one worth taking."

As the day wore on, Evan felt a growing sense of clarity. He stood up, his body feeling lighter than it had in a long time, and turned to OMC. "How do I leave this place?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.

OMC looked at him with a mixture of pride and understanding. "Enter the lake," he said simply. "It will take you where you need to go." With that, the crocodile man turned and made his way back to his cabin, leaving Evan alone at the water's edge.

Evan gazed at the lake, its surface reflecting the red sky above. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, feeling the cool water envelop his feet. As he waded deeper, the water rose to meet him, and he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead, knowing that he had begun the journey towards healing and understanding.

Just before he became completely submerged, he turned back to look at OMC's retreating figure. "Thank you," he called out, his voice filled with genuine effort but tinged with lingering bitterness.

OMC paused and turned slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Find your peace, Evan," he said, though he knew the boy's journey would be long and arduous.

As Evan continued into the lake, he couldn't shake the shadows of his past entirely. The weight of his anger still clung to him, but he was sincere in his effort to let it go. It would take time, perhaps more time than he anticipated, but at least he had taken the first step. And sometimes, that was all anyone could do.

Evan awoke in his spectral form within the familiar, yet eerie, surroundings of the pizzeria. The walls, once vibrant with the laughter of children and the hum of animatronics, now stood silent and decrepit, a ghostly reminder of the past. Dust floated through the dim beams of light that managed to pierce through the boarded-up windows. The air was thick with a sense of abandonment and sorrow.

As he floated through the pizzeria, he felt the comforting presence of his old friends—other spectral children who had met similar fates. They materialized around him, their forms flickering with a spectral glow. They greeted him with a mixture of joy and sadness, understanding the heavy burden he carried.

"Evan, you're back," whispered Cassidy, her voice echoing softly through the empty halls. She was overjoyed, her eyes shimmering with a mix of happiness and relief.

"Yeah," Evan replied, his voice a low, mournful whisper. "I'm back."

Cassidy rushed to his side, her form almost tangible in her excitement. "I missed you so much," she said, wrapping her arms around him. "We all did."

Evan felt a warmth in her embrace, a stark contrast to the cold rage that still simmered inside him. "I missed you too," he murmured, holding her close.

Jeremy and Gabriel approached, their faces lighting up with smiles. "It's good to see you, Evan," Gabriel said, his voice carrying a note of hope.

"Yeah, we've been waiting for you," Jeremy added, clapping Evan on the shoulder.

Fritz, ever playful, darted around them. "Come on, Evan! Let's play like we used to. It'll be just like old times."

Evan managed a small smile. "Sure, Fritz. Just give me a moment."

As the group settled into a semblance of normalcy, Evan couldn't shake the heavy burden of his unyielding rage. His encounters with Old Man Consequences had taught him valuable lessons, but the anger towards his brother Michael and father William still simmered deep within him. It was an unrelenting fire that he struggled to control.

Despite his best efforts to calm himself, Evan found that his rage could not be fully suppressed. It was a constant, gnawing presence, like a dark shadow clinging to his essence. However, he had learned to channel it better, to release his anger in ways that didn't harm his friends. He began to practice restraint, focusing on finding moments of peace amid the turmoil.

Cassidy, always by his side, noticed the change in him. She had stood by him through thick and thin, her unwavering support a beacon of hope. One evening, as they sat together in the dimly lit back room, Cassidy spoke up, her voice gentle but firm.

"Evan, I've seen how hard you're trying," she said, taking his hand in hers. "But you can't do this alone. Let us help you."

Evan looked into her eyes, filled with love and concern. "I don't want to hurt any of you," he said, his voice breaking. "The anger... it's still there. It never goes away."

Cassidy squeezed his hand. "We know. But we're here for you. You don't have to carry this burden alone."

Evan realized that although they were already a couple, he hadn't been as loving and open as she deserved. Determined to change, he made an effort to show his affection more openly, to be the partner she needed. Cassidy's joy and their deepening bond became a source of strength for him.

Jeremy and Gabriel were happy to see Evan's return, and their conversations filled the once-silent halls with echoes of their past. "Remember the time we tried to sneak into the kitchen after hours?" Jeremy reminisced, a grin spreading across his face.

Gabriel laughed. "Yeah, and we got caught by Fritz! He was so mad."

Fritz, ever playful, always tried to engage Evan in games, bringing a light-heartedness that contrasted with the heavy atmosphere of the pizzeria. "Tag, you're it!" Fritz shouted, tapping Evan and darting away.

Charlie and Evan had reconciled, and he had apologized to her for past wrongs, their friendship slowly mending. "I'm sorry for everything, Charlie," Evan said one day, his voice filled with regret.

Charlie smiled softly. "It's okay, Evan. We all have our demons. I'm just glad you're back."

Susie and Evan occasionally baked together, the act of creating something together bringing a sense of normalcy and comfort to their spectral existence. "I always loved baking," Susie said, her hands moving deftly through the ingredients. "It reminds me of home."

Evan nodded, feeling a sense of peace. "Me too. Let's make something special today."

Over the next year, Evan began to relax more. The pizzeria, though haunted, became a place of uneasy peace. The guards who ventured into the building were met with spectral apparitions and eerie occurrences, enough to scare them away without any need for brutal attacks. The legend of the haunted pizzeria grew, and the guards spoke of the ghostly children with a mix of fear and respect.

Evan's interactions with the guards became a test of his control. He would manifest in front of them, eyes glowing with an eerie light, his presence enough to instill a deep sense of fear. The guards, sensing the danger and the sorrowful energy that permeated the place, would often flee in terror rather than face the unknown. Evan took some grim satisfaction in their fear, but he knew it was a hollow victory compared to the true peace he sought.

Despite this progress, there were still moments when Evan struggled. The memories of his brother Michael and his father William would resurface, igniting the fury he had fought so hard to control. During these times, Cassidy's presence was a soothing balm. She would sit with him, her spectral hand in his, and listen as he poured out his anguish. Her patience and love anchored him, allowing him to find his way back to calmness.

One evening, as the spectral group gathered in the main hall, Jeremy brought up a question that had been on all their minds. "What are we going to do when Michael comes?" he asked, his voice tense with uncertainty.

Evan sighed, feeling the weight of their collective anxiety. "I don't know," he admitted. "Part of me wants to make him pay, to show him the pain he caused. But another part of me... I don't want to be like them. I don't want to let this anger turn me into something worse."

Charlie nodded in agreement. "We need to find a way to confront him without losing ourselves in the process."

As they discussed their options, a plan began to take shape. They would confront Michael, but not with violence or rage. Instead, they would use their spectral abilities to reveal the truth, to show him the consequences of his actions. It was a plan born of their collective desire for justice and closure, rather than vengeance.

By 1992, the pizzeria had settled into a rhythm of spectral activity and human avoidance. Evan found solace in his relationships with his friends, especially with Cassidy, whose love and support were unwavering. Yet, the impending arrival of his brother the following year loomed over him like a dark cloud. Evan wasn't sure what he wanted anymore. The anger still burned within him, but so did a longing for resolution, for closure.

"I don't know what to do when Michael comes," Evan confessed to Cassidy one night as they floated above the empty stage, the remnants of their old lives surrounding them.

"We'll figure it out together," Cassidy reassured him, her hand reaching out to intertwine with his. "Whatever happens, you have us. You have me."

Evan nodded, drawing strength from her words. He decided to wait and see, to take things one day at a time. For now, he had found a fragile balance, a way to live with his anger without letting it destroy him or his relationships. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. And sometimes, that was all anyone could do.

In the heart of the abandoned pizzeria, amidst the silence and the shadows, Evan and his friends forged a new existence. It was not without pain, but it was a path forward—one where they could slowly begin to mend their broken spirits and, perhaps one day, find the peace they so desperately sought.

Chapter 18: Midnight Watch

Chapter Text

In the year 1993, Michael received an unexpected job offer from an old acquaintance, Henry. Their conversation started with the familiar ring of Michael’s phone. He picked it up and heard a voice that brought back a flood of memories.

"Michael? It's Henry. Long time no see."

"Henry? Wow, it's been years. How have you been?"

"I'm doing well, Michael. Listen, I have a job opportunity for you. It involves Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. I know it has a dark past, but I think you're the right person for the job. Interested?"

Michael hesitated for a moment, but curiosity and a sense of duty got the better of him. "Alright, Henry. I'm in."

"Great! Meet me at the pizzeria tomorrow evening. We have a lot to discuss."

The next evening, Michael arrived at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a place he had only heard about in whispers and old newspaper clippings. Henry greeted him at the door, his face a mixture of relief and anticipation.

"Michael, it's good to see you," Henry said, extending his hand. "Let me show you around."

As they walked through the dimly lit hallways, Henry pointed out the various rooms. The air was thick with the scent of old pizza and a hint of something metallic. The walls were adorned with faded posters of the animatronic characters, their eyes seeming to follow Michael as he moved.

"This place has seen better days," Michael remarked, noting the flickering lights and the eerie atmosphere.

"Indeed," Henry replied. "But with your help, we can turn things around."

They finally reached Michael’s office. It was a small, confined space with two heavy steel doors on either side and a vent directly in the middle of the back wall.

"This will be your base of operations during your night shifts," Henry explained. "You’ll have motion-tracking cameras to monitor the place and a jammer that can disable an animatronic for a short period. But be careful, you can only use it once per night."

Michael nodded, taking in the details. "Understood. What exactly are my tasks?"

Henry detailed Michael's tasks and obligations meticulously. "You need to keep an eye on the animatronics, ensure the equipment is functioning correctly, and handle any paperwork or orders that come up during the shift."

As the briefing concluded, Henry offered a reassuring smile. "Good luck, Michael. We're counting on you."

Michael's first shift began with a sense of cautious anticipation. He settled into his office, familiarizing himself with the equipment. He started by doing some paperwork and ordering essential supplies like cups and utensils. The hum of the building's machinery was a constant background noise, adding to the tension.

Around midnight, Michael’s heart skipped a beat as he noticed movement on the cameras. Chica, one of the animatronics, was making her way toward his office. Michael’s mind raced, recalling his father’s notes and his own deductions. He knew that Chica was likely possessed by the remnant of Susie, a soul trapped within the animatronic.

As Chica approached, Michael's voice broke the silence. "Alright, Chica, let's see what you've got." He swiftly shut the door, narrowly avoiding an attack. The sound of Chica's metal body slamming against the door echoed through the office, sending shivers down his spine.

With Chica momentarily thwarted, Michael’s attention turned to Bonnie, another animatronic on the move. He utilized the motion sensors to track Bonnie's movements, carefully managing the doors to keep both animatronics at bay. His hands trembled as he activated the jammer, targeting Chica and temporarily disabling her.

"Gotcha," Michael muttered under his breath, relief washing over him.

Throughout the night, Michael’s thoughts wandered back to his father’s notes. He remembered reading about the concept of remnant, a mysterious substance believed to contain the essence of a human soul. His father's theories suggested that Jeremy's remnant resided in Bonnie, and Susie's in Chica. The realization weighed heavily on Michael, fueling his determination to help these tormented souls find peace.

As the first night drew to a close, Michael completed his tasks and left the office, exhaustion washing over him. He vowed to himself that he would find a way to put the spirits to rest, no matter the cost.

The next night, Michael returned with a renewed sense of purpose. However, the animatronics seemed more aggressive, their movements more erratic. Among them was Foxy, an animatronic that attacked through the vent. Michael’s suspicions were confirmed: Fritz’s soul was trapped within Foxy. The realization added a new layer of urgency to his mission.

As Michael monitored the cameras, he spotted Foxy sprinting down the hallway towards the vent. "Not today, Foxy," he said, sealing the vent just in time. The sound of claws scraping against metal filled the office as Foxy tried to break through.

Throughout the night, Michael struggled to keep the animatronics at bay. He used every tool at his disposal, from the motion sensors to the doors, but the relentless attacks took a toll on his nerves. Panic set in as he found himself in a desperate chase, narrowly escaping Foxy's grasp.

In a moment of clarity, Michael managed to hide in the supply closet, holding his breath as Foxy’s footsteps echoed outside. He waited, the minutes dragging on like hours, until the clock finally struck 6 AM. As the morning light filtered into the building, he completed his tasks and left the office, a sense of relief washing over him.

Despite the fear and uncertainty, Michael's resolve remained unshaken. He knew that he was on a path that could lead to the salvation of the lost souls within the animatronics. Each night, he faced the horrors of Freddy’s with a growing sense of purpose, determined to uncover the truth and bring peace to those who had been wronged.

As the 3rd night went on, Michael’s encounters with the haunted animatronics grew increasingly intense. One night, as he was monitoring the cameras, he saw Bonnie's face up close, its eyes glowing with an unsettling light. Michael's breath caught in his throat as he recognized a familiar look, one that mirrored the fear and confusion he had seen in his own reflection many times before.

"Jeremy... is that you?" Michael whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. He recalled the stories his father had told him about Jeremy, a young boy who had disappeared years ago. The connection was undeniable. Bonnie's erratic movements, the desperate way it seemed to be searching for something—Jeremy’s remnant was trapped within this mechanical shell.

Tears welled up in Michael’s eyes as he watched Bonnie move away, its heavy footsteps echoing through the silent hallways. "I promise, Jeremy, I’ll find a way to help you."

The same night, as Michael fought to keep the animatronics at bay, he heard a different sound—a haunting melody that drifted through the air vents. It was Foxy, singing a sailor’s tune. The sound sent chills down Michael’s spine, but it also brought a wave of sorrow. He remembered Fritz, a young boy with a love for adventure and the sea. The realization hit him hard: Fritz’s soul was trapped within Foxy.

"Fritz, I’m so sorry," Michael whispered, his voice breaking. "I didn’t know... but I’ll do everything I can to set you free."

Throughout the night, Michael struggled to keep the animatronics at bay. He used every tool at his disposal, from motion sensors to doors, but the relentless attacks took a toll on his nerves. Panic set in as he found himself in a desperate chase, narrowly escaping Foxy's grasp.

In a moment of clarity, Michael managed to hide in the supply closet, holding his breath as Foxy’s footsteps echoed outside. He waited, the minutes dragging on like hours, until the clock finally struck 6 AM. As the morning light filtered into the building, he completed his tasks and left the office, a sense of relief washing over him.

Despite the fear and uncertainty, Michael's resolve remained unshaken. He knew that he was on a path that could lead to the salvation of the lost souls within the animatronics. Each night, he faced the horrors of Freddy’s with a growing sense of purpose, determined to uncover the truth and bring peace to those who had been wronged.

On the fourth night, Michael faced Freddy. He deduced that Gabriel was inside the animatronic, a revelation that weighed heavily on his already strained nerves. Each minute felt like an hour as he struggled to keep the relentless bots at bay. The encounters were brutal, testing his resolve and endurance. Sweat drenched his body, and every muscle was taut with fear and exhaustion.

His experience in the underground rental service of Circus Baby's was his only advantage. The skills he had honed there—running, dodging, hiding—were now his lifeline. He moved with desperate agility, finding refuge in the shadows and using every tool at his disposal. The lights, the doors, even the jammer on Freddy; he used them all in a frantic bid for survival.

As Michael crouched behind a desk, his heart pounded in his chest like a war drum. The metallic footsteps of the animatronics echoed ominously in the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. "Stay calm, stay quiet," he whispered to himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The tension was unbearable, a tight knot of fear twisting in his gut.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," Freddy's voice taunted, a chilling blend of Gabriel's once-innocent tone and the animatronic's eerie distortion. Michael's pulse quickened as he scanned his surroundings for an escape route. He had to move. Now.

He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding Freddy's massive hand as it swiped at the spot he had just vacated. The close call left him trembling, his body shaking with adrenaline. "Think, Michael, think!" he muttered, forcing himself to stay focused.

Suddenly, a door slammed open, and Bonnie lunged at him. "Not today!" Michael shouted, diving to the floor as Bonnie's punch grazed his shoulder. The force of the blow sent shockwaves of pain through his body. He rolled to his feet, grabbing a nearby metal pipe and swinging it with all his might. The impact sent Bonnie staggering back, giving Michael a precious few seconds to escape.

He sprinted down the corridor, his mind racing. "You've survived worse than this," he reminded himself, drawing on every ounce of his resolve. He turned a corner, only to be met by Foxy, who snarled and charged at him with blinding speed. "Damn it, Foxy, give me a break!" Michael yelled, raising his arms to shield himself. Foxy's claws slashed into his torso, and he cried out in pain, the searing agony nearly overwhelming him. Blood soaked through his shirt, the warm stickiness a stark reminder of his fragility.

With a grunt of effort, Michael kicked Foxy away and stumbled into a nearby room, slamming the door behind him. He leaned against it, panting heavily, his hands shaking uncontrollably. "I can't keep this up," he muttered, feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. His vision blurred with fatigue, but he knew he couldn't rest yet.

As he scanned the room, his eyes fell on a security monitor displaying the hallway outside. Freddy and Bonnie were closing in, their eyes glowing with malicious intent. The sight filled him with a cold dread. "Alright, Michael, one last trick," he said, his voice trembling with fear and determination. He reached for the jammer, his last resort. "Let's see if this works."

He activated the jammer, and the animatronics froze, their systems disrupted. Relief washed over him, but he knew it was temporary. He burst out of the room, weaving through the now-motionless bots. His legs burned with every step, the pain a constant companion.

Just as he reached the office door, a hand grabbed his ankle. He looked down to see Bonnie's eyes flickering back to life. "No, you don't!" Michael shouted, kicking Bonnie's hand away and slamming the office door shut. He quickly activated the security lock, panting heavily, his chest heaving with exertion.

He slumped into the chair, every part of his body aching. "Made it," he whispered, a weary smile forming on his lips. The clock showed dawn breaking. He had survived another night in this hellish place.

As he stumbled out of the building, the early morning sun casting a warm glow, Michael felt a wave of relief wash over him. Tears of exhaustion and relief welled up in his eyes. He knew this wasn't the end. The horrors he faced were still out there, waiting. But for now, he had earned his rest. He walked away, each step a testament to his endurance and will to live, the emotional and physical scars a permanent reminder of the night's battles.

But Fredbear was ready. And no one could stop him.

Chapter 19: Midnight Watch Ghost Kids Pov

Chapter Text

Night 1

Susie and Jeremy exchanged a determined nod, their ethereal forms shimmering with purpose. Evans's plan was simple yet sinister: start with subtle scares and escalate the terror with each passing night. By the fifth night, Evan and Cassidy would lead to a relentless assault. Tonight, they would begin the haunting, testing the resolve of Michael, the new night guard.

As Michael settled into his office, oblivious to the spirits lurking within the animatronics, Susie and Jeremy merged with the Bonnie and Chica robots. The cold, mechanical shells felt foreign yet familiar as they moved through the dimly lit pizzeria. The flickering lights cast eerie shadows, heightening the tension.

Susie moved stealthily through the rooms, her animatronic eyes fixed on the security cameras that tracked her every move. After ten minutes of silent stalking, she decided to charge the office. With a burst of speed, she lunged at the door, only to be met with a solid blockade. Frustration welled up inside her as she witnessed Jeremy suffer the same fate. The guard was prepared, a mix of fear and determination evident on his face.

Michael held a special camera, its lens glowing with an unnatural light as it tracked their movements. Susie and Jeremy moved at supersonic speeds, trying to confuse him, but Michael, unlike other guards they had faced, barely kept his nerves. He was jittery, but his grip on the camera remained firm. Jeremy, perhaps too aggressive, made several attempts but was met with failure each time.

Susie felt a strange compulsion in her suit, a jarring shock that knocked her system offline momentarily. When she regained control, she realized the guard had used a jammer. At least Jeremy was still active. As the night wore on, Fritz eagerly awaited his turn, his anticipation palpable.

Night 2

The fury from the previous night boiled over as they faced Michael again. Fritz, now inhabiting Foxy, felt a surge of anger and excitement. He tried repeatedly to crawl into the vent, his metal claws scraping against the ducts. Suddenly, they heard Michael call out Fritz's name, his voice filled with a mix of fear and recognition. How did he know about their possession of animatronics? This revelation sent a chill through their ethereal forms.

"Come out, Fritz," Michael's voice echoed through the empty halls. "I know you're in there."

Undeterred, they continued their assault. Jeremy almost made it into the office this time, his hulking form casting a long shadow in the hallway. Michael, however, was fast and agile, always managing to evade them at the last second. It was a cruel game of cat and mouse, one they were determined to win. Their frustration grew with each failed attempt. Michael was much better than the last guard, who hadn't survived past the second night. He was grounded, methodical, and annoyingly resilient in his fortified office.

Night 3

Michael was visibly struggling now. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his movements were slower, more fatigued. They had managed to get to him briefly, cornering him in one of the hallways, but he always found a way to escape their grasp. The taunting became more intense; they delighted in the fear they saw in his eyes. He pleaded with Jeremy to stop, his voice trembling, but Jeremy's vengeful spirit was unyielding.

"Why do you keep doing this?" Michael shouted, his voice echoing through the dark halls.

"Because you deserve it," Jeremy hissed, his voice distorted by the animatronic speakers. "You can't escape us."

They remembered the last guard, a pitiful figure who had been easily scared. Michael, however, was proving to be a formidable opponent. He stayed grounded in his office, his face pale but determined. They pushed harder, but each attempt to break him only seemed to make him more resolute. He was fast, agile, and had an uncanny ability to predict their moves, making him a challenging adversary.

At one point, Michael ventured out of his office, flashlight in hand, checking the dark corners of the pizzeria. Susie and Jeremy watched from the shadows, whispering among themselves.

"Look at him, so scared," Susie taunted.

"He should be," Jeremy replied. "We'll get him soon enough."

Night 4

That night, Gabriel, inhabiting Freddy, took the lead. The air was thick with tension as they prepared for their coordinated attack. They could feel Michael's fear growing, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. As the clock ticked towards midnight, they launched their assault.

Gabriel led the charge, his hulking form looming in the dark. Fritz, with Foxy's sharp hook, moved in for the kill. They finally managed to land a hit, Fritz's hook slashing into Michael's torso. The guard staggered back, blood seeping through his uniform. Jeremy followed up with a punch, sending Michael crashing into the office wall. For a moment, victory seemed within their grasp.

"Did you think you could win?" Gabriel's voice boomed through the animatronic speakers. "You're just a weak human."

But Michael was resilient. He didn't send the jammer this time; instead, he relied on his motion tracking device, its red beam slicing through the darkness. Despite his injuries, Michael exhibited superhuman strength, briefly holding his own against the animatronics. He hid in closets, vents, and even on the stage, but they always knew where he was. They found grim amusem*nt in toying with him, letting him think he could escape before cornering him again.

"Run all you want," Fritz taunted, his voice a menacing growl. "There's no escape."

As the fourth shift ended, they laughed, their spectral forms shimmering with a mix of triumph and anticipation. They left their robotic hosts and gathered around Evan. He appeared before them, a satisfied smile on his face. "You did well," he said, his voice echoing with otherworldly authority. Seeing their nods of acknowledgment, Evan moved towards the Fredbear suit, now known as Golden Freddy.

The stage was set for the final night. They had broken Michael down, night by night, and soon, their vengeance would be complete. The ghost children knew that tomorrow would be the culmination of their efforts. They had followed Evan's plan to the letter, and now, with Michael weakened and terrified, they would deliver the final blow. The anticipation was almost palpable, a dark thrill coursing through their spectral veins. They could hardly wait for the night to fall again.

Chapter 20: The Final Night

Chapter Text

It was Michael's fifth and final night at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. The pizzeria was shrouded in darkness, its air thick with dread. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in around him, shadows lurking in every corner, and the eerie silence was broken only by the occasional creak of the old building. Michael's body was a patchwork of bruises and welts, reminders of the previous night's brutal encounters with Foxy and Bonnie. The pain was a constant reminder of the danger he faced, yet it also fueled his determination to see this through.

As he began his shift, monitoring the cameras with a practiced eye, an eerie sensation crept over him. The animatronics, normally roaming or lurking in the shadows, were now all staring directly at the cameras, their eyes glinting with a sinister light. A chill ran down Michael's spine, and his heart pounded in his chest.

Suddenly, flashes began appearing on camera 13, one monitoring the backrooms, specifically the employee backroom. The camera was usually unimportant, rarely showing anything of note. But tonight, something compelled Michael to switch to it. As the grainy feed stabilized, his heart skipped a beat. Standing there was the Fredbear bot, its eyes glowing with a menacing light. Then he heard it—a distorted but unmistakable laugh. It was Evan. The sound of his brother’s laughter sent Michael tumbling from his chair, a wave of guilt and horror washing over him.

Michael had always felt responsible for the Bite of '83. His little brother's life had ended tragically, and now it seemed Evan's spirit was trapped within the very robot that had killed him. The weight of his failure as an older brother pressed down on him like a physical force. But now wasn’t the time for self-pity. Gathering himself, Michael used his robot tracker to monitor the Fredbear bot’s movements. It moved with unnatural speed, darting through the pizzeria’s darkened halls.

For twenty tense minutes, Michael managed to evade the bot, his heart pounding in his chest. Every creak, every whisper of movement, sent his nerves into overdrive. He could hear the metallic footsteps echoing through the hallways, the sound of gears grinding ominously. The oppressive darkness seemed to close in around him, suffocating him with fear.

“Evan, please! You don’t have to do this!” Michael’s voice echoed through the empty halls, but there was no response, only the relentless pursuit of the Fredbear bot.

The bot’s response was a powerful punch that sent Michael crashing into the wall. As he struggled to catch his breath, he heard Evan’s distorted voice reply, "It's me."

Desperate, Michael begged for mercy, his voice cracking as he lamented his shortcomings as a brother. “Evan, I’m sorry! I never meant for any of this to happen! Let's figure this out together!”

But Evan, or whatever part of him that remained within the bot, was relentless. He hurled Michael into the hallway, where he ran, adrenaline propelling him from one hiding spot to the next—the supply closets, the main diner area, the bathroom, even on the stage. Each time he found a new hiding spot, he could hear the mechanical clank of Fredbear’s footsteps drawing nearer. The other animatronics watched him with their soulless eyes, their silent vigil unnerving him further. However, unlike previous nights, their gaze wasn't one of malice or curiosity but of indifference—they were on Evan’s side.

“Stay out of this, Michael,” Freddy’s hollow voice rumbled as Michael darted past him in the hallway. “This is between you and him.”

The relentless pursuit ended abruptly when the Fredbear bot cornered him. Michael’s attempts to dodge and fight back were futile against its mechanical strength. Just as he was bracing for what he thought would be his end, a long, white-streaked tentacle lashed out from the darkness, throwing the Fredbear bot aside. As the Puppet emerged, its presence was both terrifying and oddly comforting. Michael watched in astonishment as it ripped the ghosts out of their robotic shells.

Chica transformed back into Susie, Bonnie into Jeremy, Foxy into Fritz, and Freddy into Gabriel. Michael had pieced together these identities over the past few nights, but seeing them now in their ghostly form was overwhelming. Jeremy, disoriented, asked Charlie—the Puppet—what her intentions were. Michael, still reeling from the shock, stood frozen, tears streaming down his face. Charlie had been trapped in the Puppet bot all along, and he hadn’t known. His grief over her death resurfaced with a vengeance.

“Charlie… you’re here,” Michael whispered, his voice choking with emotion. “I thought I lost you.”

The Fredbear bot stood once more, roaring in fury. Its face opened grotesquely, revealing a nightmarish maw that reminded Michael of the Funtime animatronics. Evan’s scarred visage appeared, twisted by pain and rage. The mix of guilt, fleeting happiness, and self-loathing within Michael was nearly unbearable.

Charlie argued vehemently that she couldn’t let Evan continue his rampage. “Evan, this isn’t you! "You're better than this!” she pleaded, her voice a mixture of desperation and determination.

Evan, his voice heavy with warning, told her she was making a grave mistake. “Charlie, you don’t understand. This is the only way to make things right,” he insisted, his golden aura with black streaks pulsating menacingly.

Their argument escalated, Evan insisting on his superior strength and Charlie declaring her indifference to it. “I don’t care how strong you are, Evan. I won’t let you hurt anyone else,” Charlie declared, her green aura flaring brightly.

Evan’s response was filled with bitter regret. “I thought you understood, Charlie. I thought you accepted our fate,” he said, his voice wavering.

“I can’t accept this, Evan. I won’t,” Charlie replied, her resolve unwavering.

As tensions peaked, Charlie manifested her soul body outside of the Puppet, a radiant green aura enveloping her. Evan’s response was a golden aura streaked with black, his power palpable. A clash of their wills was imminent. Michael, paralyzed by horror and indecision, finally forced himself to move. He ran to grab the emergency axe, his mind racing.

“Michael, what are you doing?” Susie called out, her voice filled with concern but her eyes betraying her loyalty to Evan.

“I have to help her,” Michael replied, his grip tightening on the axe. “I can’t let Evan destroy everything. I won’t.”

As he approached the impending battle, Michael’s heart pounded in his chest. Despite everything, despite the fact that his brother might have every reason to kill him, Michael knew he had to help Charlie. She didn’t deserve to face this alone. The scene before him, with its supernatural auras and the impending battle, seemed ripped from a nightmare. But Michael steeled himself, ready to fight for redemption, for his friends, and for his fractured family.

“Evan, stop this!” Michael shouted, raising the axe. “We can find another way!”

Evan turned his gaze toward Michael, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and fury. “There is no other way, Michael. This is our fate.”

“No, it’s not,” Michael replied, his voice trembling but resolute. “We can change it. Together.”

The tension was palpable as Charlie and Evan’s auras clashed, the green and golden lights intertwining in a chaotic dance. Michael stood ready, his heart heavy with the weight of his choices. This was his last chance to make things right, to save his brother and his friends. As the battle commenced, Michael knew that no matter the outcome, he would fight with everything he had.

“Charlie, be careful!” Michael called out, desperation in his voice.

Charlie glanced back at Michael, her eyes softening for a moment. “Don’t worry, Michael. We’ll end this, together.”

Evan roared, his aura flaring. “You’re making a mistake, Charlie. You’re all making a mistake!”

“Maybe,” Charlie replied, her voice steady. “But we have to try.”

As the clash of auras intensified, Michael charged forward with the axe, ready to do whatever it took to protect those he cared about. The future was uncertain, but in that moment, he was determined to fight for a better one.

The other kids were torn, their hearts heavy with indecision. The pizzeria's dim lighting cast eerie shadows on their faces, reflecting their internal struggle. The air was thick with tension, the faint smell of stale pizza and burning wires mixing with their fear. Finally, the group made a painful choice to leave the scene, deciding to remain neutral in the conflict. Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls as they disappeared into the darkness, leaving Charlie to face her fate alone.

Charlie stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest. She steeled her nerves, her determination hardening like steel. Her eyes narrowed as she extended a puppet arm towards Evan, who, with a swift motion, teleported behind her. He landed a powerful punch, sending her reeling back in pain.

Michael, hesitant but resolute, stepped forward. "Stay away from her!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fear. He attempted to swing at Evan. Evan turned swiftly, summoning a dark shard that formed a protective barrier. With a flick of his wrist, tendrils of darkness reached out, ensnaring Michael and hurling him away with brutal force. Seizing the moment, Charlie gathered her strength and formed a condensed fist of puppet arms, driving it through the stomach of the Fredbear bot.

Michael struggled to his feet, clutching his side in pain. With a determined glare, he hurled the axe at Fredbear's head. "Take this!" he yelled. Fredbear dodged, charging at Michael with ferocity. Charlie, quick on her feet, tried to slash at Evan, but he teleported away, putting distance between them. He conjured another dark shard, sending a shadow hammer crashing into her, knocking her down.

"Why are you doing this, Evan?" Charlie cried, desperation in her voice.

"Because you will never understand my hate!" Evan roared back. Despite their pleas, Evan's rage was unyielding. He used an angry shard to amplify his strength, delivering a devastating punch that cracked Michael's rib. He followed up with another powerful blow, sending Michael sprawling. Charlie and Evan faced each other, their eyes locked in a deadly stare. Dark crystals sprouted from Evan's form, while Charlie's puppet arms writhed with energy. Their battle raged on, the pizzeria around them falling into ruin as tables and chairs were shattered.

"Please, Evan," Charlie's voice trembled, "we don't have to do this."

"How would you feel if someone stopped you from killing my father?" Evan retorted, his voice dripping with venom. Her silence was all the answer he needed. "You're selfish," he spat. "Protecting him because of a childish crush."

Evan's mind slipped further into darkness. He lifted his hand, feeling a familiar power coursing through him, one he hadn't felt since becoming a ghost a decade ago. From the shadows emerged the nightmares: Freddy, Foxy, Bonnie, and Chica. They snarled at Charlie, their eyes glowing with malice.

"Do you like my full power?" Evan taunted. "These nightmares are my strength." He summoned Nightmare Fredbear and Nightmare Puppet, and they charged at Charlie in unison.

"Stay back!" Charlie shouted, dodging and weaving. She used her puppet limbs to fight back. Foxy's claws slashed at her, Chica's fists swung, Bonnie's kicks targeted her, and Freddy's Freddles swarmed. Despite her best efforts, she was hit and thrown around, struggling to disassemble the core four nightmares. As she dismantled them, Fredbear and Nightmare Puppet fused into a single entity. The new Nightmare rose, its black body adorned with a golden tie and hat, and four puppet arms protruding from its back.

"What are these things?" Charlie demanded, her voice a mixture of fear and curiosity.

"This is the form of my nightmare," Evan proclaimed with a twisted smile. "The most powerful monster. The one I had to beat and tame to survive as a ghost." Michael, watching in awe, realized he was out of his depth, unable to intervene.

Nightmare teleported in front of Charlie, delivering a punch that sent her flying. Grabbing her, it slammed her into the wall. She retaliated with three puppet fists, but Nightmare's puppet arms blocked them effortlessly. It let out a horrifying laugh, sending chills down her spine. Determined, Charlie charged again, but Nightmare's swift movements and powerful attacks kept her at bay. She flew back to avoid its claws, only to be blitzed and grabbed once more. Nightmare slammed her to the floor and hurled her away.

Grunting in pain, Charlie floated up, slipping past Nightmare's fists to land a kick. Using her puppet arms, she threw Nightmare back. Snarling, Nightmare teleported to Evan's side. Evan's laughter echoed through the ruins. "See, Charlie? You can't win," he mocked.

"Evan, this isn't you!" she pleaded. "We can find another way."

"No! This is the only way!" Evan commanded Nightmare to become the Amalgamation. The defeated nightmares rose, merging into a single entity. Evan absorbed the Amalgamation, his power surging. The pizzeria shook violently before settling. Just as he was about to attack Charlie, immense pressure stopped him. He was knocked out, the nightmares separating him.

Michael, theorizing that the nightmares were deliberately weakening Evan, picked up the axe. "We have to end this," he muttered. The Amalgamation snarled, throwing Evan aside.

"You are weaker than before Evan, your spirit incomplete," it growled. It struck Charlie and Michael away, then absorbed Evan, transforming into a new form. It was Evan, but different, his eyes flashing between black and white until they settled on white. Evan, now in control, got up and left silently, without a word.

Michael and Charlie, exhausted and battered, spoke about the events that had transpired. "Charlie, thank you for saving us," Michael said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"It's over now, Michael," she replied, her voice soft. "But I... I never wanted it to end like this."

"I know," he admitted, looking away. "At one point, I felt the same way about you."

Charlie, though saddened by the realization they could never be together, found solace in knowing he once cared for her. "We have to keep going," she urged him. "There's still so much to do."

Michael nodded, determination returning to his eyes. "You're right. Let's end this once and for all."

She urged him to run and leave. Michael nodded, thanking her once more and promising to help her. She asked him to get his father to the restaurant. He agreed, got into his car, and drove home. Upon arriving, he fell asleep instantly, exhausted from the ordeal.

The other four kids—Jeremy, Gabriel, Fritz, and Susie—approached Evan cautiously, their faces filled with concern and confusion. "What happened, Evan?" Jeremy asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Evan sighed, his eyes dark and haunted, shadows of past torments visible within them. "Charlie managed to stop me," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. The pain and conflict within him were evident, but he refused to divulge more, leaving his friends in a heavy silence.

Later, Charlie returned, and the group scrutinized her with suspicion. The air was thick with tension, every eye on her demanding answers. She tried to defend herself, but the weight of their gazes and the enormity of her actions broke her down. "I know I was wrong," she admitted, tears streaming down her face, her voice cracking with emotion. "But I couldn't let Evan do it."

The kids were taken aback, unsure of how to respond. Jeremy, Gabriel, and Fritz exchanged glances, the bond they felt with Evan complicating their feelings. "Michael offered to get William," Charlie continued, her voice shaking. "After he dies, Evan will be free to do anything for Michael."

They listened, their expressions softening slightly, though a sense of betrayal lingered. Jeremy, Fritz, and Gabriel, who saw Evan as an older brother, felt a deep ache seeing him in pain. They had all shared so much, and this rift hurt them deeply.

Cassidy stormed in, her face contorted with rage, her presence crackling with fury. "You think your childhood crush on Michael justifies this?" she screamed at Charlie, shoving her hard against the wall. The impact made a dull thud, and Charlie winced, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

"I... I didn't know what else to do!" Charlie stammered, her voice quivering. "William needs to be stopped, and Michael is our only chance to reach him!"

Cassidy's grip tightened momentarily before she let Charlie down, the anger in her eyes fierce. "I didn't reveal myself or intervene because Evan asked me not to," Cassidy warned, her voice low and dangerous, every word dripping with menace. "But if you try a stunt like that again, I'll kill you."

With that, Cassidy stormed out, her footsteps echoing in the hollow corridors. Fritz, who had been silent, followed her, his heart aching for both his friends. "Cassidy, we need to stick together," he said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Evan needs us, and so do the others."

Cassidy's anger softened slightly as she looked at Fritz, her eyes reflecting the turmoil within her. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I just can't stand seeing him like this."

"We'll support each other," Fritz assured her. "We'll find a way through this, together."

Cassidy nodded, her resolve firming. She thanked Fritz quietly and made her way to find Evan in the backrooms, her mind racing with thoughts and fears. The sight that greeted her was unsettling: the destroyed Fredbear suit was alive and standing, its presence a haunting reminder of their past.

"Evan," she called softly, her voice filled with concern and love. Evan emerged from the suit, his form flickering with spectral energy. Without a word, he hugged her tightly, his body trembling. "What should I do?" he asked, his voice filled with desperation. "The amalgamation is too strong."

Cassidy looked at him, her heart breaking for the boy she knew and loved. "What do you mean?"

Evan's eyes were filled with sorrow as he explained his battle with the nightmares, how he had absorbed and suppressed them to survive. "Over time, its power began to slip, and it was winning," he confessed, his voice shaking.

Cassidy kissed him gently, her lips a soft promise of hope. "It's okay, Evan. You're stronger than you think. You need to become who you once were."

"I can't," he argued, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm not the same. I'm broken."

"You need to think about it," she replied firmly, her own tears threatening to fall. She told him about Charlie's plan, and Evan nodded, a flicker of hope igniting in his heart. He decided to meditate, seeking clarity and strength.

As he sank into meditation, he found himself in a familiar red area, the landscape both alien and deeply known to him. Before him stood a familiar red crocodile, its eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. The sight brought back a flood of memories—some painful, others empowering.

Evan settled into the worn wooden chair as Old Man Consequences (OMC) beckoned him with a gentle smile. The old man's eyes were filled with an understanding wisdom, and his scaly hands rested calmly on his lap. Evan, feeling the weight of his thoughts, began to pour out his heart. He spoke of his fears, his anger, and the nightmares that haunted him. OMC listened intently, his eyes never leaving Evan’s face, his presence radiating a comforting stillness.

When Evan finally paused, OMC spoke in a soft, yet firm voice. "Evan, you must let the events unfold naturally. Act accordingly when the time comes. The amalgamation you fear is born from your insecurities and your fears. These forms of your nightmares persist because you haven't released them yet."

Evan’s brow furrowed in contemplation. “But how do I let go of something that feels so deeply ingrained in me?”

OMC’s gaze softened. “By facing it, understanding it, and then choosing to release it. You are stronger than you realize, Evan.”

Feeling a strange sense of relief wash over him, Evan closed his eyes and began to meditate, allowing the tranquility of the moment to envelop him. Meanwhile, OMC rose from his seat and ambled towards his quaint cabin by the pond. He returned a short while later with two fish sandwiches, the aroma mingling with the fresh scent of the water. He sat by the pond, munching thoughtfully as he observed the serene water surface.

As he ate, OMC’s gaze seemed to pierce through the present and into the future. He saw Michael, diligently learning to communicate with the spirits that roamed the pizzeria. Despite their anger and resentment towards him, Michael persisted, driven by a desire for redemption. Only Charlie seemed to approach him with some semblance of understanding. Michael’s efforts eventually bore fruit, and he managed to call William, confirming his suspicions about the mysterious substance known as remnant.

OMC’s vision unfolded further, revealing William’s arrival at the restaurant. This was a pivotal moment, setting the stage for the events that would soon unfold. All of this, however, was still in the future, and Evan remained unaware as he continued to meditate.

When Evan finally awoke, it felt like a deep, restorative sleep. He realized that while only one day had passed in the real world, a year had gone by in this ethereal realm. He felt an unfamiliar calmness and happiness, a spark in his eyes that had been long extinguished now rekindled. With a heart lighter than before, he bid OMC goodbye and returned to the pizzeria.

Upon his return, Evan immediately sought out his friends. He found them gathered together, their faces a mix of surprise and caution as they noticed him. Michael was there too, and at the sight of Evan, he instinctively took a step back, ready to flee. But Evan raised his hand to stop him, his voice steady as he spoke. "Michael, wait. I know you’re expecting me to seek revenge, but not yet. We need to understand and act wisely."

Michael, his eyes filled with regret, confessed, "Evan, I was a terrible older brother. My life is a mess, and I’ve made so many mistakes."

Evan chuckled, a soft sound that carried a hint of shared pain. "We both have our burdens, Michael. More than you might think." The tension in the group eased slightly, and Cassidy, always a source of quiet strength, reached out to clutch Evan’s hand.

Evan looked at Cassidy, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared understanding. Cassidy had always been his anchor, the one who could calm his storms. Her touch was gentle but firm, a silent promise of unwavering support. "Cassidy," he whispered, "thank you for being here. I don't think I could do this without you."

Cassidy’s eyes softened, her grip on his hand tightening slightly. "Evan, you've always been strong. Even when you didn't see it. We're in this together, and I won't let you face this alone."

Charlie and Evan both offered their apologies, their words sincere and laden with the weight of their past actions. Evan admitted that while he was still angry, he had found a sense of calm that had eluded him for so long. Their conversation briefly, a fragile bridge mending the rift between them.

Michael then informed them, "William will be here in two days. Let me tell you what I’ve learned. My sister... she died at Circus Baby’s. Jeremy Fitzgerald... he suffered because of my father’s obsessions. And the underground rental service? It’s where my father discovered remnant and sought immortality."

The group's anger was palpable, a seething undercurrent as they absorbed Michael’s words. Evan, hearing the details again, felt a renewed anger boiling inside him. The dim lighting of the pizzeria cast eerie shadows on their faces, adding to the horror of their revelations. Mechanical noises echoed faintly, a grim reminder of the twisted experiments that had taken place within these walls.

"Michael, you’re saying your father wanted to live forever? Using our pain?" Cassidy’s voice was barely a whisper, her grip on Evan's hand tightening.

"Yes," Michael replied, his voice trembling. "And we can't let him succeed."

Though Evan had already known some of these details, hearing them again stirred renewed anger within him. The group, except for Charlie, who maintained a semblance of empathy, decided that they would show no mercy to William. They were united in their resolve to correct the wrongs of the past and seek their long-awaited revenge.

As the conversation wound down, the air grew colder, and a sense of foreboding filled the room. Everyone except Charlie left, and Evan decided to rest, allowing himself a moment of peace amidst the turmoil. He knew that the coming days would be crucial, and he needed his strength. With a determined heart, Evan resolved to fix all the mistakes and finally put an end to the nightmares that had plagued them all. The silent halls of the pizzeria seemed to whisper of the horrors yet to come, but Evan felt ready to face them head-on.

Later that night, as he lay down, Cassidy sat beside him, her presence a soothing balm to his restless soul. She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and whispered, "We'll get through this, Evan. Together."

Evan reached out, his hand finding hers in the dim light. "I know, Cassidy. And no matter what happens, I'm glad I have you by my side."

The shadows of the past loomed large, but in that moment, with Cassidy beside him, Evan felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they would face the darkness and emerge stronger.

Chapter 21: William's Death

Chapter Text

William drove into Freddy's driveway in his gleaming purple Ferrari, the engine's growl fading into the ominous silence of the night. The moon cast eerie shadows, the building looming like a specter from his darkest nightmares. He stepped out, adjusted his purple tie, and took a deep breath, his deep purple eyes glinting with dangerous resolve. The air was thick with foreboding as he approached the door, each step echoing like a death knell. The clock struck 12:01 AM as he swung the door open, the creak of the hinges sending chills down his spine.

The restaurant was dimly lit, the flickering lights casting sinister shadows that danced on the walls. The stage was deserted, and Foxy's Cove was shrouded in darkness. He moved with a predatory grace towards the office, the silence broken only by the distant hum of machinery. His heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and dread. Moving a dusty bookshelf at the back, he revealed a hidden compartment and retrieved a fire axe, its blade gleaming wickedly. His new robotic hand clenched around the handle, the cold metal feeling like an extension of his vengeful spirit.

"They're all going to perish," he muttered, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty halls, growing louder and more menacing. He spun around just in time to duck as Chica’s fist whistled past his head, narrowly missing. The air crackled with tension as he faced his first opponent.

"Miss me, Susie," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. He slipped past the robot and swung his axe. The chicken bot dodged, her movements eerily fluid, and let out a metallic, unsettling laugh.

"You won't escape me again!" Chica’s robotic voice grated, her eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

William laughed, a sound devoid of joy. "I'll kill you again, Susie. Just like before."

Chica lunged at him again, her clawed hand swiping through the air. William sidestepped, delivering a swift punch to her torso. The impact reverberated up his arm, a satisfying crunch of metal beneath his fist. He followed up with a slash from his axe, sparks flying as the blade met metal. The bot retaliated, its strike glancing off his side, a flash of pain reminding him of his mortality.

"I should have dismantled you piece by piece the first time," he growled, dodging another attack. Chica laughed, a distorted, haunting sound.

"You're weak, William. Always have been," she sneered.

Fury surged through him. With a roar, he swung his axe with all his might, decapitating the bot. The head clattered to the ground in a grotesque ballet of metal and wires. He stood over her fallen form, breathing heavily, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

Before he could catch his breath, Bonnie lunged at him from the shadows, knocking him into the wall with a powerful punch. The impact left him momentarily dazed, the room spinning around him.

"Jeremy, you never knew when to stay down!" William spat, kicking the bot back and ducking another punch.

"Hello, William," Bonnie's voice was deep, tinged with electronic distortion. "Did you miss me?"

Using his robotic hand, William punched the ear off the bunny bot, then slashed repeatedly until it was defunct, wires sparking and fluids leaking. Each blow was accompanied by a guttural grunt, his rage driving him to destroy his once-loyal creation.

Bonnie staggered, but didn't fall. "You think you can kill me again? I won't be so easy this time."

William smirked. "Let's see about that."

The bot charged, throwing a series of rapid punches. William blocked and dodged, landing his own hits where he could. The two circled each other, locked in a deadly dance. Finally, with a swift, precise strike, William drove his axe into Bonnie's chest, tearing through circuits and wires. The bot shuddered, then collapsed.

"Stay down this time," William muttered, brushing the dirt off his suit.

Stalking through the many rooms of the pizzeria, his senses heightened, every creak and groan of the old building setting his nerves on edge. He paused in the kitchen, memories of nights spent here, haunted by his own creations, flooding back. The smell of old grease and decay filled the air, mixing with the acrid scent of fear.

Suddenly, he saw the Foxy bot lurking in the shadows, its eyes glinting with malice. The air grew colder, the tension almost palpable.

"Fritz," William sneered, "come on, show me what you've got!"

The bot charged, its hook slashing into William's stomach. He staggered, pain shooting through him like a hot knife, but he fought back, landing punches and kicks.

"You think you can defeat me?" Foxy's voice was harsh, full of anger. "You turned us into monsters!"

William gritted his teeth. "I made you stronger."

The bot dodged and tackled him, its claws raking across his face, leaving a bloody scar. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, but he refused to yield.

"You think that’s enough to stop me?" William roared, his purple eyes glowing with fury. He used his metal arm to punch through the bot, tearing it to shreds while taunting, "Even in death, you're all weak!"

With a final, desperate move, he drove his axe through Foxy's head, dismantling the bot. He stood over the broken pieces, panting, blood dripping from his wounds.

A distorted laugh filled the room, echoing off the walls. William turned, his heart skipping a beat as Freddy stared at him, a menacing presence in the gloom. The air grew heavy, every breath a struggle.

"Gabe, is that you? Come on, then!" William retrieved his axe from Foxy's head, his hands trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

Freddy moved faster than expected, slamming William into walls and smashing the floor with brutal efficiency. William fought back desperately, landing blows and axe slashes, but Gabriel was relentless. Each hit felt like it was driving him further into despair. Forced to retreat, William needed a plan.

"Why won't you die?" William shouted, frustration seeping into his voice.

Freddy's laugh was cold. "Because you made me, remember?"

He felt a cold, skinny arm wrap around his leg. His breath hitched—it was her, Charlie, his first kill. The touch sent shivers down his spine, fear creeping into his voice.

"No... not you," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

Charlie threw him into a wall with unnatural strength. He hurled his axe in a desperate move, managing to smash Freddy's head. As he got up, he saw the Puppet and the four ghost kids advancing, their eyes glowing with an unearthly light. Panic surged through him like a tidal wave.

"I need to find it," he gasped, sprinting to the employee backroom. There it was—the Spring Bonnie suit, a relic from a darker time. He tried to put it on but was thrown back by an unseen force, his desperation mounting.

Then he saw the Fredbear suit, its eyes glowing gold and red. The mouth opened, revealing her and him—Evan Afton and Cassidy Brooks, their presence suffocating him with guilt and fear.

"Evan... Cassidy... you're here for vengeance," he stammered, a cold sweat breaking out, his mind racing for a way out.

Desperation took over, his mind teetering on the edge of insanity. He threw the golden Bonnie suit aside and began to laugh hysterically, mocking them. "You think you can scare me? I MADE you!"

He charged at Fredbear, the suit dodging and punching him with a force that left him breathless. Evan stepped out, joining Charlie and the other kids. Cassidy, now in the Fredbear suit, attacked, smashing William’s back with bone-crushing force.

"You can't stop me!" William screamed, slashing at her with his axe, but she teleported behind him, kicking him into the wall with supernatural strength.

Pain and fear mingled as he felt beads of sweat trickle down his body. His vision blurred, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. Then, realization dawned—moisture and springlocks... a deadly combination.

CRUNCH.

The sound of the springlocks snapping shut echoed through the room, followed by a sickening silence. William's scream was cut short, his body convulsing as the suit's mechanisms pierced his flesh, the pain unbearable. Blood pooled on the floor, mixing with the dust and grime.

As darkness closed in, William's last sight was the ghostly figures of his victims standing over him, their eyes filled with a vengeance that transcended death.

Chapter 22: His Happiest Day

Chapter Text

The kids began to laugh and hug each other, their spectral forms shimmering with a newfound sense of freedom. The oppressive weight of the past seemed to lift, replaced by a tentative hope. Then a shadow loomed in the doorway—a purple figure entered. It was Michael. His presence brought a wave of anger and confusion.

William, filled with rage, cursed out Michael, his voice trembling with hatred. "How could you do this? How could you betray your own blood?"

Michael's expression was a mix of sorrow and determination. "You and William Afton were never my father," he replied, his voice steady. "You were a monster."

William's twitching then ceased, his body going eerily still as the realization of his son's words sank in.

The spirits, still holding hands in a circle, looked around in confusion. They had expected to be free, to finally find peace. Cassidy's voice broke the silence. "Why can't we move on? Why can't we find peace?"

Evan, with a look of profound understanding, spoke softly, "I know why." He disconnected from Cassidy and Jeremy's hands. As the spirits began to ascend, celebrating their anticipated freedom, Cassidy realized Evan wasn't joining them. Panic filled her eyes.

"Evan, what's happening?" she cried, trying to reach out to him, but an invisible force held her back.

Evan smiled, a bittersweet expression on his face. "It's okay, Cassidy. I love you."

Tears glistened in her eyes as she responded, "I love you too." And then, she was gone, leaving Evan and Michael alone.

Evan turned to Michael, a resolve hardening in his gaze. Using his creation shard, he formed a metal door, sealing it with a sense of finality. Michael watched, confusion and fear in his eyes.

"Are you going to kill me?" Michael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Evan shook his head, a resigned smile on his lips. "No, Michael. You can't be killed by normal means. Your time in the underground rental service, the scooping... the residual remnant has fused with you. You're beyond normal death."

Michael's face twisted in a mix of horror and realization. "But... the remnant can be destroyed in a fire. Isn't that true?"

Evan sighed, the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Maybe. But I'm not sure it would work. Besides, you need to stay alive."

"Why?" Michael demanded, desperation in his voice.

"Because our father will return," Evan replied, his tone somber. "And when he does, you'll need to be ready. You can visit your friends, but you must stay vigilant."

Michael's eyes widened in shock. "Thirty years? Why so long?"

Evan placed a reassuring hand on Michael's shoulder. "I'll visit my friends, and we'll meet back here in 30 years. Be prepared. Stay safe."

Michael nodded, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Evan. For everything."

Evan laughed softly, a sad but understanding sound. "I know, Michael. I know." And with that, he dissipated, leaving Michael standing alone in the darkened room. For the first time in years, Michael felt a strange sense of peace. He returned home, a small smile on his lips, and finally allowed himself to rest.

Evan awoke in the Old Man Consequences area. The tranquil lake and the serene atmosphere provided a stark contrast to his previous encounters. The crocodile, wise and ancient, looked at Evan with kind eyes.

"You've shown great maturity, boy," the crocodile said, his voice gentle. "You don't deserve to suffer any longer. Go into the lake once more."

Evan nodded, gratitude and relief washing over him. "Goodbye," he said, stepping into the lake.

When he awoke, he found himself in front of a grand mansion. The air was warm and inviting, a sense of belonging filling him. As he entered the mansion, he saw Cassidy. Her face lit up with joy, and she ran to him, screaming his name. She kissed him passionately, tears streaming down her face.

"Evan! You're here! You're really here!" she exclaimed, holding him tightly.

He hugged her back, his heart swelling with happiness. "I'm here, Cassidy. I'm really here."

She led him through the mansion, introducing him to their friends. Fritz had his own parkour area, an expansive space that seemed to stretch on forever. Susie had a charming bakery, the scent of fresh bread and pastries filling the air. Charlie had a hall where she built a statue of her father, Henry, a testament to their enduring bond. Jeremy had a mechanic shop where he worked alongside Fritz and Gabriel, their laughter echoing through the halls.

Evan walked into a room filled with familiar faces—Freddy, Foxy, Bonnie, Chica, and a Fredbear bot. Cassidy was beaming with happiness. "We finally have our dream, Evan. We're all together."

Evan was overwhelmed by the love and joy around him. As he entered the mansion's main hall, he was greeted with a surprise—a birthday cake. Charlie approached him, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Check the date," she said, pointing to the cake.

Evan looked and saw the date. It was the 10-year anniversary of his birthday, the Bite of '83. Tears welled up in his eyes. "I can't believe it... it's been 10 years."

Charlie nodded. "Happy birthday, Evan."

Evan finally allowed himself to cry, tears of joy streaming down his face. His friends and girlfriend, Cassidy, surrounded him, their laughter and love filling the room. For the first time in a decade, he felt true happiness. There was no more pain, no more suffering. It was his happiest day, surrounded by the people he loved most.

As the evening went on, the mansion was filled with warmth and light. Cassidy held Evan's hand, leading him to a cozy corner where they could sit together. They talked about their dreams, their hopes, and the future they now had together.

"Promise me we'll always be together," Cassidy whispered, her eyes shining with love.

Evan smiled, squeezing her hand. "I promise, Cassidy. Always."

They watched their friends enjoying themselves—Fritz practicing his parkour with effortless grace, Susie baking delicious treats for everyone, Charlie and Jeremy working on a new mechanical project with Gabriel. The sound of laughter and joy echoed through the mansion, creating a symphony of happiness.

Later that night, as they all gathered around the fireplace, Evan felt an overwhelming sense of peace. He looked at Cassidy, her head resting on his shoulder, and knew that this was the life they had always dreamed of.

"To new beginnings," Charlie toasted, raising a glass.

"To love and happiness," Susie added, smiling brightly.

"To family," Evan said, his voice filled with emotion.

They clinked their glasses together, a symbol of their unbreakable bond. Evan looked around at his friends, his heart full. For the first time, he felt truly at home.

As the night drew to a close, Evan and Cassidy stood outside, gazing up at the stars. The sky was clear, a blanket of twinkling lights stretching endlessly.

"Do you think our loved ones are watching us?" Cassidy asked softly.

Evan nodded, wrapping his arm around her. "I believe they are, and I think they're happy for us."

Cassidy smiled, leaning into him. "I love you, Evan."

"I love you too, Cassidy," Evan replied, kissing her gently.

They stayed like that for a while, soaking in the beauty of the night and the love they shared. It was a moment of pure bliss, one they knew would last forever.

And so, in that mansion filled with joy, love, and friendship, Evan and his friends found the peace they had been searching for. No more pain, no more suffering. Only happiness and the promise of a bright future together.

It was their happiest day.

Well, for them atleast. Behind a metal locked door, a man too strong to be held in hell, a man who was to stubborn, a an who always came back rose up once more and he was going to get his revenge at any cost.

It was their happiest day.

Well, for them at least. The sun shone brightly, laughter filled the air, and the world seemed perfect. But behind a metal-locked door, a different story was unfolding.

In the shadows, a man too strong to be held in hell, too stubborn to stay down, stirred. His eyes, once vibrant, now glowed with a dark, unquenchable fire. He had been beaten, broken, and buried, but he always came back. Today was no different.

The air around him grew colder as he rose, the chains binding him shattering like brittle bones. His movements were slow, deliberate, and filled with a terrifying resolve. Each step he took echoed a promise of vengeance, a haunting reminder of his unstoppable nature.

His heart pounded with a rhythm of wrath, each beat a reminder of the betrayal that had led him here. Memories of pain and suffering fueled his rage, giving him strength. He would have his revenge, no matter the cost.

Outside, oblivious to the impending horror, the world continued to celebrate. But soon, their joy would turn to screams. The man, a figure of relentless fury, would make sure of it. His shadow stretched long and menacing, a harbinger of the nightmare that was about to be unleashed.

They thought they were safe. They thought they were free. But behind that metal door, a relentless force of darkness had risen once more, and he was coming for them all.

Chapter 23: Our Horror Story Has Just Begun.

Chapter Text

The afterlife for the kids was amazing. They had everything they ever wanted, and if they desired something new, they could easily get it. Right now, Susie and Fritz were trying out the new parkour course. Susie, with her boundless energy and natural agility, seemed to have an innate talent for parkour, effortlessly scaling obstacles with a grace that surprised even her. Fritz, on the other hand, was more experienced and methodical. His prior experience gave him an edge, allowing him to progress faster, but he couldn't help but admire Susie's raw talent. Her laughter echoed through the course, a sound that made the place feel truly alive.

Meanwhile, on a sunlit hill nearby, Charlie and Cassidy were engrossed in a game of cards. Charlie, with her strategic mind and quick thinking, was clearly dominating the game. Each move she made was calculated, and she couldn’t help but smirk each time she won a round. Cassidy, ever the fierce competitor, was determined to outsmart her but found herself repeatedly outmaneuvered. Her fiery spirit kept her laughing, though, and she continually challenged Charlie for yet another round, refusing to back down. Beside them, Evan was in his element, focused on cooking and whistling a cheerful tune as he prepared their favorite dishes. The kitchen was his sanctuary, a place where he found peace and purpose, a sense of normalcy amidst the supernatural.

In the other room, Jeremy and Gabriel were sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the TV. They were watching their favorite show about angry aliens whose hair could turn gold and long when they were mad. Jeremy, the more analytical of the two, loved dissecting the plot and predicting twists, while Gabriel, with his infectious enthusiasm, was simply enthralled by the action. They debated fervently over the finer points of the characters’ powers and battles, their voices rising and falling with the show’s dramatic moments. Evan liked the show too, but Jeremy and Gabriel were obsessed, often getting lost in their passionate discussions.

When Evan finished cooking ten minutes later, he called to the brothers. Gabriel, always the fastest, sprinted outside to inform the others. Within moments, Susie, Fritz, Charlie, and Cassidy came running inside, their faces lit with anticipation. As they gathered around the table, they chatted animatedly, sharing stories of their latest adventures.

“Susie, you should have seen the jump I made today,” Fritz said excitedly, his eyes shining with pride. “I swear I almost touched the clouds!”

Susie laughed, shaking her head. “Maybe in your dreams, Fritz. But you were pretty awesome out there.”

Charlie dealt another hand of cards to Cassidy, her competitive streak showing in her focused expression. “You’re going down this time, Cass,” she teased.

Cassidy smirked, determined. “We’ll see about that, Charlie.”

Evan then decided it was time to break the news. He took a deep breath, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had to say. "Everyone," he began, his voice steady but tinged with a seriousness that silenced the room. "I have something important to tell you."

The room fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. Evan glanced around at his friends, his eyes lingering on Cassidy. She reached out and took his hand, her grip warm and reassuring. The gesture gave him the strength to continue. "It's been 30 years since my father, William Afton, was springlocked at Freddy's. Now, he's back in a new restaurant called Fazbear's Flight."

A collective gasp filled the room. The kids looked at each other, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion. Charlie, ever the logical thinker, was the first to speak. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern.

Evan squeezed Cassidy's hand, drawing strength from her presence. "For now, we are powerless," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "It's been too long since we were in the physical world. At most, we can appear as phantoms." He looked around at their worried faces, feeling the weight of their fear and uncertainty.

Cassidy's eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination, tightening her grip on Evan's hand. "Who will stop him then?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly but her resolve unwavering.

Evan sighed, his eyes reflecting a sadness that came from years of burden. "Michael will come," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet confidence. "I foresaw this and spoke to him about it 30 years ago. He knows what to do."

Fritz, ever the observant one, noted that they hadn't aged, their bodies still those of preteens. "Why is that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued, trying to understand the nature of their existence.

Evan had no definitive answer. "It's probably just how death works," he said with a shrug, the mystery of their unchanging state something he had come to accept over the years. They all accepted this explanation, finding a strange comfort in the mystery of their existence.

As the reality of their situation settled in, a tense silence enveloped the room. Each of them was lost in thought, grappling with the enormity of what Evan had revealed. Finally, Susie broke the silence. "We can't just sit here and do nothing," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "We have to find a way to help Michael."

The others nodded in agreement, their fears slowly giving way to determination. Despite their current limitations, they made a pact. They would find a way to support Michael and finish what William had started. They would fix all the mistakes, not just for themselves, but for all the others who had suffered because of William Afton's actions.

United, in their resolve, they felt a renewed sense of purpose. The afterlife might have given them peace and joy, but it was time to face their past and ensure a better future for everyone. Holding Cassidy's hand, Evan felt a flicker of hope. Together, they would overcome any obstacles, bound by their shared past and their unbreakable bond.

Later that evening, the atmosphere in their home grew darker. Strange noises echoed through the halls, whispers of their past tormenting them. The shadows seemed to move on their own, a constant reminder of the horrors they had faced. Evan and Cassidy clung to each other, drawing comfort from their connection.

In the dim light of the living room, Jeremy and Gabriel watched as a ghostly figure flickered on the TV screen, an eerie reflection of their own spectral forms. “Do you think we’ll ever be able to really be free?” Jeremy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gabriel nodded, though his expression was uncertain. “We have to believe that we will. It’s the only thing that keeps us going.”

Despite the fear that hung in the air, there were moments of happiness that shone through. The children would gather around the fire, telling stories of their favorite memories and dreams of what they would do once they were free. They laughed and played games, their spirits lifting as they reminded each other of the love and friendship that bound them together.

One night, as they all sat together, Evan pulled out a tattered old book. “Remember this?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face. It was a storybook from their childhood, filled with tales of adventure and bravery.

Cassidy’s eyes lit up. “Read it to us, Evan. Just like old times.”

As Evan read aloud, the fear and uncertainty melted away, replaced by the warmth of their shared past. They huddled close, finding solace in the familiar words and the comfort of each other’s presence.

Though the road ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, they knew they would face it together. The afterlife had given them a second chance, not just at happiness, but at redemption. Holding Cassidy's hand, Evan felt a renewed sense of hope. Together, they would confront the darkness, determined to create a future where they could finally be free.

Evan told them the next day to meditate in a circle. They gathered in a quiet, dimly lit room, their faces illuminated by the flickering candles around them. As they closed their eyes and focused, they felt a strange sensation, as if they were being pulled into another world. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a surreal, crimson landscape. The sky was a deep shade of red, and the ground beneath their feet was rough and uneven, covered in red dust.

To everyone but Evan, who had been here at least half a dozen times, the area was a bewildering and eerie surprising. The old man, with his wrinkled face and wise eyes, looked at Evan knowingly. Evan nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The others, still reeling from the initial shock, looked around in confusion.

Jeremy, breaking the silence, asked, "What are we doing with a red crocodile?" He pointed to a large, crimson-colored reptile lounging nearby, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

Evan laughed, a sound that seemed oddly out of place in the eerie landscape. "That's OMC," he explained. "Probably the only reason I haven't gone completely insane in this place." The rest nodded, their apprehension somewhat eased by Evan's familiarity with the situation.

OMC, the old man, instructed Charlie and Cassidy to stay back. "Your time will come," he said, his voice echoing strangely in the still air. Evan then led the rest towards a small, shimmering puddle in the ground. "This is our way forward," he said. After waving OMC goodbye, they took a deep breath and stepped into the puddle. The sensation was like being pulled through a vortex, and everything went black for a moment.

When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in the dim, flickering lights of Fazbear Frights. The air was thick with the smell of mold and decay, and the walls were covered in peeling, faded posters of once-popular animatronic characters. In front of them lay a grotesque sight: a purple corpse, its features twisted and decayed.

Evan waved to a shocked Michael, who was sitting nearby and fell out of his chair in surprise. "Evan? What are you doing here?" Michael asked, scrambling to his feet.

"We need to talk," Evan replied, his tone serious. They caught up briefly, Evan explaining that William, their old foe, was here. Michael nodded, his face darkening with the mention of William. "We call him Springtrap now," Michael said, his voice low. "And I know his weakness."

Curious, Evan asked, "What weakness?"

Michael explained: "A built-in feature of the Springbonnie suit. It’s programmed to respond to the sound of partying children. If we use a recording of it on the cameras, we can force Springtrap to move towards it."

Gabriel, who had been listening intently, asked, "What do we do now?"

Evan smirked, a determined look in his eyes. "Although we can't do much directly, since we're much weaker than we were 30 years ago, we can still affect Springtrap and slow him down. We need to familiarize ourselves with the layout of this place and then focus on messing up Springtrap."

At that moment, Charlie and Cassidy appeared, looking determined. Evan repeated the orders to them, and they nodded, ready for action. As they set off to explore the eerie corridors of Fazbear Frights, Michael spoke up again. "Things will be much easier with all of us working together."

Evan nodded but added a warning. "Stay on guard. Springtrap is very dangerous." Michael nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

And so, with a mix of apprehension and determination, Evan's first shift at Fazbear's Fright began, the shadows around them filled with the lurking presence of their old enemy.

Behind a concealed wall, a man too strong to die, a man too persistent to perish, awoke from his long, tormented slumber. Encased in his deteriorating Springbonnie suit, he rose slowly, every movement filled with pain and a grotesque creaking of metal and flesh. The once golden suit, now a sickly green, was covered in torn skin and dried blood, a haunting testament to the countless years of decay and suffering.

Struggling to his feet, he took rough, staggering steps toward the worn-down doors of his prison. The metal creaked under his weight, echoing in the small, dimly lit room. He guessed these doors were no stronger than the ones at the old Fredbear's Diner. A wave of nostalgia and sorrow washed over him as he remembered those days. "Gosh, how I miss those days at the diner... God, how I miss Clara," he muttered to himself, memories of her smile, her touch, flickering in his mind like a distant dream.

Summoning the remnants of his strength, he punched through the door, the sound of metal and wood giving way echoing through the darkened corridor beyond. He stepped out, his eyes adjusting to the dim, flickering lights. The air was thick with dust and the smell of rot. The area was eerily quiet, save for the distant hum of machinery. His room had been similar to Freddy's backroom, but this place was different. It didn't seem like a restaurant; it was more of a horror attraction, a macabre museum dedicated to the twisted past he was part of.

As he slowly turned to the right, his gaze landed on a camera staring back at him, the red light blinking rhythmically. He felt a surge of anger and unease. "Watching me, are you? Good. Watch closely," he growled. He began to walk through the attraction, his footsteps echoing ominously. The corridors were lined with decaying animatronics and displays of faded posters and relics from old restaurants. The walls seemed to close in on him as he navigated the maze-like structure. Hours seemed to blur together as he wandered, each step heavy with exhaustion and determination.

Finally, he reached the office. His eyes widened as he saw a familiar face. It was Michael, his own son. The sight ignited a burning rage within him. He launched himself at the window, smashing it with a force that sent shards of glass flying. His abused body barely managed to rise again. As he stood, he saw Michael coming at him with an axe, determination and fury etched on his face.

"Michael..." William hissed, his voice a guttural snarl. The axe struck, severing the ear off his suit. He stumbled back, the pain searing through his body. William stared hatefully at his son, who returned the glare with equal intensity.

"You're supposed to be dead," Michael spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

"Supposed to be," William choked out, a twisted smile forming beneath his mask. "But I'm not. I'll kill you. I'll kill you all."

Michael smirked, a cold, calculated expression. "Not today." He pulled out his monitor and pressed a button. A child's laugh echoed through the room. William felt the animatronic parts of his suit move on their own.

"Damn it. You figured it out," William growled, his movements jerky and uncontrollable.

For the next few minutes, he struggled to regain control. Hallucinations plagued him, the faces of his victims and his own children flickering in and out of view. He was tripped by unseen obstacles, boxes and shelves seemingly coming to life to hinder his progress. The bells rang, signaling the end of his torment for now. He retreated into the safe room, collapsing onto the cold, hard floor.

As he lay there, he saw the ghostly figure of his other son, Evan. Evan's ghost smiled, a sad, knowing expression. "This door will open again at 12 AM, Father."

Rage boiled within William as he snarled, "f*ck off, Evan. You're nothing but a memory. I'll kill them all. You'll see."

Evan's ghostly form began to fade, his smile lingering. "You never learn, do you, Father?"

He promised to kill them all. The laughter of his dead, failure of a son echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of his eternal torment and unfulfilled vengeance. "I'll kill them all," he whispered to the darkness, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and despair. "I swear it."

Sure, here's an expanded, action-packed version with additional horror elements and a more detailed fight scene:

---

Over the next three nights, William Afton discovered that the souls of the missing children—Charlie, Gabriel, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, Cassidy—and his deceased son Evan were mere hallucinations. These specters haunted him relentlessly, casting grotesque illusions, whispering vile taunts, and moving shelves and boxes to block his path. Their hollow laughter echoed through the empty, decaying halls, but despite their efforts, they remained powerless. William reveled in this revelation, his malicious delight evident as he mocked their impotence, his laughter a chilling sound in the darkness.

Michael, on the other hand, was shrewd and resourceful. His experience at Fredbear's Family Diner, Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, and even in the nightmarish underground rental service of Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental had honed his skills to a razor's edge. He expertly manipulated the sound lure to mislead, blocked the vents with surgical precision, and employed the newly added shock system with cold efficiency. Michael's cunning victories and his gloating infuriated William, who seethed with a hatred that burned hotter than the fires of Hell.

On the fifth night, William's ravaged nostrils flared as the acrid stench of smoke filled the air. The flicker of fire reflected faintly in the shattered glass behind him, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Stumbling, he navigated through the dimly lit arcade room, his movements slow and disoriented. The vents were a claustrophobic labyrinth, but he managed to crawl through, emerging into the office. There, he stood face to face with his son, Michael.

The spectral forms of the children and Evan loomed behind Michael, their faces twisted into eerie, malevolent grins. The atmosphere was suffocating, heavy with unresolved hatred and the stench of death. William and Michael exchanged venomous words, their voices low and dripping with malice. William, his voice a guttural rasp, promised to give Michael a real reason to cry. Michael, with a cold, mocking smile, taunted his father’s decayed form, trapped in the decrepit springlock suit. William retorted with a sneer, pointing out Michael's own grotesque appearance—purple, decaying skin and a rotting mouth. For a fleeting moment, they shared a bitter, twisted laugh, the first and only in their lives.

Michael's eyes hardened as he spoke of the fire, declaring that it would consume William while he, Michael, would escape. Rage boiled within William, and he charged, throwing a savage punch at Michael. Michael, quick and agile, grabbed his father’s fist and kicked him back. But William, his anger giving him inhuman strength, was barely affected. He slammed Michael into the wall, raining down blows. Despite the pain, Michael admitted that his father was indeed stronger than the ghosts in the robots, with the exceptions of Charlie and Evan.

Desperate, Michael kicked the rotting animatronic away and hurled a heavy chair at him. William braced himself, tearing the chair apart with monstrous strength. He lunged again, his fist aimed at Michael, who slipped away and retaliated with four quick, brutal punches that landed with sickening thuds. Breathing heavily, Michael looked to his right, then turned back to his father, a grim smile on his face.

"Goodbye, Father," Michael said, his voice filled with loathing. "I wish you the deepest parts of Hell."

Cassidy stepped forward, her ethereal form shimmering with malevolence. "If you survive this," she hissed, "I will rip your soul apart and piece it back together, over and over, for eternity."

Charlie, her eyes cold and devoid of life, warned him, "Do not return."

Fritz and Jeremy jeered, their spectral laughter a haunting, maddening echo. Gabriel and Susie joined in, their ghostly forms flickering and twisting in the dim light. They all teleported away, dragging a grinning Michael with them. Evan remained, his ghostly figure shimmering, his presence a haunting reminder of William's sins.

William glared at Evan, the son he considered a failure, the one whose death had driven Clara to madness and ultimately to her own demise. Evan met his gaze, his expression a disturbing mix of sorrow and malevolent satisfaction.

"You were always a fool, Father," Evan said softly, his voice echoing with a chilling otherworldly resonance. "Coming back here sealed your doom. The moment you chose not to die in that springlock suit thirty years ago, you condemned yourself."

Slowly, Evan opened his hand, revealing a necklace. William's eyes widened, the sight of Clara's necklace almost bringing the cold-hearted killer, the abusive father, to tears. The necklace seemed to pulse with a ghostly light, a relic of a life long lost. Evan offered it to him, his eyes boring into William's soul.

"You can right your wrongs, Father," Evan said, his voice both gentle and firm, laced with an unearthly echo. "But you must stop this impossible quest."

William's face twisted in arrogant denial. "Never," he snarled, his voice dripping with malice.

Evan sighed, a look of profound sadness crossing his face. "Then you're beyond saving," he whispered, his form starting to fade. "May you rot in the hell you've created."

With those words, Evan turned away and teleported, leaving William alone in the suffocating darkness, surrounded by the echoes of his sins and the fires of his damnation.

Cassidy and Evan stood in the Old Man Consequent Cabin, a place that had become a sanctuary for their weary souls. The cabin's rustic charm, with its rough-hewn wooden beams and the faint, comforting smell of pine, enveloped them in a cocoon of safety. Cassidy, her fingers entwined in one of her pigtails, looked at Evan with a mix of concern and tenderness.

Evan, lounging on the old, creaky bed that had become a familiar friend, glanced up at her. His eyes, usually so full of mischief, now held a profound sadness. "Charlie has to go back," he said softly, his voice breaking the silence. "But in time, she'll return." There was a quiet conviction in his words, a promise wrapped in hope.

Cassidy's heart ached at the thought of Charlie leaving, but she nodded. She had come to trust Evan's instincts. "Will you come to the mansion?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, fearing his answer.

Evan nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "I like it here," he admitted, his gaze sweeping around the cozy cabin. The tranquility of the place was a stark contrast to the chaos they had faced, a serene refuge that felt like a world apart. Cassidy could see why he was reluctant to leave.

Sensing her fatigue, Evan's expression softened with concern. "You should get some sleep," he said gently. Cassidy blushed at the suggestion, her cheeks turning a deep shade of pink. Evan laughed, a sound that was warm and comforting, like a favorite melody. "You can make another connected bed and sleep in it," he added, his eyes twinkling with affection.

Cassidy nodded, still blushing, and began to set up a makeshift bed next to his. As she snuggled in, the warmth from Evan's presence was reassuring, a silent promise that he was there for her. She leaned over and kissed him briefly, her lips lingering on his, a sweet and tender gesture that spoke of the deep bond they shared. Evan's eyes closed at her touch, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he reveled in the moment.

"Goodnight, Evan," she whispered, her voice filled with love.

"Goodnight, Cassidy," he replied, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze hers.

As she drifted into sleep, Evan watched her, his heart swelling with emotion. He had never felt so connected to someone, so utterly devoted. He knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

Later, Old Man Consequent entered his cabin. His eyes crinkled with a smile as he saw Cassidy and Evan sleeping peacefully, their hands still intertwined. With a chuckle, he decided to give them some privacy. Using his unique abilities, he formed another cabin nearby and retired for the night.

Not long after, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, and Heremy entered the first cabin. The sight of Cassidy and Evan sleeping so close together nearly made them burst out laughing. With a shared look of amusem*nt, they quickly retreated and formed their own cabins. The boys shared one, while Susie claimed her own space.

As the night wore on, the group couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness about Charlie's departure. Yet, they understood that she was doing what was best. The comforting sounds of nature and the gentle rustling of leaves outside lulled them into a deep, restful sleep. Despite the day's events, they found solace in each other's company, knowing they would face whatever came next together. The night passed peacefully, filled with dreams of happier times and hopes for the future.

Chapter 24: Golden Call

Chapter Text

Charlie awoke to find herself trapped in a suffocating black bear suit. The coarse fabric scratched against her skin, and the musty smell of the old suit filled her nostrils. She was in a dim, rain-soaked alleyway, disoriented and with no memory of how she got there. The relentless patter of rain created a rhythmic, almost hypnotic noise, but the cold seeping through the suit jolted her back to reality. Her sleep seemed to have lasted an eternity. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a faded poster on the brick wall, its edges curling from the dampness. The poster read:

NEW FAZBEAR RESTAURANT - 2026

The words sent a shiver down her spine. As she struggled to comprehend her surroundings, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—it was Michael. His face was stern and determined, with dark circles under his eyes betraying sleepless nights. He looked at her with a mix of pity and urgency, then wordlessly dragged her into a nearby building. The interior was cold and sterile, a stark contrast to the chaotic alleyway outside.

She found herself seated on a rusty, metal chair. The room was dimly lit by a single flickering fluorescent light, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Michael began to play noises—strange, unsettling sounds that echoed through the room. Initially, she could ignore them, but they grew louder and more grating, drilling into her mind. When the cacophony became unbearable, Michael resorted to using a taser to subdue her. The electric jolt sent a sharp pain through her body, and she convulsed briefly before slumping in the chair. She wanted to speak to him, to ask him why, but found herself a helpless spectator to the unfolding scene.

After salvaging her, Michael muttered, "God damn it, Charlie. You've got to go into this robot." His voice was strained, carrying the weight of years of suffering and guilt. Charlie was confused, her mind foggy, but then she heard him say, "Don't worry, this will be the end, and we will find peace."

Over the next few days, she was stationed in a pizzeria. The establishment slowly came to life around her, with new animatronics being added, stage lights being installed, and the faint smell of fresh paint lingering in the air. She watched as children, their faces alight with joy and excitement, came in to laugh and enjoy the rides. Among the new additions was a clown bot, which she learned was her old best friend Elizabeth. The bot's face, though smiling, had a haunted look. Another addition was a molten mess of robots, a grotesque amalgamation of parts and wires.

At night, Charlie crawled through the vents, her mind's pleas ignored. The vents were narrow and suffocating, the metal cold against her skin. She tried to attack Michael, who was in a small office. The office was cluttered with old files and blinking monitors, reminiscent of Fredbear's Diner almost 50 years ago. His little sister Elizabeth was now a scrapped version of Circus Baby, her once bright and cheerful design now a twisted and eerie visage. Bernard had become a molten conglomerate, a horrifying mass of robotic parts.

Michael's office was a small, claustrophobic space. He used silent ventilation to help conceal the loud noise his office produced, used his lights to flash the bots away, and employed a sound system to keep them at bay. The days were long and grueling, filled with repetitive tasks. After four days, he managed to put the animatronics in a secret room. The room was dark and musty, filled with old, forgotten equipment.

He then went to the alleyway and saw the final robot—his father, Springtrap. The sight was grotesque; his guts were grotesquely intertwined with the rotten springlock suit, and the stench of decay was overpowering. Michael pulled the nearly inactive bot into the establishment, his muscles straining under the weight. He put him in a storage room, where the air was thick with dust. He heard his father say, "I always come back." The words sent a chill down his spine.

Michael entered his office after filing some paperwork. The establishment was doing well, with happy families visiting daily, but he knew it was all a facade. He knew it was over. The four bots came for blood, their movements methodical and relentless. He was barely able to keep them at bay, using every tool at his disposal. Circus Baby and Molten Freddy got into the office, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They attacked Michael, but he pushed them back with all his strength. Lefty, who had the Puppet, was different. The Puppet's presence was soothing, almost protective, and therefore Lefty didn't join the attack.

Michael looked to the left and saw William in a rotten green Spring Bonnie suit. The suit was tattered and decayed, a grotesque reminder of past horrors. The phone rang, and Michael picked it up, his hand trembling. He and William froze at the voice on the other end—it was Henry's voice, weary and finally at peace. Elizabeth, who was close to the office, stopped at the sound of Henry's voice. Lefty, who had the Puppet and Charlie inside, also stopped.

"Connection terminated. I am sorry to interrupt you, Elizabeth, if you still even remember that name. I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed. You are not here to receive a gift, nor have you been called here by the individual you assume. However, you have indeed been called. You have all been called here. Into a labyrinth of sounds and smells, misdirection and misfortune. A labyrinth with no exit; a maze with no prize.

Elizabeth began to reminisce about her childhood. She remembered the sunny days, the laughter, the games. Tears welled up in her eyes, glistening like tiny diamonds. She then felt the flames attacking her. The heat was intense, the flames consuming everything in their path, but she didn’t resist. She welcomed the end.

"You don’t even realize that you are trapped. Your lust for blood has driven you in endless circles, chasing the cries of children and some unseen chamber always seeming so near… yet somehow out of reach. But you will never find them. None of you will. This is where your story ends.

"And to you, my brave volunteer, who somehow found this job listing not intended for you. Although there was a way out planned for you, I have a feeling that’s… not what you want. I have a feeling that you are… right where you want to be.

"I am remaining as well. I am nearby. This place will not be remembered, and the memory of everything that started this will finally fade away, as the agony of every tragedy should. And to you monsters trapped in the corridors—be still, and give up your spirits. They don’t belong to you.

"For most of you, I believe there is peace, and perhaps more waiting for you after the smoke clears. Although for one of you, the darkest pit of hell has opened to swallow you whole… so don’t keep the devil waiting, old friend."

William, in Scraptrap, looked horrified. His face, twisted with fear, finally understood why he was there. Evan was right—his fate was sealed.

"My daughter, if you could hear me, I knew you would return as well. It’s in your nature to protect the innocent. I’m sorry that on that day, the day you were shut out and left to die, no one was there to lift you up into their arms the way you lifted others into yours. And then, what became of you? I should’ve known you wouldn’t be content to disappear. Not my daughter."

Charlie's soul cried silently; tears of relief and sorrow mixed. She was happy her father had finally found peace.

"I couldn’t save you then, so let me save you now. It is time to rest. For you, and for those you have carried in your arms. This ends for all of us."

The fire burned fiercely, the heat searing, and consuming everything in its path. The flames danced wildly, their roar deafening. They were all dying. William cried for mercy, his voice a desperate plea, but Michael knew the prolific child killer deserved no mercy. He closed his eyes and began to smile, a sense of calm washing over him. This was finally over, and he could now burn with his father. The Fazbear brand was finally over.

Charlie awoke, her heart pounding as she found herself surrounded by familiar faces. Evan, Cassidy, Susie, Jeremy, Fritz, and Gabriel all beamed at her, their eyes shining with a mix of relief and joy. She took a deep breath, her emotions swirling, and turned to her right. There, standing awkwardly, were Michael and Elizabeth, flanked by Henry. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken words and past grievances.

Elizabeth took a hesitant step forward, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Charlie, I... I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Susie stepped beside Elizabeth, her face a portrait of contrition. "We've missed you, Charlie," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Charlie felt a lump rise in her throat. She had missed them too, despite everything. "I forgive you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The words seemed to lift a burden off all their shoulders as they walked off together, a united front once more.

Henry, watching from a distance, could no longer hold back his emotions. Charlie turned to him, her eyes meeting his. Without a word, she rushed into his arms. Henry's tears fell freely as he held his daughter close, the years of pain and separation dissolving in that embrace. They spent what felt like an eternity together, savoring every precious moment.

Evan and Cassidy, sensing the need for privacy, quietly slipped away, their bond unspoken but deeply understood. The other kids, their spirits lifted, made their way to the mansion, laughter and chatter filling the air.

Michael stood apart, a small smile playing on his lips, but a shadow of sorrow lingered in his eyes. He turned to leave, a bittersweet happiness settling in his heart, when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. Slowly, he turned around.

Before him stood a beautiful woman, her green eyes shimmering with love and recognition. Her blonde hair framed her face like a halo. Michael's resolve crumbled, and he broke down, tears streaming down his face. "Mom," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

Clara's eyes softened, and she enveloped him in a warm, comforting embrace. "Michael," she said softly, her voice soothing. "I was disappointed, yes, but you found your way. And I've always loved you."

Elizabeth, witnessing the reunion, couldn't hold back her tears. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her mother. "Mom, I missed you so much," she cried, her voice muffled against Clara's shoulder.

Then, Evan walked in, his steps hesitant. Michael turned, his breath hitching as he watched Evan's face change from confusion to realization. Clara opened her arms, and Evan, with a sob, rushed to her, clinging tightly. "I'm so sorry, Mom," he whispered, his voice filled with anguish. "I'm so sorry for killing you."

Clara laughed softly, her voice a melody of forgiveness. "Oh, Evan," she said, stroking his hair. "I've watched over you, and I'm so proud of you. You've come so far."

Evan nodded, feeling his mother's love envelop him for the first time. Michael and Elizabeth, standing by, exchanged a glance, their own guilt and sorrow mirrored in each other's eyes. Without a word, they moved to each other, embracing tightly. "I'm sorry," they both whispered, their voices mingling.

After a while, they all sat together, the sky above them a canvas of twinkling stars. The night was serene, the air filled with a sense of peace and closure. Evan looked up, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Looks like the stars are calling us," he joked, his voice light.

Michael chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Yeah," he agreed, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "It’s a golden call."

They all looked up, the vast expanse of the night sky seeming to welcome them. It was their Golden Call, a moment of unity and healing, a promise of new beginnings.

Chapter 25

Chapter Text

Charlie awoke to find herself trapped in a suffocating black bear suit. The coarse fabric scratched against her skin, and the musty smell of the old suit filled her nostrils. She was in a dim, rain-soaked alleyway, disoriented and with no memory of how she got there. The relentless patter of rain created a rhythmic, almost hypnotic noise, but the cold seeping through the suit jolted her back to reality. Her sleep seemed to have lasted an eternity. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw a faded poster on the brick wall, its edges curling from the dampness. The poster read:

NEW FAZBEAR RESTAURANT - 2026

The words sent a shiver down her spine. As she struggled to comprehend her surroundings, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—it was Michael. His face was stern and determined, with dark circles under his eyes betraying sleepless nights. He looked at her with a mix of pity and urgency, then wordlessly dragged her into a nearby building. The interior was cold and sterile, a stark contrast to the chaotic alleyway outside.

She found herself seated on a rusty, metal chair. The room was dimly lit by a single flickering fluorescent light, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Michael began to play noises—strange, unsettling sounds that echoed through the room. Initially, she could ignore them, but they grew louder and more grating, drilling into her mind. When the cacophony became unbearable, Michael resorted to using a taser to subdue her. The electric jolt sent a sharp pain through her body, and she convulsed briefly before slumping in the chair. She wanted to speak to him, to ask him why, but found herself a helpless spectator to the unfolding scene.

After salvaging her, Michael muttered, "God damn it, Charlie. You've got to go into this robot." His voice was strained, carrying the weight of years of suffering and guilt. Charlie was confused, her mind foggy, but then she heard him say, "Don't worry, this will be the end, and we will find peace."

Over the next few days, she was stationed in a pizzeria. The establishment slowly came to life around her, with new animatronics being added, stage lights being installed, and the faint smell of fresh paint lingering in the air. She watched as children, their faces alight with joy and excitement, came in to laugh and enjoy the rides. Among the new additions was a clown bot, which she learned was her old best friend Elizabeth. The bot's face, though smiling, had a haunted look. Another addition was a molten mess of robots, a grotesque amalgamation of parts and wires.

At night, Charlie crawled through the vents, her mind's pleas ignored. The vents were narrow and suffocating, the metal cold against her skin. She tried to attack Michael, who was in a small office. The office was cluttered with old files and blinking monitors, reminiscent of Fredbear's Diner almost 50 years ago. His little sister Elizabeth was now a scrapped version of Circus Baby, her once bright and cheerful design now a twisted and eerie visage. Bernard had become a molten conglomerate, a horrifying mass of robotic parts.

Michael's office was a small, claustrophobic space. He used silent ventilation to help conceal the loud noise his office produced, used his lights to flash the bots away, and employed a sound system to keep them at bay. The days were long and grueling, filled with repetitive tasks. After four days, he managed to put the animatronics in a secret room. The room was dark and musty, filled with old, forgotten equipment.

He then went to the alleyway and saw the final robot—his father, Springtrap. The sight was grotesque; his guts were grotesquely intertwined with the rotten springlock suit, and the stench of decay was overpowering. Michael pulled the nearly inactive bot into the establishment, his muscles straining under the weight. He put him in a storage room, where the air was thick with dust. He heard his father say, "I always come back." The words sent a chill down his spine.

Michael entered his office after filing some paperwork. The establishment was doing well, with happy families visiting daily, but he knew it was all a facade. He knew it was over. The four bots came for blood, their movements methodical and relentless. He was barely able to keep them at bay, using every tool at his disposal. Circus Baby and Molten Freddy got into the office, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They attacked Michael, but he pushed them back with all his strength. Lefty, who had the Puppet, was different. The Puppet's presence was soothing, almost protective, and therefore Lefty didn't join the attack.

Michael looked to the left and saw William in a rotten green Spring Bonnie suit. The suit was tattered and decayed, a grotesque reminder of past horrors. The phone rang, and Michael picked it up, his hand trembling. He and William froze at the voice on the other end—it was Henry's voice, weary and finally at peace. Elizabeth, who was close to the office, stopped at the sound of Henry's voice. Lefty, who had the Puppet and Charlie inside, also stopped.

"Connection terminated. I am sorry to interrupt you, Elizabeth, if you still even remember that name. I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed. You are not here to receive a gift, nor have you been called here by the individual you assume. However, you have indeed been called. You have all been called here. Into a labyrinth of sounds and smells, misdirection and misfortune. A labyrinth with no exit; a maze with no prize.

Elizabeth began to reminisce about her childhood. She remembered the sunny days, the laughter, the games. Tears welled up in her eyes, glistening like tiny diamonds. She then felt the flames attacking her. The heat was intense, the flames consuming everything in their path, but she didn’t resist. She welcomed the end.

"You don’t even realize that you are trapped. Your lust for blood has driven you in endless circles, chasing the cries of children and some unseen chamber always seeming so near… yet somehow out of reach. But you will never find them. None of you will. This is where your story ends.

"And to you, my brave volunteer, who somehow found this job listing not intended for you. Although there was a way out planned for you, I have a feeling that’s… not what you want. I have a feeling that you are… right where you want to be.

"I am remaining as well. I am nearby. This place will not be remembered, and the memory of everything that started this will finally fade away, as the agony of every tragedy should. And to you monsters trapped in the corridors—be still, and give up your spirits. They don’t belong to you.

"For most of you, I believe there is peace, and perhaps more waiting for you after the smoke clears. Although for one of you, the darkest pit of hell has opened to swallow you whole… so don’t keep the devil waiting, old friend."

William, in Scraptrap, looked horrified. His face, twisted with fear, finally understood why he was there. Evan was right—his fate was sealed.

"My daughter, if you could hear me, I knew you would return as well. It’s in your nature to protect the innocent. I’m sorry that on that day, the day you were shut out and left to die, no one was there to lift you up into their arms the way you lifted others into yours. And then, what became of you? I should’ve known you wouldn’t be content to disappear. Not my daughter."

Charlie's soul cried silently; tears of relief and sorrow mixed. She was happy her father had finally found peace.

"I couldn’t save you then, so let me save you now. It is time to rest. For you, and for those you have carried in your arms. This ends for all of us."

The fire burned fiercely, the heat searing, and consuming everything in its path. The flames danced wildly, their roar deafening. They were all dying. William cried for mercy, his voice a desperate plea, but Michael knew the prolific child killer deserved no mercy. He closed his eyes and began to smile, a sense of calm washing over him. This was finally over, and he could now burn with his father. The Fazbear brand was finally over.

Charlie awoke, her heart pounding as she found herself surrounded by familiar faces. Evan, Cassidy, Susie, Jeremy, Fritz, and Gabriel all beamed at her, their eyes shining with a mix of relief and joy. She took a deep breath, her emotions swirling, and turned to her right. There, standing awkwardly, were Michael and Elizabeth, flanked by Henry. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken words and past grievances.

Elizabeth took a hesitant step forward, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Charlie, I... I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Susie stepped beside Elizabeth, her face a portrait of contrition. "We've missed you, Charlie," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Charlie felt a lump rise in her throat. She had missed them too, despite everything. "I forgive you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The words seemed to lift a burden off all their shoulders as they walked off together, a united front once more.

Henry, watching from a distance, could no longer hold back his emotions. Charlie turned to him, her eyes meeting his. Without a word, she rushed into his arms. Henry's tears fell freely as he held his daughter close, the years of pain and separation dissolving in that embrace. They spent what felt like an eternity together, savoring every precious moment.

Evan and Cassidy, sensing the need for privacy, quietly slipped away, their bond unspoken but deeply understood. The other kids, their spirits lifted, made their way to the mansion, laughter and chatter filling the air.

Michael stood apart, a small smile playing on his lips, but a shadow of sorrow lingered in his eyes. He turned to leave, a bittersweet happiness settling in his heart, when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. Slowly, he turned around.

Before him stood a beautiful woman, her green eyes shimmering with love and recognition. Her blonde hair framed her face like a halo. Michael's resolve crumbled, and he broke down, tears streaming down his face. "Mom," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

Clara's eyes softened, and she enveloped him in a warm, comforting embrace. "Michael," she said softly, her voice soothing. "I was disappointed, yes, but you found your way. And I've always loved you."

Elizabeth, witnessing the reunion, couldn't hold back her tears. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her mother. "Mom, I missed you so much," she cried, her voice muffled against Clara's shoulder.

Then, Evan walked in, his steps hesitant. Michael turned, his breath hitching as he watched Evan's face change from confusion to realization. Clara opened her arms, and Evan, with a sob, rushed to her, clinging tightly. "I'm so sorry, Mom," he whispered, his voice filled with anguish. "I'm so sorry for killing you."

Clara laughed softly, her voice a melody of forgiveness. "Oh, Evan," she said, stroking his hair. "I've watched over you, and I'm so proud of you. You've come so far."

Evan nodded, feeling his mother's love envelop him for the first time. Michael and Elizabeth, standing by, exchanged a glance, their own guilt and sorrow mirrored in each other's eyes. Without a word, they moved to each other, embracing tightly. "I'm sorry," they both whispered, their voices mingling.

After a while, they all sat together, the sky above them a canvas of twinkling stars. The night was serene, the air filled with a sense of peace and closure. Evan looked up, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Looks like the stars are calling us," he joked, his voice light.

Michael chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Yeah," he agreed, his eyes reflecting the starlight. "It’s a golden call."

They all looked up, the vast expanse of the night sky seeming to welcome them. It was their Golden Call, a moment of unity and healing, a promise of new beginnings.