Author's notes: Well I never thought I would be writing fanfiction for this fandom, then again it was not long ago that I never thought I would write fanfiction for anything... Still here I am, ready to regale you with a tale that you will (hopefully) enjoy. So first, a disclaimer.
DISCLAIMER!: I do not own Five Nights at Freddy's. That franchise belongs to it's creator, Mr Scott [Insert last name here].
That was a pretty obvious disclaimer, easy to understand. So here's another one.
DISCLAIMER!: I am (probably) not a good writer.
Now here's a disclaimer I should probably explain. I am writing this simply to get my idea out there. I am also writing this to improve myself as an author. So I will happily accept any reviews/comments/criticism and will even encourage you to write about what you think of my work... Though I will warn you now that my grammar in particular is pretty bad.
You know what? lets do another disclaimer.
DISCLAIMER!: I don't like mushy peas!
Well now with all that out of the way we can finally begin. The stage is set, the actors are in their places and the witching hour draws near. So sit back and enjoy the show, but remember...
Take three steps back.
It was a lukewarm day in the middle of spring, white clouds drifted lazily overhead surrounded by the peaceful light blue background of the sky. The sun was also hung high in the sky, casting down its golden rays of warmth and life upon the earth for all to feel and share.
Some of those rays of light poured through a window in an old run-down home. They illuminated the dark grey walls and worn down floorboards that formed the central structure of the house. The light rays flew from room to room, revealing every cracked wall and tattered board in the building. Eventually those rays bounced off of a mirror, straight in to the eyes of a young women.
That girls name was Chelsey Valdez. A twenty-two year old university graduate who was busy humming herself a merry tune as she finished putting on her formal cloths.
Chelsey was an average girl, a little under six feet tall with short brown hair and hazel eyes. She was the sort of girl who one would never notice in a crowd, physically average in every single way.
What was special about Chelsey had nothing to do with her appearance, her greatest strength was her mind. From a young age she had been very interested in mechanics and electronics, to the point where she had gone on to pursue higher education in electronic and mechanical fields. This however had caused some problems with her family…
Chelsey's mother and father were both from a poor background, luckily she had still been able to go to public schools until she needed to go to university to continue her education. When Chelsey announced her desire to attend university she was scolded and shunned by both her parents. When she actually managed to get the funding for university her parents decided to throw her out to fend for herself.
So that is why four years later Chelsey was standing in a run-down old (and cheap) house after graduating from university. What this does not explain is why Chelsey was wearing some decently fancy cloths, or why she was humming happily to herself.
How did someone like her from a poor background even manage to get enough money for university in the first place? Something must have happened…
As Chelsey continued humming to herself her thoughts began to stray back to the day that had changed her life forever. For her it was the best day of her life… At least that's what she thought.
Four years earlier…
Chelsey Valdez was getting desperate.
She needed money to pay for university, money that neither she nor her family really had. Still not one to be deterred Chelsey had come up with a plan.
She knew from some searching and research that it was not uncommon for companies to pay the education fees for particularly talented individuals, in return for a legal agreement that the individual would work for them for a time after their graduation. This was the sort of deal Chelsey was looking for, in the hope that it would allow her to complete her education.
So she attended a large gathering of different electronic and mechanical companies, all of which were supposedly showing of their company in the hopes of attracting future employees.
Unfortunately no matter where Chelsey went she was overlooked, ignored in favour of people who the companies already recognised. Now the day was moving on, time was slipping away from her as the moon sun began to fall turning day into night. Chelsey was beginning to lose hope.
The booths and stalls that represent each company began to turn off their lights and pack up for the night. Most people had already left, leaving Chelsey all on her own.
Not that she noticed.
Chelsey had just made one finally attempt to get a company's attention, sadly she was firmly denied.
"Sorry kid we're closing up." The man had said. "Guess you'll just have to try again next year."
Chelsey gave an exasperated sigh. Melancholy and depression clouded her thoughts as she wallowed in her own pity. She did not notice the last of the booth lights going out, nor did she notice the fog as it descended upon the empty street that she now found herself in.
She did not notice any of these things until something snapped her out of her thoughts.
A sound.
The easily recognisable yet foreboding sound of footsteps.
Emerging from the shadows like darkness taken form came a single man.
He was tall, but not so tall that she had to tilt her neck to see his face. Shadows glided around him like a clock of night, spilling out behind him as a cape of darkness yet doing nothing to hide his face.
Oh his face, at first at appeared to be a relatively normal and unnoticeable face but it was his smile that stood out. Every few second it witched slightly in a slightly madden way, the smile itself was simple and broad yet never quite reached his eyes. Deep brown eyes that sparkled with a dead light, like an imitation of joy that hid darkness beneath.
The man's cloths however looked nothing like his dark eyes. He wore a fancy brown suit over his well-crafted and indirectly woven red shirt. His black shoes shone in the night as if they had been shined to perfect. Completing a uniform that radiated business and formality.
Many years later, Chelsey would compare this event to the devil of hell himself coming up from the dark shadows death and madness to offer her a deal.
In the moment however she was simply terrified. Chelsey was alone in the dark with a mysterious and terrifying man.
"I have been waiting to talk to you, Miss Valdez." The man's voice was incredibly formal and polite, yet almost… Robotic, like he was reading off a script that he himself had prepared earlier.
"You have had the most unfortunate time lately, haven't you?" The man continued, his expression a simple yet terrifying smile of neutrality. "Luckily I have managed to… secure a copy of your resume, not very impressive yet… I am willing to offer you a proposition."
Chelsey's focus increased as her mind puzzled over the situation she now found herself in. A small part of her, the small innocent and naive child in her, believed that this was her chance. The rest of her however was still very cautious of this man. He reeked of suspicion and ill intent and she could not let her dreams blind her to a potential threat.
The man did not wait for her to respond, rather he continued trying to persuade her of his deal.
"I am the founder and owner of a respectable mechanical and robotics industry and research company. In return for a legal binding of your services to our company for… let's say three years after you graduate, in return we would be willing to pay for your education for the next four years and any other necessities you may need." The man explained in a semi-friendly tone, almost happy yet with a cold scripted edge that made Chelsey uncomfortable.
But now the small naïve child voice that had called to her to take this chance had evolved into a full blown yell. It demanded that she not miss that chance to chase her dream of a higher education, this could be her last chance…
"So miss Valdez." The man smirked a slightly cold yet nearly unnoticeable smirk, he had recognised that Chelsey would do almost anything to get her education. Now all he had to do…
"Do we have a deal?" He held out his hand, waiting for her to shake it.
Chelsey gave in, she bit the inside of her cheek as she shook the stranger's hand. She tried to console herself with the knowledge that the man's fine suit and well manners surely meant he was sincere… right?
"Excellent choice Miss Valdez, this letter here…" The man present a simple letter. "Contains the location date and times where you may meet my lawyers, with their help you should be able to sort out the whole legal side of our agreement. The letter also contains my business card, should you have any very large problems you may call me." The man seemed to release a slight breath of tension he was holding as he began to walk away.
Chelsey watched as the man walked away, finally enough of her shock had passed that she managed to get out a few words.
"Thanks… but who are you?" A seemingly innocent question. A question that caused the strange man to freeze. He turned around, his smile now clearly forced, his eyes shining with a dead light that made Chelsey shiver subconsciously. The man began to speak again, his voice still as formal as before yet somehow… darker.
"Ah yes, my name. How could I forgot something so important?" There was a sense of agitation and bitterness in the man's voice now. Like the script he had been reading his last few lines off of had now been rendered useless. "Yes… of course you would wish to know that…"
"I am Mr Afton."
Silence. Cold dead silence. Like the sounds of the night had been quietly and discreetly stabbed, killed and hidden away while no one was listening.
"I am the owner of Afton Robotics. If you doubt my claim you may research the company yourself, I assure you that you will not be disappointed." Mr Afton turned away once again, sweeping silently through the shadows and away into the night.
The devil had struck his deal and returned to hell.
But the damage was already done. Though she would not know it until four years later, Chelsey's fate was already sealed…
Perhaps.
Or perhaps not.
Fate is a strange thing, fickle both too those who follow it…
And too those who try to manipulate it.
Once again we are back at the present, with Chelsey merrily preparing herself for her first day of work.
She was legal bound to work for Afton robotics for the next three years, in return for the company helping her through university. For her first day on the job she had been assigned to help one of the smaller companies worked for Afton robotics…
A company named babies circus pizza world, or BCPW for short.
Chelsey had been doing some research into this 'baby's circus pizza world' and how it related to Afton robotics. BCPW was an interesting company, they owned one building very close to where she currently lived. Within this building were some animatronics meant to be hired out for birthday parties. Which is where Afton Robotics came in, they supplied and maintained the animatronics.
Chelsey would be working there as an overnight mechanic, which to her sounded very fun. Plenty of time with machines and getting to do the work she loved all the while getting a pretty good pay check.
Her work hours were from eleven pm to six am. But she was going over to the Plaza early today to see her boss, the man she would apparently be working under, Mr Gerald Rolle.
So that is why Chelsey Valdez was currently putting on her fanciest cloths and humming herself a merry tune. She was about to meet her boss, and first impressions are always important.
By this point Chelsey was at the door, putting on her finest shoes and going through her final mental check list before she left would leave the house.
All lights out? ...Check.
Keys in pocket? …Check.
Windows Closed? …
…
...
…*Click*
They were now!
Satisfied that she was now finally ready, Chelsey checked herself one last time in the mirror before she headed off for her first day of work…
At Babies Circus Pizza World.
It was only a short fifteen minute walk to the BCPW, for Chelsey the time simply flew by.
She quickly arrived at the front door to the building, which opened automatically due to her presence.
She walk inside.
"Hello Miss Valdez!" A jovial voice spoke. "I've been expecting you, run into any trouble on your way here?" Chelsey turned to the sound of the voice and politely responded.
"Good morning Mr Rolle! I had no trouble getting here... Though I was expecting someone else to be here as well." While Chelsey waited for her new boss to respond she decided to get a good look at him.
Mr Rolle was a rather… large man, with a visage Chelsey could only compare to that of a young Santa clause. It also seemed Mr Role was rather Santa like in personality as well… If this conversation was a good marker for how he normally acted.
Mr Rolle responded. "What do you mean by that Miss Valdez? I'm sure this meeting was scheduled for just the two of us." Chelsey let out a soft sigh, she honestly hadn't expected him to be here, after all she had neither seem more heard from him in four years and she had no reason to believe he would be here… but maybe Mr Rolle would tell her something….
"Yes it was a meeting just for us sir…" Chelsey began. "But I was hoping to see Mr Afton…"
Chelsey stopped as she witnesses, if only for a split second, Mr Rolle's jovial expression dissolve into one of shock, confusion and… Anger? It was only for a second though as Mr Rolle quickly switched back to his normal happy self as he answered her.
"Well I'm sorry Miss Valdez, most people haven't seen Mr Afton in a long time, and I myself haven't seen him in the last two months…" Mr Rolle's Smile was as wide as before, only this time it felt a bit… forced. "In fact, Mr Afton hasn't been anywhere near this establishment since the inciden-" Mr Rolle suddenly cut himself off, he mumbled something under his breath before continuing on.
"Anyway were not here to talk about him, were here to talk about you and your new job! Here let me show you to my office where we can discus things properly." Mr Rolle walked off before Chelsey could question him further. Knowing that it would be good to follow her boss, Chelsey walked closely behind him.
The walk only took a minute or two before both of them found themselves inside Mr Rolle's office. The man himself took the large plush chair on one side of a desk while he directed Chelsey to take the plainer one opposite to him.
After both of them had sat down, Mr Rolle began his spiel.
"So, welcome to The Babies Circus Pizza World family. Since you're going to be working here it's only fair that I tell you a few thing. As a mechanic and technician your Job will be to take care of and maintain the animatronics, keep them in working order and all that. Now we keep the bots beneath the actual building in an area that can be reached by using that elevator over there." Mr Rolle indicated to large shaft situated down the corridor with an elevator suspended within.
"Now all the instructions you will need for caring of the animatronics can be found down there. But for when you need some extra help, you can have this." He handed her a strange yellow box with a computer screen in the middle. "This is handy unit, our state of the art mechanics companion. It's a little glitch-ey at times… But from what I've heard its programing's so smart it almost has a mind of its own!" Those words caused Chelsey to freeze up for just a second as hundreds of thoughts, ideas and fears flooded her mind.
Smart, intelligent, mind… Artificial intelligence? This 'handy unit' in her hands could think? Impossible!... maybe. Hoping not to present herself as a fool Chelsey asked one simple question.
"Mr Rolle… surely you don't mean to say this thing can think for itself?" Mr Rolle looked at her in an odd way before he simply burst out laughing.
"Ha ha ha! No no no my dear. Handy simply has many different set speech patterns that respond to certain triggers. Just a lot of simple scripting… Or so I've been told." Chelsey breathed a mental sigh of relief, sure the idea of artificial intelligence and machine autonomy was very exciting, but this was just her first day of work for peats sake! The secrets of the mind and intelligence were something she was happy to investigate at her own pace thank you very much!
"…Of course we save the real intelligence for the animatronics!" Mr Rolle finished.
...What.
Apparently Chelsey's face made her silent query very clear to her boss. So he quickly continued with an explanation.
"Now as far as I'm aware there not actually intelligent but… People say they act like it. I asked Mr Afton about it and he launched in to one of his famous lectures about 'Input and response' and 'monkey see monkey do…' Eventually he told me just to treat them like I would a toaster!" Mr Rolle ended his little speech with a slight chuckle which Chelsey decided to laugh along to.
So the animatronics weren't self-aware, intelligent and self-augmenting… Probably. Chelsey reconciled with the train of thought with idea that it was rather silly idea in the first.
"So should I start work early today sir?" Chelsey asked, considering she was here already it appeared to be a good idea.
Mr Rolle however seemed to disagree. "No Miss Valdez, you should always start work at 11 o'clock, sharp. Go home and rest a bit, I'll still be here to lock up and wish you a happy shift… Besides I don't think you should be doing your line of work in such fancy clothes."
It was at this point Chelsey remembered she was still in her nice clothes, defiantly not suitable for her to work in. So with a sheepish smile and a firm handshake she bid Mr Rolle goodbye and began the walk home.
It was only a few hours until she would be returning for her shift so Chelsey would be back at the CBPA building soon but…
She couldn't help but cast a glance at the structure, silently wondering what she had got herself into…
Though from outside the building she had absolutely no idea what secrets lay beneath…
Hidden souls trapped in moving cages of iron…
All crying for someone to help them.
Help them.
Save them.
BRX FDQ'W.
Author's notes: And so our fist chapter draws to a close. Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? Do you have any opinion at all? Well feel free to write about what you think in the review section. Hopefully I will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Chapter 2 should be up in a day or two (hopefully) dependant on how much time I get to work on it...
As for the seemingly random selection of letters above, they don't actually say anything important... But if you want to break the cipher then just remember what I told you to remember just before the beginning of the story. It may help you...
Anyway I wish you a good day, may the sun shine upon your fields and grant upon you a joyful harvest... or something like that.