I still remember every little detail about it. The feeling of pure terror, not being able to get away from him as he slaughtered us all. I was about nine years old when my life was taken away from me. It was my birthday to top it all off and all I had wanted was to go to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.
I had only been there a handful other times when I was younger and the memories were rather fuzzy but what I did still remember excited me. The smell of pizza and the happy humming tunes from the countless arcade machines beckoned me back. There was always so much to do there and I always found myself befriending other children easily. There wasn't a single thing I didn't love about Freddy's so with a burst of excited confidence I decided that was all I wanted for my upcoming birthday. The few weeks prior to my birthday was spent begging my parents to take me they reluctantly decided it wouldn't hurt to go, putting their own hatred for the place on the wayside. My birthday came quicker than I could've ever hoped. When I climbed into the car that morning I felt nothing but excitement. The drive there seemed eternal even though it was just a little over an hour. There was no way anyone could've expected a kid my age to keep calm in that backseat. The sun was shining, like a promise that this birthday would be an amazing one.
When we finally pulled into the parking lot I practically had stars in my eyes. I quickly jumped out of the car, not bothering to bat an eye at the toy store that shared the same lot. I think I was only in there once or twice in my lifetime but the endless display of toys wasn't nearly as thrilling to me than the rows of arcade cabinets, fresh pizza and the clicking and whirring of mechanical gears. The first thing I saw after rushing through the doors was a group of children running across the carpeted floor, giggling and squealing as they raced each other across the building to another arcade machine. I remember their smiles so well, almost as well as the feeling of my own. Their names, though... That's the one thing I can never remember...
My parents went off to to congregate with other parents while I played with the other children. Even though I recall their smiles, their faces are blurred now... It's like trying to see through a foggy window. No matter how hard I try I can never seem to grab onto that part of my memory.
The sounding of a cheerful voice gained the attention of nearly every child in the building, sending us all over to the main show stage to watch Fredd, Chica and Bonnie sing some songs. Every child was captivated by their movements, nearly in a trance as we watched their eyes scan the crowd. Whenever their gaze fell on me I felt a rush of excitement shoot through my body. It was like being noticed by someone you looked up to and truth be told I was enthralled with each and every robot on that stage. Every child squealed and sang along with the animatronics, seemingly unaware or uncaring just how lifeless they really were. Little did we know that our joy was about to become a living hell.
I had always favored Foxy over the other animatronics. My tomboyish nature immediately drew me in to the idea of pirates and wild adventures with the fox. Another thing that I remember clearly is that there was a new animatronic being set up next to Foxy. It was an orange cat. She too was clearly a pirate if her black tattered leather jacket was anything to go by.
Underneath the jacket was a grey and red striped shirt, hanging rather loosely against her mechanical body.
On her lower half she wore a pair of shredded black shorts. Even though this pirate lacked a hook and eyepatch she was still clearly a member of the pirate fox's crew.
When the time came for the show at pirate cove, me and the other children rushed over to see Foxy's show. I don't remember it now but I do remember how happy I felt. The feeling bubbled up in my chest and sent butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. I still hold onto that feeling with every ounce of power I have left. That's one of the parts of that day I don't want to fade away.
Once the show was over the glittery purple curtains swung shut, covering Foxy and the cat with a disappointing hum from the automated hooks that pulled the curtain shut from above.
The new animatronic's name was Felicity; a name that I would soon know very well.
After the curtains had shut I turned to see some my playmates following Freddy Fazbear.
I still remember how happy and exited I was to see him... I had sprinted over to join the other kids as we went into a back room. I thought nothing of the strange room at first, half expecting it to be a party room I had never been in before. My assumption was quickly proven wrong, however.
Freddy, in a blur of speed so fast I barely saw it, shut the door, locking it with a deafening click. His brown hands raised up slowly and gripped onto his cheeks before lifting his arms up, removing his mask. I don't remember his name. I don't think ever knew it, anyway. His face is fuzzy as well, though I think that the image of the man wouldn't be something I would want to have stuck in my mind for all of eternity. All I can recall about him was that he was purple.
I used to like the color but now it brings me nothing but disgust. It's a rather foul color.
Every child in the room found themselves crying, petrified as they attempted to scream but something was stopping them. There were a few muffled sobs and yelps but clearly nobody had heard over the music outside. Kids screamed there all the time anyway. Who could tell the difference between delighted squeals and cries for help? I had huddled up against a wall, hoping desperately that if I stayed still in the dim corner I wouldn't be spotted. A sound eventually made me look up. It was a sound that still gives me nightmares. The other children were lying on the ground, gasping for air as they squirmed and sobbed. They shook as they lifted their hands to their throats, trying to hold them shut as blood poured out all around them, soaking into their clothing and drowning them. My eyes locked onto the purple man that hovered above me and I attempted to scream out for someone- anyone to help me. The words that came next made my stomach clench in terror. "Night night." The man whispered as the cold blade of a knife slid across my throat, tearing it open with a brutal finality to my short life as the world faded away.
I didn't awake until hours later. My eyes fluttered open and I found myself in a state of confusion at my surroundings. It was dark, it was cold and it certainly wasn't my home.
As my eyes swept over my surroundings I caught sight of my playmates beside me but it did little to comfort me. Something was off and they didn't look right. None of us were normal looking at all. With a rising sense of panic I came to realize that none of us were standing, either. We were floating above the black and white tiled floor. Before any of us could take to crying like the scared children we were a tall, dark figure slithered out from the darkness. Glowing white pupils locked onto us, accompanying a wide, open mouth smile.
His face was white like snow aside from two red blush marks on his cheeks and purple streaks that ran down his face under each dark spoke in a voice that echoed and as soon as I heard it I was no longer afraid. It was comforting in a way none of us could explain.
"Life." He hummed softly. "The gift of life." His words were gentle yet full of concern.
We weren't afraid of him. Despite his doll-like appearance we had no fear.
The figure took a step away from us, stepping aside to reveal to us the lifeless forms of the animatronics. They were slumped over, eyes droopy and faces expressionless.
"Pick one." The figure said, his smile never wavering. "Be living once more."
I hesitated while the other children drifted away from me, hesitantly approaching the robots.
Feeling as if I was vulnerable without the others by my side, I too hurried over to examine them. I ended up face to face with the cat. Her blue eyes stared into my own through lidded eyes and her jaw hung open lazily. I cocked my head to the side, extending my hand out to feel over her smooth, shiny fur. It was cold under my fingertips but I found it inviting in some strange way.
"Do you like it?" The creature asked me as he floated over, staring at me with those burning white eyes. I looked up at him, nodding in silence. I don't really remember how he did it but he helped me inside. He helped me to lay claim over the vessel, claiming the body as my own.
My very being fused with wires and metal even if I hadn't a clue what was truly going on. I had a body again and I felt safe in that moment. The smiling creature was obviously there to help us.
We used to call him "Puppy" or "Puppet".
I miss him... We all do...
So, my past aside, here is where I find myself. Every night I spend trying to remember more about my old life. My name, my family. It frustrates me, though. Everything before that day is blurred. I can't recall the voice of my mother or father. I cannot picture their faces or how my home looked. We've all taken to calling each other by our vessel's names, making me Felicity.
Every night is the same. It's always dark and cold. We spend our time attempting to recall who we were but the memories continue to fade away… We've all held onto our hope, though. Maybe that's childish to still have. Hope. I still believe it's possible to regain what we've lost; not our lives but our memories. Then maybe we could move on and leave this dark place behind.
Maybe one day we'll remember. Maybe...
It's been ages. I'm unsure if anyone who follows me still checks their notifications but if you do, welcome back.
This is a re-write of my old story, Lost Lives. I'm mainly fixing spelling errors and making the story more detailed. I've wanted to do this for a while but I'm just now getting around to it. Despite the fact that I don't really insert my oc's into my newer story's I'm simply re-doing an old one, no matter how cringe worthy it is now looking back at it. New readers, welcome. Old ones, welcome back. 3