A/N: Hey guys, happy Friday! As I said last week, here is the next chapter of The ones that were lost. Since chapter 2 turned out much longer than I had planned originally, I decided it would be better to split it up into a more manageable two-part 'special chapters'. But hey, I told you last week you'd get the whole thing this weekend, and you will... so don't panic! This is the first part, and the second one will be uploaded on Sunday, at around the same time as this (10 PM GMT). Also, thanks to all of you who are reading this, and specially those who followed/favorited.
Edit concerning title: Some days after this was published, I decided to change the title from 'The taste of blood part 1' to A golden surprise; purely because that matches the content better. However, that's the only thing that changed; the chapter itself remains exactly the same as before. Anyways, enjoy and let me know what you think about it :)
Chapter 2: A golden surprise
When the show started there weren't even 20 people watching it. Towards the end of it, the light drizzle had turned into a steady shower, but the public hadn't grown. The four of us sat right up front and watched the usual performance. The same numbers, played by the same band, on the same stage. Amazingly, for the first time in my life, I was bored watching my favorite show in the whole world and began to wonder where the surprise that Jeremy mentioned was. Around our table my friends shared my feelings. Sarah yawned, Ferny tapped his foot, and my brother clapped without emotion.
But there was one kid, alone in the back of the room, who really depressed me. He sat hunched, holding his head with his hand and tracing little circles on his table with his index finger; he was around seven, and his coke and pizza were untouched. He gave this feeling of being isolated from everything and everyone all around him. I looked around his table and saw employees and members of the show checking their watches, reading notes on clipboards, and looking confused and irritated. I turned back to the stage to see Foxy threatening Bonnie and Chica with his hook.
"Any idea on what's going on?" I asked Sean. "I've never seen so little people, and the show feels…"
"Disorganized?" he finished. "Yeah, I feel it too."
"Maybe there's a birthday party?" asked Sarah as she took a sip of her coke.
"Don't think so, you need special tickets to join a party." answered Ferny. "Besides, no one here seems to know anyone."
The sudden burst of applause told us that the show was over; Freddy has saved the day once again. We clapped just as mechanically as the animatronics that turned and walked behind the curtain. I was about to get up and hit the arcade, when the MC went on stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls… thank you once more for joining us tonight!" He paused to clear his throat and fix his Freddy Fazbear top hat. "Now we couldn't leave without giving our special guest a beary big thank you! Yes, he's the one who paid for this great party you're all enjoying!"
The four of us exchanged glances of pure and complete surprise. "Fazbear friends, please give a big round of applause to our birthday boy for tonight… Brandon Williams!"
As the MC's cold smile and wide eyes came upon me, I froze to my chair.
"C'mon Brandon! Don't be shy, no one's gonna hurt you!"
Amongst a surprisingly loud round of applause from the small public, I pushed myself up. Everyone was clapping but my friends; their jaws were swinging in the wind. I clumsily climbed up the stage, tripping over the same wire at least three times. As soon as I was next to him the MC pushed the mic into my shaking hands and plunked a Fazbear top hat on my head.
"Uhm… um… g-goo-good evening?" Everyone was quiet. On our table, Sean looked at Ferny and Sarah and shrugged.
"Th-Thanks for being here… I guess…"
The MC's sudden burst of laughter almost made me jump. "A shy one… now, Brandon."
"Um, yes?"
"Are you ready to show our public your super-dooper birthday surprise?" he paused for a moment, and whispered into the mic, "Or are you gonna leave them hangin'?"
"Um, yes."
"Yes what, Brandon?"
"Um, yes sir." A soft laugh came from the audience. Ferny raised his eyebrows. My brother facepalmed.
"Ha! Hahaha, good one Brandon! I think we all know what the boy wants. So, please give a big round of applause to our newest friend and family member…"
There was a little drumroll.
"Freddy's dear dad… Bucky Fazbear!"
The audience clapped obediently as the MC's arm pointed triumphantly at the door of the room for private parties. Like clockwork, it opened slowly, and out came Bucky for his premier performance. He looked just like Freddy, but was slightly shorter, leaner, and his fur was a golden yellow. I spotted immediately that it was a man in a suit. He stepped out clumsily, stood at the door and did an awkward bow for us as the last applause faded out.
"Jeremy," I whispered, "this is a heck of a surprise."
"Now, Brandon." resumed the MC, "Four of your lucky friends will join you in our... New! Awesome! Private party room with Bucky! You can eat all the cake and pizza you want, sing songs, paint, play with exclusive arcades…" My heart was racing, but not because of what you might think. I should've been happy, overjoyed, excited… yet I wasn't; something was off. But by now my friends were clapping, smiling, laughing and giving me thump ups like there was no tomorrow. I got lost in thought trying to make sense of everything that has happened so far.
"So, who will they be?"
"Huh?" I replied to the MC's question, in a way that Mom would scold me for.
"Who will go with you?" he asked with the little patience he had left by now.
"Yeah… um… c-can I…?" I pointed at our table as to complete my sentence. The MC nodded.
"Nice hat dude!" teased Ferny as I sat next to him.
"Didn't know you guys had rich uncles, you made me pay for your lemonade all these years!" chuckled Sarah.
"Now, now, hold on Sarah." laughed my brother, "No one here has rich uncles… but my little brother sure has luck tonight!" he raised his cup for me. Ferny and Sarah joined him.
"Hold on guys," I interrupted as seriously as I could, "this isn't my party. Besides, what about the ticket thing Ferny talked about?"
"Okay, okay Don." said Sean in an unsettling relaxed way, "Guys, check your tickets."
We all stuck our hands in our pockets to fish out the crumbled tickets. I opened mine up, checked the back and read what was stamped there out loud. "Private Party. Guest of honor. Paid. Date: 8-8-86. Access to all entertainment facilities."
"Mine says the same." said Sarah.
"Ours too." confirmed Ferny as he checked my brother's ticket.
I held my ticket in my hand and looked at it as if somehow more words would appear. "You think Jeremy did this, brother?"
"I don't know Don, and honestly, I don't care." He ate his last bit of pizza. "Maybe it was an intentional mix-up. Maybe it was accidental, and another Brandon Williams who was supposed to come didn't show up. All I know is, that this is a heaven's sent. How often do these things happen Don? How often do they happen to us?"
I shrugged and shook my head. "I don't know Sean."
"Just think about it," he continued, "we can bring pizza and cake and other stuff home, for Mom! We can help her out private! You know how it's been since, you know…" He cleared his throat. "At least, do it for her."
I nodded. "Yes… you're right. Okay then, let's start this party!" I was about to get up and go back to the stage, when my brother stopped me.
"Guys, this deserves a toast." he said as he stood up and grabbed his almost empty cup. We did the same.
"The usual one Sean?" asked Sarah
"Yup…" he replied, raising his cup. "Do it Ferny!"
"THREE! TWO! ONE!" called out Ferny, "FRIENDS TILL THE END!" We banged our cups together and shared a good laugh.
A/N: As I said, the second part of this chapter will be uploaded on Sunday, at around 10 PM GMT. Don't be afraid to leave comments criticizing or suggesting something; they're more than welcome. By the way, did you guys catch the little easter-egg regarding the date? Anyways, see you soon!
