Mike arrived early the next evening with an enthusiasm usually damped after the first night. "Early" being just after eleven thirty. Just in time, however, for him to run into Andrew- aka the "twilight guard".
This was a lose-lose for both of them, nobody really liked Mike, he was the only night guard that anyone could remember lasting past a week –and coming back for more-,that made the rumors about him swirl. On the other hand, the rumors about Andrew had been proven correct on several occasions. Being that his love for the animatronics went past fond childhood memories and into an adult obsession that nobody really wanted to be a part of, or even know about for that matter.
The rumors were proven correct again as Mike pushed open the double doors, pausing just long enough for one, to tense up and look around franticly as the door chime went off (the same chime as Freddy's "I'm going to kill you and do nasty things to your corpse while the others watch teehee" song.)- And two, to see Andrew sitting alarmingly close to Chica, with his hand resting provocatively on her large metal thigh. Mike swore if those machines could cringe then Chica was doing so and he would have felt bad if this didn't feel like a little revenge for her trying to kill him.
"Hey Andrew." Mike called; his voice still a little raspy from screaming. If the chime hadn't been enough then that would certainly get the little creep's attention. Andrew jumped up and yanked his hand away like the metal had gone hot. "H-hey Mike." He said, clearing his throat. "I was just checking the servos; you know how those things get ahaha."
"Sure do." Mike said absentmindedly. "I hear they freeze up if they hold still for too long."
They stayed in an uncomfortable silence for a bit.
"Has anyone been in my office?" Mike asked, jerking his head towards the hallway. Andrew tensed up and straightened, looking for all the world like a young soldier facing down an officer. "N-no sir. Not that I know of." He stammered, solidifying Mike's mental image. Mike nodded slightly, "Okay, just wanted to make sure." He waved distractedly and went back to his office.
God how he tried, he bit his lip, took deep breaths, squeezed his eyes shut and counted to ten…. He couldn't help it.
"Oh and Andrew?" Mike called, pausing just long enough to hear the young man stumble over something. "The cameras are on."
Mike sat down in his chair and put his hand over his mouth, trying desperately not to laugh as a loud yelp echoed down the hall after him.
Mike held the tapes for a long while, dusting them off carefully with his fingers. They didn't seem that old, but somehow thinking about the phone guy using them made them feel so much older. He played with the one he had listened to last night. It looked like it still had some material on it, but he couldn't have afforded to be distracted that late in the night. This time he figured he knew what was going on.
Andrew poked his head in, "I just wanted to say I'm heading out-" He ducked back and yelped as Mike slammed the door on him. "Dude! Chill!"
Mike let out a shuddering sigh, wondering at how many people had gotten fingers and toes squished from startling the night guards over the years. He reopened the door, "sorry, you startled me."
Andrew rubbed the back of his neck and cringed, "I noticed. You could take someone's head off with those things…" Mike tugged at a loose thread on his chair and gave Andrew a sheepish look. Andrew shook his head in return. "Have a good night man; take care of them for me will ya?" He gave a lopsided grin and gestured down the hall. Mike stifled a shudder. "Will do."
Mike waited until everything was firmly locked down and the power was cut off before rolling himself over to the desk and slipping in the tape.
"Hello, hello! It's been a while since I recorded one of these things…. W-well I guess you wouldn't notice haha…."
Mike checked the cameras briefly and leaned back.
"A-anyway, the animatronics seemed to have been acting up this week, that's why I um haven't had the time, to do one of these things. Someone told me that doing these like diary things or whatever on the job would help with the, er, 'stress', I-I don't know about that, but hey! If you're bored and find these then maybe we could um have a chat! Or s-something…."
Phone guy trailed off and Mike shifted slightly in his seat, the tone in the man's voice had a lonely tinge and it made him wonder how long he had been doing this job. Mike wasn't the most emotionally sensitive of guys, but even he felt the ache that this job left, something about spending more nights with metal death machines than living breathing people could do that to a person.
"Well so um t-this may sound weird, but I think Foxy 'likes' me."
Mike perked up a bit and then quickly checked the cameras; nobody had moved.
"I dunno, he just really like singing when I'm around, kinda creepy I guess…. But I always did like his song, he's my favorite. Freddy doesn't like me at all though- I had a close call the other night and well…. Y-yeah he doesn't like me. M-maybe you have better luck than me with him…. Some of the other guards said Freddy or Chica took it easy on them or something but I-I don't know, could all be pipe hopes ya know? Haha."
Mike closed his eyes and leaned back, spinning his chair around lazily. He wondered if any of the animatronics took pity on him. Probably not, either they had a weird way of showing love or they just didn't like him. Bonnie maybe hated him more than the others…. He always seemed so eager to take a bite of Mikey pie, but Mike always figured that was just how the animatronic acted. Then again he hadn't really thought about the machines picking favorites. Maybe Freddy had a thing for him; the bear always did take it easy on him early in the week.
Mike hummed thoughtfully and took a peek at the show stage, Chica and Freddy were still there, but Bonnie was already in the party room. Foxy was still safely behind his curtain. Mike had always wondered at that particular robot. Never liked him that was for sure, when Mike was little maybe, but something about Foxy was scarier than the others. Not creepy, the others were creepy in the way they just kinda stalked him, but Foxy got right down to business. Mike shuddered as he remembered the first time he had gotten caught off guard by Foxy; he had almost missed the door button and could see the pirate right next to the office before it shut.
Mike put the tablet away and flipped the tape, pushing play.
"Hey, hello! I heard the best joke the other day! It goes 'why did the chicken cross the road!' then Chica goes 'to get pizza!'" The phone guy snorted and laughed and Mike groaned.
"I know, I know, it's awful but the kids loved it!" Phone guy chuckled then sighed, there was a creak in the background and two clicks, one from phone guy checking his cameras and the other from Mike doing the same.
Mike paused slightly and looked at the tape player. There was no talking for a moment, just clicking sounds.
"Oh this thing is still on! Haha woops."
Mike jumped and sighed, checking the door lights quickly though everyone was still in the party room.
"You know I was never able to figure out why 'they' um do what they do. It sure is c-creepy though." There was a sound in the background, the sound of a door closing and a sigh.
"Well it's almost time for me to go, g-good luck!"
Mike felt a bit disappointed at the length of that tape, but he understood the urge to leave as soon as possible. Especially if Freddy didn't like you, Mike could imagine trying to get out of the building while it was still dark out, even if it was after six, walking past those things without other people or doors between you…. He cringed and checked the camera. It was only 2am.
Mike sighed and spun around again. It was going to be a long night.