A/N: I will update this and some of my other works on, at the very least, a weekly basis. Unless I happen to have a strike of creativity or insanity. Enjoy Chapter 2 of Five Nights of Evil!
Zach woke to a crackling noise and found the ceiling obscured by smoke, making it hard to breathe. Coughing, Zach reached next to him and grabbed Goldie, running to the door and throwing it open only to be hit with a wall of heat. He slammed the door and stumbled over to the window, shoving it open and breathing in the cool night air before climbing onto the trellis underneath the window frame.
Zach slowly made his way down and, once both feet touched the grass, he took off running towards the woods. Stumbling over some roots, Zach let some tears stream down his face as he heard sirens in the distance. After a few minutes of running, Zach slowed down and caught his breath before sitting on an exposed root, staring straight ahead until movement to his left caught his eye.
He watched in awe as his teddy bear moved its arm up to his hand and began rubbing its soft fur on Zach's trembling hand, trying to calm him down. Zach heard something in the back of his mind, almost like a whisper, telling him that everything was going to be alright. The bear then went on to explain that it was a spirit who used to own the bear before dying at its father's old restaurant, crushed by one of the animatronics because of a prank its older brother played.
Zach listened to every word, still amazed that his bear could talk and move on its own with some limitations. Cracking branches nearby made Zach jump and look around cautiously before sprinting with his bear in hand, having no idea where he was headed. After ten minutes of running, Zach stopped and observed his surroundings while he caught his breath, noting that he ended up at the same pizza place that had the robot entertainers.
Zach walked up to the back door of the restaurant, noticed it was unlocked, and pushed the door open, wishing he had some kind of flashlight or lantern. Shutting the door behind him, Zach walked through what must have been the kitchen and out into the show stage where the three animatronics were supposed to be. However, the stage was empty except for a couple of boxes and speakers.
Zach went over to the boxes and opened the nearest, surprised to see some props that were supposed to add to the shows. While Zach was investigating the stage, Goldie hopped down from the shoulder perch and over to a giant present box. The stuffed bear looked up at all the stuffed toys located on the shelves and was surprised to see Plushtrap sitting on the shelf along with a Freddy plush, Foxy plush, Chica plush, and a Bonnie plush.
Goldie heard a creak and watched a marionette doll peek over the rim, its sights set on Zach until it noticed the plush bear standing and staring at it. Goldie knew that this was not a normal Puppet, instead being possessed by a spirit much like himself but much angrier. Suddenly, a loud child's voice said hello, only to be met with a timid hello from Zach. Both Puppet and Goldie looked over at the show stage and saw a child animatronic talking to Zach, the latter seeming to start relaxing around the energetic robot. Goldie looked back at Puppet and started talking, telling him that the child on the stage was under his protection and that they had nowhere to go since they were now orphans.
Puppet frowned and stood completely out of the box, standing as tall as an adult human, and walked over to the two children on the stage. While the child animatronic waved at the Puppet, Zach froze and trembled as the slender figure stood over him, almost as if he were studying him. Puppet narrowed his eyes as he studied him, memorizing every feature of the eight year old, eyes widening at the sight of the scars barely visible on his back under the shirt. Puppet asked what Zach was doing here in the pizzeria after closing, the former's eyes glowing white pinpricks in the otherwise empty sockets.
Zach told Puppet his entire story, everything from his alcoholic and abusive mother to ending up in foster care, receiving Goldie as a gift for helping someone in trouble, and the fire that had claimed his foster families lives with him being the sole survivor. Puppet listened to it all, remaining silent until Zach stopped speaking, then proceeded to wrap the Zach in a hug while he let out his tears. After a minute or two, Puppet released Zach and gave him a sad smile, one that conveyed everything Puppet was feeling.
Mechanical footsteps made Zach look over at the room with the damaged fox animatronic to see it crawling along the ceiling, almost like a spider. Mangle made her way to the stage, confused when she heard the same voice that saved her from those teenagers, but what she saw made her stop and stare at the child sitting there staring back. Dropping down, Mangle crawled over the stage and climbed up before making her way to Zach, stopping mere inches from his face without him flinching.
Mangle attempted to speak, but all that came out was static and she hung her head in despair, knowing that she will never speak again. Zach frowned until Puppet spoke up, interpreting what Mangle wanted to say: "Thank…you…kid." Zach turned back to Mangle and hugged her neck and said "you're welcome" before letting go and turning to look at the clock.
Puppet also looked and read the time aloud: "5:50 a.m. Great. Well, Zach, looks like you get to stay here, but don't worry. The others are kind and will meet you tonight. Until then, I recommend you sleep in the basement so as to not be discovered." Zach nodded while yawning, following Puppet to a door marked Basement, walking down the stairs and settling down in a corner with a ratty blanket and makeshift pillow.
Little did Zach realize he was being watched by a shadowy figure with purple pinprick eyes before it vanished back to its suit in the corner.