The employees soon found themselves outside. For the middle of May, the late spring breeze felt more like an oven that was baking them alive. Heatwaves rippled the surroundings. Heading around to the back of the building, the workers found themselves in a smoldering parking lot, standing in a desert of cracked asphalt.
A delivery truck was one of few vehicles in the near-empty lot. Its back doors were open wide, revealing the inside with a few crates laying haphazardly within it.
"Now, you all planned on delivering the new animatronics to the restaurant site, yes?" William Afton questioned to the employees next to him. "Just put 'em in this truck. Do it neatly. Those things are... delicate when left in the mode they're in."
Sean spoke up. "Uh- erm, what do you mean by that, boss?"
"Oh. I haven't told you about the springlocks, have I?" William said, "They're complex to be sure, but I'll explain it later. Ask one of your coworkers if you're just dying to know."
He looked around. There were three others that he knew - a redhead named Karen, Alexander, who looked as out-of-place as a donkey in a fighting ring, and Toby, looking like he hadn't slept a wink in weeks.
He was obviously too shy to ask any of them.
William began to stroll back to the building. "Now, once you all get the animatronics in here, tell me. I'll be on my way as soon as possible. I expect you to be there before I am. Understood?"
Everyone nodded. They followed, searching for the room where the animatronics had been stored. It was a large storage room, littered with crates, bins and boxes. The dull grey walls had spiderwebs running through them and there wasn't a corner that was free of dust.
All of the employees wandered through the room, opening the dusty containers. Leaving some and taking others, it soon left the room almost empty.
Soon, once most of the crates were gone and loaded, it was just the employees and the robots. The animatronics were lying in one corner of the room, hunched over with their heads tilted unnaturally to the side. Their bright shells seemed to ignore the dust, the vibrant colors showing through. Their smooth plastic limbs were strung together by rough steel, a series of skeletons fused to faux skin.
Each animatronic was just large enough for one person to hold it. There were six of them haphazardly lined up in a row. There was a sly looking fox, a large bear, a slim bunny, and a few others that Sean didn't quite recognize. While Karen took the robotic rabbit and Toby picked up the bear, Sean absentmindedly decided to take the fox with him.
The robot was unusually light for something its size. As the asphalt seemed to melt his shoes, he felt at least somewhat relieved that it wasn't heavy. The truck seemed like miles away.
Trying to clear his parched throat, he continued to trudge onward. The fox seemed to be staring straight at him, but Sean didn't mind it. He finally felt himself in shade, standing behind the truck.
As Sean heaved the fox into the truck, he heard a small, tiny click coming from inside its plastic suit. Another click followed. Then another. He fumbled the thing out of his arms, and just before it hit the metal floor of the truck...
CRACK.
Stumbling backwards, Sean hissed as his ears began to ring. His head ached with just the sheer volume of the noise. Confused, he couldn't tell whether it was the fox making the clatter or if two cars had crashed violently behind his sweat-soaked back. His breathing was heavy but rapid as a result of his panic.
He looked back at the fox. It was shaking and jolting as the clicks began to slow, flopping like a fish out of water. He could almost hear it screaming in anguish with the way its jaw hung open. Its head finally lurched to the side, and then it lay still.
It looked dead. As Sean approached it, he could see its eyes had rolled into the back of its skull like a dead man's. The robotic mechanisms that once stuck on the edges of the suit were now shoved into the hollow center, forming an animatronic skeleton. Despite what had just happened to it, the fox continued to smile, for that was the only expression carved permanently into its snout.
A woman's voice yelped from outside of the vehicle."Sean, what just-?" It was Karen, her eyes widened. "That sounded like a car crash..!" She was carrying the animatronic bunny character in her arms.
His voice shook. "U-um.. yeah. It did. I-I- I don't even know what that was..!"
"Springlocks." Karen mumbled. "From what I've heard, they tend to do that, but... I've never seen - or heard - it happen before." Her voice was soft, but rang with a hint of fascination.
For a moment, Sean sat silent. So that was what Mr. Afton was referring to. He shivered uncomfortably. That didn't sound anywhere near safe. He tried to say something, but only one word escaped his lips.
"Oh."
Karen sighed, placing down the computerized cottontail delicately on the floor of the truck. "Now, how about we get going? Mr. Afton's waiting."
And indeed he was.
Author's Note: Hey, y'all! Been a bit stressed lately - I have a tonnn of projects to get done. But I'll probably be more consistent in releasing chapters so...
Oh yeah. If you haven't read Horrifica, my other AU, feel free to check it out! :D
Stay tuned, my friends!
