Thank you guys so much for your support! It brings me joy to know people are enjoying the story.
This is just a small heads up. Since I am still in school things will be a bit harder for me (which is why I wasn't able to post last Saturday. This might also be the case for this Saturday too, unfortunately. Really sorry about this everyone). So I may not be able to update on a regular basis but I will do my best to get these posted every Saturday.
Ugh. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night.
It wasn't because I didn't have a bed to sleep on. I used the desk to act as a bed for that. At least it was something and said something was better than nothing. Okay scratch that last part. That was not the most comfortable thing I slept on. Thankfully the company understood that employees needed sleep and that electrocution tended to disrupt the process. If I had been shocked during the night, I am pretty sure I would be dead on the spot. But seriously, who on earth shocks employees? There should be a law around here that prohibits that! But it wasn't shocks that kept me awake or even fear of the shocks that never came. What really kept me up was the animatronics.
I mean, being thrown into a game that has a high chance of dying? That isn't something a person would sleep soundly to. Especially if said person was in the game. I don't know if I can even handle one animatronic face-to-face.
Also, how did I know the animatronics would play fair? I mean if someone like me actually gets inside a computer game then anything is possible, right? If a person can crawl through the vents, who said an animatronic couldn't do the same? So I decided to use the elevator to act like a base. Since I couldn't go anywhere, I literarily had to use the desk as a shield.
My only shield.
If something happens to that then I am done. My fingers slide across the brown desk. They were certainly smooth though rather rough on the edges. If one of the animatronics like Funtime Freddy got in here then he would have no problem tearing this down and catching me. I mean, these guys are metal and I am sure a heavy animatronic can have no problem splitting this thing in two.
But what do I do now? I mean, I already know its morning. I just checked the clock in the Primary Control Module and it said 9 am. I just can't keep myself stuck in the elevator the whole time.
Speaking of which, what did people do in the day shift?
I mean, the games usually take place at night. That is when the animatronics' game to hunt you down begins. Did the animatronics just have to watch over kids and did other employees made sure the kids stay away from the animatronics? Did this mean I was safe? Could I check out each of the galleries without the risk of the animatronics trycrushing me or snapping my neck? No. That's ridiculous. Who in the right mind would celebrate birthday parties for children underground? Not to mention that the game states this place has been abandoned for quite a while.
"I guess I have to come out. Here I go."
I crawl under the desk and slip inside the vent toward the Primary Control Module. The only thing that would have made me a bit more relaxed is if I had control over the vents. That way, I could sleep soundly without one of them catching me by surprise. But what can you do? Just make the best with what you have.
As I got out of the vent, something was bothering me and it got stuck in my head.
Who should I visit first?
In all honesty, I don't want to visit anyone. I mean, yes, I did ramble about wanting to meet Baby but that is only if I knew she wouldn't kill me. What does the game have her do? Kill the player. So the chance of befriending a cute animatronic is pretty much is thrown out the window. But at least I can dream. So I'll probably save the visit to Baby for last. Get it? Saving the best for last? Since it is a circus and they always save the best part of the show to the end?
I'm even failing to try and amuse myself at this point. My heart is gnawed by worry right now.
I look at the Ballora gallery and click the blue button. Sure enough, Ballora was on her stage with her minions twirling on stage as though they were performing live for the world to see. I feel something stuck in my throat because I can't swallow. Even though the animatronics wouldn't attack me in the day—I think—it doesn't help that I know they wouldn't hesitate during the night… when they would have no problem tearing me apart like a doll. But if I don't take the opportunity now and check out all the galleries before I do this at night, I may never have this chance again.
Man. What should I even do?
I look to my right and see something on the desk. I walk over and see a black flashlight. It's small and the light is weak, but any extra light to help me through the dark is a boon I won't pass up. Behind the flashlight sits some kind of statue. It's a silver model of what seems like a man laughing and having the best day of his life. I touch the soft nose of the laughing man. I literally feel the hairs on my head straighten up as a horrific sound bounces around the walls of this empty room. Oh man. It honks like a dying seal that was just run over by a clown car. I am never pressing that thing again. I look back at the flashlight that sat perfectly still on the desk. Oh thank goodness. I thought for a second that I knocked it down.
I guess I don't really have a choice. I have to go in Ballora Gallery. If there is anything dad spent drilling into my mind, it's this: It's easy to watch someone else do something. It's a whole new challenge when you do it yourself.
I reach for the flashlight. My hands grip onto the cylinder end and my hands are shaking to the point I can barely hold on. The flashlight slips from my grasp and hits the floor with a loud clang on the metal floors. I quickly pick it up and look at the top cover. Thankfully, there were no cracks on the surface where the light shone. It really would be bad if I couldn't see while crawling in Ballora's Gallery. I guess I was nervous about going in.
I crawl inside the vent to Ballora Gallery. Every moment I crawl forward, I feel the adrenaline coursing through me. But I can't run away now. I am going to have to do this eventually so I should get used to it...even though it is easier said than done... I am almost at the exit when I notice a small Post It note on the right side. What on earth is a Post It note doing here?
I read the words to myself: "Ballora. The Greatest Dancer of all Time."
Okay. I guess a little kid wrote this because I see it was written in green crayon. There were scribbles all over the page and a stick figure of Ballora, I think. I guess it was there when this place used to be open. I better get a move on.
I go to the other side of the vent. Man, I can barely see a thing. I drop to my knees and activate the flashlight. The weak beam illuminates a small space in front of me, revealing nothing beyond the black and white tiles.
Okay. Take a deep breath. Crawl as slowly as you can.
I feel like a sloth, in all honesty. The muscles in my arms and legs are painfully tight as I try not to make even the slightest sound. I can hear the music from Ballora getting louder. That means I am getting close to the exit. The good news is that she is still on her stage. I can still see the purple lights shining on her as she lifts herself up. It's almost as if she is basking herself in some glory. In my relief, I pick up the pace.
"Is someone there?"
My entire body freezes like it has turned to stone. I'm forced to stop myself from breathing. Every breath sounds deafening to my ears. Oh man! Does she know I'm here? Am I going to die right now?
Please don't find me.
Please. Don't find me.
Do not find me!
"I guess not."
Oh, thank goodness. She doesn't notice me. My heart beats like a bad drummer, too fast and way too hard. I'm almost at the door. I could reach it in seconds if I run right now. But I have no idea how fast Ballora is when it comes to the chase. I just need to keep calm despite my nerves. Almost there.
Still though. It's kind of strange. I thought she wouldn't say that until nighttime. I mean, that is what usually happened in the game. What is going on?
"Miss Ballora! Miss Ballora!"
Who said that? I thought Ballora was the only one in the room right now-
Oh drat!
Oh drat!
I forgot the Minireeas!
"Miss Ballora! There is a person crawling in your room!" One of the Minireeas screamed.
"He's cheating Miss Ballora! He's not playing the game right!"
Oh man! They found me out! Now it's all or nothing! I'm on my feet in an instant, running as fast as I can pump my legs to get to that door. I can hear Ballora's music getting louder as she bore down in hot pursuit. Oh man. She is going to outspeed me at this rate!
"You are the one that entered my room. Come back here."
"N-No thank you!"
I grab the knob and give it a painful twist. I quickly look over my shoulder and almost scream. Ballora's face plates are wide open as she runs. Those eyelids were hiding a pair of malicious, violent eyes. Oh man. I quickly throw the door open and slam it shut behind me. An audible thump (a thump is quieter than a thud) sounds through the room.
"Miss Ballora? Are you alright?"
There's no response. I can only hear my own breathing and my heart beating incessantly at hyper speed. Oh man. I bet she can hear it, too. I bet she is enjoying this.
"Yes, my dears. I am fine. Next time, he will not be so lucky. No one dares interfere with our performances and gets away with it."
I hear the footsteps fade slowly until they're gone. Leaning against the door, I slide down and relax for the first moment in an eternity. Oh man. That was too close. If I was just a second slower, she would have caught me. I don't think I could do that again if someone paid me a thousand dollars.
Dad was right. Things are different when you experience them first hand. I remember how he told me of an incident from back when he was a teenager.
(Flashback)
"Son. We need to talk."
I sat on the couch as my dad looked at me square in the eyes. I had recently flunked my Calculus test and naturally he had not been pleased with my result.
"I am disappointed with what you got. Tell me, did you do your Calculus homework problems?"
"I did some, yes."
"Did you do all the homework problems?"
"Uh..."
"Of course not. It was because you thought it was so easy because you saw your teacher do it before. That is not how things work here. You will never succeed if that is how you handle life."
I shifted slightly, feeling uncomfortable. I mean, I being lectured like I was five years old again! My dad gave a long sigh as he let silence take over. It was then I understood this was going to be a long lecture.
"Young man, I am going to tell you something I did as teenager. When I was your age, I lived near a zoo. It was just a few blocks away from my home so my family and I often visited the area. One time, I went in there alone. I would always go to a particular area: the bear habitat. The grizzly bear there always held this dopey expression like he wouldn't harm a fly. While I was watching him, I noticed there was this girl watching him as well. During that time, I had a crush on that girl. I wanted to impress her so she would go out with me. Do you want to know what I did?
"I decided that I would try to impress that girl by going in the bear's den and making fun of the bear. I jumped over the fence, despite the warnings to never do that. I hollered and cursed at the bear, just because I thought I was invincible. I wanted people to look at me like I was some great person. I wanted that girl to love me."
I wanted to say something but Dad simply held out his hand to silence me.
"People say that you do stupid things in your teens. That is a true fact. The bear no longer held that dumb look I always thought he did. No, this time he wore the look of a predator. He stood on his hind legs and gave out a gut-wrenching roar like he knew dinner was served. I couldn't move. I was terrified. Fear paralyzes you. It makes you vulnerable.
"The zookeepers saw that I was going to get eaten at this rate. So they took out their guns and fired a barrage of bullets. The bear lay dead before it could even get a chance to get close to me."
Dad gave another long sigh.
"Do you know what would have happened if the bear wasn't shot?"
I had looked away because I already knew what would have happened.
"I would have been dead meat. When you look at things from afar, like in a zoo, things don't look menacing. But when you're inside, it's a whole different story. Always remember that son."
"Um. Okay Dad but what does having to get eaten by a bear have to do with calculus?"
"Son. I just told you. You can't just underestimate anything."
"I know that dad and I thank you very much for sharing your story but I just don't understand. When was the last time Calculus was deadly?"
"Look son. That isn't the point-"
"But dad. Your story about being attacked by a bear and me failing a calculus test doesn't make any sense. I mean, did you fail any calculus tests when you were my age?"
"Son! Don't you dare question this any longer! I don't want another word from you! Got it?"
"I know dad but I was still trying to understand the point of calculus homework and getting eaten by a bear. I am still calculating the concept."
"Son. You just pulled a pun with calculus, didn't you?"
Wow I did? I guess I didn't realize it. But seeing that I wasn't getting anywhere with dad, I just put on a smile and gave a nod. My dad is as stubborn as a mule. Since there is probably no point continue this argument, I might as end it now.
"Yes. I did. Did you like it?"
"Son. Just shut up."
(Flashback end)
"H-Hey Bon-Bon! I think the birthday boy is over there!"
Speaking of being trapped with a bear.
The flashing lights shone on a purple and white bear standing in the room. His black bowtie was rather small but gave the animatronic an air of importance. The animatronic's right hand held a microphone while on the animatronics left hand, a blue bunny with rosy red cheeks wave.
Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon were out to play.
"I see you in the dark! Come on out!"
My heart suddenly slams at my ribs as though it were trying to break free of a cage. I can feel the panic surging through me again. Drat! He sees me! What do I do? What do I do? Oh wait! I have to use Bon-Bon!
I quickly press the red button in front of me as fast as I could. The button next to the control unit screen pad was to ensure the player could distract Funtime Freddy using Bon-Bon's voice. It was really just an arm's length away from the screen pad. Please, Bon-Bon. Get the bear away from me.
"Nope. No one is here."
Freddy's footsteps grow softer as he turns around and walks toward his stage. Soon I can only hear the pounding of my overworked heart. Good. Please buy me some time. I slip over to the control unit screen pad and see the cameras are all... completely functional? What? Did someone already come in here and fix them? This isn't making any sense!
What if it isn't just me in this game? What if someone else got stuck in here as well? Did they took the opportunity to fix the thing? Oh man. So many questions. But I got to get out of here now.
"H-Hey Bon-Bon. Let's give the birthday boy a special surprise!"
I slam on the button again without taking my eyes off the screen to make Bon-Bon say something. Just please do the same thing like last time.
"Let's give him the Bon-Bon special!"
Wait what? Was that a feature programmed for Funtime Freddy and Bon-Bon to say? I don't remember hearing it in any playthrough video. Why would they say something like that?
Oh drat.
I push the screen away and turn to see Funtime Freddy right behind the console and holding his arm as though it were a rocket launcher. If the bear could move his mouth, he would have an even wider grin than he was designed to. Bon-Bon held his hands together like a praying mantis, as though he were waiting for an order. Freddy thrust his fist in my direction like he was throwing the weakest punch. It was no attack but a signal: Bon-Bon rushed at me. The blue bunny stretched its arms out and shrieked.
"This is Bon-Bon!"
Oh, this is gonna hurt.
