Chapter Three: Out of Order
Thanks to the phone call from Dan who had told her that he would leave the backdoor unlocked to allow her inside, Amber's mind was on why Pirate Cove was out of order. She had seen the sign soon after walking through the private party room on her way to her office.
Well, that's one more thing to ask them tonight, Amber thought.
She quickly turned the computers on and after flipping through the cams for a moment to find out where all the mascots were(Freddy and Bonnie were in the bathroom with a puking Chica, and Foxy was unaccounted for), she scanned the computer screen to look closely at their eyes. None of them were red, so she figured she was fairly safe for now.
"There was a security guard who recorded himself giving advice to the next night guard. It's a little old, from the last pizzeria I believe, but it's still pretty good advice . ." Dan's words from earlier echoed in Amber's mind.
Maybe he knows something more about the mascots and their nightmare mode, Amber thought. She bit her lip. Despite the cam's reassurance that none of the mascots were in nightmare mode at the moment, she didn't want to put herself in danger like she had yesterday night, but on the other hand . . .
Amber glanced at her power gauge and went back to the home screen on all three of the computers so she wouldn't waste power and after a quick glance at the recorder, she was relieved to find that it wasn't attached to the power box.
It must run on batteries, Amber realized.
She listened silently for any approaching footsteps, then after a minute or so of hearing absolutely nothing, she clicked the "Play" button on the recorder.
Almost instantly, a man's slightly nervous sounding voice filled the silence in the office, "Hello, hello? Uh, I wanted to record a message for you to help you get settled in on your first night." He said, and paused a moment before he continued. "Um, I actually worked in that office before you. I'm finishing up my last week now, as a matter of fact. So, I know it can be a bit overwhelming, but I'm here to tell you there's nothing to worry about. Uh, you'll do fine. So, let's just focus on getting you through your first week. Okay?
While the man talked over the device, Amber occasionally flipped through the cams, keeping a watchful eye on the bathroom.
"Uh, let's see, first there's an introductory greeting from the company that I'm supposed to read. Uh, it's kind of a legal thing, you know. Um, "Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. A magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Fazbear Entertainment is not responsible for damage to property or person. Upon discovering that damage or death has occurred, a missing person report will be filed within 90 days, or as soon property and premises have been thoroughly cleaned and bleached, and the carpets have been replaced." The man gave a nervous laugh; his words were a sharp thorn to Amber's heart, before they gave way to anger.
Wait! Amber thought furiously, did the past owners know that lots of people were being hurt near or in the Pizzeria?
The recording continued, "Uh, now I know that may sound bad, but there's nothing really to worry about. The main thing you need to remember is that the mascots sometimes become . . . violent at night. I call it nightmare mode . . . basically their eyes turn red, they don't really respond to anything, and they . . . well, they'll try and attack you. That's why I've managed to convince Mrs. Toliver to get some mechanical doors that the night guards can shut to keep the mascots out when needed."
At the mention of Gladis Toliver's name, Amber's interest was instantly perked. From what she had researched, she knew that Gladis had been murdered in the Pizzeria, supposedly by the night guard . . . Was this that same man?
"However, do I blame them? No, I mean they're still just kids, well . . . teens, actually. But my point is that they're probably just as scared of hurting you as you're scared of being hurt. As I have been working as the night guard for a while now, I've figured out a few patterns of theirs when they are in nightmare mode. . . For the most part you'll only have to worry about them being violent if they're in certain areas . . . Let's see . . .Bonnie if he's visible on Computer 1, so the computer to your left . . . Chica, if she's visible on the computer to your right, so computer 3 . . .Freddy, well, he doesn't really have a pattern in nightmare mode, so keep a watchful eye on him . . . and Foxy . . . Well, you only have to worry about him if he's staring at the cam while peeking out of Pirate Cove."
Amber instantly flipped to Pirate Cove to check, there was still no sign of Foxy. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, I think that's about all you'll need to know for the first night, so good luck and have a good night. Bye". With a soft click, the recording ended.
After checking on the band-members again, Amber pulled out her notebook that had all of her Freddy Fazbear Pizzeria research in it. She quickly flipped to a new page and wrote down the info that Phone guy had told her.
Once she was done writing, she checked the cams again. All of the band members had moved. Chica was curled up in the bathroom, apparently asleep, Bonnie was hanging out in the main party room and Freddy was standing at the end of the hall, in the doorway to the Reception room.
Her heart instantly started to pound, and leapt into her throat, while her hands grew sweaty and shaky. She couldn't see his eyes! She couldn't see his eyes! After another panicked moment, Freddy glanced up at one of the hall cams, and she breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes were blue.
"Okay," Amber muttered to herself, pushing her hair out of her face with a shaky hand, "You're okay Amber; remember you still need to find a way to get them to the office window to talk to them when they're not in nightmare mode."
Amber took two deep breaths and clicked "Play" on the recorder again. The second night's message began to play . . .
"Uhh, Hello? Hello? Uh, well, if you're hearing this and you made it to day two, uh, congrats! I-I won't talk quite as long this time since Freddy and his friends tend to become more active in Nightmare mode as the week progresses. Uhh, it might be a good idea to peek at those cameras while I talk just to make sure everyone's in their proper place. . ."
"RRRRAAAAA!" Amber's heart nearly stopped at the vicious screech of a very angry mascot. She had just turned in her seat when Foxy charged into her room, his golden eyes glowing, his teeth bared, and his claws gleaming in the pale light of the office.
"Ahhh!" Amber screamed, and kicked at him, trying to keep him away from her. Her foot connected with his jaw, and Foxy gave a pained sort of howl before he stumbled back, holding his jaw tenderly.
"Are you alright!" Freddy's head poked into the other doorway, his ocean blue eyes wide with worry. Upon seeing Foxy clutching his hurt jaw, he snorted and shook his head.
"Bonnie didn't warn you about that did he?" Freddy asked Amber, who kept looking between the two mascots, her heart pounding; she wasn't sure what she should do. Foxy seemed to be in nightmare mode, but Freddy didn't seem concerned about her safety now after seeing Foxy in the office with her.
"I-uh, I don't think so," Amber's voice trembled. She swallowed hard and took two deep breaths, before continuing, "Since I don't know what you're talking about, Freddy. . . You are Freddy right?"
The man nodded, smiling gently at her. He was taller than Bonnie, and had neatly combed hazel brown hair and chocolate brown bear ears. He, unlike the others, was a little bigger around his middle though he appeared to be quite muscular. He wore a three-piece suit and a black top hat.
Freddy, still standing in the doorway, gestured to Foxy who was still cradling his jaw. "Foxy tries to scare the new night guards to try and get them to quit . . .Something that I hope he'll stop doing." Freddy's eyes flickered from Foxy to Amber. "May I come in? I know Bonnie doesn't like to, but since I haven't gone into Nightmare mode yet tonight, I don't think I will."
Amber nodded, trusting his words despite herself.
Freddy stepped into the room and went over to her, carefully checking her over for injury before going over to Foxy with a look of disapproval on his face.
"Don't t'ouch me Cap'tin," Foxy growled, "I'm fine." He let go of his jaw as he talked, and then shook himself. He shot a glare in Amber's direction and bared his sharp teeth again.
"Ye'd be better off working somewhere else, Lass . . ." he snarled.
Foxy was only an inch or so taller than Amber, and had messy, fiery red hair that fell into his eyes frequently, and had a scar disappearing under the black eye-patch that was flipped up above his left eye. He wore black leather pants, a dark red shirt or some sort and a dark brown long coat, and black knee high boots. His fox tail flicked back and forth lazily while his red fox ears twitched.
Freddy folded his arms across his chest, shaking his head at his fellow mascot. "Enough, Foxy . . . Leave the poor girl alone."
Amber, remembering her earlier research found her voice again, "C-can I ask you something Freddy?" her voice was stronger this time.
Foxy glowered at Amber, while Freddy appeared uncomfortable at her question. He stared down at his feet for a moment then looked up to meet Amber's gaze nervously. "Depends on the question," he said finally.
"Are you all the original mascots from the pizzeria that burned down?" Amber asked, figuring it was an easy enough question.
Freddy nodded, relaxing a little. "Yes . . . After the new owner, I forget his name, found us, he thought we had merely dressed up for Halloween as the ole mascots and he offered to hire us and the rest is history as they say."
"THUD!" Both Amber and Freddy startled as the left-side door closed without warning. Foxy had pressed the button, one of his ears facing backwards. "Nightmare Bonnie," he huffed by way of explanation.
Maybe Foxy's not so bad after all . . . Amber thought, turning back to face Freddy again.
"Okay then, so how did you all get like this? I know it had to have been when you were kids—" Amber started to say.
"None of your business lass!" Foxy spat, his eyes blazing in anger. Amber looked over at him, narrowing her eyes. Was there pain in his eyes?
Freddy shifted uncomfortably, "It's not something we talk about anymore, not after what happened to Gladis . . ."
Before Amber could say anything, Foxy snarled, "And no, we don't know who killed her! We were all in the back room with the night guard when it happened!"
The angry man slammed his fist down on the left-door button and the door lifted open again. Bonnie was gone.
Amber's breath hitched in her throat, not from fear but from excitement. Foxy had just disproven one of her theories regarding the Fazbear incidents. At least she now knew that the night guard hadn't killed Gladis.
"What happened to the guard? I've done some research and every source I've gone to says that the guard disappeared that's why everyone thinks he killed Gladis." Amber said, for once speaking directly to Foxy.
Foxy's eyes widened, as did Freddy's. They didn't know, Amber realized.
"Phone Guy wouldn't hurt a fly . . ." Foxy growled, though he seemed uncertain now. "And he didn't disappear, he quit!" With that, Foxy fled from the office and into the private party room.
Freddy looked apologetic, "We thought he quit," he clarified for Amber. "Since we never saw him again, dead or alive. But then again, after we saw Gladis's body . . ." he paused for a moment, looking sad, "We went into nightmare mode, all of us."
With his shoulders hunched, his head lowered slightly and a faraway look in his eyes, Amber decided not to press him for more answers. She didn't want to upset him any farther.
Freddy cleared his throat and shook himself, "Anyway, I didn't catch your name, miss?"
"Amber Harris." She replied automatically.
"Well, Miss Harris—"
"Amber!?" A blonde haired woman's head poked around the corner of the right door, her green eyes wide with shock.
The moment Amber looked at her, the woman fled from the doorway, her footsteps echoing loudly in the hallway.
Amber frowned. "What was that about?"
Freddy's mouth, also in a frown, twitched. "I'm not sure," he admitted.