I walk into the restaurant and feel like I've come home. The animatronics are off the stage but I know where to find them. I go to Pirate's Cove first. For once, Foxy doesn't make a move. He just looks at me.
"Everything's going to be okay," I tell him.
He looks toward the dining hall where I can hear the others wandering around.
"We're still your friends," I say gently.
They said I'm broken. They're going to take me away.
He heard them talking about sending him off for diagnostics and repairs.
"And I'll put you back together," I promise. "Do you believe that?"
He can't really nod, but he tries. Then, he walks through the curtains.
I make a round of the building as per usual but as I come to the dining hall where the stage is, I see a figure in the back.
"What are you doing here, William?" I demand quietly.
"Yeah, it's not really my shift, is it?" he says.
"You were arrested," I tell him.
"Yeah, but the thing is, they really can't hold you without evidence," he replies smugly. "I mean, all they had was a fuzzy image on a tape. Of course, that gives them grounds for a warrant, which they'll probably get tomorrow. Then, they'll probably come and tear this place apart, which means you'll have to find a new job," he laughs.
He actually laughs.
"You know, you really don't need to be here, Matt," his tone turns serious. "In fact, you're not supposed to be here."
"Yeah, I know," I say. "Because you killed me."
He shrugs as if to say, 'What did you expect?'
"You killed all those kids," I say and he doesn't even blink.
"I'll say this once, Matt. Don't get in the way," he swings the crowbar in his hand and tries to stare me down.
"Oh, it's far too late for that, William," I tell him coldly.
Lightning flashes through the building and he jumps back, eyes wide in shock.
I know what he sees.
He takes off running out into the hall and I chase him. As I round the corner, he slams me in the side with the crowbar. I hit the ground and he's about to swing again when Freddy comes out of nowhere and nearly runs right over him, arms stretched to the limit, mouth wide open.
William swings the crowbar and Freddy goes down sparking but now he's not thinking about me. He sprints down the hall and I follow him. He doesn't get far when Chica comes flying out of the kitchen with an unearthly shriek. She almost pins him to the wall but he brings the crowbar down on her head and she hits the floor.
He's still running and I'm gaining on him, but slowly. I'm shocked my ribs aren't broken.
Bonnie bursts out of the prize room and actually gets a grip on him. William shatters one of his legs, then his head and keeps running, heading for the back room. I'm almost to the corner of the hall when Foxy flashes by, almost a blur. I hear William scream, then, I hear a half dozen impacts and I know Foxy is down.
I slide to a stop in front of the door. The company has started blocking it up, supposedly to repair the water damage. The job will be done before the police ever get here with that warrant, I bet. I kick the door open and jump over the bricks, ready for William's attack.
He doesn't disappoint. He comes me after with a downward stroke that would have crushed my skull. Time seems to slow down as I dodge and then it almost jumps ahead when I slam my fist into his kidney. He grunts and goes down on one knee but he swings wildly toward me. Again, everything happens in slow motion as I dodge him and out of the corner of my eye, I actually see my outline blurring. He looks at me in horror.
He always did hate the puppet.
He comes after me again with pure insanity fueling his attack. I catch the crowbar and kick him in gut, breaking his grip. Now, it's my turn. I swing the crowbar down as hard as I can but he manages to roll out of the way and I hit the wall, spraying concrete shrapnel everywhere. Before he moves too far away, I lash out and catch him in his side. He screams and hits the floor.
I step through puddles to stand in front of him.
"Prison is too good for you."
He's looking at me, waiting on me to kill him. Then, he looks past me and scrambles to his feet in absolute horror.
"WHAT-?!"
In my peripheral vision, I see the kids fade into the room.
You lied to us!
You left me in the dark!
I told you to leave me ALONE!
Charlie charges him and William runs for the Bonnie suit. I hear the other kids gasp and I know they're afraid of the suit and by William's chuckle, that's what he's counting on.
The suit spasms as the spring locks reengage and his chuckle turns into a scream as blood sprays through the joints. He collapses to his hands and knees, gasping and choking in agony, then he slumps against the wall.
The kids straighten, turn and fade out of the room.
I turn to leave.
"Matt, don't leave me here!" he croaks as I step over the bricks and close the door.
"You left them," I say softly.
I find them all in the prize room.
We hurt that bad man.
I look at Charlie. "Yes, we did."
I hope nobody gives him a Band-Aid!
I look at Joey and allow myself to smile. William is dead but I'm not sure he actually understands that.
If I leave, will we still be friends?
I look at Lucy and drop to my knees. "We'll still be friends."
One by one, they vanish.
"Like I said," I speak into the empty air, "the Puppet's there to protect the little guys."