Chapter 10: Old Faces and Sleeping Puppets
Disclaimer: I don't own FNAF. In this chapter, the Marionette gets a thoughtful gift, remembers old family members and falls asleep for the first time in his new body. Don't forget to review, and enjoy!
It was the next day; Wednesday. As I get into my present, I feel a pang as I remember "Fredbear Day". A fear that I didn't know I possessed in this life took over for a few seconds, but the Marionette side of me brings me back to reality. No, I think, that is not your life, you are not Josh, you are the Marionette. I tell myself this over and over until the doors open and the kids come flying in. I watch as everyone tries to get a good seat for the show, except one. She walks towards me.
"Hello?" She says nervously. Suddenly I remember her.
"Georgie!" I say kindly. "Nice to see you again!"
Her face lighting up when I say her name gives me a warm feeling inside.
"Nice to see you too, Mr Puppet Master," she says, smiling. "I brought you a gift."
I am taken aback; the last gift I received was a remote controlled plane from Nate. I feel another pang inside but instead of fear, it was grief; I found myself wondering what happened to him after my accident.
"You didn't have to do that!" I say, dragging myself out of the fun memories I spent flying that plane with Nate.
"I did," she says. "You are so nice to all of us so I think we should be nice to you too."
I am touched as she holds out a box which I recognise at once.
"A music box?"
"I thought you might like it," Georgie says happily. I didn't know what to say. I suddenly remembered when I was three, the only thing that could get me to sleep was a music box, and mum used to wind it up every night as I went to sleep. After relieving these memories, the Marionette side of me brought me back to the present once again, Georgie staring at me hopefully.
"It-it's wonderful," I say in awe. "Thank you."
"Thank YOU for the plushies," she says happily. "Got to go, my mum is calling me," I look up and see a woman gesturing at Georgie to come over. "Goodbye, Mr Puppet Master." I watch her go in awe. I don't think even Nate would have given away a music box like that to a strange puppet-like guy in the local restaurant! Sighing happily, I place the music box inside my present with me and turn to the next kid. What I see makes my whole world stand still. I freeze in horror; every one of my inexistent muscles seemed to turn to ice as my eyes register this unwelcome sight.
Michael.
But not the Michael I remember. He is still dressed in that black jumper with white buttons and stripes on the sleeves, he still has his brown hair and green eyes, but they are filled with sadness, hurt, and, what looks like, guilt. I stare at him strangely; I had never seen him with that much emotion on his face. He stares back.
"Mr Puppet Master?" He says in a strangely sad voice.
I suddenly remember myself; what was I doing?!
"Hello!" I say, trying to make my voice as happy as possible. "Which plush would you like?"
"I'll have a Foxy," he says eagerly, sounding much more like himself, but as he looks around his eyes turn sad again.
"What's your name?" I ask, cringing under the mask.
"Michael,"
While writing "for Michael" on the tag, I ask him
"So, what brings you here?"
He looks distraught at the question.
"It's kind of a tradition that we come here every Wednesday," he says in that sad voice. "Even after..." He chokes up, but manages to cover it up with a cough. "Well, mum says we should still come to honour his memory." I don't look up but quickly tie the label around Foxy's neck and thrust it at Michael, wanting more than anything for him to walk away, and finally, he does.
I let out a sigh. I had never realised that I meant so much to my family. I thought I was doing them a favour staying here, but at that moment I just wanted to go home, tell everyone I loved them, fly my plane with Nate, and, for the first time ever, hug my brother. It seemed like my heart shattered into pieces when I realised I couldn't; they would freak out if a strange puppet came running at them, saying it was their friend who died. Reality of my imprisonment finally hitting me, I turn to the next child, but not before I catch a glimpse of a familiar golden bear heading backstage with a child in it's wake...
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"Ooh!" Chica gasped. It was night, and I had just shown the animatronics my music box. "It looks amazing,"
After the restaurant had closed, I had examined it closely. It had golden markings around the side, making it look really fancy; I wondered why Georgie wanted to give it to me.
"Look, there's a lever on the side," Bonnie reaches towards it and winds it. I don't know what happened next; I just heard the first few notes of the music when I dropped to the floor, eyes closed. As I hadn't fallen asleep in ages, I welcomed it. However, a few seconds later, my eyes opened again and I saw the animatronics kneeling down next to me, looking concerned.
"Are you alright, Mario?" Foxy asks. Not noticing the nickname for once, I get up.
"I'm fine," I say. "It was the music box; it made me fall asleep!"
"I wonder if it does that every time..." Freddy said, then wound up the box. Once again, I fell asleep, and once again, when the music stopped, I woke up.
"Interesting..." I say.