The Bureau Files: Series 3

Episode 10: The Fifth Night (Part 2)

Chief Inspector Martin Brody seemed unperturbed by Haru's accusing tone.

Chief Inspector Martin Brody had also seen better days. If he had a checklist of tiredness clichés, he could probably have marked half of them off in a moment, right from the bags under his eyes to the pale pallor of his skin.

"It was foolish to open the door with Foxy so close," he merely said. "Personally, I was against such irrational undertakings, but your companion convinced me otherwise." He gestured to the foot-high Creation standing on the desk, who had one gloved hand raised above a button that Haru could only assume was for the door.

The Creation stared over at his companions with a mixture of tepid confusion and sorrow.

"You shouldn't have come," he said.

"Oh, yeah, thanks for that," Muta snorted, picking himself off the floor. "Couldn't have worked that out from the way ya left us hanging. Yeah, thanks for the update."

Haru motioned towards Muta to indicate she was more or less on the same wavelength where this was concerned, sarcasm included. She was too tired to wheel out the sarcasm that Muta was falling back onto; instead she only gave a tired admonishment of, "You shouldn't have just left like that."

"I was only doing what I felt was best–"

"We were worried, Baron. Think about what happened last time you disappeared." After a wince, she added, "Sorry. And, even if you had left a note, we would still have worried. We're a team; we work together, we celebrate together, and, yes, we face danger together. That's all part of being a team." She exhaled, trying to release all the anger that had been borne out of worry for the Creation. Shouting would do no good. "Please, don't do this again."

Baron nodded, although she sensed no real conviction from him. "Understood. I was merely trying to protect you…"

From what? Haru wanted to ask. The animatronics, or the danger of his own help?

"And you've done a great job of protecting me," she assured him. "Think about the Cat Kingdom incident – and just a few weeks back, you saved me when the komainu buried me, not to mention when there was the bird attacks…" she trailed off as she tried to search for incidents that hadn't involved her being dragged into danger because of the Bureau in the first place. It was a little difficult.

"And, just as many times, my attempts to help have also put you into terrible, terrible danger, Haru."

"What, don't we get a mention?" Muta muttered. "She ain't the only one who's – ow!" He glared daggers at the crow who had just pointedly batted him with a wing.

Haru leant down so that her eyes were on level with the Creation. "You've always protected me," she repeated softly, but with no less conviction than before. A wan, bittersweet smile slipped over her lips. "I have never doubted that, or you. Yes, sometimes you make really, really stupid decisions," she said, thinking not least of the rose fiasco in the gallery, "but they have always been for the best of others. Just sometimes… not in your best interests."

"The tracking crystal could have malfunction in bringing us here," Baron said. "It was better that I went alone."

Muta snorted loudly. "Ya do realise that Chicky just dragged us across the worlds instead of taking your fancy 'tracker crystal' instead? Which do ya think was more dangerous?"

"You did what, Miss Haru?"

Haru grinned weakly and retrieved the ring from where she had slipped it into her bag, taking care to take it out with a tissue to avoid any physical contact. She didn't want to be sent back to the Wood Between Worlds, not after the chaos it took to get here. "Did you really think we would let you go alone? Like I said before: We're a team."

"How… How did you manage to narrow down your location to here?" he asked eventually.

"It turns out I can track down your magic, what with its similarities with mine and all," she admitted. "Although I don't think I'll be able to use the same trick for anyone else."

"This reunion is touching," Brody said, and the Bureau were quickly dragged back to the present, "but I believe we have a more pressing issue at hand." He nodded once to the newcomers. "Not that it isn't a pleasure to meet you again." His gaze paused over Haru and he added, "Even if I'm surprised some of you have stayed in the Bureau for so long."

"So long?" Haru echoed. "It's only been a few years."

"A few years with a lot of close calls, I'll reckon."

Haru opened her mouth to dispute that claim, and then quickly shut it. She made a face and attempted a half-hearted shrug. "I think you'll find I'm little bit more difficult to get rid of than that. Anyway, I think it's time that we got some answers." She pointed to the door that had re-opened; now there was nothing in the corridor beyond but the still-vivid memory of the creature. "I think we could do with knowing exactly what trouble we're in."

"Yeah, and why the heck is that door now open? Didn't ya see the… the thing that tried to eat us?"

"Muta, it didn't try to eat us."

"How do you know, Chicky? Do you wanna stick around to find out?"

"We're running on limited power here," Brody calmly explained. "When the doors close, they use up that power."

"Sounds stupid, but okay."

Brody took a leaf out of Baron's book and studiously ignored Muta's side comment. "With the way that I've seen the animatronics attack so far, it seems like, as long as we keep an eye on both doors," and at this point Haru realised there was another open doorway on the other side of the office, "and the camera monitor, we should be able to shut it before they attack."

"And… what exactly do they do when they attack?"

"They stuff you inside an unused animatronic."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

Brody glanced to the fat cat. "Maybe not to you, but for us humans? The endoskeleton means there isn't much room for an extra body to go. Especially not in the facial area."

Haru paled. "Oh. I didn't need that image."

"I believe the Creation magic released may have played a pivotal part in reawakening these souls," Baron informed them. He took over explaining from Brody, but there was a shadow of unease across his face. Perhaps he didn't like to remember that it had been his attempt to release magic from Hiromi that had caused so many new or freshly-awoken Creations. "Over thirty years ago, there were stories of these animatronics attacking night guards until the pizzeria brought in a couple of experienced… well, I believe the term they use is exorcists. After that, the attacks stopped."

"Until we woke them back up again," Haru finished with a groan. She sighed, and then hesitated. "Wait… Can exorcists… I don't know, remove Creations? I thought the term only applied to, you know, ghosts and that sort."

"They can't," Toto said. "Only ghosts and spirits."

"Hey, guys… I dunno much about these monitor thingys, but I'm pretty sure that's new…" Muta stepped away from the screen he had been flicking switches on, and pointed to the rabbit animatronic staring straight into the security camera.

Brody swore and snatched up the monitor. "Which camera is it? Where is it?!" he hissed. "Ooh… You're coming from the left again, are you? Just try it!" He leapt over and slammed the left door shut just as a purple shadow began to fill the doorway. "Say hello to Bonnie, boys and girls," Brody snarled. "The velveteen rabbit that went wrong."

"How… How long is it going to be out there?" Haru asked.

"Long enough." Brody changed the camera on the monitor, bringing up the one that was situated right outside the office. The rabbit's face was so close to the camera that, had it had breath, it would have fogged up the glass. Half-lidded, unblinking eyes stared into the screen.

Muta hissed and leapt back. Haru's heart took a similar jump in her chest.

"Does he often stand like that?" she whispered.

"Oh, it gets better. Just watch."

With its eternal smile fixed in place, the head of Bonnie began to twitch.

Brody grimaced and changed the output again, this time selecting a camera that watched a set of purple curtains. Haru recognised the setting as the camera Toto had stood in front of earlier.

"We – we were there before–" she started.

"I know. Nearly gave me a heart attack when he," and Brody pointed over to the crow Creation, "decided to hop before it."

"Sorry."

"Pirate Cove is where Foxy usually stays," he continued. "He's the fastest out of all the animatronics, and gives practically no warning. If you hear his footsteps running, you'd better close that door." He switched the camera output again, and this time the screen went blank. Blank, but not silent. "That's the camera for the kitchen. According to the records, it's been broken for years."

Muta edged towards Haru. "And… what's that sound?"

"Just Chica messing about, I think," Brody answered. "As long as you can hear her, she's probably not going anywhere. It's when it gets quiet that you know she's on the move."

"Okay, so there's Chica, Foxy, Bonnie… So who, or what, I guess, was the bear I saw earlier?"

"That'll be Freddy. I guess you could call him the leader, if such a term could be applied to these creatures. As far as I can tell, they don't communicate, but I haven't exactly been testing that out." He switched the camera back to the one outside the left door, and now the corridor beyond seemed empty.

Haru shuffled towards the monitor and curiously began flicking through the cameras. Dining area. Supply closet. Show stage. Toilet corridor. Kitchen. Pirate Cove. The corridors on either side of the office. Backstage.

She paused over the last one, where rows of spare parts and empty animatronic suits sat silently in the dim darkness of the room. "And that's where…"

"That's where you'll get stuffed into a suit if you're caught, yes."

"This is gonna sound stupid–"

"Then why ask it, dumbo?"

"Shut up, birdbrain! But why can't ya just leave?"

"Leave how? There's no way I can keep an eye on the animatronics while I'm out of this office," Brody said. "I can't even call for help – there's practically no signal in this place."

"You can't," Haru said slowly, "but… if one of us left while you watched the monitor…"

Baron stepped forward. "Miss Haru, you can't–"

"Can't what? Brody, how long does the night shift last?"

"Until six. The animatronics stop then–"

"But that still gives us three hours. Three hours to survive on…" she looked back to the monitor, "on twenty percent power. I'm going to guess that's not nearly enough."

Brody nodded. "Once the power goes, we'll be left in the dark, with both doors open, and all four animatronics coming for us. Talking of which…" He switched the camera back to the one outside the left door of the office, and now Bonnie was nowhere to be seen. He muttered something less-than-savoury in relief, and released the lock. The door opened up again to reveal an empty corridor. "As I was saying, our chance of survival would be minimal."

"So there has to be something we can do before that happens, right?"

The chief inspector was quiet for a moment, instinctively flicking through the monitor outputs as he went. Then, "If I can contact the rest of my team, I could get them here to supply back-up. The signal outside this building is limited, but it would be an improvement on the complete lack here."

"Couldn't ya just use the ring and take us all back to that weird world, Chicky?"

Haru chuckled humourlessly. "I don't think so, Muta. I nearly passed out just from trying to carry you and Toto. I'm not sure… I'm not sure I could get us all safely back through the Wood Between Worlds."

"It would be best to avoid dabbling in magic we do not fully understand yet," Baron agreed. "However, Miss Haru, I do not think that it makes the use of the ring void. You are fully capable of returning back to the Sanctuary–"

"Alone? No way, Baron; I'm not going anywhere. You're going to need someone to get outside and contact Brody's team, aren't you?"

Here, even Brody looked sceptical. "Are you quite sure that you…?"

"I don't see how we're left with much option. You know how to run the monitor system and you know the habits of the animatronics; you're obviously the best person to keep watch on this end. And as for contacting your team, I'm not sure leaving it up to the cat and crow is such a good idea," she said, sweeping an arm towards Toto and Muta. "After all, they can hardly work a walkie-talkie or a phone."

"No. But I can."

All eyes abruptly turned to the cat Creation. He tipped his hat to them; a motion of the old Baron. "I will not risk any of you. I am the most suitable for the task at hand; I can work both a walkie-talkie and a phone, and I may also be able to pass by unnoticed by the animatronics. Chief Inspector Brody explained how it is theorised that the animatronics see humans as endoskeletons lacking an animatronic suit, which is why they have such a history of stuffing people into the spare suits. Given my appearance, it seems logical that they should overlook my presence."

"Yes, but you're only, what, a foot tall; you can't exactly hold either–" Haru began to remind him.

"You had the foresight to bring my spell–"

"Your imperfect spell," she curtly amended.

"Yes, but the size-altering aspect is all I require. And, as I've already highlighted, I will likely be of little risk of attack by the animatronics, in comparison to yourself. It seems I am, by far, the most suitable candidate." He paused in his logical analysis and tilted his head towards the lone human Bureau member. "Why are you worried, Haru? I would have thought you would be happy to see me helping again."

"I…" She hesitated. "Not like this."

"Well, whatever we're doing, we better come to an agreement soon," Brody broke in. He leant back from the monitor he was keeping track of. "Whoever's going should get going before we get company."

Haru shook her head. "Alright. Okay. Baron, you should go." She fished out the page – now becoming steadily more tattered as it was dragged around from case to case – and passed the enchanted paper over to the Creation. "But don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it."

He nodded and hopped off the desk; in the same instant he activated the spell and landed onto the floor, now half a head taller than Haru and still half-feline.

That, and also shirtless.

Haru abruptly broke into a full flush and was suddenly finding the floor oh so very interesting. Mumbling inarticulate gibberish, she stumbled back, thus putting some much-desired distance between herself and the tawny-furred chest. Her eyes instinctively glanced down and were very relieved to see that his lower attire had grown with him. Eventually, her brain kicked back into gear and she reined in her slack jaw. "Baron," she coughed. "Your clothes…"

Muta snickered. "Looks like the magic didn't work so great, huh?" He prodded an extended claw at a familiar miniature bow tie, vest, and jacket that had been lost in the spell. He snickered again and nudged Haru. "Don't see why you're complaining, Chicky."

"Muta!" Haru was horrified – with the blush to confirm it – but Brody was already fishing a spare security guard jacket out of the box and throwing it towards Baron. The Creation looked very thankful as he pulled it over his shoulders. His chest was still partly visible, but it was a start.

"Thank you, Chief Inspector." He gave a cough and Haru was partly comforted by the fact that her embarrassment was shared, if the hint of a blush was anything to go by. He caught her eye, and their mutual embarrassment gave way to grins. For a moment, a spark of the old Baron broke through.

"So, what happened?" Muta asked. He continued to prod at the forgotten clothes, which Baron promptly swept back up and pocketed. "That didn't happen last time… did it?"

"No. I must have… have made a mistake in the spell." Suddenly, the spark disappeared and Baron was straightening up; he automatically made to straighten his hat also, but that had been one of the spell's causalities. For a moment, his hand hung useless where the hat's brim would usually rest, and then dropped down to tug at the new jacket's collar. "Chief Inspector, if you would give me the walkie-talkie and the phone… Which door should I take?"

Brody passed across the electronics, and then pulled the monitor back towards him. "It looks like Foxy is getting fidgety again, so I suggest you take the right one; the left will take you right past him and, trust me, you don't want him chasing after you."

"I second that," Haru added.

"If you take the right corridor, it will lead you to the dining area. Then, to your right, there should be three sets of doors – two of them lead to the restrooms and one to the kitchen. If you do find yourself chased, avoid the kitchen – I have no visual, only audio for that place – and don't go for the backstage area either. There's no point making it even easier for them to stuff you." He switched the camera from the backstage to the dining area. "And you should have no problem spotting the exit from there."

Baron nodded. "Understood."

"Hey, wait." Haru opened up her bag and withdrew her heavy duty torch. "Take this too – I think the light last time slowed Foxy down and… well, if that doesn't work, it's still pretty good club."

Once upon a time, that might have elicited a chuckle from the Creation. All that it earned now was a glance to the offered torch, which was then gently taken from her. "Thank you, Miss Haru."

'And… now we've slid right back.' Externally Haru tried to smile. "Welcome. Now get going. You've got some saving to be doing." She watched him nod in return and then start down the darkened corridor.

Once he was gone, the half-hearted smile slipped away.

"Right, it seems Chica is in the kitchen still, Foxy's in Pirate Cove, Bonnie is in the supply closet… and Freddy is in the backstage area," Brody summarised down the walkie-talkie, flicking through the cameras. On more than one occasion, the mentioned animatronic was staring straight into the screen. Haru fought back the shivers and just kept her gaze on the monitor.

"So I should have a clear run to the exit," Baron replied down the line.

"Yes, but I wouldn't advise running… Wait."

There was a crackle down the line as Baron activated the reply button on his device. "What?"

"Freddy has moved."

"Where to?"

"I'm looking," Brody hissed. He shifted through the cameras, becoming increasingly frustrated as there was still no sign of the bear. Momentarily the monitor changed to the hallway which Baron stood, the walkie-talkie raised to an ear as he slowly crept onwards. And then it switched to Pirate Cove, where the nose of Foxy was poking out. "Crud."

"Who's on the move?"

"Foxy. I think you'd better get back here–"

"No. I can see the exit. I can reach it."

Brody growled some more expletives that Haru failed to catch, and shifted the monitor to show the dining area. True enough, there was Baron. Walking as calmly as he dared along the far right side. After a moment, Brody instinctively began to switch between the other cameras. Both halls… empty. Supply closet… empty.

Kitchen… quiet.

"Fuck." Brody snatched up the walkie-talkie, switching the monitor to the dining area again. "Baron, get moving now. I think Chica is about to leave the kitchen, and I've lost track of Bonnie…" He trailed off as he spotted the lurking purple form of Bonnie standing in the far left corner of the dining area. Where Baron was. And, somehow, Freddy had moved to the main stage which overlooked the same food hall.

Both were still and quiet, but their heads were clearly focused on the Creation creeping along the room.

This time, Brody could only mouth the expletive words needed to express the situation.

On the screen, it was clear that Baron had now spotted the newcomers also. He slowly straightened himself up to his full height and continued his steady pace onwards. And then something caught his attention and he turned around to stare at something beyond the camera's site.

He froze. And then, carefully, oh-so-carefully, he brought the walkie-talkie to his lips.

"Chief Inspector… I believe I know where Chica is…"

Haru, meanwhile, was keeping watch on the other two animatronics. While Baron watched Chica evidently leaving the kitchen, she saw Bonnie and Freddy start to move. She snatched the walkie-talkie from Brody.

"Baron! Get going!"

"We… We have no knowledge that they mean me harm…" Baron tried weakly.

"NOW!"

Her scream came in time to jolt Baron into action. At the same moment he started running, there was a blur of red. The gangly form of Foxy ran – and how it ran! – between Baron and the exit. Baron stumbled back, and now Chica was moving into the camera's picture. He stumbled back and his hands fumbled for a set of doors behind him.

He fell back into the restroom as Foxy's hook swung inches away from his skin.

Baron slammed the door shut, and now he disappeared from the sight of all and any cameras. The animatronics began to converge on the door, completely forgetting the people in the office now.

"I've come to the conclusion that they do mean harm," Baron said. There was a weak chuckle down the line, accompanied by the sound of Baron sliding down against the door. A moment later there was the jarring cacophony as the animatronics began to knock at the door.

"Congrats for the update," Muta snorted.

"If you stay there, the animatronics should lose interest," Brody said. "That's their usual pattern when they attack the office. Can you make the door secure?"

"I have my back against it and my legs locked against the wall," Baron replied. "It's as secure as I can make it under the current circumstances."

"That'll have to do then." Brody released the speaking button on the device and leant back to stare morosely at the monitor.

"So… that's it?" Haru demanded. "We just wait it out?"

"I'm afraid so. The animatronics shouldn't be able to reach him, and if we went to help we would quickly find ourselves in a similar situation."

"I thought it was agreed they wouldn't go for him," Muta said.

"Evidently that was a mistake."

Haru felt her legs weaken, and suddenly she had dropped down to sit on the floor. "A mistake that could have cost Baron his life," she said.

"Geez, Chicky; no need for the melodramatics."

Brody swivelled the monitor round so that the Bureau could see it clearly, and then moved his chair round so he could get a better look at his impromptu guests. "What happened?"

"Geez, weren't you watching? You had the monitor in ya hands – shouldn't you be the one in the know?"

The inspector waved Muta's remarks away. "I didn't mean that. I meant, what has happened to him?" He glanced over to the screen, where the animatronics were still crowding the door. Even from the office, they could hear the sound of them pounding on the door. "He is not the same Creation I remember."

"There was an… incident," Toto said. He landed on Haru's shoulder, bringing him more to Brody's eye level. "He was taken away to another world, which then attempted to condition him against helping others."

"It was only three days for us," Haru continued, "but for him… it was three months. By the time we got to him… well, you can see the damage."

"Nothing was working with him," the boy had said. "I had to be extreme."

Brody nodded as if such an explanation made perfect sense. Then again, where the Bureau was concerned, there weren't many explanations that didn't sound far-fetched. "Harm like that will take a lot of work to undo."

"Yeah, we've figured that out for ourselves, thanks," Muta snorted. "It's why he ended up doing stupid stuff like running off here alone. And he's enough work when he's thinking rationally too."

"He's afraid to drag us into this," Haru said. She was staring at the screen, reassured by the fact that the restroom door wasn't giving way, but also uneasy for every second the animatronics lingered there. "That's why he went alone. He's trying to help, but he's afraid that we'll be harmed in the process."

'Just like the version of myself in Cap's world,' her mind added.

"It's why the spell went even more awry than usual," Toto said. "You cannot perform magic without confidence in your ability; in Baron's current state, it gave way halfway through."

Haru's gaze dropped away, her fingers playing over the straps to her bag. "We can't just stick around here for the next three hours and hope for the best. I don't think those animatronics are going to be going anywhere, and we can't just leave Baron stuck in there–"

"What else do you suggest, Chicky? Nothing good's gonna come out of charging in there – and if you get hurt, Baron's gonna blame himself for it."

"I know, but even so…" Her eyes finally focused on the contents of her bag, including the lapis lazuli stone that she had careless thrown in earlier. She began to draw it out, and then hesitated. "How…? How did exorcists manage to stop the attacks last time if these are Creations?" she asked. "You said they can only expel ghosts and spirits."

"I'd guess that these were not always Creations," Toto suggested.

"They weren't," Brody agreed. "We believe that the animatronics were originally possessed by the souls of four murdered children, which were then exorcised after many years of attacking the night guard. When the Creation magic was released, the animatronics absorbed it and were… for want of a better word, reanimated. The souls are no longer present, but the animatronics are going through the same actions they did as when they were possessed."

"So… would this work?" Haru brought out the lapis lazuli. She turned to Toto, who probably had the best understanding of the stone after Baron.

"Yes, but such magic takes time."

Muta snickered. "Basically, you'd be chased before you had a chance."

"But – assuming I had enough time to get close enough – could I work this?" she persisted. "I know my magic is portal magic, but I can activate potential magic, right? I managed to activate Baron's human spell before."

"I expect so," Toto admitted. "Once you open up the lapis lazuli vein, it automatically identifies your magic and starts to draw in all foreign magic. The foreign magic can resist, however."

"Which is why it can take time," Haru realised.

The walkie-talkie buzzed with the static sound of Baron activating the talk mode on his device, shaking the group from their conversation. The static continued to fizzle even as Baron spoke. "Haru…" he said. "Can I talk to… Haru?"

Brody shrugged and passed across the walkie-talkie.

"Hello, Baron. How are you doing?"

"As well as can be expected under the circumstances." There was a thud as one of the animatronics banged a fist against the door. Baron paused, and Haru just about heard the wince before he continued. "Miss Haru… I'm afraid I haven't been entirely honest with you. I've been selfish."

"You? Selfish?" Haru echoed weakly. She shifted her position so she was sitting against the wall, her legs tucked up against her chest. "I find that hard to believe."

"I have neglected to tell you the whole truth, all because I did not want to see you go. Miss Haru, do you remember my future self you met last year?"

"The one from the parallel world? How could I forget?"

"He gave me a warning that, in his timeline, he had lost his Haru. He was only a year ahead of us, and now a year has passed, and with every day that ticks by you are placed in greater danger. I know the source of the danger, and there is nothing I can do to remove it; the only option I have left is to warn you away–"

"If you think that's going to work, you've got another thing coming," Haru retorted. "Baron, I have always known the risk I took upon myself when I joined the Bureau. The same goes for yourself, and Toto, and Muta. We all know that the work we do isn't always easy or safe, but that doesn't mean we have to give up." She verbally staggered to a halt as her sight blurred. She caught the oncoming tears with her free hand. Crying? She was crying? "It is not your decision what I do."

"But, I have put you in danger–"

"Do you think you're the only one?! Yes, Baron, sometimes your choices lead us into dangerous situations, but it is our decision to follow you there." She snorted, smearing away the tears as she went. "Baron, there have been many times when I've put you in danger too – if it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have given Mary your rose. She nearly killed you that day. If it hadn't been for me bringing back that box, you wouldn't have been taken to Cap's world in the first place. If it hadn't been for me leaving a semi-activated portal in my room, Hiromi would never have been spirited away to Oz, would never have been decapitated, and would never have been left with the dormant magic that is now floating about in the newly-awoken Creations that have been causing such havoc. Don't you dare play the blame game with me, Baron, because I will rip you to shreds."

There was a long, long pause. Haru might have thought that Baron had turned off the walkie-talkie's speaker, if it hadn't been for the continuous sound of the animatronics battering at the door. She swallowed back the fresh wave of guilt and brought the device back up to her lips.

"It's my fault you're in this mess," she whispered.

"Haru… I didn't know you saw things that way…"

"I need you to trust in me, because sometimes I don't have the strength to. Don't you understand?" Fudge. Now she was crying again, and this time the sobs caught in her voice. "We need you. We all need you. I… I need you. We're not just a team… we're friends. And friends rely on each other. So, please, let us help. We're all here because we care for you."

"I… understand."

A watery smile rose to Haru's lips. "Do you?"

"Yes. Do you have a plan?"

"Sort of. We think I can use the lapis lazuli to remove the new Creation magic, but I'd need to be able to get close enough to do that."

There was another pause, and Haru could almost hear the internal calculations going on at Baron's end as he tried to determine just how risky that was for her. She could sense the disapproval, which was then battling against Haru's plea for him to trust in her.

"Something doesn't make sense here," Muta said.

"Is that really a surprise, pudding-brain?"

"Shuddup, ya chicken. I mean, why do the animatronics only attack at night?"

"How long have you been sitting on that question, fatso?"

"Wait – he has a point," Haru interjected. She looked to Brody. "Do they only attack at night?"

"Yes."

"Which means… they've only ever attacked the security night guards?"

"Yes… because they're the only ones here at night."

"Maybe. Maybe not." She was staggering back to her feet, swinging her bag over her shoulder and dropping the lapis lazuli back into its depths. "But that gives me an idea. Baron!" She hoisted the walkie-talkie back to her lips and shouted down the line. "Take off the guard's jacket!"

"Geez, Chicky; there's a time and a place."

"It's nothing like that!" Haru snapped, reddening at the mere implication. "Baron, did you hear me? I need you to take off the jacket!"

"Yes, but why–?"

"I have a theory!" She started towards the door, shoving the walkie-talkie back in Brody's direction. "Muta, Toto, you can come if you want… Brody, I think you'd better stay here."

The Chief Inspector suddenly looked like he had cottoned on to her idea. "Okay. But what if your theory is wrong?"

She gave a rueful grin. "Well then, I guess I'll just have to improvise." She turned and ran down the corridor, Toto close at her shoulder.

Muta stared after them, and then began plodding behind. "Why all the running?" he muttered.

Haru was already skidding into the dining area where, as the monitor had shown, all four animatronics were crowded round the restroom door. "Hey!" She jumped up, waving her arms in the air. "Hey, you!"

"Are… Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Toto asked, landing uneasily on her shoulder.

"We're about to find out." She waved again, and now all four pairs of glazed eyes were turning in her direction. A little of her confident façade began to crumble and her waving arm slowed. "I really hope I'm right… Just… don't make any sudden moves, Toto."

Foxy was the first to move. With a speed that wasn't as fast as before – but could still outrun her – he swooped over to the human. Haru swayed backwards, but didn't step away. Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes flickered to the hook that served as a hand; it now rested at his side but she wasn't so quick to forget how it nearly taken a swipe out of Baron.

The rabbit and chicken – Bonnie and Chica respectively – were the next to approach. They didn't possess the sharp teeth or hook that the fox did, but they still hulked over her. She felt Muta slink along next to her, keeping low to the ground to avoid notice.

"Please don't stuff me in a suit… Please don't stuff me in a suit…" she breathed. "Please don't…" She trailed off as the final animatronic join his companions. "You didn't attack me before," she whispered, almost pleadingly. "And it wasn't just because you didn't have enough time. You don't attack people, do you? Only night guards."

"Haru?" Upon hearing the onslaught against the door cease, Baron had taken the risk to investigate. He now stood in the open doorway, horrified at the rest of the Bureau surrounded by the animatronics. Like Haru had asked, he had removed the jacket. "Haru? What are you doing?"

"It's… It's okay, I think." Without removing her eyes from the animatronics, she reached out a hand towards him. "They're not attacking anymore."

Baron slowly approached them, dropping his hand into hers. He had left the walkie-talkie, phone, and torch in the restroom, along with the discarded jacket. His bare hand – for once devoid of his usual white gloves – curled around hers. The bear – Freddy – glanced to him, and then away.

"What… did you do?"

"Nothing. I just figured that they've only ever attacked night guards."

"So you decided to test that out?" he whispered, reaching new levels of horror at Haru's foolishness. "Do you have any idea how reckless that was?"

She glanced over to him. "Hark who's talking." She tightened her grip on his hand, grinning weakly. "Anyway, it wasn't entirely theory. Freddy didn't attack me before. And I think Foxy was only trying to get into the office; we were just in the way."

"But, even so…"

"Guys… What at they waiting for?" Muta abruptly asked. "What are they standing around like that for? I mean, it's great and all that they're not attacking, but… could we do something to stop them staring like that? It's creeping me out."

Haru slowly brought her bag to one side, and retrieved the lapis lazuli. She looked over to Baron. "Together?"

He nodded. "Together."

He stepped over to her, and they each took a half of the stone. In opening it, Haru felt the magic tug at her own. For a moment, the stone searched for magic unlike hers or Baron's, and then focused on Toto at her shoulder. She started to panic, but then Baron's more active magic took over and began to guide it towards the animatronics before them. She caught his eye and grinned in thanks for the help.

And he grinned back.

Blue tendrils of Creation magic began to gather at the joints and mouths of the animatronics, but there it lingered.

"Something's… Something's holding it back…" This wasn't what happened with Guertena's painting. The magic wouldn't release. "Baron, what do we do?" She glanced over to him, and saw panic creeping into his eyes. "Baron!"

He broke from his wide-eyed stare, but a little of the fear remained. "They don't understand what's going on," he breathed. "They're resisting."

"Yeah, of course they're confused," Muta muttered. "They were possessed by kids, right? They must be scared stiff."

"The souls moved on years ago, you moron. Weren't you listening?"

"Yes… but the Creation magic animated them as if they were possessed again," Haru said. The hand holding the lapis lazuli dropped to one side and she stepped towards the animatronics. They watched her in what she felt was a wary manner; uneasy but unmoving. "Perhaps Muta's right. Perhaps they are just kids."

"Yeah, but they're also kids who stuffed people into empty suits," the fat cat reminded her.

"There has to be a reason for that," Haru insisted. "Maybe… Maybe a night guard was the one who murdered them. Maybe they became lost in revenge. But it's okay now…" She felt their gazes focus solely on her and now her words were only for the lost children. "You don't have to do this anymore. The person who killed you isn't here. He can't hurt you anymore."

Through the stone, she felt the magic loosen from the animatronics.

"You've done enough, don't you think? It's time to rest now. It's time to sleep. It's time to let go…"

The blue mist rose up from the animatronics and drifted towards Haru and Baron. The creatures wound down, the light from their eyes dimming as the Creation-created souls left their being. The magic split between Haru and Baron, being drawn into the lapis lazuli, but the magic lingered just a little longer about Haru. For a rare moment, she was engulfed in the magic of the animatronics and, through the shadows, she saw the echoes of the children's lives. They were only glimpses – laughter at the beach, friends at school, parties at the restaurant… but they all converged on a dark night.

The last of the magic disappeared into the stone and the images disappeared. Suddenly the scene was quiet and still; just the Bureau and the now-lifeless forms of the animatronics. Haru stumbled over to a wall and sank to the ground, hands over her mouth as she choked back the tears.

"Haru?"

"Did you see it?" she asked. "Did you see their lives flash before your eyes?"

Baron gently knelt down beside her. "No. No, they showed only you that."

"Those poor children. The guard killed them and then stuffed their bodies into the animatronics," she gagged, the images rolling through her mind again and again. "Who does that? Who- Who does that sort of thing?"

"A sicko, that's who." Muta trundled over to her and sat down beside her. "No wonder they attacked all the night guards."

"We did a good thing, Haru," Baron assured her. "Those children needed rest."

"It was driving them crazy," she whispered. "They were in so much pain…"

"Then why show you something that nasty, Chicky?"

"I think… I think they wanted me to understand. I think they wanted someone to know."

"Is everything okay? Is it finished?" Brody came running into the dining area, eyes immediately focusing on the still forms of the animatronics. "Did it work?"

"Hey, look – more stupid questions being asked," Muta snorted. "What does it look like, dumbo?"

"Yes, the plan worked," Baron said. He gently helped Haru back to her feet. "The animatronics should be back to normal now." He glanced down to Haru. "Thanks to Miss Haru."

She grinned and pointedly prodded him in the side. "It's just Haru to you, Baron."

Suddenly, both remembered that Baron had discarded the guard's jacket and, thus, was back to his shirtless state. Haru abruptly withdrew her hand. Baron, caught up in the same acute embarrassment, abruptly released her without warning and almost jumped away.

There was a kerfuffle as Haru lost her balance and slipped straight down onto the floor.

"Baron!"

"Haru!"

Brody watched the scene with eyebrows that were slowly crawling up his face. "Is… everything okay?" he repeated.

"It's fine." Haru was getting back to her feet and dusting herself off. Her cheeks were still bright red, but she managed to spare a glare to the feline Creation. "You didn't have to drop me quite so fast."

"Sorry, Haru." He offered a hand, which Haru took to steady herself.

"No bones broken." A grin caught at the lips of her mouth and then spread, like wildfire, across. She moved forward as if to hug him, and then remembered his shirtless state. "It's good to see you again, Baron. Just… put a shirt on or something. Please."

ooOoo

"I see you found a shirt."

Haru threw Muta a withering look as she helped Baron write up the case report. "Muta, that joke is already getting old. Can you give it a rest?"

"I don't think you understand how funny it was."

"It… It really wasn't that funny, Muta," Baron weakly protested.

"You dropped her! You ruddy pushed her onto the floor when you remembered you didn't have a shirt! How is that NOT funny?"

"And it's another cake-free week for you," Haru muttered. She leant away from the desk – even as Muta began some rather vocal complaints – and raised an eyebrow to Baron. "He is right though. You did drop me."

"I merely… released hold of you without prior warning."

"That floor was uncomfortable."

"I miscalculated. I believed you would be stable enough to hold your own weight once I released you." He started to shuffle through one of the desk drawers, putting away the lapis lazuli as he found it.

"What…? What are we going to do with it?" Haru asked. She nodded to the stone. "I mean, it's full of magic, and it's going to keep on getting fuller of magic, so are we just going to leave it here or what…?"

"We have little other choice. We saw what happened last time the magic was released. It's too dangerous to be allowed to go free."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't use it," Muta chuckled from behind the latest newspaper. "What?" he demanded upon receiving curious looks from both Haru and Baron. "Sometimes I do listen to what you and the birdbrain talk about. You said something about it being used to boost your own power."

"In small doses, Muta," Baron amended. Now it was his turn to receive a curious look from Haru. "I was merely hypothesising the use of the extra magic to finalise the temporary human spell," he explained. "The root of the issue with the spell as it is now is that I do not possess enough magic to turn fully human. However, with the magic the stone currently contains, I believe I could achieve humanity for an hour at a time."

"Really?"

"You sound happy at the thought, Chicky."

"I… well, you know, it'll be… helpful. Being human."

"Uh-huh." Muta gave a knowing grin and tucked his head back behind the newspaper. "Sure. That's what you like about the idea."

Haru fought back the blush and, instead, made a face in Muta's general direction.

"I saw that, Chicky?"

"How? You're reading the paper!"

"Cat senses."

"Liar."

An alarm went off on Haru's phone, warning her of a shift at the pet store in half an hour. She gathered up her belongings, stuffing them into her bag as she went. "Ah, no. I've gotta go otherwise I'm going to be late. Again." She swung her bag over her shoulder as she started towards the door, but paused before she even reached the handle.

She ran back across the room and threw her arms around Baron. She pulled him into a hug, savouring the ever-familiar scent of tea and mint.

"Don't leave us like that again," she whispered. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

Slowly, he returned the embrace. "I won't. I promise."

ooOoo

Inspired by: Five Nights At Freddy's. Created by Scott Cawthorn.

(Also, at the time, I didn't realise I would be borrowing two 'horror' games for this series. That's just how the dice roll when it comes to plot bunnies sometimes. You don't question the bunnies. Count yourself lucky I didn't discover Undertale until it was too late.)

So, I know some people don't like FNAF, other people don't find it scary, and others are now deadly afraid of dimly-lit open doorways. (And a few lucky individuals may have no idea what I'm talking about at all.) Whatever is your opinion on the game, my aim was to take the concept (and... uh, borrow the characters) to create a case for the Bureau to solve. This case isn't meant to be a theory for the game; this is just me playing around with an idea to amuse myself (and hopefully you guys).

ooOoo

Next story: Linked

Teaser: "Baron, I think it's time you told me exactly what happened to Louise." / "I think I might know where the Duke is." / "A collection for magical and fantastical creatures," Haru said. She glanced to Baron. "So where does that leave you, Baron? What if the owner wants to collect you too?" / The last person she would ever imagine getting caught up in magic or fantastical creatures now stood in the doorway of Keightley's office.