They're free. Taking another large breath of fresh air, Mike exhales and glances at Foxy and Bonnie. They both stare at him expectantly, as if waiting for something. Of course. They're going to look at me for guidance. They've forgotten how the human world works. It makes Mike wonder exactly how long they've been stuck in the pizzeria and how much time they've wasted.

Since he's out of the pizzeria, he would already be setting across the parking lot in determination of living his new life, but there's something missing. More specifically someone. "Where's Chica?" Mike asks, scanning the dark outside. Did she sneak out already? Or is she still inside?

They all glance at the window, and Mike sighs when he doesn't see Chica's form inside the building. Why did she have to wander when they're so close to being free from Freddy's grasp?

"Where did she go?" Foxy wonders, his ears alert for her voice. Bonnie nervously eyes the window, his mind stuck on a certain idea.

"Hold on, let me look. She's probably in the kitchen paying tribute to the stove or something," Mike says in a soothing voice, even though inside he feels uncertainty of this weird situation. "Stay put, okay? I don't want to have to worry about you guys being lost in there, too."

While he heads towards the window, the other two stay put like he asked them to.

I never thought I'd be returning here after I had the chance to leave, Mike thinks, his eyes scanning the empty main stage. Hopefully, she hasn't wandered off too far, because Mike wants to get the hell out of this place as soon as possible. If they leave soon enough, maybe Freddy won't follow them and know about their whereabouts. Freddy will become a distant memory and terrible nightmare material, but he'll be out of their lives forever. But he has to hurry.

"Chica!" he calls out, his hands cupped around his mouth. His robotic voice echoes a few times before disappearing entirely in the bleak room.

There's not a reply, and he feels a twinge of worry. Either she wanted to say a proper goodbye to the place, or Freddy did something to her.

Freddy should've already known he lost the battle, that there is no redemption. His own actions killed his image. But why is he still fighting? Freddy can't think he has another chance. If he does realize that his image is permanently ruined, then he must be feeling desperate. Mike doesn't want to know what the bear will do when he's hit that point.

Quietly hopping inside, Mike pads across the stage and feels an eerie presence gnaw at his skin. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, everything looks the same as it was minutes before, but something feels off. "Chica?" he calls out again, but there's no reply. "Where is that chicken?"

She's not on the main stage, so Mike leaps off the platform, mind going through the possibilities of her possible whereabouts. Since the spirit has disappeared, he can't track where Chica is, nor Freddy. And he can't run into that psycho bear, always he'll be in some sort of trouble and forced to stay.

Before he moves, his eyes catch sight of a familiar book. It was moved from its previous place and thrown haphazardly beside the stage, as if someone was reading it then promptly left. Cautiously, Mike grabs the book and opens up the cover. Something compels him to see what's inside. His mouth opens slightly when he reads what's written in red pen on the front page, something that wasn't there before.

"THEIR LOCATION: LIMA. BEACH HOUSE. USED MY ALLOWANCE. EVERYONE THERE."

"He knows," Mike whispers, setting the book down onto the dirty floor in disbelief. The only time they talked about Peru was when Golden came and explained everything, then promptly warning them afterwards to never to speak a word of it. They all feared that Freddy would use the spirit to find out about their conversation. Golden Freddy put up protective shields in the guard's room so Freddy couldn't overhear. They were strong ones, Mike can remember. They crackled a strong energy. But was it enough? Golden mentioned that the spirit was bubbly because Bonnie didn't use it often. Was the spirit already falling apart then? Is that why Freddy knows?

Certainly Freddy will be following them all their lives. God damn it. Mike lets those feelings of ire build up in him. Maybe I can kill Freddy today. I can't live and constantly watch my back for him.

Not dwelling on it any longer, Mike decides to continue the search. Into the kitchen, and just like the stage, it's barren. There's not even a smell to identify anything. Scrutinizing the room, Mike notices that everything's devoid of color and personality, kind of like it doesn't exist at all.

The place is in ruins. And just like Freddy, there's no hope of redemption.

Mike watches a small ball of dust float up into the air, illuminated by the light as it moves along, and drift calmly back down to the ground.

Heading down the hallway towards the guard's room, Mike feels irritation run through him. Why had he assumed that Freddy would sulk in the back, nursing his wounds while they left? It never would've been that simple. Freddy always has something up his sleeve.

I should've been the last one to leave, not the first one. What was I thinking? Mike growls at these thoughts. Problems like these wouldn't have occurred if he did so.

The light bulbs above flicker in warning. While Mike heads down the dark hallway, he passes a window. Something outside moves, making him pauses and squint his brown eyes. There's a man outside, an unfamiliar person with a black cap on his dark hair. He's taller in height and with a lean frame. From this angle, Mike can see Foxy and Bonnie eyeing the mysterious man warily.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Mike mumbles, staring at the man curiously. Any other time wouldn't have been as odd as now. Shaking his head, he continues his searching. There's no time in figuring out why that guy's here. Chica's the main concern, not some random dude. He's probably drunk, anyways.

Getting closer to the guard's room, Mike hears a small squeaking sound. This sends a wave of panic down his body. Picking up the pace, he flies down the hallway and he gawks when he comes across the locked door of the office. The metal protector is down; there's no way to get in. The window is covered with newspapers, making it impossible for outsiders to look in.

"Freddy! Let her out!" Mike yells, slamming his fists against the window, shaking the glass. What could he be doing to her in there? This thought makes Mike almost hysterical.

"Mike!" Chica shouts, her voice full of fear. Something loud scratches against the ground, causing Mike's ears to flatten against his head. "Help me!"

"That will not be happening," Freddy chuckles darkly. "When you're in here, I know you're safe."

Safe from what? "Why are you doing this?!" Mike shouts in reply, ceasing the banging. His voice hitches when Chica sobs. "What did she ever do to you? If you want someone as your punching bag, let it be me! I caused all of this to happen, not Chica!"

"I'm aware of that, but you were already outside. She was the only one left." Freddy sighs and his figure draws near the window, casting a shadow on the newspapers. "Most certainly she's not my punching bag, but my family. Something's keeping her here, I know it. I'm not allowing her to listen to your asinine statements about 'starting over'. It already is over. It was all over for us when we were reincarnated. The human in us is gone, just like our lives in the human world. It's a terrible place that will shove you deeper into the dirt until you crave death."

"You're wrong," Mike growls, smashing his fist on the window. He wants to smile when Freddy's shadow flinches. "There's proof in front of you but you purposely look away. You refuse to move forward. You're stuck in a memory that's long passed. I know that you were abused in your younger years, but those events happened years ago. Those people that hurt you probably grew up and regret doing those things to you."

"I doubt it," Freddy snarls back. "They enjoyed torturing me."

"People grow up! And those assholes were one little chunk of the human population. Sure, there's going to be dickheads in this world, there always will be, but there's more good than bad. You can't base the whole human population on those few select people that hurt you!"

"What do you know?" Freddy bellows, his voice enraged. "I've been through numerous scarring events from adults and children alike! The human world is a messy place, and I will not allow any of you to become hurt by humans! They're all evil!"

He's blinded by the past, Mike thinks. "Freddy, humans are born good. Why do you think babies are so loving? They aren't born evil. Something must've corrupted them while they were maturing for them to turn out the way they are, from watching their parents' behavior to society's effect on them. The human world isn't a bad place. It will be a bad place if you choose to think negatively and ignore the goodness that's right in your face."

Freddy's shadow disappears from the window and Mike angrily shouts at his aloof behavior, "So if humans are all bad, then what about me? What about Chica, Bonnie, and Foxy? Are they terrible people?" At no reply, leaving Chica's quiet sobs audible, he screams, "ANSWER ME! ARE WE BAD JUST BECAUSE WE WERE HUMAN?"

"I'm done listening to you!" Freddy yells. "Chica will be staying with me! She's not emotionally strong enough to leave! I don't want to see any of you go, but I know that you all think badly of me. I can't help that. But I will not let Chica become corrupted by the outside world!"

"If you don't open the door, I'll break through the window!" Mike warns, his jaw tense. I'm through listening to this bullcrap!

"No! That's what he wants!" Chica shouts. Her voice is shaky when she pleads, "You'll need the others to help you. If you do it alone, then you'll be stuck in here, too!"

Why is Freddy letting you speak so openly? Did he tell you to say this? Mike wonders. It's true that if he breaks in, Freddy will more than likely force him to stay using whatever method he used with Chica. He'll need the others, for sure. Chica's words must be her own.

"I'll be right back," Mike assures, backing away from the window. Retracing his steps to the main stage window, he sticks his head out and yells, "Chica needs help! Freddy's got her!"

At no reply, Mike shouts again, desperate for an answer. Where did they go? The bunny and fox are nowhere to be seen. "Did they leave without me?" he asks himself, eyes wide with disbelief. How could things have turned chaotic so easily?

Sure enough, they're gone. Not a trace of them is here. Maybe they're already in their human forms, exploring the houses up the street, or they could be hiding somewhere close by and cannot hear his words. Either way, they've left Mike alone and defenseless.

For now, he'll have to believe that they've left, leaving him here alone with Freddy and Chica. There's only one option, and Mike takes a deep breath. It hasn't turned out well when he's done it before, but he at least has to try.

"Looks like I have to face Freddy myself."

They tiptoe quietly, careful not to step on any branches or leaves. Bonnie takes the lead, his eye set on the man in front of him. Who wears a baseball cap at night, anyways? He's never seen this man before and is merely curious about what he's up to. Mike told him to stay, but what's the chances that this man suddenly appeared out of nowhere when this is happening? Something else is going on, and he wants to know what.

The pizzeria isn't his responsibility anymore, but he still wants to know what this guy is so interested in. The building? The animatronics? Or, because the spirit doesn't work anymore, the cries and yells that have been invading the quiet night? They're Mike's, but they're angry yells, not shouts of fear. Freddy's probably pissing him off. I hope he can get through everything, because he's on his own for now.

Foxy's behind Bonnie, his tail sweeping the ground, shuffling the dead, brown leaves. One thing he found out while being on adventures with Mike in the pizzeria was that he can easily creep around soundlessly if he walks on four paws. Well, three paws and one hook. His muzzle crinkles when he catches the smell of sweat from the man.

Currently, they're around the opposite side of the building. They're close to the front parking lot, where the grass is starting to rot. The man hasn't stepped a foot on the concrete in favor of creeping around in the grass, and so has Bonnie and Foxy. It's easy to hide doing so.

"Foxy!" Bonnie hisses when the fox steps on a small stick. The man halts in his steps at the cracking noise, and Bonnie signals for them to stop. Turning around, the man looks in their direction, his sweaty forehead shining under the moonlight. His hands shake as he briskly heads towards the sound. Now, he doesn't bother hiding himself. With every step, his shoes crush against the leaves.

"Don't move," Bonnie whispers. If they suddenly run for it, the man will surely know that something was following them. But if they stand still, maybe the man won't see them and think the sound was from an animal…

Bonnie lowers his body, hiding behind the bush. Foxy stands completely still, staring at the man with curiosity. They don't move when the man approaches them cautiously and gives the both of them, deep in their eyes, a long stare.

"This is weird. How did you two get out of the pizzeria?" the man asks himself. When Foxy suddenly sneezes, he backs away with surprise, almost tripping over his shoes in the process.

He's already seen us, so why not get some information on him, Bonnie thinks, watching the clumsy man. There's no use in hiding now.

The man's eyes open in surprise when Bonnie and Foxy emerge from the undercover.

"Hi, human. What's your name?" Foxy asks, getting up on his two legs and hiding his hook behind his back. Already the man looks frightened enough to wet his pants, and Foxy doesn't want to give him another reason to fear them.

"Y-You can talk?!" the man whispers in horror, taking a step backwards.

"Yeah, we can. I'm Bonnie, and he's Foxy. What's yours?" Bonnie asks, examining the man. He wanted to add, "Why are you wearing a baseball cap when it's almost midnight?", but he refrains from doing so.

"Erm, Jeremy," he stutters, nervously glancing between the two. "All I ask is that you don't hurt me. All I was sent here to do was to examine the building's condition," he adds, holding his hands up in surrender.

"At midnight?" Bonnie asks, detecting the lie. Not that he was born an expert at detecting fibs, but his old friends used to lie constantly. It was a common occurrence between them, and Bonnie used to believe each and every one of them. That is, until he could figure out just by their tone of voice and facial expressions if they were telling the truth or not. "Wouldn't it be easier to do that when it's daylight out?"

"Yes, I suppose so, but my company controls when I do my fieldwork," Jeremy explains, placing his hands deep in his pockets.

"That sounds like a shady business t' me," Foxy adds.

"It's a unique business to say the least." Shaking his head, Jeremy mutters, "I can't believe I'm talking to animatronics. I shouldn't have drank that extra bottle… God, I hate hallucinations."

Not bothering to contradict his untrue statement, Bonnie asks, "Why are you really here? I know you're lying about something, so just spit it out. If it's about remodeling the pizzeria or tearing it down, we don't care. We're leaving this place, anyways."

"Really?" Jeremy breathes a sigh of relief, visibly calming. "That's what it was about. Apparently, the state doesn't want us to wreck the building, but let it 'go on its own.' They wouldn't even explain why, either. My boss wasn't the happiest about it, so he sent me to do the dirty work." Pointing to the side of the street, he says nonchalantly, "My truck is hidden over there, and I have fireworks hidden in the back. If you remember, fireworks exploded a few months ago. I was hoping that one of them would explode on the pizzeria and it would catch on fire."

"Fireworks? Why not use a match?" Foxy asks.

Shrugging his shoulders, Jeremy explains, "My boss wants it to look like an accident. That's what I'm trying to do now. To burn down this place down 'accidentally' by exploding fireworks." Nervously, he adds, "And it's not like you're going to tell anyone."

"That sounds like-"

"Fun!" Foxy laughs, interrupting Bonnie. He steps beside Jeremy, causing the man to gaze at him with worry. "Let's do it! I'm sure Mikey has Chica out by now."

"You're sure?" Bonnie asks. "What if they're still inside?"

"We're doing it tonight, whether or not people are inside," Jeremy assures, turning around to stare at the building. "If I burn this place down, my boss is giving me a raise. I need that raise so I can support my family." He glances at the two, eyes serious. "You got that?"

"Aye aye! Let me help ya!" Foxy exclaims, following Jeremy to his truck. As they leave, Bonnie watches them go, shaking his head. Something doesn't feel right. Turning his back on them, Bonnie heads back to the pizzeria in hopes of reconnecting with Mike and Chica.

Mike allows the ax to screech against the ground as he moves towards the guard's office. It makes his own ears twitch and strain against the irritating noise, but he needs Freddy to hear the nails-against-chalkboard sound. Make him scared and I'll win, Mike thinks, grunting as he pulls the handle of the ax onto his shoulder. From being outside, some of his animatronic strength has drained away. He can feel his humanity returning, but he hopes he has enough mechanical strength to give Freddy a good fight.

The sobs give rise as he grows near, until his body is in front of the window and he can hear her cries perfectly. For making Chica cry, he wants to beat up Freddy. No, slice this ax he's got in his hands through the bear's chest. The end does not justify the means. Making Chica scared was entirely uncalled for. Freddy's time of being the ruler and thinking he can do whatever he wants is over.

"Let me in, Freddy! I have a weapon with me, and I'm not afraid to use it!" Mike shouts, gripping the ax tight in preparation for Freddy's reply.

"…Use it, then," Freddy says, and is there a hint of laughter in his voice?

What kind of answer is that? It makes Mike wary. And he was laughing, too? That's not good. Bonnie, Foxy, where the hell are you!? But he has no other choice but to do this alone. Raising the ax over his head, he smashes it down onto the window. As they both connect, glass flies everywhere. This time, when the glass gouges itself against Mike, he can feel a sharp sting. Again, Mike raises the ax and smashes the window, until there isn't a window to speak of, just an empty hole. His body hurts from the glass, and little specs of blood appear from the shards gouged into his skin.

Not wanting to give Freddy a chance to attack, Mike doesn't peek his head in to look. He only shuffles around the window, trying to catch a glimpse of them. Much to his disappointment, he can't spot Chica or hear her voice. She must be positioned expertly so that he can't see her by merely looking in. He'd have to stick his head in and get a good look, but risking himself to Freddy.

Where is the bear? He's not skinny, so Mike should be able to see some of his body, regardless of where he is in the room. Maybe he's hiding in a corner, too?

It's when Mike feels something behind him when he knows that he's screwed. Whipping around and expecting anything to happen or swing at his face, he almost cries in joy when he sees Bonnie. "Thank God it's you! I thought it was Freddy," Mike gasps, his heart calming down, one paw clutching his chest.

"I knew you'd still be in here. Foxy thought you would already be out, but I know you better than that. You like taking the most complicated route there is," Bonnie gives him a small smile. His eyes glance at the ax in Mike's hand, and his smile fades. "You can't find Chica, huh?"

"No, I have! She's in there," Mike points at the guard's room. "Now I can't find Freddy! If he was in there, I'd be able to see him." And why isn't Chica saying anything? Did Freddy do something to her? Something's going to happen…

Rolling his eyes, Bonnie motions for the room as if this was an everyday occurrence. "Well, go inside, then. I'll keep watch. If Freddy's in there, I'll help you out with him. But I have a feeling that he's not in there."

"Chica said that everyone needs to help or Freddy will win. I mean, don't you think it's odd that Freddy suddenly disappears when I'm about to rescue her?" Shaking his head, Mike stares at Bonnie, and the two share a long glance. It's a personal glance between two people who are about to do something huge.

Suddenly, Mike feels a pit in his chest when Bonnie nods at him to go inside. Going back in the timeline and seeing Freddy's strength and the wrath of it, what he's capable of, and his actions. Of what's happening now, with Chica in danger. Is it fear?

He's afraid of Freddy.

Unexpectedly, the last four months seem to crash onto him. "I can't believe everything that's happened. Being reincarnated, the spirit, and Freddy doing this to Chica after all the promises he made. Doesn't this all seem unreal to you?" Mike asks shakily, wondering if this is all a dream. Maybe he's in a coma and his mind is making this entire thing up.

"It does," Bonnie agrees sadly. "We need to get away from here as soon as we get Chica. This place doesn't give me any sense of happiness anymore. When we leave, we're leaving forever. This journey with Freddy will end, and a new one will begin for us."

Somehow, imagining this as a fragment of a long dream gives Mike a burst of confidence. In dreams, you can't permanently die. And if he dies, he'll wake up from this nightmare.

Mike pokes his head in the room.

Silently sobbing, Chica sits on an old looking chair, which Mike immediately identifies as one of Freddy's from his 'secret' office. Something's tied around her waist and to the chair, keeping her in place. It'll be easy enough to free her. But the problem becomes more out in the open when Mike examines the room. Objects are strewn throughout the room messily and every piece of furniture is broken, as if a baby elephant crashed through and stomped around. "Where the hell is Freddy? Chica, do you know?"

Looking closer at her, Mike feels a sudden fear. Her body is shaking. Her teeth click together. Little gasps leave her beak. Now he knows why she was silent; she couldn't talk because of this fear. What made her this frightened?

"He's planning something. Escape before he catches you, too!" she pleads, her words barely passing through her chattering beak. She doesn't struggle, but stays there, her body stunned.

"You know we can't do that. You're a part of our family," Bonnie says from the other side of the wall, confusion in his voice. He's probably befuddled at Chica's answer.

Ignoring her words, Mike shuffles behind the chair and starts hacking away at the restraints with his teeth. He doesn't bother looking around, sure that Freddy's gone from the room. "So, where is he?" he mumbles through the wire.

She shakily points at the wall, her eyes welling up with tears.

Following her gaze, Mike gapes at the sight and feels his own body shake. His stomach twists in horror. They lock eyes, and Mike wants to run. This monster in front of him kicks his survival instincts in overdrive. He wants to escape somewhere far away and hide when it smiles at him.

Poking his head inside and gasping when he catches sight of it, Bonnie screams. "MIKE! GET OUT, NOW!"

Somewhere, in the distance, Mike can hear sudden booming and explosions, and the sky alights in bursts of colors.