Apart from being murdered in her dreams by Shadow Man once again, watching him rip at Hilary's throat and eyes, having a frightening experience with Mangles (even if it was sort of a misunderstanding and Hilary's attempt of freedom), Lizzy felt her weekend had been a pretty good one. What a better way to spend a Sunday than with her boyfriend, neither them changing out of their sleeping gear for over half the day, and playing 'Portal 2' co-op while eating pancakes before moving onto junk food?
Nothing, that's what.
Of course that fun had to end eventually when it was time to leave. Phil had offered to let Lizzy stay the extra night, and as delightfully tempting as it would be to be close to Phil in bed again she couldn't. Phil had to get up early on Monday for his shift at Freddy's, and Lizzy would have to leave anyway since it would just be kind of weird staying at Phil's place when he wasn't around for several hours, and a bit rude.
"You sure you don't want to stay a bit longer?" Phil asked as Lizzy stood right outside his apartment door. Lizzy gave a brief chuckle and nodded her head.
"Sorry, Phil. But as much as I would enjoy being close to you in bed again, I should really get home. I have to call my mom and make sure everything is okay with her and dad."
"Alright then. I'll try to remember to leave you a message on the answering machine for your shift tomorrow night," said Phil before he placed a chaste kiss on Lizzy's forehead.
"No pressure, but I'll be looking forward to hearing your voice when I step into that office of horror and nightmares." The smile on Phil's lips fell into a small, concerned frown. He opened his mouth. About to say something, but stopped. Only to replace his unknown intended words with something else.
"I'll try anyway. Drive safe, okay?"
"I intend to," Lizzy assured him before leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Bye." She left then. Even if a part of her wanted to stay just a little longer. But Lizzy was determined to meet up with him again during the week, and hearing a message from him tonight, even if not a hundred percent guaranteed, would be satisfying. It would certainly help her get through the night.
It was about half-eleven when Lizzy stepped in through the front doors of the pizzeria, that late Monday night. Chewing on her usual lemon gum as she did so.
The Christmas decorations that Lizzy had brought here on Saturday were up now. Colourful streamers, white snowflake and snowman cut-outs, along with some of ol' Saint Nick and Rudolf hung from the ceiling while wreaths decorated the walls. Two of the four Christmas trees were up on the floor either side of the stage, with the third against the wall in between the east and well halls. All three of them covered in Christmas decoration both normal (even with one or two ugly looking ones. Such as the one that looked like a shining red disco ball, with a green ribbon wrapped around the middle and a snowman missing a coal eye and a reindeer hugging it on either side. It was something Lizzy felt her mother would like) or Fazbear themed ones.
As for Freddy and his friends, they were all wearing Christmas sweaters. Green ones for Bonnie and Chica and a red one for Freddy. On Freddy's, there was also a cheerful image of Santa holding his sack of bribes to make Children behave as he smiled innocently, While on Bonnie's there was a snowman wearing a top hat while Chica had a wrapped present on her sweater.
"Merry Christmas to me, I guess," Lizzy muttered before she went to her office to drop her bag and mirror off inside. She kept her bat in hand though. She was feeling a bit too curious to see if that piano attraction thing was in. She was wondering if that piano attraction Mr. Davidson mentioned was in yet or not. Maybe even a little curious if she dared to admit it. It wasn't midnight yet so she shouldn't have any trouble. Except for perhaps the Marionette. But Lizzy would try winding the box up before she left for the game room. Even if the Marionette has time-to-time come out of the box outside of working hours and time before her shift, maybe the music box would keep him in the damn box long enough for Lizzy to satiate some innocent curiosity.
True, she could just see the thing through the camera. In fact, Lizzy did pick up her tablet make an attempt. Just in case something did happen, she wouldn't look like a complete idiot. Of course though, the camera did not have the attraction within its gaze. It would be far too convenient and helpful for her. Or was the fact she couldn't see the piano through the camera too convenient for, say, the Marionette?
Lizzy felt a slightly bitter taste in her mouth, and reached for the crank before pausing. The light of the answering machine was on, so Phil probably did leave a message like he had intended to do. Lizzy would really have to be quick to check to check that piano out, so she quickly wound the crank for the music box up. Just a quick look, then she would leave.
Lizzy peered into the game room. Looking around carefully. It was decorated similarly to how it was in the dining room, though the last remaining Christmas tree was in the centre (or close to it) of the room. Lizzy could hear the music box playing from the prize counter, and it actually made her feel a bit more confident that she would be okay here.
Finally, she noticed the piano attraction almost immediately. It was an upright piano pressed against the right wall. Not too far away from where the vent was. Coming closer to have a look at it, Lizzy saw that the material for it was plastic of some sort (perhaps the same material Balloon Boy was made of?) although it was styled and painted a dark brown to try and give it a more realistic appearance. There was a long and laminated piece of paper stuck on the music rack which listed out all the songs it could play. Some of the songs it listed were 'All Night at Freddy's' and 'It's been a While'.
The upper panel had a series of embossed curls in a pale yellow-brown colour that formed the image of a top hat with an 'F' inside it. Above that in embossed letters of the same colour it said, 'The Pezzo Piano'.
'The Pezzo Piano'? They probably had trouble finding a name that could alliterate with piano, so they went for rhyming with what Lizzy guessed to be a musical terming that began with the same letter.
Overall though, it didn't look too bad though. At least for a kids place. Looking over it a bit more, Lizzy spotted the coin slot on the side of the piano. Bronze in colour, the wording and numbers in price were printed in black. It cost a dollar per-song, in quarters. A reasonable enough price, Lizzy supposed.
"Didn't you want to see me, Lizbeth?"
Lizzy turned around sharply. The Marionette stood not too far away from her. Wearing a red sweater (a bit thinner looking compared to the others) with a gold star on the front of it. He began to tilt his head to the side as he looked at Lizzy.
"You put the music box on before coming here. Are you trying to keep me away?"
"I think you already know the answer to that," Lizzy sneered. "So how about you take the hint and stay the hell away from me."
"Oh, but darling…" He began stepping towards her. "You could never keep me away~."
"Funny. I actually support the opposite of your opinion."
"Why must you be so cynical? It's the Holidays after all!"
"I'm not Scrooge if you're implying that. But Freddy has the top hat so he's your next best guess."
The Marionette stood in front of Lizzy, but appeared to be looking over her. At the piano.
"The Piano sounds lovely. Almost as good as my music box." The Marionette reached a hand out past Lizzy and pressed down on two keys, emitting a soft sound from them. It was a bit unexpected since the thing was supposed to be automatic. But Lizzy brushed that thought aside since it wasn't on top of her list of priorities.
"It's a shame we probably won't be able to have a chance to dance to it, once you're my doll," the Marionette said, pressing another note or two on the piano. "Maybe though if we find loose change… Or see what the next night guard has on them after they die… Yes, that could do. It's not like they'll need their money after they die."
"Considering it isn't going to happen to begin with, those ideas are just going to have to stay in that twisted head of yours," Lizzy told him as she glared, slowly stepping away from him to make her leave. "I'm going now. Have to do some stuff before you fuck ups try to murder me."
"It would be a wonderful gift to catch you," Marionette mused, before slowly turning their head towards Lizzy. "Perhaps catching you with wires around your neck could be considered a present to myself? Us being together. Forever." He chuckled darkly and pressed his hand hard down on the piano keys. Emitting an unpleasant sound from them. "Maybe I'll paint your lips in your blood? Sad however that I wouldn't be able to taste it while kissing them. I bet your blood has a bitter-sweet taste~."
Tightening her lips, Lizzy just turned on her heels and quickly left the room with no wish to dignify those words with a response. Even if this meeting wasn't as creepy as the other meetings, it was still unnerving. The Marionette did seem a bit calmer though, so perhaps winding the music box before coming here did help a little.
Lizzy checked her watch when she entered the dining room. Quarter to midnight. She still had time to mess with one of the animatronics somehow, as a small stress relief. Even if not by much. Lizzy walked over to the stage and looked at the animatronics in thought and consideration before pausing as she noticed some white confetti on the stage that had yet to be cleaned up. It was probably used as fake snow. Either to start off the winter holidays at Freddy's or just something that'll be used again and again for entertainment purposes. They probably felt there wasn't much of a need to clean the mess up since they felt it would go with the Christmas theme.
… Although, it did give Lizzy a small idea what to do.
Lizzy pulled herself on stage and grabbed enough confetti to fill her hand before she stood in front of Bonnie.
"Merry Christmas, Bonbon," Lizzy said in a faux sweet tone. "This isn't your fantasy, but its close~."
Lizzy pinched some confetti and threw it at Bonnie's face, and repeated.
"Oh, Bonny-boy," Lizzy said, doing her best male voice. "You're such a good little fuck! No wonder Freddy can't keep out of the rabbit hole!" Lizzy threw the last of the confetti at his face. "Hope you enjoyed it, Bonbon! Confetti in your face is as close as you'll ever get. Oh, and Freddy…" Lizzy walked away from him and stopped in front of Freddy as she folded her arms.
"I'm not a voyeur and the camera in the kitchen is out besides audio, so feel free to take that frustration you have against me out on your bunny-toy." Lizzy gave a cheeky wink before she turned around and jumped off the stage. Lifting one hand lazily up to flip the animatronics off as she walked away.
Re-entering her office, Lizzy dropped into her chair and checked the time. A little less than ten minutes left before this place become Hell's Pizzeria, so Lizzy felt she certainly had time to listen to Phil's message.
"Hey, Liz," Phil's voice emitted from the answering machine after Lizzy pressed play. "Hope you're doing okay. Don't know if you've noticed, but they brought this automatic piano playing thing in. You put a couple quarters in and it plays a random tune. Not sure why they put the music list up. I think it might have an order thing on it though, so that might be it. I don't really know too much about it. But apparently it's called the 'Pezzo Piano'. Weird name, I know. I looked the word up, and apparently Pezzo is a musical term for 'composition' I think. Could have been worse though. I think the boss said they were thinking of naming it the 'Pietoso Piano'. Sounds weirder. That, and according to this site I'm looking at on my phone, it means 'pitiful'. I think they made the right call not using that name.'"
"Agreed," Lizzy said aloud as she lifted her security hat off her head and brushed some hair back that had gotten loose from her ponytail.
"Piano aside though, what do you think of the decorations? I think they look pretty good for a kids place." Phil gave a small chuckle. "The Marionette possibly looks the most ridiculous in his sweater though. Doesn't really suit him."
"Right you are, Phil," Lizzy agreed as she lazily threw her hat up into the air a little before catching it with ease and slapping it back on her head.
"Kids don't seem to mind though. I think I heard a little girl call him cute. It probably would have been cute if I didn't know he… The band's Christmas songs are pretty decent too."
Lizzy could sense the discomfort as Phil changed subjects. Even if Phil hadn't brought it up again, Lizzy knew he was concerned about the Marionette's… 'interest' in her. She did feel some guilt over making him worry, but that thought was quickly swatted away when Lizzy reminded herself that is was the Marionette's fault. Not hers.
When Lizzy's shift had eventually started (not too long after Phil ended his message with a promise to call her tomorrow), it seemed to be the same as any other night for the first hour. Animatronics coming left, right and behind in the case of BB. Plus there was the mandatory winding of the music box crank. An absolute necessity for survival, other than trying to conserve the power to the best of her ability.
"Nice try, Captain Fuck Fox," Lizzy mocked after slamming the right door in Foxy's face after trying to catch her off guard on the side. Banging started, but Lizzy went on. "Look for booty somewhere else! You're a pirate! Find a red light district!"
Lizzy looked back to her tablet, but kept an ear out to listen for Foxy. Waiting for him to stop pounding at the metal barrier between the two of them and just go away.
Freddy and Chica both seemed to be in the kitchen if the mixed sounds of metal pots banging and Freddy's song mingling together were any strong indicator, and Bonnie was in the game room along with BB. Marionette was obviously still in his box since Lizzy had winded the music box not too long ago.
Lizzy glanced to the right door as she heard steps moving away. She waited a minute before finally opening it up.
"About damn time."
Lizzy flicked through the cameras again before she paused on the stage. A mild look of surprise came to her face.
Mallory was standing there. Hands clasped and looking to the camera. Almost… hopefully? Why? Usually the kids' ghosts were wary of her. What was so different now?
… Was she mouthing something? Or was she speaking? The animatronics (or ghosts) never seemed to make indication that they made sound when they were on camera. It almost made Lizzy that these damn cameras were supposed to play audio from the room they were in. But no. It was a case of idea see but not hear or hear but not see, for the kitchen.
Lizzy squinted her eyes, trying to make out what she was saying. The only thing Lizzy could see for certain was…
Mommy?
Mallory stopped and looked somewhere off camera swiftly. Immediately, she looked terrified and ran away.
Not too long after, Shadow Man walked onto the stage slowly from the direction Mallory had been running from and stopped in the same spot Mallory had stood. All the while his face was directed towards the camera. White teeth curled downwards. What had Lizzy even done to get that type of reaction, this time? Simply existing?
"Bastard," Lizzy muttered and started flicking through cameras again. She was a little hopeful that she might spot Mallory again, but she was completely gone. Though given it was the Shadow Man that frightened her off, it wasn't entirely surprising.
Lizzy landed on a bathroom hall camera and stopped as she saw the Golden Freddy poster. With a heavy sigh, Lizzy lowered the tablet. Just long enough to get a glimpse of the yellow bear laying limply on her desk before she flipped the tablet up again to block her sight. She just had to keep her eyes on the tablet for a small amount of time, and then Golden Freddy would leave.
'IT'S ME! IT'S ME! IT'S ME! IT'S! IT'S ME!'
She blinked her eyes before hastily lifting a hand up to rub her eyes as those dratted words entered her vision.
'YOU CAN'T!'
A second after those two words appeared, Lizzy felt the tablet tugged downwards. Against her common sense, her eyes looked up. Shadow Man stood in front of her. Between Lizzy and Golden Freddy. And not a second sooner after Lizzy looked to him, both Shadow Man and Golden Freddy opened their mouths to give a screeching sound very similar to the one that often came from the animatronics, only reduced in pitch and speed that would later remind Lizzy vaguely of some sort of electric tool. Just like the laughter from the first time Lizzy encountered Shadow Man in the Parts and Services room, the sound sounded like it was coming from one individual yet it seemed to come from both the Shadow Man and its golden host.
"GAh-Aghh-ahhh!"
Lizzy was startled by the new wailing scream that came directly behind her. It sounded very gargled, and like it was perhaps even hurting the person screaming. Lizzy remembered that at one time in life she came across some sort of Irish mythological creature called a banshee. That screamed before the death of someone occurred.
She was pretty certain that she had a taste of what that scream was like.
The Shadow Man looked over Lizzy's head so she decided to look down. Perhaps he would go away now and whoever had just screamed now was on her side.
But looking down, she saw a pale of grey arms wrapped above her shoulders. Almost, protectively.
Was it Hilary?
"… AAAA!"
"GaG-aGH-AHH!"
Lizzy flinched at the sudden extra screams. As her muscles tensed, she hoped to god there wasn't a screaming bitch-fest about to happen.
But, it stayed silent then for a moment. Lizzy dared glanced up, and gave a sigh of relief that Shadow Man and Golden Freddy were gone.
"Thanks, Hilary," Lizzy sighed in relief and looked behind her. But the sight made Lizzy's eyebrows shoot up and her mouth gape.
It was indeed Hilary that had helped her just moments ago. But the cause of the gurgled screeching was now seen and clearly justifiable. Deep claw-like scratches of either a dark grey to black colour were embedded deeply in her throat. Her eyes weren't much better since similar scratches were over them in X shapes, eradicating any evidence of there having been white dots in their place. The image wasn't helped either by the black stains that seemed to have run down from the wounds earlier on at some point before stopping and drying. Like real blood.
"Christ…" Lizzy breathed, remembering her last encounter with Hilary. Sure, Shadow Man attacked her. But Lizzy didn't think that thing could actually damage a ghost like the two of them were fucking tangible!
"I-gh… Whan… Fi… Mal-o-ri…" Hilary was just barely understandable. Her speech was as gargled as her screaming. But those words were all Hilary said before she slowly moved out of the room. Half her body going through the right doorway before she paused and looked left and right, and hesitantly moving left.
Lizzy stared out towards the doorway. Mouth still agape before she shut it.
Maybe… Maybe she truly did have an ally here during the night. True, Hilary would obviously be more focused on finding her daughter. A difficult task given her current… state.
But, she came to help Lizzy just now. If her talk with Lizzy in her dream wasn't enough proof that Hilary meant her no harm, the help was.
I want to apologise for the late update. I haven't been feeling too well for the last few days and wanted to update my 'Funny Nights at Freddy's' story. Thanks for the patience and I hope this was worth the wait.
