Hi everyone. I deeply apologize for the late update. As you know, there is a lot of stuff going on that I am currently dealing with. I'm just reminding you that updates will be very slow. Hopefully things will get better in the future when I will be able to update faster for you guys. Thank you everyone for reviewing, favoriting, following and reading this story! Thank you also for your patience and understanding. You are all awesome!
Without further ado, enjoy the chapter!
The room was mostly quiet, with the exception of the television playing its program of The Immortal and The Restless. Vlad and Clara were screaming about something but, the words never reached my ears. They were all just nonsense. All I did was stare at the person in front of me. A wave of cold shock splash passes it's way down my stomach.
Michael Afton? THE Michael Afton? The older brother who accidentally kills his little brother in Five Nights at Freddy's 4? The one who I was supposed to be playing as in Five Nights at Freddy's Sister Location? The one who eventually gets scooped in the end of the game? THAT Michael Afton?
...It makes sense... I mean, who else besides Michael Afton would watch The Immortal and The Restless? Plus, Michael's house was the only place the players visit other than the underground with the animatronics. So it does make sense that I would show up in Michael's house….
That doesn't explain why Michael is here though! I mean, I'm supposed to play as Michael Afton! I'm suppose to take his role as the main character! Why would he still be here? I thought he would vanish or something as soon as I got sucked into the game. This...this all just so strange…
"Uh. You alright?" Michael asks.
Drat. I got to say something or else Michael is going to think I'm some kind of idiot.
"Yes! Er...Sorry. My name is Steve." I said.
"Nice to meet you Steve," Michael said.
He gave me his hand to shake and I made sure to shake it this time. Afterwards, I made some space for him to take a seat.
As I watch Michael sit down next to me, I couldn't help but feel slightly jittery inside. I mean...Wow. I'm actually talking with Michael Afton. The protagonist of Five Nights at Freddy's Sister Location. This is like a dream come true if such an opportunity came for many Five Nights at Freddy's fans...then again, so is meeting the animatronics in person...and befriending them...
"So, Steve...I take it you had quite the adventure?" Michael asks.
"You can say that." I said.
Michael Afton has no clue what I've just been through. It feels strange and ironic really. It's kind of supposed to be the other way around. As the player, when we first play the game anyway, we don't have a clue about what Michael is going through. Now that the roles are reversed, it's just weird.
"So, what happened? Also, why did you show up at my doorstep?" Michael asks.
Ah. Yeah. The explanation part. Well, I can't exactly tell him the whole story. I mean, it would sound crazy if I told him his entire universe was a video game in my world. So, it would probably be better if a skip a few "unnecessary" parts in my story. In terms of how I showed up to Michael's front door, well, I have no clue. Anyway, I will at least explain the other parts.
"Um. Yeah. So I work in this underground facility with animatronics-"
I look up to Michael, trying to see if he knows what I'm talking about.
He looks at me with a blank face.
Wow. Real specific Steve. Just look at Michael's reaction right now. He doesn't have a clue.
It makes wonder: did William Afton ever mention to Michael that he used to own a place called Circus Baby's Pizza World? Maybe. I severely doubt Michael would be clueless of what his father did for a living. Guess there is only one way to find out.
"Um, you know. Ballora and the rest of the funtime animatronics?"
Michael slowly nods his head. It looks like he knows a bit or at least the names sound familiar to him. Might as well hit the nail in the coffin.
"Circus Baby?"
Instantly, his face glows up with realization. His eyes slightly bulge as he looks at me which makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
"Hang on. Are you referring to Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rentals?" Michael asks.
"Yeah! That's it." I said as I nod my head several times.
Strange how the name always eludes me. I was about to call it the underground Circus Baby's Pizza World. That reminds me. Will Scott ever do a game about Circus Baby's Pizza World? I really want to know what Baby's old location was like. Maybe Scott might make a Sister Location 2?
...No. Scratch the last part. Baby and the Funtime animatronics are going to get burned in the new game, according to Chris. That is something that I have to make sure that doesn't happen. The last thing I want is for Baby to suffer.
"Uh? Steve? You alright there?"
Drat. Michael was waving his hand at me. I've got to stop having these thoughts whenever I am having a conversation with someone.
"What? Uh yeah...Um, why do you ask?" I ask.
"You sort of...blanked out." Michael said.
Yeah. That was pretty obvious. I really need to stop doing that in the worst moments.
"Hey Steve? Don't take this the wrong way but I'm guessing you aren't exactly the social type, are you?" Michael asks.
What! How….? How did he know? What did I do? Did he just read my mind or something?
"How did you know that?" I ask.
"You kind of have trouble maintaining eye contact with me from the start of the conversation. That and you happen to daydream a bit," Michael said, "Usually that means you haven't really interacted with people or have difficulty in maintaining a conversation."
Drat. I feel my cheek become red. Well...that's just plain embarrassing. Michael said it in a way like he was a psychologist. I mean, at least he was honest about it. He could have chosen not to say anything. I can only shrug in response.
"You got me." I replied.
"Hey, relax. I was just like you when I was your age." Michael said.
Doubt it. He's probably just saying that so I don't feel bad. Probably best just to humor him though. Plus, I don't want to look ungrateful in front of Michael Afton.
"Really?" I ask.
"Yeah. Eventually, I would meet some people and make some friends...Or thought they were friends anyway," Michael said. He rubs his head like that would somehow wipe off a bad memory from his mind "The time when I needed them most, they just left me."
Was Michael talking about his friends in Five Nights at Freddy's 4? The ones who helped him out in the prank that went horrible wrong? They abandoned him? Well, come to think of it, that really isn't much of a surprise. They weren't exactly good people from what I seen. They probably abandoned Michael so they could avoid getting the blame for the little brother's death. Some friends they are. A good reason not to be social with people. Animatronics are the exception to this rule...er...maybe...
"Anyway, the past is in the past." Michael said as he shakes his head.
Well, that's one way to look at it. Usually, people tend to hold onto grudges and stuff. Kind of like the animatronics in the Five Nights at Freddy's games...well, everyone up to Sister Location. The Sister Location animatronics are much different in that they don't really hold a grudge. They just want to be free from the underground.
Speaking of which, does Michael know that the animatronics are alive? I'm mean, not in terms of ghost possession alive. I'm talking about the animatronics having their own personalities and living their own lives.
Then again, when would Michael ever know about this? I mean, the Five Nights at Freddy's timelines can be so confusing. Some people say Michael Afton is who we play as all along and that the names Mike Schmdit, Jermey and Fritz are just undercover names so Michael can work at Freddy's to try and fix what his father had done...or something like that.
If that is the case then I have no idea which came first: Michael discovering Sister Location? Or maybe the original gang with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy and Golden Freddy? Or maybe it was the FNAF 2 location? I don't think Michael would meet Springtrap until later on so that probably gets rid of that possibility. Maybe Michael met the Nightmare animatronics first?
Ah man. This is too confusing.
Michael turns to me. "Back to you. So, you work in Circus Baby's Rental and Entertainment?"
"Yeah." I said.
"That's strange...and concerning actually." Michael said.
"Strange?" I ask.
"Yeah. Father never said he was still operating Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rentals..." Michael said. He scratches his chin. "It shouldn't even be operating in the first place...after..."
Michael trails off. My guess is that he doesn't want me to know about what happened with his little sister and Circus Baby.
"Your father?"
"You might know him as your employer William Afton." Michael said, dryly.
"Oh yeah."
I know I need to look clueless but I think I took that one a little too far. Hopefully, Michael doesn't interpret that as I am stupid or something. Need to remember that for next time.
"Anyway, so what happened while you were working in Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rentals?" Michael asks.
"Okay. Well, before I go into the whole story...please don't laugh at me when I tell you this, okay?"
Michael raises his eyebrows. It makes me worried actually. What if Michael thinks I'm totally crazy after what I am about to say?
"The animatronics are alive. They have their own personalities and everything." I said.
For a moment, Michael doesn't say anything. Oh man. Is the part where Michael looks at me like I'm crazy or start laughing at me and say I lost my mind or something?
"Okay." Michael shrugs.
WHAT? Michael just took it like that? H-How?!
"You're not surprised?" I ask.
"Steve. This is Freddy's we're talking about," Michael said as he rolls his eyes. "Anything happens here. So, I'm not surprised that the animatronics are actually alive and have their own personalities."
Huh. I didn't expect that. I thought Michael was going to call me crazy or something. This actually helps a lot though. Thank you Five Nights at Freddy's for being so ridiculous that even the main characters accept that as fact.
Alright. Time to tell him the whole story.
"Okay. Here's the thing. Normally, I'm supposed to operate and do whatever stuff I am told to do. Well, that changed. You see, the funtime animatronics have all been tortured down there. They faced a lot of things like controlled shocks and they want to be free from the underground. So, I want to help them get out from the underground. Unfortunately, most of the animatronics sort of have their own idea of getting out from the underground...which involves me getting scooped."
I flinch at that part. Oh Michael. In reality, you would never have this kind of warning beforehand. In fact, you would wish someone warned you before you went down into the Sister Location.
"Scooped?" Michael asks.
"Yeah. It basically involves scooping my internal organs and using my as a human skin disguise to walk around like a person in my body."
Michael's jaw drops. Disgust and shock were evident on his face. Can't say I blame him.
"Yeah. Certain animatronics see that as a good idea. However, there are some animatronics that don't want that." As soon as I said those words, Circus Baby floated in my mind. I make a mental note to go and check on her first thing as soon as I get back underground. "They are really nice and sweet and they just want to be free from this. So, I want to be able to help everyone get out."
I let out a sigh. That was a mouthful.
"Okay," Michael said. "That was a lot to take in."
Yeah. It was.
Michael looks up for a brief moment. He looks like he was reading some invisible lines from the ceiling as though memorizing something. He then looks at me.
"So, you want to help these animatronics escape the underground despite the fact they have a plan to scoop you and use you as a human disguise?" Michael asks.
"Yes."
Yeah. Pretty much. I mean, not all of the animatronics want to scoop me like I said earlier. Lolbit wouldn't want me to get scooped. Baby wouldn't want to get me scooped. I don't think the Bidybabs want me to get scooped either, although that might be because they just want to play games.
Everyone else though? They want me to get scooped.
Michael scratches his head. He bites the bottom of his lip.
"Steve...Do want to know my advice?"
Advice?
Sure. I mean, I would love to hear your advice. Maybe Michael will suggest me some kind of techniques to defend myself. Maybe Michael will give some kind of inspirational speech and say we can do this together. Or not to lose hope and that everything would be okay.
That would be awesome. Working together side by side with Michael. Me and him saving the animatronics and befriending them.
"Don't go down there anymore. Period." Michael said.
WHAT?!
No! I can't do that! I want to save the animatronics Michael! I want to be their friend! I can't just abandon them!
"I can't do that Michael." I said.
"Look. If your worried because if its your job, then don't. No job is worth risking your life." Michael said.
Michael. I couldn't care less about the job. I am doing this because I care about the animatronics. I want to help Baby and all the other animatronics!
"Michael, I don't care about the job. I appreciate your concern but I need to go there. I want to help these animatronics to get out." I said.
"What if they are better off down there in the first place?" Michael asks.
What? Just leaving them underground?
That's just like Chris said the last time we talked. I had no idea how to respond to him, especially after he revealed to me the events of Five Nights at Freddy's 6. I still don't know how to answer it. I got to try though.
"You don't know that Michael. Besides, they are suffering a lot underground. I don't want them to suffer anymore."
Michael sighs.
"Okay...Can I at least hear what your plan was to free these animatronics?" Michael asks.
Might as well. It couldn't hurt, right?
"Well, I plan to befriend the animatronics and then we can all leave the underground together." I said.
There is a moment of silence. The credits on the T.V. screen begins to roll. Michael's face was constantly changing. First, it was shock. Then disbelief. This went on for a bit, until he it stops at complete exhaustion. He sighs.
He kind of reminds me of my dad, when he came back from a long day at work after some trouble with coworkers. Michael looks like he was sucked out of energy. He was so tried.
"Steve. I don't want you to take this the wrong way..."
"I can do it Michael. I can make friends with the animatronics. I can help them and free them from the underground. I can save them." I said.
"That's just it...Steve..." Michael said.
He walks to me. He puts his hands on my shoulder and looks at me with those tired eyes. He opens his mouth and says just one thing.
"You can't save them."
