Author's Note: 25 chapters. Wow. Thank you for sticking with me for 25 chapters! All your support is immensely appreciated!

Charlie woke up to her father gently shaking her.

"Mmmf?"

"Just making sure you're okay." He whispered.

"Mmm." She pulled the covers over her head. The mattress rose as Henry got off of it seconds later. "...Where are you going?"

No response. Charlie's pills had a death grip on her- she immediately drifted back off, but only for a minute. When she opened her eyes again, her father was standing by the window, having pulled the curtains back. He darted away from it seconds later, and she blacked out again. Charlie's eyes didn't open again, but she heard him getting dressed. The last thing she was aware of was his touch. He gently pulled the covers down and away from her face in order to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. Then he was gone.

When Charlie woke up next, she immediately kicked the covers off and made her way downstairs, still dazed from her medication. Everything that had happened the previous night seemed like some kind of fever dream. She went to her room and put on some fresh clothes before heading downstairs.

"Dad?" She called as she descended the stairs. No response. "Aunt Jen?"

"In the kitchen." Her aunt called back. Charlie entered the kitchen apprehensively.

"Where's dad?"

Aunt Jen frowned.

"I thought he was still sleeping."

"No? I stayed in his bed last night and he's gone."

Aunt Jen flipped the pancake on the griddle in front of her.

"Check the workshop. He's been in there at all sorts of odd hours lately."

Charlie darted out the back door, not bothering to put on her boots. The cold snow stung her feet as she made her way to the workshop. The door was slightly ajar and relief washed over her. Her father left the door open when he was inside because the lock was somewhat faulty and he'd gotten trapped a few times.

"Dad…?" She stepped into the workshop slowly. Her father didn't acknowledge her. He was staring out the window, gripping its frame. His tools were scattered everywhere and boxes of parts were overturned. "Dad?"

"Everything's gone."

"What are you talking about?"

Henry turned around.

"My blueprints. All of them. I hid them throughout the workshop, and they're all gone."

"...William?" Charlie whispered. Henry nodded.

"We have to get to Junior's."

Junior's? What could possibly be at Junior's?

"Get your boots on. We have to go now."

Charlie nodded and darted back into the house, her father following her closely.

"There you are!" Aunt Jen chirped. "Sit down, I made pancakes."

"Later, Jen. It's inventory day at Junior's and we need to run. Where are your keys?"

"On the coffee table. Is everything okay?"

"Fine. See you later."

Charlie hurriedly laced her boots and rushed to Aunt Jen's green Honda, taking care not to slip on the icy sidewalk. Her father joined her seconds later, holding a large baggie of pancakes.

"Your aunt insisted." He tossed the bag to her.

"What's at Junior's?" She asked as she buckled her seatbelt.

"Something that William cannot get his hands on. Not if we're going to make things right."

They arrived at Junior's in record time. The parking lot was packed, which was unusual for a late Tuesday morning.

"It's some kind of day off for the elementary kids today." Henry explained as they rushed through the front door. "Now come on, we have to get to the back."

"Mr. Emily!" Vanessa approached the duo, flashing a megawatt smile. Her jaw dropped when she spotted Charlie. "You found her?"

"Vanessa, I don't really have time to talk right now. Give me a few minutes." Henry rushed past the girl, Charlie following closely behind him.

"Who's that?" She asked as her father fumbled with his keyring upon reaching the backroom door.

"That's my new technician, Vanessa."

"Oh." Charlie said bitterly.

"She just started a few days ago. You'll like her." Her father didn't seem to notice her tone. He clamored into the back room and darted past his work table. "It's still here. Thank God."

Charlie tentatively walked up behind him.

"Your prototype? What would William want with your prototype?"

"It's more than just a prototype, Charlie." Henry breathed, suddenly looking pained. "His name is Lefty."

Charlie squinted. The missing eye. This was the animatronic she'd seen in the doorway the night she was attacked.

"He… he found me that night. I remember."

Henry sighed deeply and nodded.

"He knew you were in trouble. I programmed him to look out for you… and Sammy."

"Sammy?" Charlie inquired with a strained voice.

"...The puppet." Henry's voice was equally strained.

"The puppet? Sammy's…" The voice. The music box. "Sammy's in the puppet?"

Henry nodded and turned away from her.

"William's first victim. Your brother. I didn't realize what had happened until the music box started to smell."

Charlie clapped a hand over her mouth as tears filled her eyes.

"I have a plan to free him, Charlie. I have a plan to free all of them. But it involves a lot of careful planning."

"Michael had a plan, too."

"What?"

"Michael. He mentioned that he was doing research, which is why he took the job at Freddy and Friends'. If we can find him, he can help us."

Her father turned back to her, looking stung.

"Charlie, no. Not after what he did."

"He's haunted by it. It's literally tearing him up inside and he'll do anything to get closure. Just like you."

"Charlotte-"

"Dad, please. I...I love him."

Henry exhaled sharply.

"I know it's crazy. You can be as mad at him as you want, but please help him. He can help us."

"...Okay, Charlie. Okay. But what you, and him, need to understand is that I have a very specific vision. You have to follow my plan. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Charlie whispered, her tears of pain turning into tears of relief.

"I want to help, too."

Charlie and Henry jumped. Vanessa stood in the doorway, tears in her own eyes.

"Vanessa-" Henry started.

"Please, Mr. Emily. I've heard all the rumors about the missing kids and I want to help with whatever plan you have."

Charlie bit her lip to keep from swearing at the other girl. Henry looked at his daughter, who shook her head vigorously.

"This is personal, Vanessa. I'm sorry."

Vanessa frowned.

"Okay. I understand." She left the two alone.

"Who the hell does she think she is?" Charlie snapped.

"That's just Vanessa for you. She wants to be involved with everything." Henry took one last, sad look at Lefty and headed out the door. "Do you have an idea of where Michael is?"

Charlie nodded.

"Yes, but I need to drive. It's hard to find."

Charlie and her father drove in a harrowing silence. He clearly knew where they were going and sighed constantly as he stared out the window. He started to get out of the car when they arrived at the old house, but Charlie stopped him.

"It's better if I go alone. Just for now." She said with a sad smile. Henry nodded slowly.

"Be careful."

The TV was on- Charlie could see it through the window as she got out of the car. Michael was home. She involuntarily shuddered as she knocked on the door. There was the sound of heavy, running footsteps inside the house.

"Michael? Michael, it's me." She called. More running footsteps, this time distant.

She tried to open the door- it was locked. "Michael, come on! I need help!" Silence. She kicked the door. Much to her surprise, the old lock gave way and granted her entrance.

"Michael!" More silence. The living room was just as torn up as her father's workshop- all of the books and albums were off the bookshelves and on the floor. The contents of the duffle bag they'd taken with them a few days prior were sprawled all over. The hallway floor creaked and Charlie looked over to see Michael making a mad dash for the bathroom. She raced over and stuck her foot between the door and the doorframe before he could slam it shut.

"Michael!"

"Don't. Come. Any. Closer." His voice was raspy and it sounded as though speaking was painful for him.

"Michael, please. Your dad took my dad's blueprints. He's going to do something bad." She trailed off as he turned to face her.

"Of course he's going to do something bad." Michael stepped towards her. His skin was sullen and had taken on a sickly, pale hue.

"I… I know what happened to you." She said calmly. "Your dad used the Scooper."

Michael advanced further but Charlie didn't take even a single step back. Those iridescent eyes, although foreboding, were possessive and somehow enamouring.

"And you're not afraid?"

"No. You're still you. That's the way the machine works- the remnant...it stays."

Michael touched Charlie's face and she finally shied away- his hand was clammy.

"I'm still me." He repeated. Charlie put her hand on his and leaned forward until their foreheads were pressed together.

"Charlotte, I… I really didn't think you'd come and find me."

"I need you." She whispered, "My dad has a plan, and-"

Michael tilted her chin up with his fingers and she closed her eyes.

"Do you still trust me?"

"Of course."

Charlie didn't realize that his lips were pressed against hers at first- the warm sensation wasn't there. She tasted lingering cigarette smoke. Kissing him wasn't an unpleasant experience, but it was strange.

"I love you, Charlotte." He whispered.

"I love you too." Charlie's response was barely audible. When she opened her eyes, he wasn't looking at her. He was looking behind her, at her father. Charlie turned to face him, trying to decode his expression. It was one of contempt, yet his lips were curled into a half smile.

"Well, Michael. It's been quite awhile." He said softly. Michael looked like he wanted to bolt, so Charlie grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Charlie tells me that my old friend did quite a number on you."

"Let's go to the bedroom. There's more space and it's not in such a messy state." Michael rasped.

"Lead the way." Henry stepped out of the bathroom. Once Michael was situated on the bed, Henry pulled out his mini flashlight.

"Can you follow this with your eyes?"

Charlie stood in the corner, watching as Michael's eyes gleamed in the light.

"Okay… open your mouth." Henry's voice was gentle. Once he'd examined Michael's mouth, he picked up his arm and flexed it a few times. "I have to say, I've never seen anything like this." The mechanist said softly.

"What is it?" Charlie choked out.

"There's an entire endoskeleton in there."

"What?" Charlie and Michael said together.

"I don't know how he did it, but you're essentially an animatronic, kid."

"Can you help him?" There was a painful pleading in Charlie's voice. Henry sighed.

"Well, his skin is decaying and he has no internal organs. I'll see what I can do, but…"

"You can do it. Just do what you did for me."

"I'm afraid his situation is more complex, Charlotte. I don't know if I can do it, but I'm willing to try."