"Out." Afton ordered as they came to a stop outside Freddy's. Dana didn't have to look over to see the gun's barrel pointed her way. She tried to not shake so fiercely as she cautiously stepped out of the car, but her body just didn't have the capacity to care about such foolish thoughts. It knew she was in trouble, so the adrenaline was coursing madly through her, all primal instinct telling her to run.
But she didn't.
Instead, she followed the silent but obvious order to enter the building. As she walked inside, she could sense the man getting close behind her, this man who she had worked with and learned to trust and even consider a friend, who was now her captor and maybe even her murderer.
She shuddered as his hand touched her shoulder, gripping it in a firm warning as if the gun behind her wasn't warning enough. Afton's hot breath tickled her skin as he leaned down to her level.
"You know, I had suspected that Henry was behind all those calls, but I never would have predicted you in all this. Well done Dana, well done indeed..." he murmured lowly into her ear, the nozzle of the pistol brushing her shoulder. The woman couldn't stop the chill that ran through her, wishing and praying for someone to be here, someone to rescue her.
"How unfortunate that you've been caught right at your little discovery, though, isn't it?" Afton continued, leading her further down the darkened corridor to the main room. "I wonder how long you've been working with him... and did you ever suspect me?"
Dana scoffed, a scowl drawing over her face. "No. I never thought awkward Dave of all people would be a child killer." At that, Afton leaned back and laughed, head cocked to the ceiling. The laugh was full and brimming with total elation and giddiness, although absolute in its eerie sound.
"Then I played my part well! And my parents thought I couldn't be an actor," the man remarked happily, light chuckles in his tone. Dana shuddered, completely revolted at his attitude towards his crimes. "Payed off though, didn't it?" He continued. Dana could sense him peering at her and she could almost see the smug smirk plastered on his face.
She glared at him, waiting for him to elaborate. Afton seemed to take this as amusing as he chuckled again, eyes going closed for a moment as he shook his head. He sighed, a light smile in his features as they went forward past party tables and frozen birthday attractions.
"I mean, think about it. Complete, near private seats to keep an eye on those beloved robots for my observations, access to every room in this building, all coming together at the price of a simple act. And," he continued smugly, slowing as they came to the stage. "I get paid, too."
Dana's face twisted into an expression of disgust and anger, her shaking now not only from adrenaline. The aggressive part of her wanted to turn and snatch that weapon and use it against him.
Afton stopped, grip on the woman's shoulder tightening until she halted as well, eyes glancing from him to the toy animatronics on-stage.
"You know, there's something about originals you just don't get with these new ones," the man murmured, looking up at the robots almost in fascination. "Even I feel this way with my own creations. But in all fairness, they were designed to kill," he spoke softly, though the woman could hear the disdain in his tone at the last words.
"I wasn't lying when I said I was watching for paranormal activity," he said in a low undertone.
"I figured not," Dana snarled. "But I never thought you were looking for something from victims you murdered."
"Oh, this again," Afton sighed in mild irritation as if she had brought back a subject on something as monotonous as the weather. "We've already gone over that."
"You're a vile, treacherous monster," Dana spat, turning to glare at him. The effect wasn't as intimidating as she hoped it would be. Nearly a foot height difference definitely wasn't a contributor. Definitely not.
"Believe me, darling, I am well aware," he drawled, rolling his eyes in a mix of exasperation and amusement. "What do you plan to do about that though, I wonder?" He questioned, peering at the woman as he leaned close.
Dana stopped the urge to shudder and pull away, standing her ground as her face pulled into a scowl. "To shoot you with that gun before I get out of here to call the police," she snarled, firming her stance. Her courage seemed to evaporate as a darkened expression came over the man, leaning even further as his mouth pulled into a light frown.
The woman took a feeble step back, eyes widened as Afton narrowed his glare at her. "That sounds like a threat, my dear. A rather good one, in fact. Just how to you plan to carry that out when I'm the one in control here?"
Dana gulped, feet clumsily moving backward as she tried to put distance between them. She couldn't move fast enough to avoid the hand moving forward to wrap around her throat. Like coils, the man's fingers snaked around her neck as he forced her head to the surface of the prize counter.
"Remember this?" Afton whispered, eyes filled with a dark fire as he looked intently at the woman. Dana pried at the strong fingers, those cold, iron fingers, trying to pull them away from her throat. She could still breathe, but it was raspier, a light pressure beginning to build in her skull as she inhaled and exhaled through her mouth.
"But this time, things are a little different, aren't they? I've been able to enjoy a second party with some special children," he said, leaning over her, his raven hair falling over his forehead. "And in case you're wondering, I will be killing you tonight. Rather unfortunate, really; you're one of the few tolerable people I've had the privilege of knowing. I won't be using this though, I think," he continued, eyes flicking to the gun in his other hand as he gave it a wave.
"Firearms are always so impersonal. And since we already know each other, I think I'd like to give you a more personal way out. What do you think?"
Dana stopped struggling for a moment, trying to emit as much seething fury as possible as she glared at the man before letting a series of expletives fall from her tongue in Afton's honor with dripping venom.
The man stopped, eyes widening in shock and surprise before his demeanor once again fell into one of amusement as he chuckled, shaking his head with a wide smile. Dana felt her face redden in embarrassment as the grip on her neck lessened slightly.
"Goodness, never imagined you to have such a sharp tongue Ms. Heard," he chuckled. "You should be lucky you never lived under my household. My mother would have taken you to the washroom so fast you'd have never had the time to realize it before she'd be scrubbing your mouth with her strongest bath soap."
The woman flushed deeper as she again struggled against the hand on her throat. "Shut up! Let go of me!" She snarled, trying to kick at Afton's torso. The man let out a pained grunt as her foot connected with his leg. A flitter of triumph filled her for a moment, but the terrifying look Afton sent her extinguished it completely.
Dana's eyes widened as the man scowled at her, pressing harder against her neck. At that, she choked, now finding it much more difficult to breathe.
"That wasn't nice," Afton hissed, his dark glare causing the woman to completely freeze in fear. His fingers tightened around her neck to the point of making her gasp and audibly choke, her face reddening as he squeezed. "S-S...to..p-" Dana tried to muster, rasping profusely as pressure built in her head to the point of blinding her.
"I don't think I will," the man taunted, moving a strand of hair from her face with the nozzle of the gun. "And anyway... I'm getting tired of playing with you. Goodbye, Dana-"
"I don't think so."
Afton's head whipped to the entrance hallway. Dana tried to peer his direction, fruitless as she tried to see over his hand. The man's grip lessened enough for her to breathe and she immediately drew in a deep inhale, allowing air to flood her lungs as Afton stared away from her.
"Henry... I didn't expect you to follow us. How did you get here so fast?" The man questioned with a drawl. Dana managed to lift her head up enough to see Henry standing in the entrance hallway, looking very disheveled with a dark bruise forming near his jaw.
"If you're going to steal my car Afton, you can't expect me to not take yours. Only an idiot would leave the keys in one."
The man holding Dana chuckled jovially. "And only an idiot would choose to endanger a friend in pursuit of destroying his foe. That's what I am to you, right? Don't think I haven't noticed you've been cutting off connections from me. Afton... so I'm not Will anymore... what a shame. You could have helped me, you know. Charlotte wouldn't have had to-"
"Don't you dare call her by that name! You have no right!" Henry yelled angrily, the pained betrayal and fury evident in his tone.
"So, I've lost that too?" Afton questioned with a light hiss. "You never had it," the man in the hall answered darkly. "Now, let that woman go or you'll regret it."
Afton's eyes narrowed as he made no move to obey Henry's order. Suddenly, in one swift motion, he had pulled Dana away from the table, the hand on her throat moving as his arm wrapped around her upper chest, hand gripping her shoulder as her back was pressed against his torso. Her hands instinctively grabbed at the strong arm, trying to pry it from its hold, but it was unrelenting in its power.
"Or what, Henry? What will you do? What can you do?" Afton hissed, pointing the gun in the man's direction. "What have you ever been able to do against me? Nothing."
Henry visibly tensed, jaw tightening as a shadow of guilt passed over him. Dana felt Afton's arm press harder into her chest, forcing her even closer towards him.
"No matter how hard you try, you can't stop me. Your efforts have been in vain as you've watched lives fall before me, watched your daughter die at my hands while you've accomplished nothing to stop it. So, don't throw empty threats at me, old friend. We both know how useless they are."
Henry's face pulled into a scowl, stance strengthening as a light flashed through his blue eyes. "Maybe so," he breathed. "But I'm not going to let you hurt these innocents anymore. This is between you and me. Let Dana go, she has nothing to do with this."
Dana could feel Afton's hot breath on her skin as he exhaled. "We could have accomplished so much together," he murmured. "You and me, I thought we'd conquer the world. Our partnership was so strong, we together had so much potential. Don't you understand?"
The man shook his head, a low growl resounding from his throat. "Everything since Chris' death has been to ensure he can have a future again. And I'm so close to an answer, and it won't just be what will bring my son's return. I have the tool to conquer death-I have the very thing that will secure immortality. I will never have to be separated from my family ever again-and you can have that too. Don't you see, Henry?"
The man in the hall said nothing, staring at Afton in absolute incredulity and shock. Dana found herself frozen, no longer struggling against the hold as she too waited for either one to speak.
"Henry, I can bring her back. I can bring Charlie back-I just need a little more time, a little more experimentation, and then I'll have my answer. I know you want her with you again."
The man in the corridor said nothing.
"You can join me... we can have everything with this power. Nor you or I will ever need fear of losing another child ever again. We can have everything."
Henry's eyes suddenly looked old and tired as a pained expression crossed his face. "I already did." He whispered.
There was a sharp inhale from Afton as his arm tensed around Dana's shoulders. He let out a shaky sigh, before a click echoed in the space as he cocked the gun. Dana's eyes widened as she felt the nozzle press against her temple.
"You never learn..." the man muttered in resignation. "You'll get to watch another loved one die."
"No!" Henry shouted, tone almost begging as he reached a hand out, his expression twisted into intense fear. "Please, Will, don't!"
In a moment of absolute terror and panic, Dana's mind scrambled for any sort of escape. There was nothing Henry could do-it was obvious that Afton wasn't changing his mind on this and she was completely at his mercy, and she hadn't a-
Weapon.
"Say goodbye, Dana," Afton murmured into her ear as he pressed the gun further against her head. The woman grit her teeth, and in one swift motion, had flung her arm under her coat to her belt where she had been keeping her switchblade. She flicked it open as she wrenched her hand up to drag it against Afton's arm.
The man let out a yell of pain, letting go of her immediately as blood poured from the gash on his forearm and hand. Dana pulled away, stumbling to the ground before hurriedly forcing herself back to her feet as she ran to Henry.
Henry reached for her, pulling her to his side protectively, though his face was pulled into one of shock and bewilderment as he kept her close. "Thanks for telling me to keep that on me," she panted, shaking. The man didn't reply, as he took a step away to one of the adjacent halls, pulling her with him.
"This isn't over yet," he murmured in worry. His claim was proved as Afton turned his glare towards them, a scowl on his face as he raised the pistol. Dana felt Henry's hands on her shoulders grip harder as they shoved her away from him while a gunshot cracked in the space. She felt Henry crumple to the floor beside her.
Terror gripped the woman as a shocked and fearful shriek tore from her throat, head whipping to the man on the floor next to her. "Blast it," Henry cursed, expression drawn into one of pain. Dana eyes flickered to his side where a growing spot of red was staining through his clothes.
"Henry!" She cried, dropping next to him as another shot echoed loudly. A tile on the wall next to her shattered as a bullet pierced it. The woman turned her head to see Afton with the gun raised as he aimed it her direction. He pulled the trigger a third time, but instead of that almighty crack, there was only a light click to indicate the chamber was empty.
The man swore, throwing aside the pistol, clutching his arm while blood dripped to the tile. He growled, beginning to stalk towards them before something from a hallway Dana couldn't see made his head turn. Afton stopped his pursuit, seemingly entranced by the sight before abandoning his initial goal as he turned to walk towards a darkened corridor.
Dana watched in bewilderment before remembering the task at hand as she looked back at Henry with worry and fear. "Henry, are you-"
"It just grazed me, I'm alright," the man rasped, hands covering his wound. Dana's eyes narrowed as she shook her head, standing. In a few quick strides, she had reached an unused first-aid closet, opening it, eyes frantically searching its contents. She reached for a few rolls of bandages and medical tape, hurrying back to the man still on the ground, his eyes scrunched closed in pain.
Dana eased Henry up against the carousel, moving aside his coat as she began wrapping the bandages around the man's side tightly. The man groaned in pain, face paling slightly as she worked.
"Sorry, sorry!" She squeaked. "But we have to do this until we can get you to a hospital." The man nodded, sweat beading on his brow as he breathed heavily.
"What... what about Will, where did he-"
"He left down one of the hallways, I don't know where he's going," Dana answered, hands working as she secured a tape fixture on the last of the wrappings. She helped the man sit up against the carousel, hoping the bandages would hold until they could get help. Suddenly, Henry began trying to stand, his legs seemingly without strength as he leaned heavily against the attraction behind him.
"Woah, what are you doing?" She cried anxiously, trying to stop him from injuring himself further as he moved. "We've got to find him, got to-" Henry started, gasping in pain.
"Henry, you can't, you're hurt!"
"I'm going to find him, I won't let-"
"Father, stop."
Dana watched as Henry froze completely, eyes widening as a pained and shocked expression came over him. She looked up between the bars of the carousel to see Charlie standing near one of the darkened corridors at the prize counter.
She didn't look at all like how Dana had seen her before-instead of a puppet form, she merely resembled the marionette. Her attire matched the patterns and designs from the robot with its black dominance interrupted by white lines and buttons. Her black hair was down, gently cascading around her shoulders. Her skin was quite pale, almost as much as the puppet's with red painted circles on her cheeks, lips the same color while indigo streaks fell from her eyes to jawbone.
Dana realized this must be more what she looked like when she was alive.
"Help me up," Henry murmured softly to her. The woman nodded, slipping an arm around the man's shoulders as she eased him to his feet. His stance seemed to have newfound strength as he turned to see his daughter standing-not levitating-just a few yards away.
Tears slid down the man's face as he gazed at the girl.
"Charlotte... " he whispered, a choke in his voice. The child smiled lightly, her eyes watering. "Hello, Papa," she said almost joyfully. "I've missed you."
A shudder wracked Henry's body, a smile pulling at his mouth. "Oh, my girl... oh my beautiful girl," he choked. He looked at Dana, a determined expression written in his features. "I can walk for a moment," he said lowly. The woman nodded, slowly releasing her hold as the man shuffled forward away from her.
Henry stopped a few feet from Charlie, one hand clutching his side as he looked down at her. "Charlotte..." he whispered, barely loud enough for Dana to hear. "I'm so, so sorry... I couldn't protect you that night... I failed you, my daughter."
The girl stepped forward, setting a hand on the man's elbow. "You did not fail me, Papa. You tried, remember? I was the one who disobeyed you. And it was not you that took my life. This was not your failure."
Henry trembled as his daughter looked up at him with such reverence and respect. "I should have been able to stop him," he murmured. "He's hurt so many others."
The girl nodded solemnly. "I know. I was there for almost every single one. There are only a few of us, now. And tonight is the night we're going to exact our revenge."
Henry swallowed. "So, we are right to be here. This is where we fight."
Charlie shook her head. "No you, Papa. Me. And the others. We will do this alone... this is our battle."
The man in front of her exhaled shakily as he tried to suppress his tears. He extended a hand, gently cradling the girl's cheek in his palm. "You're so strong... I'm so proud of you," he whispered as another tear rolled down his face. "I'm sorry you've had to bear this... if I could relieve you of it, I would."
Charlie smiled, leaning into the touch. "I know you would. But I'll do that myself when my job here is finished."
Her expression softened. "I have to go," she said quietly. Henry nodded sadly, a light sob threatening to break from his throat. "Would you indulge me?" He asked gently, holding his arms out.
The girl walked forward into her father's embrace, her small hands wrapping around the man's back. Henry seemed to tremble as he gripped the child, running his fingers gently through her hair as he held her close.
"I love you, Papa. I hope to see you again after all this," she spoke, squeezing him as real tears rolled down her cheeks. Henry reluctantly let go as she pulled from the embrace. Charlie took a step back before cupping her father's face in her nimble hands as she leaned forward to place a light kiss on his brow.
"Always, my little girl," Henry whispered, voice shaky as he managed a smile. "I love you, Charlotte. Your Papa loves you."
The child smiled, backing away as she began to change to look more like the puppet again. She smiled as she disappeared into the darkness of the corridor behind her. Henry watched her go, not moving as Dana slowly came to stand behind him.
"Are... are we really supposed to let her handle this?" She questioned quietly. The man exhaled. "If this is what she wants, then I'll trust her to do it," he murmured. "She's a smart girl."
Dana nodded. "If there's nothing left for us here, then I need to take you to the hospital," she said, once again wrapping an arm around the man's shoulders for support. "I think that'd be a good idea... I had forgotten it was hurting," Henry nodded, hand still clutching his side.
The woman snorted, helping the man down the entrance hallway and out the glass doors. There was Henry's car parked where they had left it, and Dave-Afton's vehicle was a few stalls from it, door ajar. "Take mine," the man rasped, giving answer to the question in the woman's mind. She nodded, gently helping him into the passenger seat. As she rounded around to the driver's side, she took one last look up at Freddy's, disdain and disgust filling her as she stepped into the car.
"Good riddance."