Left Behind

"Hey Jeremy? Jeremy? You missed your cue. Again."

Jeremy Fitzgerald snapped out of his reverie and looked up at his director, hard as it may be with the theatre lighting. She had her arms folded and was tapping her foot impatiently as she watched from the seats.

"Oh right. Sorry about that, Vera!" he said with as much enthusiasm as he could. "You wanna go from there again?"

She sighed. "No, I think that's a call for a small break. Okay, take five everyone. Jeremy, I need to talk to you for a moment."

"Actually, I was gonna-"

"That wasn't a request, Jeremy," she said sternly.

Jeremy bit down a comeback. When Vera got like this, he knew arguing with her was pointless and would only make things worse. He trudged his way downstage, passing a few of his fellow performers. Some looked at him with sympathy, others with exasperation. Jeremy didn't care for either reaction and just ignored them. He'd dealt with it long enough.

He approached Vera, who offered him a seat. He tried another smile but it did nothing to shift her sternness.

"This can't go on, Jeremy. We've had six rehearsals since you came back. When you told me you were good to start again, after what happened five weeks ago, I gave you the benefit of the doubt. I know it's been a lot to deal with." She paused, but Jeremy didn't respond. "I've tried to make allowances for you but I can only do so much. You're the only one still on-script, you keep spacing out and missing your cues and you keep snapping at the others. They only want to help."

"I don't need their help," he muttered.

"And there you go again," she sighed. "I understand Jeremy, I really do. But you're clearly not ready to get back into this. I made it clear at the start that I was willing to be flexible if you were willing to do your best but I've not seen any proof of that. We can't just wait for you to catch up, that's not fair on the others. I'm giving your part to Jason."

"What?!" Jeremy stood up in disbelief. "You can't do that! Jason-!"

"Has learned his lines, pays attention to his cues and was already lined up for the part when you came back. He was willing to step aside if it meant it could help you get back into the swing of things but that hasn't happened." She smiled sympathetically. "You can take his place with the backstage crew, you'd still be involved with the show."

"But I want to be up there. I want to be in the show," he pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. But that's my final word," she said firmly. "Okay, we'll be starting again in a couple of minutes. You can get on with helping backstage but I'd understand if you wanted to head home for now and we'll see you again next week."

Anger still bubbled within Jeremy. He wanted to tell Vera exactly what he thought of her idea. That Jason was in no way suited for the role and this wasn't fair. But it wouldn't do him any good. If he kicked up more of a fuss, Vera just wouldn't let him be involved at all until the next one.

"Yeah, I think I'll just split for today," he said eventually.

"That would be best. I'll see you next week?" she asked.

"Next week, yeah. See you." He went and got his bag before she could say anything else, then left the community centre.

He waited until he was around the corner and out of sight before he furiously kicked a nearby can with a loud yell. Someone looked at him in shock but he didn't care. He just kept on walking, no mind to where he was going.

His rational mind knew Vera was right. He wasn't in any fit state to perform in the show. But he didn't want to listen to his rational side right now. He wanted to indulge in that side of him, that wanted to knock that superior look right off Vera's face. She had no idea what he was dealing with right now, none of them did. They could say 'I'm sorry' and 'we're here for you' all they wanted, but it didn't change a thing. It wouldn't bring Robbie back, nothing would.

The image of his little brother surfaced into his mind. The little self-proclaimed rock star. So convinced of his talent, that one day he was going to make it big. The kind of dream that only a little kid could have or else really deluded or determined guys who still played in basements. But not anymore. He'd never…

He pushed aside those thoughts as best he could, but they were always there. Lingering.

Jeremy wasn't sure what to do now. He could go home. But his mom wouldn't be back yet and he'd be alone. It meant trying his best to ignore the one room in their home that would remain forever empty. Then he would go in there anyway and all those feelings would surface again. It was only when he looked up that he realised where he'd arrived at.

Freddy's. The place was dead now, utterly devoid of life. The lights were dark, the parking lot was empty and a big sign announced that it was closed until further notice. Remnants of police tape, caught in the doors, flickered in the breeze. Graffiti was already coating the walls and at least one of the windows was broken. Once, he'd loved this place, even managed to get a job there. But now, it represented everything that had been taken from him.

That anger came back again. He snatched up a nearby rock, prepared to throw it at one of the windows. But he stopped mid-swing. His eyes lingered on one of the old posters, one that depicted Freddy and the band, smiling joyfully away. He stayed frozen in position, then slowly let his arm fall to his side and the rock clatter to the ground.

He couldn't. Even after everything, he just couldn't. It took everything he had not to break down right there.

"Jeremy? Hey Jeremy, how're you doing?"

He looked up at the voice. A young woman was gazing at him. Her brown hair hung down her shoulders and her face was set with a genuine smile and kind eyes. It took a moment for Jeremy to place her and he couldn't stop the smile coming to his face either.

"Hey, Susie!" He reached out and shook her hand, which she suddenly turned into a hug. "Whoa hey, it's good to see you too."

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling away. "It's just good to see a familiar face."

"Yeah, you're telling me." More quietly, he asked, "How long were you there for?"

"Long enough," she replied. "I won't tell if you won't."

"Thanks." He coughed awkwardly. "So what's new with you?"

"A few things," she said. "I was just on my way home and kind of took a detour. Nice coincidence, huh?"

"Yeah, I'd say so," Jeremy agreed. They both looked towards the restaurant for a moment before turning back to each other. "So, heading home yeah?"

"I was, but now I've run into you, I think I can spare a few minutes. Come on, there's a place I know. If we're gonna catch up, we may as well do it properly," she said.

Jeremy followed her lead. They ended up in a small café called Silver Spoon. A poster on the door informed Jeremy of an open-mic night on Thursdays, along with movie screenings on certain days. The server addressed Susie by name and prepared her 'usual' while they took a seat.

"Yeah, used to come here a lot. You remember Brad, the other receptionist? He and I used to meet here a few times when we finished work." Her face fell a little. "I haven't seen him for a while."

"You bumped into anyone else who used to work at Freddy's?" asked Jeremy.

"Not really. A lot of them are in other jobs or they left town, like Anita and her family. You know, the waitress who was always on her phone? After what happened to their daughter, they couldn't…" She trailed off and let out a long sigh. "I was hoping to not get on this subject so soon but I guess it kind of crept on us. Sorry."

Jeremy grunted, but didn't reply with anything else. He'd been happy to see Susie, but now he suddenly wanted to stand up and go.

Susie seemed to sense this and quickly changed tack. "So what have you been up to then?"

"Not much. Just doing my theatre stuff, seeing my friends, usual stuff," he shrugged.

"Have you managed to get another job?" she asked.

"Nah, not really looking for work right now," he said. "I'll get on it later but I figure there's not much of a rush right now."

"Oh, I miss those halcyon days when that was a thing," Susie said wistfully. "But sadly, I'm an adult which means I gotta pay bills and taxes and other things adults have to do."

Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Susie, please. I bet Wendy handles all that stuff."

"Jeremy, how dare you! I am a responsible and capable young woman, thank you!" she said with mock offence. "Even if you are completely right."

"Thought so," he grinned.

"Yeah, she's always good at that sort of…" She trailed off again and quickly plastered on a smile. "But yeah, that's how it is."

They paused while a server brought them their orders and waited until he left.

"Where are you working now then?" he asked.

"Well…" She shifted in her seat and her eyes cast around the room. "It's just another reception desk deal."

"Same old then. Where at?"

Her eyes were now fixed on her drink. When she spoke it was mumbled and Jeremy couldn't make it out.

"Sorry, say that again?"

"Fritz's Family Fun Palace," she said quickly and took a sip from her drink, her eyes downcast.

"You mean the place that took over for Freddy's?" She nodded. "Okay, so what's the problem? Why were you being so cagey about it?"

"It's stupid but… it just feels like I've betrayed, you know, Freddy's. For the place that bought them out. They offered it to pretty much all the old staff and I know you didn't take it, so I thought that you'd think I was-"

"Susie, hey, it's okay. I already said, I'm just not looking for other work right now. But don't need to be ashamed for taking the offer. It's just a job and you gotta be a responsible adult, right?" he said, with a teasing smile.

"At least someone thinks so," she murmured and returned his smile gratefully. "Thanks, Jeremy."

"No problem. What's it like there anyway? I've not been since it opened," he said.

"They do pretty much what Freddy's did, just with a different coat of paint. New name, new robots, bigger place. They've gone for this shiny look for the performers rather than fur like at Freddy's," she explained. "I have to admit, I'm not sold on them."

"How come? I mean, I've seen the posters and they're pretty much the same as the old characters from what I could tell," he said.

"Mostly. They're the same animals but they have different looks and personalities. Like for some reason, the one that's basically Chica is slimmer and has pink booty shorts?" She wrinkled her face in disgust. "Points for female representation. There's also a new one, a little boy robot that makes balloons. It's weird, but I swear that sometimes, he stares at me."

"Maybe you got yourself a little admirer," Jeremy chuckled.

"Maybe I do," she agreed with a laugh. "But they just don't have the same dynamic as the old crew. Their performances felt natural and you could interact with them a lot more. The new ones just feel too scripted and there's not much to be gained from trying to talk to them. They just give generic responses and wander off."

"That kinda sucks. But Freddy's is gone now, we just have to deal with it," he shrugged.

"Yeah, we do." She leaned in a little closer. "I did see, what you were about to do with that rock. I'm glad you didn't do it."

"Doesn't matter," he muttered, folding his arms.

"I still can't believe that it happened. That Mike was the one they locked up for it." She took another sip. "They have his trial set for the end of the week, you know."

"Good," said Jeremy, not liking where this was going. If there was one thing he felt more wound up inside about than Freddy's, it was Mike Schmidt.

She got a little closer again. "Do you think he actually did it?"

"Doesn't matter what I think. He's the one they put away and that's all there is to it," he said as casually as he could.

"I really don't think he did. He couldn't have, that's not the guy I got to know after so-"

"Well maybe he just wasn't the guy you thought you knew," snapped Jeremy. "They caught him, he's gonna be put away and that'll be the end of it."

"You really think that's all there is to it?" Susie said, incredulously. "You really don't think there's a chance they might have the wrong guy?"

"Well what the hell else is there?!" Jeremy didn't realise he was standing until after the words left his mouth. He also realised that everyone in the café was staring at him and that Susie in particular looked quite hurt and shocked. "What?"

"Nothing. You tell me," she replied icily.

Jeremy sighed and took his seat again. "I'm sorry, Susie."

"It's okay. Just remember you're not the only one who had to deal with what happened that day," she said.

She got a look in her eye that Jeremy recognised. It was the same he'd seen in his own when he looked in the mirror. He was about to ask what she meant when someone else came over to their table.

"Hey dudes! What's going on?" A man with long, unkempt and somewhat unwashed hair beamed down at them. "Susie, my favourite lady dude!"

"Brad!" Susie was up and hugging him in an instant. "Oh my god, it's so good to see you!" She gave a good sniff and carefully pulled back from the hug. "How long have you worn that shirt?"

He frowned. "Not sure. What's today?"

"It's Sunday."

"Yeah? No way." He stared off into the middle distance for a moment before shrugging. "Eh, it's probably fine."

"No, it really isn't. Change your shirt when you get home," she instructed.

"Got it. And hey, Jeremy! I thought that was your voice I heard. Put it there, my man!" he said, opening his arms for a hug.

Jeremy exchanged a quick look with Susie and turned it into a double high-five instead. "Good to see you too, Brad. Susie was just telling me that you guys used to come here after work."

"Sure did, dude," he said. "Look at this, a regular Freddy's get-together. Hold on, I'll grab a chair."

Before either of them could say anything, Brad joined them at their table. Jeremy resigned himself to it. Brad was a nice guy, from what he remembered. Even if he acted like he should be riding around in a van, solving mysteries with a talking dog.

"Oh man, those were the days. Working at Freddy's. Man, we were there together for a while, huh?" he said to Jeremy.

"I was there for about a week, Brad," said Jeremy pointedly.

"Oh right, yeah," he said absently. "Yeah but it felt longer, right? 'Cause that's what working at Freddy's is, you know? Like, it feels like you've just been there your whole life, it's that good."

"Uh, Brad?" Susie tried to interject but Jeremy was there first.

"Yeah, it's the best. Especially when you find out what's left of your little brother is in a garbage bag in the backroom," Jeremy said sourly.

"Oh." Brad suddenly looked ashamed. "Dude, I… I'm sorry, I…" He sighed. "I just miss it, man, you know? Nothing against you at all."

"It's fine," Jeremy dismissed, not looking to get into it.

"Nah man, I gotta make it up to you." He thought for a moment. "Look, I'm about to head back to my place. I was gonna get some takeout. How about you guys swing by and join me? It'll be on me."

"You don't have to do that," said Jeremy uncomfortably.

"It's no trouble, dude, really," he said keenly.

"That's nice of you to offer, Brad but Jeremy and I were looking to finish up here and head on home," said Susie.

"Oh, okay then," Brad said disappointedly. "I get that. Just would have been nice, you know? I've not seen, like, anyone since the place shut and it was pretty much all I had in terms of, well, friends."

Brad looked so dejected and forlorn at that moment that he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. It appeared to have the same effect on Susie, who immediately placed a hand on his arm and rubbed it comfortingly.

"Hey, it's okay, Brad. You know, I'm actually not in a real rush to get home and it'd be nice to catch up. What do you think, Jeremy?" she asked.

Jeremy's first instinct was to say no, but the state Brad was in combined with the expression on Susie's face was hard to resist. Plus, it meant more time before he had to go home.

"Yeah, sure," he said with a shrug.

"Awesome!" Brad slapped them both on the back. "Let's vamoose then!"

They took a few minutes to finish off their drinks and set off, following Brad. For a man who was usually so vacant, he moved with a certain energy. He also kept looking around and glancing over his shoulder. More than once, he took them down a random alleyway into a different street or stopped to tie his shoelace, though they were obviously done up.

His behaviour didn't go unnoticed by the two with him. At first, they were willing to put it down to being an odd eccentricity but eventually, they started to get more concerned. Jeremy felt he had the air of someone on the run from the law and was wondering if he shouldn't just make an excuse and leave.

At one point, Susie took out her phone and quickly sent a text. She showed it to Jeremy. It let her girlfriend Wendy know who she was with and where she was. He nodded at her smart thinking. Though Brad was an otherwise nice guy, his behaviour was a little concerning. He quickly did the same for his mom and felt a little safer.

Susie was the first to speak up. "Brad, is everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, don't sweat it. Just… can't be too careful, you know?" he said with a sudden laugh. "Oh hey, here's my place."

He took them to the entrance of a non-descript apartment block. He opened the door and held it for them, taking one last look down the street before shutting it behind them and leading them upstairs. He unlocked the door to his apartment and ushered them inside.

"Okay, we're good," he sighed with relief.

"Good for what? What was all that back there?" asked Jeremy.

"Like I said, man, can't be too careful. You guys take a seat, I'll be out in a sec," he offered and went to what Jeremy assumed was his room.

They stepped inside the apartment proper. Jeremy took a quick look around and was surprised that the place was surprisingly clean. A rather odd contrast to the man who lived in it. The oddest thing was his custom rigged computer desk and a few odd knick knacks. All looked like they were Freddy Fazbear merchandise, including some old bobble heads and posters.

"He always had a great devotion to Freddy's," explained Susie in a low voice. "Never really knew why, but he did. Or does, really."

"Yeah, no kidding," said Jeremy, examining one of the posters despite himself. "This one's from when the place was still Fredabear's Family Diner."

"Looks like he's not the only one," noted Susie.

"My mom was one of the original customers," he said. "She kind of passed it on to me. Oh hey, I've seen that before!"

Brad had just brought something from his room. It was a very old, mascot suit head. Specifically, one from Fredabear's, depicting the star of the show herself.

"Oh you know it?" said Brad with surprise, as he set it down on the table.

Jeremy nodded. "Last time I saw this thing, it was in the lap of… but yeah, I've seen it before."

If Brad or Susie took note of how he hadn't finished his sentence, they didn't comment on it and again, Jeremy was thankful.

"Okay Brad," said Jeremy, turning away from the suit head, "what's this about?"

"Well uh, I think it's best if I let her explain, dude," he replied, pointing at the head.

"Her?" Susie looked bemused. "Brad, I understand that you have a thing for Freddy's and its history but it's just an empty head."

"I think you may want to re-evaluate that assessment," a new voice said. They both whirled around, looking for its source. "And looks of shock and amazement in three, two, one…"

There was no question. The voice was coming from the suit head. It was a little garbled by static but there was no denying it. The woman speaking reminded Jeremy of one of his old science teachers: self-assured and fiercely intelligent despite her age. Also, a little bit of a show off.

"Hello Jeremy, Susie. I've been looking forward to meeting you. I am the artificial intelligence, Genetic Operations Logistics Diagnostic ENgager. But please, call me Goldie."

By jove! You boy, what year is it?!

Hey everyone! Long time, no update huh? I am so sorry I left this so long. I won't get into the details but… real life got complicated and I kind of lost my drive to write. But guess what? I got it back! You'll have to bear with me, but I fully intend to see this Saga through to its end and I hope to have you all along for the ride.

Gotta say, it's good to be back!

Be strong, be swift, be just.

Alpha.