Important Note: Before you read this chapter, I recommend that you actually re-read the whole story, since I had done an extensive grammar check that actually changes up the story to get rid of grammar issues and clear up some possible plot holes. It's best to especially re-read Chapter 9, since I have added some new things at the end of the chapter way below!
Also, while I did issue a statement that any spoilers relating to SB be avoided, I believe that the game has officially past the line where talk of SB in the reviews is allowed. Especially since nearly every detail of the game is already shown and documented.
But remember.. Things go a different route here in Wonderland.. Setting is the same, but the rules are changed.
Somewhere in the middle of the Pizza Plex. Away from the horrors that were unfolding. A staff bot that had been in testing had switched on in maintenance. But it was no ordinary staff bot. It held a bundle of maps that showed the entirely of the Pizza Plex. It switched on, as it looked around. A small closet-like room of storage, as it turned the doorknob with its hands to leave.
Being exposed to the Pizza Plex, it let out a simple motto:
"Free map."
It was cold in the vents. There was a lack of light, though some red lights glowed in the narrow metal crawlspace, as Gregory didn't hear anything from the way he crawled from. Did she even follow him? He came across a small room, as a large fan moved in a circular motion above his head. The grated floor made sounds, when he set his feet down, as he looked back into the vent. No signs of Vanny chasing him. There was another vent nearby in the fan room, but he leaned against the curved wall, where he got his phone out. He tried to call his mother again.
Still no signal.
He tried to text Jack. The message failed to go through. It was hopeless. He was alone. Far from his parents. Far from his friends..
He couldn't help it. He let out a sob, as he curled up with his arms around his knees, burying his face within them. He didn't know how long he cried. Part of him simply waited.. and waited... but nothing came. He would have booked it, if he heard Vanny crawling in the vents, but the only sound came from the slow moving fan above him.
He didn't know how long he waited. But nothing came. He started to remember that his friends were still in danger. That Vanny might come after them next, since he mentioned them to her. To hunt them down. He had to stay strong. He saw himself as a brave kid, but now the limits were being tested to the extreme. He had to have courage.
Gregory got up from the grated floor, as he saw another vent that he could crawl into. He couldn't go back where he came. Vanny might still be waiting for him out there. Getting back onto his hands and knees, he continued crawling, as the vents seem to twist and turn. As he crawled, he heard.. music? He looked above at an open vertical vent that was above him. It didn't look possible to climb it, due to how slippery the vent walls were. The music sounded like something from a music box. Before Gregory can listen further, the sound of the music box faded away. As Gregory continued, he finally found something that gave him hope.
There was a vent cover that led back into another part of the Pizza Plex. The vent cover was closed, however Gregory checked the screws on the cover. They were big hexagon bolts that secured the vent cover. Gregory started to twist the bolts, to which there was some relief, as they were starting to unscrew as Gregory untwisted them. He managed to get the vent cover open, as he slipped out from the vents. Perhaps, there was some hope around the corner, but he needed to get his bearings.
Vanessa was rushing back to the Main Security Hub, as he radioed for Logan again. "Logan! Come in! Anyone?!" Vanessa said through her wristwatch, waiting for anyone to pick up. She had to backtrack a bit, due to some doors being blocked with shutters. She was able to get into a staff-only hallway, where the evident red lighting had put her at unease. She turned off her flashlight, as she ventured towards a small wide-open corner next to a first aid booth. Vanessa took a moment to notice, realizing that it was made for workers, but not customers. A bit of irony, since she could be in harm at any moment.
Suddenly, Vanessa heard something thundering. It wasn't until what she heard was actually footsteps. Something huge was coming. Vanessa immediately pulled open the curtain of the first aid booth and closed it behind her. She didn't know what was coming, but she immediately kept her mouth shut.
Glamrock Freddy rushed down the hallway, as he tried to look and find the source of the scream. However, the area that he was encountering was a deserted area of the Pizza Plex near the Laser Tag Maze, save for a door that led into the staff-only hallways. "I couldn't have gone the wrong way.. I thought I heard a scream of distress?" Glamrock Freddy was thinking to look for the source of the scream, until he wondered if it had something to do with the door to the staff-only hallways. He could fit through the door, but he had a hunch that someone was being chased like that guy who was being chased by that moon abomination. Freddy had faith in Roxanne in taking care of him. She showcased how she liked to live dangerously, so it was eventual.
Freddy opened the door, as he started to march down the hallway. There were a fork in the hallway near a first aid booth, however he was confused how to proceed. "I'm in desperate assistance, but which way should I go?"
"Shh! Will you not make too much noise!?" a familiar female voice said, that was heard by Glamrock Freddy. "Who said that?" Freddy said, where he got a response.
"How do I know that you're not out for me?"
"We're not..? Where are you?"
"In here." Vanessa said, as she moved the curtain aside in the first aid booth, revealing herself to Freddy. "There you are." Freddy stepped in front of her, as she gripped her flashlight tighter from some distrust. "Freddy? What are you doing here? Did the lockdown wake you up?" Vanessa said, as he was trying to remain honest. "It's not what it looks like, Officer.." Freddy struggled for a name from Vanessa.
"Officer Vanessa. You don't need to call me an officer. I'm only a night guard."
"Vanessa. We all woke up again. There was this... virus... or something that tried to infect us."
"A virus?"
"It felt like a headache, but we all snapped out of it." Glamrock Freddy explained, as Vanessa wondered about something. "Where are the others? Are they back in their green rooms in Rockstar Row?"
"No, they... they had to help around the Pizza Plex. There were multiple hostile creatures running around!"
"You mean animatronics?" Vanessa said, as she stepped out of the first aid booth, as she let Freddy follow her, as she walked down the hallway to the Main Security Hub. "There were two of them I saw. One of them was this spider with cymbals. And another animatronic was chasing a night guard like you." Freddy said, where Vanessa immediately stopped. "Bailey! Where was he?! Is he still ok?!" Vanessa asked Freddy, as she realized that Bailey might still be in trouble. "Roxanne went after to help them! We never encountered this moon animatronic before, but it behaved feral!"
"Wait, Moondrop?" Vanessa suddenly realized who Freddy was talking about. "Moondrop?"
"He's the security animatronic programmed for the Play Palace. He's chasing after Bailey?"
"Vanessa... We were not aware that Moondrop was going after your friend Bailey."
"Freddy, we're both in a serious situation. Not just us, but everyone else.." Vanessa was starting to understand the situation, as the two of them went through a set of double doors. "How many people are in danger?"
"Look..." Vanessa took a moment to regain her composure. She was afraid that she might have another anxiety attack and episode of dehumanization, but she continued, "Two of the other nightguards here mentioned that there were some kids around. We need to find them, before they get hurt! And we need to find the other nightguards, since something must have happened back at the Main Security Hub!"
"Like what?"
"I lost contact with the other two nightguards and my boss! When I get there, I might be able to try to find the kids and keep them safe!"
"I could be able to help." Freddy said, as Vanessa took a glance at him. "Are you able to?" Vanessa sounded serious, though she looked unsure and unprepared for the overall situation. "I help lead my band through all of this. They should know what to do, if they encounter anyone in trouble." Freddy said, as he was making sure that Vanessa led the way.
"We're almost there! So you're saying that Moondrop and another animatronic are on the loose?" Vanessa asked Freddy again. "We don't know why they are acting like that. You think it has something to do with what's happening with the lockdown?" Freddy said, as Vanessa got way ahead of him, as she was about to open a door. "Well, we need to be careful, if there is anything else that had gone rogue." Vanessa said, until suddenly...two metallic hands took a hold of her, as she heard Freddy call her name.
"Vanessa!"
Then, it was followed by an automated voice, as she was face to face with a glasses wearing staff bot with a white hat. "Hi. Please take this map. Take a map."
The Map Bot let go of Vanessa, as it gave her a map. "You're not supposed to scare people!" Vanessa yelled at the Map Bot, until it rolled back and started to dart away from Vanessa. It was getting another map ready, as Vanessa realized that the Map Bot was sensing someone nearby. "Come on!" Vanessa said to Freddy, as they chased after the Map Bot.
"Where am I? This is starting to look familiar."
Gregory looked around to see that he was in the middle of a warehouse. There were metal shelves of crates that were near him, as there was an office above the warehouse that overlooked everything. Gregory looked around the warehouse, as shelves of crates obscured his view on what was behind each. It was like a hiding spot. There was a metal ladder that led up to the catwalk that overlooked the warehouse, along with a metal staircase. His memory was starting to jog, as he remembered that Skeeter took the kids near this area.
There was some doors that were on the same level as him, as he went through one of them, where he came across the loading docks. The problem was that the shutters were down, even though there was a van parked there, just itching for a joyride. Gregory didn't know how to drive, however. There was a large button near the shutter doors that controlled the doors, as Gregory instinctively pressed it. There was a click, but nothing happened.
"Does anything in this place work? I could have ran out there to get help..!" Gregory thought, as he was annoyed that the shutters that could have led outside were locked, where he could have signaled for help. He did spot a set of doors that looked like it could take him back to the entrance hall, however he hesitated. He didn't know if Vanny was outside there still. He backtracked, where he was back at the warehouse, as he saw the ladder to get onto the catwalk that overlooked the warehouse. Perhaps some higher ground could help. Even though he was a small child, the moment Gregory got to the top of the ladder, he heard the catwalk creak for a brief moment. Was there someone else on the catwalk or was it just him?
He went into the office, where there was still some good lighting inside. It consisted of mostly desks and computers, but the computers themselves were all off. Gregory doubted that they even worked, since there was no internet connection. Aside of some metal lockers and some crates, the office seemed empty. There was another door that he could leave through, though as he left the office, he kept himself at guard.
What Gregory didn't realize was that there was an unconscious maintenance worker, who was stuffed inside one of the metal lockers. Bound with a zip tie restraint and cramped in a tight space.
Beyond the door, there was a small hallway that led to a laundry room, mostly for tablecloths from the restaurants, staff uniforms, and even dirty merchandise. Across the room from Gregory was a door with a keypad that gave a blue light. While the washing machines and dryers weren't anything of interest, there was some doors that led to the locker rooms for staff. Gregory went up to the keypad, as he got out his phone flashlight again. He checked the battery of his phone.
"Just a little more juice, come on.." Gregory saw that the battery was at 30%. Flashlight was draining his phone battery hard, so he needed to find something else to use as light. He shined the phone flashlight over the keypad, as he tried to do a combination. 1-2-3-4. A red light appeared. Didn't work for the door. 0-0-0-0. Denied again. It wasn't until he noticed a small note that was on top of a washing machine next the door with the keypad was when Gregory examined it.
"Dave,
Make sure you contact Jacob about Rook. I asked Rook on the keypad code that got changed recently and he gave this smug smirk at me. He acted like a clown and told me that the new code is in the locker room in one of the unlocked lockers. This is idiotic. I don't want a childish manager toying with us and doing crappy pranks for laughs.
I'm making sure Jacob fires that joker tomorrow.
- Weston."
"I have to go to the locker rooms for the code? Ughh.. why does this make me feel like I'm in a video game or something?" Gregory remarked to himself, as he noticed how bizarre the situation he was given was. Gregory went into the locker rooms through the doors, as he saw the rows of lockers around him. He shined his phone flashlight around, as he could tell which ones were locked and which were not, due to the padlocks visible. "Ok.. just got to find the locker that has the code.. But which one?" Gregory started his luck with the unlocked locker close to him. It was completely empty.
He checked another one. Only a bunch of dust bunnies.
There was another locker, where a basketball rolled out and bounced on the floor next to Gregory. "Is that supposed to scare me?" Gregory thought, as he checked another locker. Someone left a pen in the locker? He couldn't really process how more lockers he needed to open until-
A loud alarm-like noise suddenly erupted from the locker he opened, as a toy robot vibrated out of the locker, causing Gregory to let out a yelp. The toy robot moved around on the floor in front of Gregory, as it stopped blaring the noise that emitted from it. "I hate you, Rook..." Gregory muttered, as he checked inside of the locker. There was a picture of two football players posing with their backs to the camera, showing the numbers on the back of their uniforms being 12 and 16. It didn't require a genius for Gregory to know what the code was now.
Gregory went back to the door, as he inserted the code. 1-2-1-6. A green light appeared, as he opened the door. There was another small hallway that led to another door, as he was about to open the door. However, the moment he was about to open the door, he heard someone on the other side. Gregory felt goosebumps, as he listened in. "Free map. Free map."
Gregory didn't know who was beyond the door, but it wasn't Vanny. Instead, when he opened the door, it was a... Map Bot? "Take the map." It said to Gregory, as it blocked Gregory from going past him and the door. "I'm good.." Gregory said silently, but the Map Bot got closer, as it brought a map to Gregory's face. "Take the map."
"I said I'm good!" Gregory said, but suddenly, the Map Bot grabbed Gregory with it's free hand, as Gregory ended up backing up. Like a broken record, the Map Bot started malfunctioning, offering maps towards Gregory by force. Gregory felt the Map Bot shove maps into his face, until there was a yell.
"Outta my way!"
Map Bot was shoved to the side, as Vanessa appeared from behind the robot. Map Bot let go of Gregory's hand, as Map Bot looked at Vanessa. "Take the map." "He doesn't need a map. Just go!" Vanessa demanded, as the Map Bot rolled out of the way and down where Gregory came from. "Are you ok? Did they hurt you?" Vanessa crouched in front of Gregory, as he looked at her, while a flashlight was shining in his face.
"Who... Who are you?" Gregory muttered, as Vanessa could tell he was scared. "Don't worry. I'm here to get you out of here. My name is Vanessa. I work here at the Pizza Plex." Vanessa was distraught to see a kid here. It was probably after midnight and this kid was alone in an empty building with robots roaming around. Well, some of them being killer robots. Gregory was struggling for speech, since his last encounter with a total stranger went horribly wrong.
"Can...Can I trust you?" Gregory managed to get out of his mouth, as his eyes were watering. "Of course, you can trust me.. Is something wrong? Please don't cry. We're both in the same situation. I just need to know your name." Vanessa said, as she can see how scared the boy was. He must have saw something horrible.
"I'm... I'm Gregory. Am I in trouble?"
"No.. No you're not in trouble, Gregory. We're going to get out of here. You and me together." Vanessa said, making sure to help motivate him. Vanessa didn't know how she and Gregory were going to get out of the Pizza Plex, however Gregory knew that Vanessa didn't know all of the details. "We can't leave! My friends are still in here!" Gregory said, as Vanessa grew more concerned, when he mentioned his friends. "Where are they? Do you know where they are?" Vanessa tried to stay calm and collected, but she was nervous.
"I don't know! They... We were separated.. It's still out there..."
"What's still out there?"
Gregory was uncomfortable to speak, as he tried to explain. "The...spider." Gregory said, where Vanessa raised an eyebrow, when Music Man was mentioned. "Spider?"
"He chased me and my friends away! I didn't know where to go, then she..."
"Who?" Vanessa said, as Gregory was hesitant on answering. He only went silent, as Vanessa felt some sympathy for Gregory. "Come on. We're going to head to the Main Security Hub. The others should be there." Vanessa said, as she offered Gregory her hand. However, Gregory immediately flinched, when she reached out for him. "Gregory. I need you to work with me. I can help you find your friends, but you got to cooperate with me.." Vanessa said, trying not to appear annoyed at him, even though she was trying to sympathize with the boy.
Gregory didn't know what to do. He observed Vanessa, as she gave a look of actual concern at him. Vanessa saw him as the frightened little boy he was. "I...I can follow..." Gregory said, as Vanessa adjusted her cap. "Come on. I know the way. The others should be there." Vanessa said, as she made sure that Gregory didn't become too nervous.
The door to the staff lounge was unlocked, as Vanessa peeked inside. No signs of Bruno or Alexander. Odd. "We're almost there. They just got a hallway down from here." Vanessa said to Gregory, letting him through the door. "Is this where you work?" Gregory said, as he felt more calmer than before. "This is where security guards like me work. There's a room that lets you take a peek at every room in the Pizza Plex. I think my friends are in there right now." Vanessa said, as Gregory followed closer behind her.
Vanessa noticed the door to the Main Security Hub was creaking open, when both her and Gregory arrived. "Reed! Morgan! I'm here!" Vanessa called for them, but there was no response. "Guys?" Vanessa got her flashlight, as she moved the door open. "Guys..?" Vanessa looked in the room, as she looked around. The monitors were all static. There was a faint hum from some of the security equipment. Whatever hell that was unleashed all around the Pizza Plex, it fried the systems. Gregory went into the room, as he grew more concerned.
"Where did they go?" Vanessa thought, as she got out her wristwatch. "Bruno! Reed! Where are you two?" Vanessa radioed in, until she heard a duplicate voice somewhere outside of the Main Security Hub. Gregory looked outside, as there was some storage rooms and closets nearby. "Someone come in!" Vanessa radioed again, as Gregory heard... Vanessa's voice from one of the other doors. "Vanessa?" Gregory said, as Vanessa saw him point at a closed door, where there was some feedback that happened whenever Vanessa used her watch.
"It's coming from there.." Gregory said, as Vanessa got her flashlight. It was the door to the supply closet. Vanessa made sure that Gregory was still behind her, as she slowly started to turn the knob of the door, pulling it towards her...
...as Morgan fell from the closet onto his face. His hands tied on his back, as Gregory let out a scream. "Morgan!" Vanessa immediately checked on Morgan, as he was unconscious. Vanessa checked his pulse, as he was still breathing. Vanessa and Gregory were quick to see that Morgan was sharing the closet with Bruno, as both gentlemen were bound with zip-ties.
"What happened to them?!"
"Someone must have attacked them! We need to find my manager! I might know where he is!" Vanessa said, as she was getting ready to check the server room, where Jacob went to check for the power, until Gregory said something that made her stop her tracks. "What if the rabbit lady is responsible?!"
"What?" Vanessa got confused, when the boy mentioned a "rabbit lady", but she didn't know what he was talking about. "What rabbit lady?" she turned to Gregory. "I talking about Vanny! She's the robot lady that tried to hurt me!" Gregory said, as Vanessa grew a concerned look. She crouched back down to Gregory to talk with him. "Gregory.. What rabbit lady? Who's Vanny?"
"You don't know about Vanny?" Even Gregory who knew about her was uncomfortable at having to explain to Vanessa. "She was this robot lady dressed as a bunny.. I bumped into her and she told me that she would help me..."
"And what did she do?"
"She had a knife... this other woman appeared... they got into an argument about me and then... Vanny..." Gregory didn't want to think on the details, since he can feel tears start to cover his eyes. Vanessa heard enough, but she didn't get the full picture.
It's not who I think it is-
"Could you describe Vanny?" Vanessa said, as she needed to know what she looked like. "She had this white bunny suit on... I don't know if she was even an animatronic.." Gregory said, as Vanessa maintained a serious, but honest look. "Gregory, I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your friends. I'm... I'm scared too." Vanessa said, as Gregory looked at her. He could tell that she really meant it.
When Vanessa and Gregory ended up at the main server room, Vanessa checked the door. Unlocked. That wasn't a good sign. Vanessa opened the door, as both her and Gregory peeked inside. The lighting inside of the server room was dim, as she looked around until she saw a pair of legs at one corner of the room. "Jacob!" Vanessa went inside with Gregory following her, as she found the unconsciousness body of Jacob Peterson. She checked his pulse, like she did with Morgan.
"Is he ok?" Gregory asked Vanessa. "He's still breathing. All of the nightguards over here are knocked out?" Vanessa wanted to say more, until there was some movement from Peterson, as he let out a gasp of air. The sudden awakening of Peterson caused Gregory to step back, while Vanessa gave Peterson some distance.
"Jacob! You ok? What happened?" Vanessa said to Peterson, as he was trying to get his bearings. "Ughh... what? Price? Price, what the hell happened?!"
"Don't swear out loud, Jacob! There's a kid here!" Vanessa was quick to tell Jacob, as while Jacob was trying to get up from the floor with his hands tied, he noticed Gregory. "Price, why is there a kid here?!" Jacob yelled, as he noticed how he was tied up. "Jacob, I found him wondering around! He mentioned an intruder in a bunny costume?"
"WHAT?!" Jacob suddenly said, as he looked at her then back at the kid. "Price, tell me what the boy said.." Jacob's tone became more serious, as Vanessa was trying to get the zip tie that bounded his hands off, but she needed something sharp. "He told me that there was a woman with a bunny costume with a knife. I think we might actually have an actual intruder.." Vanessa explained, as Jacob got onto his rear, as he sat up.
"So it wasn't anyone else that tasered me?" Jacob asked Price. "No, I was all the way at the Fazer Blast maze, while I lost contact with Bailey! Both Bruno and Alexander are unconscious!" Vanessa explained, as Jacob tried to get his hands free. "I need a pocket knife! You got one?" "Jacob, I don't.." Vanessa said, as Jacob looked at Gregory. "So there are still kids here.."
"Jacob, what should I do? The Main Security Hub is down and I'm unable to get contact to the outside." Vanessa said, as Jacob gave an annoyed look, as he know how he is thrown in a dangerous situation that could result in many lawsuits that he might not be aware of. "Vanessa, listen! The lockdown alarm went off, so there is a chance that my superiors are heading over here to pry the whole place open. You said that there is only one intruder in here with a weapon?" Jacob said, where Gregory reminded Vanessa of Music Man.
"The boy says that him and his friends got separated by a giant spider running around?"
"Wait? Are you saying that some of the animatronics have gone rogue?!" Jacob asked her. "I lost contact with Bailey, but he said he was being chased.. I was able to encounter one of the Glamrocks who was friendly to me." Vanessa explained, as Gregory grew interested when Vanessa mentioned that she encountered one of the Glamrocks. "Price, look.." Jacob looked at Gregory again, as he wanted to put his hand over his face, but both of his hands were still tied. "There is a way you can escape here and with the kid and his friends.. But if there are killer animatronics running around, you need to be careful with the boy."
"How do we escape?" Vanessa asked him.
"On the other side of the Pizza Plex, there is an electrical room that is responsible for turning on everything manually. The server room here is just a backup, but this is where the security systems are held. In order to get the security systems off and to get the whole place opened up, you need to travel there and activate the override. It's in a maintenance area, but you're still allowed to go through it."
"What about the underground?"
"You are to still not access the underground, under any circumstances! Only authorized personnel are allowed!" Jacob said, but all three of them were unaware that Gregory's friend Harper ended up underground. "Come on, let me get those zip ties off." Vanessa said, as he helped Jacob up, as she brought him back to the Main Security Hub with Gregory. The zip ties were on tight, but there were some small offices nearby to which Jacob used some scissors left on a desk to get the zip ties off. He brought the scissors to get rid of the zip ties on Bruno and Alexander, but both were still unconscious.
"Are they going to be ok?" Gregory spoke to Jacob, as he was trying to get them woken up. "Both look like they got worst than what I got.." Jacob remarked. "Jacob, what should I do with Gregory?" Vanessa asked Jacob, as even her boss didn't really have a concrete answer on how to proceed. "That's his name?" Jacob got a nod from both. "Listen. It's not safe here, if all three of us were jumped. He can't stay in one place, if there is both rogue animatronics and a maniac running around with a knife. We might be dealing with terrorists or something, so you need to have Gregory stay mobile until either rescue comes or until the shutters go up in 5 hours."
"5 hours?!" Gregory got mad when he mentioned the amount of maximum time given until he could escape with his friends. "We barely lasted 5 minutes!"
"Well, if you want to get out of here with your friends, then you are going to have to listen to us!" Jacob argued with Gregory, though Vanessa knew that Jacob was trying not to swear at the boy, due to his age. "Jacob! Can't you give him something to make sure that he fends for himself?" Vanessa said, as Jacob thought of something. "..You got a point. I think I know what the kid needs." Jacob said, as he took off his wristwatch. "Gregory. Take this." Jacob handed him the wristwatch, along with a flashlight that Jacob had. "What is this?" Gregory said, as he put the wrist watch on. "It's a Faz-Watch. We use it to monitor the cameras and as a map." Jacob said, as Gregory tapped on the buttons on there. "You can also use it to talk me, if we are separated." Vanessa gave an uplifting smirk to Gregory, though the latter was scared of being alone again.
"Vanessa, you're not going to leave me right?" Gregory said, as the smirk that tried to appeared supportive towards Gregory was showing a more natural emotion of unease. "I'm not going to make sure you're alone. I do know someone that can help.." Vanessa said, as Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Who? Logan is missing in action and could be in harm's way!"
"I told him to keep hidden. Him and the others should be docile, still." Vanessa said, as Jacob realized who Vanessa was referring to.
"Freddy? Where are you?" Vanessa called out for Freddy, as Gregory kept with Vanessa. "You know Freddy?" Gregory asked her. "I'm not just a night guard. We're in charge of making sure that the Glamrocks aren't damaged during the night. Now, I left Freddy here to keep watch for any aggressive animatronics while he's hidden, but-" Vanessa wanted to say more, as she led Gregory to a small mini laundry room with several sheets draped over several things. "Where did he go? He better not have wondered off on me after I chased that Map Bot.." Vanessa said, as Gregory noticed something towering that was draped with a white sheet.
"Is Freddy under there?" Gregory asked, as Vanessa realized what he said was correct. "Freddy! Get that sheet off! I need your help!" Vanessa scolded Freddy, as he remained under the sheet. "Vanessa. You told me to remain hidden. It is clear that I cannot be found so easily." Freddy said, as Vanessa took off the sheet to reveal Freddy. "You could have hid in the corner.."
"Who is this?" Freddy said, as Gregory was surprised to see the animatronic singer himself. "Go on, tell him your name. He's here to help." Vanessa gave a small nudge to Gregory to introduce himself. "I'm.. I'm Gregory."
"Gregory.. Where did you find him?" Freddy asked Vanessa. "He was at the staff areas near the Main Security Hub. He told me some things.. Things we need to all watch out on." Vanessa explained, as Freddy crouched down in front of Gregory. "I make sure to keep an eye on him. Are you not going to accompany us?" Freddy asked Vanessa, as she frowned. "I can't.. I need to head all the way over to the other side of the Pizza Plex to activate the override system."
"We can't come?"
"It's too dangerous for Gregory. You need to help him find his friends. They are still in trouble somewhere here and you need to help find them." Vanessa explained, as Freddy was understanding the situation. "But where can he hide, if we were to be in trouble?" Freddy asked her, until Vanessa noticed something about Freddy. "Hang on, could you stand still?" Vanessa went up to him, as she realized something was off about his animatronic design. Specifically the amount of space at his chest. She pressed on a tiny button that was near his chest, to which both her, Freddy, and Gregory were surprised to see the bear's chest open up to reveal a large compartment.
"He's all hollow?" Gregory said, as there were some small lights that lined the stomach compartment. "I... I don't have a stomach?!" Freddy was getting scared that he lacked organs, but then again, he was a robot after all. "You don't need a stomach. It looks like they made this compartment for oversized birthday cakes and piñatas?" Vanessa said, as she had an idea. It was a bad idea, but she didn't know how Gregory would react. "Gregory. You look small enough to hide inside. Is it safe for him to be in there?"
"Are you crazy?! I could become a meat pretzel in there!" Gregory said, against the idea. "The boy would fit inside of me nicely. He does seem small enough to put in myself." Freddy said, as he looked at Gregory. "Wait! I might become claustrophobic!" Gregory said, which Vanessa knew that she couldn't really make him uncomfortable. "How about as a last ditch effort?" Vanessa said, making sure Freddy didn't try to scoop the boy into his chest. "If he needs to hide, he can hide inside you."
"I do suppose that sounds reasonable.." Freddy said, as Gregory was hesitant on leaving Vanessa. "Wait, Vanessa.. I.." Gregory wanted to stay with Vanessa, but he had no choice. "Gregory.." Vanessa gave him the same look that she gave him when she first found him. "If we stay together, we both might get hurt. I'm strong enough on my own. My propriety is being placed on you and your friends." Vanessa said, as Gregory took a moment to process the situation.
He was being given someone else to look over him. A robotic guardian, but this guardian was what Gregory was starting to idolize before he got the chance to meet him face-to-face. "I... I'll be with him." Gregory said, as Freddy smiled. "Don't worry, Gregory. I can help find your friends and I can introduce you to the other Glamrocks, too!" Freddy said, as Gregory allowed him to hoist him up and put him on his shoulder. Vanessa tipped her security cap with a confident grin, as she split up with Gregory and Glamrock Freddy.
While Glamrock Freddy wasn't that loud, as he walked down the hallway and back into the main areas of the Pizza Plex. Gregory was still on Freddy's shoulder, as the latter made sure Gregory didn't hit his head, as he crouched under the doorframe. The neon hallways and decor looked unfamiliar to the two, as it was part of the retro maze that was the Pizza Plex. "Now where should we go? I think Rockstar Row was nearby." Freddy muttered, as Gregory looked around. "Hang on.. I think I might know where we're at.."
"Where are we?" Freddy asked Gregory, as the latter checked the arrow signs nearby. "We should be near the Fazcade! I was there with my friend Jack! Him and the other two might be in there!" Gregory said, as Freddy decided to take the direction. "I hadn't been to the Fazcade myself. Me and Chica expressed interest, but we never had the chance to check out the place." Freddy was eager, though he knew he can't play any of the games that the Fazcade might have, since he had a more important goal. As Freddy walked with Gregory in tow, the Map Bot appeared from a corner, as it nearly spooked Gregory again. "Free map. Free map.." the Map Bot said, once again. It was almost as if the Map Bot knew that Gregory didn't even have a map.
"Perhaps it's best that they give you a map?" Freddy said, as he leaned down and grabbed the map that the Map Bot had in their hands. "Thank you. Have a nice day." the Map Bot sped away to some other place, though both Gregory and Freddy were lucky that it didn't scare them. Freddy gave Gregory the map, where he checked it quick. "It's just straight ahead. You can look also." Gregory put the map in front of Freddy's eyes, as he took a glance.
A blue light emitted briefly from Freddy's eyes, as he was given new information. "What was that?" Gregory asked him. "That is a fountain. A fountain is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water." Freddy said, referring to the set of fountains that were in the middle of the hallway for show, though Gregory was referring to how Freddy scanned the map in front of him. "No, I mean what you did with looking at the map?"
"I... I know the layout somewhat. Not all of the details, but I know everything that was shown on the map." Freddy tried to explain to Gregory. "You just looked at the map and you now know everything that the map showed?"
"I do admit... It is a strange experience being like this. I would like to know about how the world outside of here works.." Freddy said, as he started walking to the Fazcade. "You never been outside?" Gregory asked him. "No.. I.. I know what everything is, but I never been where the rest of everything is.. I know little and too much, yet I feel full of something. Perhaps of anything, but it feels not right...!" Freddy was getting a bit existential, as Gregory immediately tried to change the topic. "I... I don't know, I'm just a kid!" Gregory said, as they were coming up to the Fazcade. Gregory can recognize the entryway of the Fazcade, as he let Freddy put him down.
"The Fazcade.. I don't know much of what's in there. What is it like?" Freddy asked Gregory. "Well, you play some games and you get a bunch of tickets. You get enough tickets, you can trade them in for a prize." Gregory said, as he remembered that he still had the Glamrock Freddy action figure in his pocket. Some of the limbs were detached and broken, since Gregory shoved it into his pocket. Freddy looked down at the action figure with interest. "Is that me?"
"It's an action figure of you. They have action figures of the other Glamrocks." Gregory said, as Freddy's ears wiggled with interest. "Why would they sell mini versions of us as prizes?"
"Because you and the other Glamrocks are famous here! It's why this place is made and themed around you guys.." Gregory said, as Freddy thought about it. He was unsure of he could handle the task of protecting a boy like Gregory, however the reminder that the Glamrocks like Freddy were popular for celebrity status gave him a sense of importance. He was a superstar, but Freddy was starting to see Gregory as one, too.
"Come on, Gregory. Let's see if your friends are inside. You and I might ride out the storm while Vanessa can get the override up." Freddy smiled, as Gregory smiled with him. The two of them would enter the Fazcade to see what awaited them inside. However, somewhere else in the Pizza Plex, there would be evil that would lingering.
It wasn't just from Vanny. It was something that was meant to be scrapped and hidden.
And they were restless..
Author's Notes: Wanted to write the calm before the storm occurs. A nice little comfort chapter, hence the title, before things go out of control again.
I wanted to avoid making the locations that Gregory visit before he bumps into Vanessa pointless, so I add some horror puzzle elements, which I list the inspiration from the game Silent Hill, particularly Shattered Memories.
Want a clue on what happens in the next chapter? I give ya a hint.
"Screamers."
Montgomery is going to be in a rude awakening.