His Penance

The tiles beneath him were cold.

Hearing the voices calling to him, Mike could only stare at the face of the Marionette, whose own gaze matched him, unblinking.

"Mike! Mike!" Spencer cried out, shaking the body of his son over and over again, "Please! Say something!"

"What the hell did you do to him?!" Mike heard Caine roar, holding the pistol in his hand, pointed at the impossible being.

Standing between the irate humans surrounding Mike, Freddy held up his hands, "Please, detective! We do not have time for this! Is Michael okay?"

"He was until this bloody clown gave him brain damage!"

Shaking his head, the Marionette didn't make it obvious if the words upset him. "Michael will be back with us, soon. I promise you. But what he has seen…"

"The man." Mike whispered the words, "The Purple Man…"

Sitting up, Mike felt the hands of his father resting on him, helping him up.

"Mike, are you okay?" Spencer mumbled, "What…what happened?"

"I saw him." Mike answered, "The Purple Man. The killer. He…was he the first night guard? The one who quit?"

"That is correct."

"Then there's no justice to be had." Caine gritted his teeth, "The first night guard is dead. He was killed in the riots, soon after the pizzeria closed down."

"Are you sure about that, detective?"

"I saw the reports myself."

"And whom do you think provided those reports?"

Not saying anything at first, Caine's face dropped. "Oh, bloody hell…"

"What?" Mike mumbled, "What does that mean?"

"It wouldn't be the first time that Fazbear Entertainment have covered up their mistakes," The Puppet whispered, "and I doubt it will be the last."

Scowling, Caine glanced at Mike. "Then we still have our chance. Once we're done here, we'll pursue any lead we have. He can't get away with this."

"First things first," Mike agreed, "we need to deal with Golden Freddy."

"Aye, we do at that." Looking back at the Marionette, Caine holstered his pistol, "Bring us up to speed. What did you show Mike?"

Almost as if he was breathing in, the Marionette answered, "Eleven souls have been lost, taken by the Purple Man. He was a thief in the night, a chameleon. He used the suit to lure them away, where they would be unable to flee, to call for help."

"Did you see them?" Caine pressed on, "Did you try to catch him?"

"We couldn't have," The Marionette answered carefully, "for we weren't ourselves when it happened. It was before…"

Bonnie blinked, "Um, Noble one? What do you mean by that?"

"Are you sure," Freddy asked quietly, "this is the best time? I do not feel that they are ready to know."

Frowning, Mike gazed at Freddy and saw the look in his eyes.

"The best time will never arrive, my child. But they must know, even if it will hurt them."

"You knew." Mike said out loud, dumbstruck. Not even noticing all of the eyes fall upon him, "You knew from that start."

"Of course."

"Why?" Closing his eyes, Mike remembered how the bear had almost winced every time the Missing Children's Incident was brought up, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What was I supposed to say, Michael?" Freddy gritted his teeth, "For ten years, I have been here. The others, they forgot a long time ago. It was better that way. Everything I was…everything I wanted to be…I felt it be stripped away and every time I remembered, it hurt just a little more. But there was nothing to be done. I never doubted my past. I accepted my situation, and that was that."

"What are you talking about, Freddy?" Chica demanded,

"Are ya goin' off the deep end, Bosun?" Foxy asked, eerily concerned,

"Freddy…" Bonnie mumbled, "I always thought, but I never realised…"

"You knew, as well." Freddy mumbled, almost surprised.

"I could never forget. I didn't want to. I was scared to…"

"Alright." Caine snapped, "What on Earth are you all talking about?"

Breathing in, Mike glanced at the Marionette and saw the accepting look in his eyes. "Tom…do you believe in ghosts?"

"No. No. You are not seriously…"

"I always knew that there was something off with you," Spencer voiced his thoughts, staring at the Marionette, "like there was something else. The animatronics…they were always different, somehow."

"We never forgot." Toy Freddy suddenly revealed, "I suppose because we never had much else to think about…"

Stepping forward, Benji looked annoyed, "Okay, could someone speak English, here? What are you all talking about?"

"I'd like to know, too." Carl agreed.

"The animatronics." Mike explained, ignoring the insanity of it, "The kids. They…they never really left."

"Yeah, we know that." Carl mumbled, "Bodies. Stuffed. Remember? And what was that about ghosts? 'cause I didn't bring my Proton Pack, boss."

Caine sighed, "They're the spirits of the kids. They're possessing the suits."

Looking at him like he had just fired a gun, Carl and Benji froze in horror.

"Yeah." Caine grumbled, "We're dealing with literal ghosts."

"I understand that you may be…surprised by this…" Freddy said carefully, "but I ask that you be respectful. Especially to those who have the unfortunate circumstances of just learning…"

Though he couldn't tell for certain, Mike had a feeling that Caine's eyes went to Chica and Foxy, both of whom were appearing to be at the beginnings of a mental breakdown. "Right. My apologies."

"I don't…" Foxy said blankly, before his eye grew hard, "Ol' Foxy don't know what ye landlubbers are spoutin'! Ye all come down with the pox!"

Behind him, Mangle raised one of their good hands, placing in on Foxy's own. Mike couldn't tell if it was an attempt to reassure him, or to try to calm him down.

"I don't…" Chica said quietly, before a small weep came from her beak, "Why are you doing this?"

"Chica…" Freddy's eyes showed his guilt,

"Why? Why?"

Falling to her knees, Chica continued to weep, as the Bonnie and the Toy Animatronics crowded around her, trying to console her. Next to them, Foxy stared with uncertainty and worry.

"Ye're all pullin' me leg." Foxy growled, but his voice was full of doubts.

"I'm sorry, Foxy." Freddy bowed his head, "I'm so sorry…"

"No." Foxy growled again, "I be Capn' Foxy! The Scourge o' the Seven Seas! The Breaker o' the Hunter Fleet! I've sailed the Seven Oceans, fo' years! I fought in the War of '42! I fought the Beast of Daranue! I be Captain Foxy! I am Captain Foxy! I am Captain Foxy! I am Captain Foxy! I am Foxy!"

Even as Foxy's voice grew to a shout, to a scream that echoed, bounced off the stained, decaying walls, Freddy's gaze did not falter. Even when they all looked stricken and scared by the animatronic's rage.

"No." Freddy said quietly, "You're not, old friend. But that doesn't matter. You are just as brave and just as selfless as you have always been. You never needed that suit, this…pirate persona. You tried to defend us, when he killed us. That was you. Not Foxy."

"I am…" Foxy sobbed, "I am Captain Foxy."

"I'm sorry."

Climbing up on him, Mangle wrapped themselves around their fellow fox, almost in an embrace. Foxy fell silent, unmoving. Looking away in pain, Freddy's eyes moved to Toy Freddy.

"I never realised…that you five remembered…" Freddy whispered.

"We never knew how much you four remembered." Toy Freddy explained, "We didn't want to drag up your pain, even to alleviate our own."

Though Mike knew that the pain that had been caused was necessary, he also felt that stab of guilt, ripping him apart. For the first time, he saw his friends for what they were. Not the monsters in the dark that had hunted him for all those nights. Not the oddballs with their quirks and lovable tendencies.

He saw them as the children that they once were. Who had suffered more than anyone else in that room.

And if we don't stop him from whatever he is planning, Mike's mind went back to Golden Freddy, the sixth member of this damaged choir, they're all going to suffer a little more.

"You know why we're here." Mike stated to the Marionette, "Golden Freddy…he may have been a victim once, but he's now a threat. I don't know why he's after you, but it can't be for anything good. We need to stop him."

Without a word, the Marionette seemed to stare off into space. Though he felt the pressure and the time running against them, Mike stayed silent.

"Whatever he has planned," The Marionette finally answered, "doesn't concern any of you, any more."

"It does," Mike assured the Marionette, "because we think we know what he's seeking. He wanted to find out where you were. You…you were always his target. His endgame. We think he wants to take your power, to do his own bidding and to get his revenge. Exactly how, we don't know. But we're all here to stop him. To protect you, whatever it takes."

When the Marionette didn't answer, Mike gazed at him, trying to work out what he was thinking. Once the answer had come to him, it chilled his bones.

"But you already knew that," He stated, "don't you? You've known for a while what he wanted. And yet…here you are. Not even trying to stop him."

With his head downturned, the Marionette looked at them all; humans and animatronics, all there on his behalf. "Ten years ago, my life was taken. I was left, alone and helpless, prey to a monster. My life was not the only one to be taken. He killed five others…the first of my children that I tried to save…and I couldn't stop him."

"Then he struck again. Another five fell to him. We couldn't stop him. They trusted me to lead them, to show them the way to accomplish our goal…of stopping the Purple Man…and in my haste and desperation, I failed. I chose the wrong man. Jeremy Fitzgerald's fate is my own doing. And the Purple Man got away, again."

"We'll deal with him, I assure you."

"I know you will. But you stand here…wanting to protect me. To stop my fifth child from exacting his revenge. And I think to myself…why? What is the point in trying to save me, when I couldn't save anyone else? I failed my purpose."

"Perhaps this is for the best. Perhaps…were Golden Freddy to take what he believes is rightfully his…takes my powers and my life…he may be able to do what I could never. He might…save them. Perhaps Golden Freddy may be the one they might need."

"Even if that didn't sound just stupid and ridiculous," Mike whispered harshly, "even if he hadn't slaughtered God knows how many innocents himself…all these years, all this effort, all of this pain…for what? You're just going to throw your life away for a gambit?"

"If that is my penance, then I accept it gladly."

Staring hard at the Marionette, Mike felt the rage boil his blood. Had they come all of this way, went through all this chaos, to protect someone who wanted to die? Who would just accept it?

But before Mike could let his rage be known, Freddy spoke for him.

"Forgive me, Noble one," Freddy spoke lowly, "and I apologise for these words to all that are present, but that is frankly a large pile of manure."

For the first time, the Marionette seemed angry. "Freddy! Language!"

"Good." Freddy seemed to smile, "That is good. Do you feel that anger? That rage? That disappointment? Now imagine how each of us must feel, hearing those words."

"That is not fair."

"It is more than fair. You brought us here. You put us on this path. The only reason why we did all of this wasn't because you manipulated us, or misguided us. It was because we believed in the cause, just as you once did."

"And I failed that cause."

"Then how do you think we must feel?" Bonnie demanded, "We were used, used to kill the night guards! We almost killed Mike! Mr. Caine and Carl, too! Even Mr. Spencer…"

"That was not your fault."

"Funny," Chica scowled, "because we could say that to you."

"There is a difference! I was in control of my actions! I made those decisions!"

"And ye need to accept tha'!" Foxy growled, "We had to!"

"It's too late for that."

"Hardly. We came back after years of our own exile." Toy Freddy reminded him, "It's all well and good to use your guilt as a shield, but it won't get you anywhere."

"Jeremy was not your fault! It was mine!"

"So that's it?" Toy Bonnie mumbled, "You're just gonna give up?"

"It's for the best."

Toy Chica shook her head, "No, it ain't! You're not done yet, honey!"

"What else is there? Please…I don't want to bring you down with me…"

Giving a barrage of mechanical hisses, Mangle let their own thoughts be known.

"You only hurt Jeremy because I ordered it!" The Marionette sobbed, "None of this was any of your fault! It was mine!"

"We're not going to abandon you." Balloon Boy said quietly, "Not to this…traitor."

Shaking his head over and over, the Marionette's voice fell to a whisper. "Please…please just leave."

"I couldn't have said it any better myself." Mike smiled at Balloon Boy, "Blame yourself all you like. But whatever blame you may feel…what Golden Freddy has done is ten times worse."

"My son is right." Spencer stepped to his side, "I don't really understand any of this, but it seems to me that giving this monster what he wants will be bad for all of us."

"He wanted to kill us." Benji acknowledged, "I don't like that idea any more than you do, Spencer."

Glancing between themselves, Caine and Carl nodded and stepped forward, joining them.

"Whatever guilt you might feel," Caine said carefully, "feeling sorry for yourself will have to come later. Golden Freddy is a threat, who has killed far too many people. He needs to be stopped."

Shaking his head, Carl said, "Even if we have no idea how to stop him…"

Benji raised an eyebrow at Mike and Spencer, "Any ideas?"

"I don't know." Spencer admitted, "I never understood how he worked…"

"Other than being in that poster." Mike agreed.

That caught Caine's attention, and his confusion, "Poster?"

"Yeah, there's this poster back home that he'd appear in. He always was there before he attacked."

"This poster," Caine pressed him, "what was it of?"

"You know, something promotional. Of Freddy, I think. It would contort him, make him rip his head off, then Golden Freddy would replace him."

Blinking as Caine's expression hardened, Mike gazed at him. "What?"

When Caine didn't respond, didn't even blink, Carl looked at what he was staring at, and his face fell. Spencer and Benji did to, with similar reactions. Confused, but feeling his own dread rising up his throat, Mike looked behind him.

Just off the centre of the far back wall of the pizzeria, was the hallway they had travelled through. Through there, the parts and services, as well as the office, stood. On the walls were old, degraded posters of the Toy Animatronics. The only one that Mike could see from there was of Toy Freddy, with the words 'The New Face of Fun' written on it.

At first glance, it didn't seem to be anything wrong with it, other than the rotting look. Perhaps that was why it blended so well; it could have simply been a mistaken glance. But it was undeniable, now that he was looking at it, that something was off.

Toy Freddy wasn't the sort to tear his own head off with one hand.

"Oh, my God." Mike croaked, realising their mistake. They had all wondered how he travelled. If he was stuck back home, unable to move.

But then he remembered how the walls and the posters contorted and changed. He was there, all along.

Slowly, that poster of Toy Freddy changed before their eyes. It grew older, rotten, and yellow. The eyes dropped out of its skull. The face twisted and changed, growing longer. Within moments, any resemblance of Toy Freddy vanished and in his place stood the lifeless, broken shade of gold.

Then its head lifted up and two specks of light glowed in the eye sockets. Staring directly at them.

Pulling out his pistol, Caine pointed it at the poster. "Might be a good idea to get your guns out, lads. It's time."

Nodding, Carl pulled the Assault Rifle he had taken from the stash in the truck off his back, taking aim. Benji was next, unholstering his hunting rifle, whilst Spencer grimly took the pistol he'd chosen out. It was unfortunate that he was the only one without proper gun training.

Breathing in, Mike took his own SMG he'd grabbed on the way from his home, taking aim and getting ready to fire.

Before their very eyes, a huge arm punched through the poster, making tearing noises with no visible damage. The hand, yellow and old, gripped the wall with a smack. Then his head breached through, staring downwards, as he twisted his body through. His limbs contorted and cracked, as if they were broken, before he slipped out onto the floor.

As those limbs twisted into place, he almost hovered to his feet, with an eery elegance. His eyes settled over each one of them, stopping with the Marionette, who stared at him with sorrow.

"In spite of the reasons why you are here," The Marionette said quietly, "it is good to see you again, my child."

"Odd." Golden Freddy's voice rumbled, contrast to the lullaby-like voice of his opponent, "I share that, old friend. You know why I'm here?"

"I do."

"Good. Out of respect for you, no one else needs to be harmed, today. That will come later. If you surrender peacefully, I will guarantee their safety, for now."

"And what will happen after? No one here is responsible for any of this."

Gazing at him, Golden Freddy didn't even acknowledge anyone else. "I'm afraid you're in no position to negotiate. I am here to destroy you. To take your power, and use it to accomplish the mission."

"For your revenge, you mean?"

"That is the mission." Shaking his head, Golden Freddy couldn't keep the venom out of his words, "Your way failed. We all followed you…in spite of my reservations, I followed you. And yet, even as we had him in our grasp, when you had Freddy in the same building as him…you faltered. And he got away."

"My priority was the children who were in danger. I couldn't justify allowing them to die when there was a chance to save them."

"And how many more children will need to die because of that? If we had killed him, then and there, he wouldn't be out there!"

The Marionette fell silent.

"Your way doesn't work. It never did. All that matters, all that ever mattered, was righting the wrong that was done to us…to me. With your powers, I will do better than you ever could."

Slowly, the Marionette's sad eyes looked bad up at the golden figure. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe you could do what I never could."

"Then you will give up?"

Looking behind him, the Marionette's eyes went over each of their children. The old and the new. Even the humans that stood there, ready to fight on his behalf. Almost smiling, he looked back.

"I'm afraid not. I've already let them down too many times…and I'm quite frankly growing fed up with that."

Gazing at him, Golden Freddy nodded. "Is that how it is, then?"

"I'm afraid so."

With that golden mist raising in his stead, Golden Freddy lowered his head. "Then let's get this over with."

Before Golden Freddy was even able to take a step forward, Caine fired off three precise shots. All three passed through the ethereal animatronic, but other than making him pause, they didn't seem to affect him.

Following suit, Mike aimed his SMG and fired, as did Benji with his hunting rifle and Carl with his assault rifle. After peering at them with unease, Spencer took aim, but did not fire. The barrage of bullets hurt Mike's ears, even with the earplugs that he'd taken from his stash back home.

Stepping forward, the animatronics didn't advance. Though he couldn't see their expressions, Mike wouldn't be surprised if they were overwhelmed by the gunshots.

Without stopping his stride, Golden Freddy waited for them to finish firing. Breathing in, Mike felt the dismay in his lungs, seeing no result from their gunshots.

His pinpricks shimmering erratically, their ghostly enemy responded to their attempts with a low venom.

"My turn."

Raising one arm, Mike felt the brush of air blast somewhere next to him. Looking over his shoulder, eyes wide, he saw that Caine had been sent flying by the blast, though he seemed to be mostly unharmed.

The next blast of air was sent sideways, and Mike felt himself leave his feet, hitting the wall nearby. Stunned, he tried to clear his vision, realising that the same blast had also taken the other gunmen out.

Marching forward, unimpressed, Golden Freddy directed his words towards those he once called family, "You place these invaders between us, pawns to do your own bidding? Face me, Noble one, and die with dignity."

Though the Marionette seemed willing to meet his request, Freddy stepped in front of him. "I'm afraid you will have to contend with us, first."

Gazing at him, Golden Freddy stared hard at his mirror copy, "I may not be here for you, but you're a fool if you think I won't go through you."

"Oh, I'm relying on it. Tell me; was all of this worth it? The pain? The death? All so you could chase your white whale."

"So that I could finish our mission."

"You killed innocent people. You used us, children who died just as you did, as tools."

"And I would do it again."

Freddy seemed sad. "I was afraid you would say this. In that case, we will do what we must do."

"Indeed."

Rushing at him with such frightening speed, Golden Freddy took Freddy off his feet. Completely. As the two-tonne robot was sent across the room, Mike could only watch, shocked.

Coming at him from the sides, Bonnie and Chica charged Golden Freddy, trying to grab him. The ghost had to struggle out from their grasp, which gave Mike hope. So he is at least kind of physically there…

Grasping Chica by her face, Golden Freddy's hand glowed yellow and a burning taste hit Mike's tongue. She screamed before he threw her, causing Bonnie to yell with rage. But the heavy punch thrown simply did nothing before he was similarly dispatched.

Roaring, Foxy joined in, swinging his hook like it was a dagger. Though the slashes passed through, they clearly did something to Golden Freddy, who backed away, almost in fear. Rushing to help him, the Toy Animatronics joined in the fight, either the sides or in Mangle's case, from above.

Punches and swings continued to send Golden Freddy backwards and for the first time, it felt like they were actually winning the fight.

Then, his eyes growing brighter in light, Golden Freddy uttered a horrific shriek, and a eye-burning light blinded Mike. When his vision cleared, he saw the Toys all sent back and Foxy in the corner, unmoving.

He's too strong, Mike thought to himself, desperate for an answer. His eyes looked towards the Marionette, who watched the fight with sorrow and reluctance.

He's the only chance we have, but he doesn't want to fight.

As Golden Freddy approached the Marionette, Caine got back up and fired more gunshots, but none of them seemed to do anything. Raising a hand, Golden Freddy brought it forward, gazing at something. Squinting, Mike saw the metallic glint of the thing he was levitating in front of him.

It was one of the bullets.

"An interesting thing, this." Golden Freddy murmured, "Yet…ineffective. Against me, at least."

Then he twisted his wrist forward.

Yelling out in shock and pain, Caine stumbled and fell to the floor, clutching his leg. Slowly approaching him, Golden Freddy stared at his fallen foe.

"You've been a thorn in my side for too long. Goodbye, detective."

Willing himself to stand, Mike gritted his teeth, grabbed the SMG from the floor, and fired at the monster who had been hiding in his closet for too long. He walked forward, continuing to fire. Even as Golden Freddy turned to him, almost irritated.

"I always knew you were a monster." Golden Freddy hissed, "Just like all of them."

"Shoe's on the other foot, you son of a bitch." Mike responded to him, firing more rounds, but they were ineffective.

Suddenly, Mike felt his throat constrict. Trying to breathe, to speak, he dropped his SMG, tried to pick it back up, but found himself unable to bend down. Seeing Golden Freddy clutching his fist, Mike knew that he was the reason behind it.

"I wish I had the time," Golden Freddy whispered sadistically, "I had been hoping to make this more painful."

Feeling his vision darken, Mike's hands went to his throat, but he knew it was hopeless. Reaching down for his pistol, he fumbled for it, but his hands had grown heavy and he couldn't manoeuvre it out of the holster.

Just as he was sure this was it, this was the end, with the last thing he'd ever see being the gleeful expression on his killer, Mike knew what he saw when he saw the movement behind the ghostly figure.

Like a bat out of hell, Foxy charged from behind, driving his hook into the golden figure's back. Stumbling, Golden Freddy grunted as he dropped Mike, his attention going to Foxy. As Foxy tried to swing again, he was sent into the wall and collapsed.

"You never learn, do you? I tried. I tried to spare you. But I suppose this could only end one way."

"Aye." Foxy hissed as he tried to get to his feet, "Yer right about that, ye bleedin' bilgerat."

Staring at him, Golden Freddy nodded in acceptance before his hand went to one of the metal pipes, rusty and sharp from neglect, using his power to lift it up and pointed it in a throwing motion.

"My child." The Marionette whispered, but raised his voice in a panic, "Please. No, don'! You don't have to!"

But Golden Freddy's eyes didn't move from the pirate fox. "I thank you for trying to save my life, ten years ago. Goodbye, brother."

And he threw the pipe forward and it shot like a bullet. But it didn't hit its intended target.

Dropping down from the ceiling, Mangle gave a shriek of static as they lunged, pushing Foxy forward, away from the pipe. The shriek was cut off as the pipe pierced the damaged animatronic, impaling them.

No. Mike could only look on with wide eyes. No. God, please, no…

"Mangle!"

Crawling to their counterpart's side, Foxy's voice grew desperate. "No! No! Stay…stay with me! Mangle!"

Crackling a pained, weak reply, Mangle tried to raise their hand to him, but couldn't. Approaching, Golden Freddy nodded in acceptance as he spoke.

"You have my respect." He said, almost sad by what he had done, "It was a brave thing you did. I hope they remember you."

Then, he raised his hand, and it glowed yellow. The golden mist, like a ray of light, swirled in the light and embraced Mangle's dying form.

"No." Foxy whispered blankly, "No. What are you doing? Stop it. Stop it."

Mangle started to shiver as the light fully embraced them.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

But he didn't. Something indescribable joined the yellow light, reaching back into Golden Freddy. Gasping, Mangle's head slowly fell to the floor, that bright hazel eye slowly reduced to a lifeless gaze as they stopped moving.

Somehow, no matter how it pained him, Mike knew that it wouldn't return.

Feeling the room warm up, Mike's eyes found the source of it. In the back, the Marionette's head had lowered, facing the floor.

"You…you…" Then his head raised and Mike felt the sting of fright rise in his throat as he saw the red glints of light where his eyes were.

"You will die for that."

A brilliant violet light shot from the Marionette's hands, aimed directly at Golden Freddy. For the first time in the battle, the attack threw Golden Freddy off his own feet. He went backwards, hitting the wall.

Something sparked and Mike could smell something as he stumbled to his feet. Looking back at the fallen form of the dismembered pirate fox he had called a friend; Mike couldn't tear his gaze away to watch the fight between Golden Freddy and the Marionette.

Seeing Caine struggling to leave the middle of the battlefield, Mike ran to him, helping him up. Gritting his teeth, Caine mumbled to him over the chaos.

"We need to get out of here. Now!"

"We can't get out the front. Golden Freddy's in the way!"

"We head to the office, get through there."

"But…what about the Marionette?"

"We're obsolete, now. This has become a fight between two monsters. We'll just be crushed like ants if we stay. We've done our part. It's up to him, now!"

Mike nodded reluctantly, as Carl ran to them, helping to support him. Passing him to Carl, the night guard looked around at their other allies.

"You two go, first. I'll tell the others! Go!"

Then he ran to Freddy, who was on his knee. "Freddy, we need to leave! Get Bonnie and Chica out!"

Though he seemed pained to follow, Freddy nodded. "Okay, Michael."

Then running to Benji as the hunter loaded up his hunting rifle, Mike said the same thing. "Benji, follow Caine and the others out! Where's my dad?"

"Over there," Benji pointed over to the other side of the room, "with Foxy. Mike, come with me!"

"No. Not until my father's out! Get the Toys to follow you!"

Not waiting for a refusal, Mike ran, avoiding the crumbling wall to his side. The fight was beginning to have an effect on the very building around them. Reaching them, Mike heard his dad trying to talk to Foxy, who had been despondent.

"We need to get out of here." Mike told them, "Now!"

"I know. I'm trying to tell him, but…"

"I'm not leaving 'em." Foxy responded; his voice flat. "Not again."

Feeling the pain in his voice, Mike knew that no words would convince the pirate fox. "Foxy…please, I know, okay? But if you stay here, you will die!"

"Good. It should've been me."

Feeling the rumbling behind them, Mike looked behind him and saw the fight near them. His eyes widened as the blast of energy sent hit the wall nearby.

It was as if time slowed. He could see the glass from the window smash just feet away from him. Cracks ruptured and bright shards flew everywhere.

A voice, a long way away, spoke just one word.

"Mike!"

He felt the hands grab his collar and thrust him somewhere. The blast knocked him off his feet and he collapsed on the tiled floor. Dazed, he looked around, seeing Foxy crawl to his feet. Behind him lay his father, trying to stand up.

When Mike saw the red mist, pumping out of the shards of glass that had penetrated his body, Mike couldn't hear himself talk.

"No. No, no, no!" He rushed over to his father, who struggled to stand. As he looked up, Mike could see the blood in his mouth.

"Mike…"

"Foxy, help me! Please!"

He felt the shadow of the animatronic fall over him as he tried to lift his father up. Not saying a word, Foxy helped carry him to the hallway, where they stepped into the darkness, leaving behind the chaos behind them.

Two or three chapters left and this is all over.

TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3: Writing those flashbacks to the minigames was certainly a complicated part. They were my own interpretation, naturally, but I didn't want too stray away from what was shown in them. Unfortunately, as with this chapter, the rest of them are going to be a rough ride. We had our first proper character death in this one and I'm afraid it's only just starting.