Falling Down

As Mike and Foxy dragged Spencer through the hallway, Caine and Carl spotted them and hurried back, seeing the blood spilling from the elder night guard's wounds.

"He's hurt," Mike pleaded with them as they helped carry him, "It's bad."

"Damn it." Caine growled as they went through the hallway, hearing the building around them shake in protest as the fight continued. "We need to get out of here. Now!"

Though he followed, Foxy was despondent. Through the hallway, they saw the other animatronics, grim and reluctant, waiting for them.

"Through the back!" Bellowing to them, Caine was limping, "Get to the exit!"

"But…" Freddy mumbled, his eyes bleak, "The Marionette…"

"We're not going to do any good! This is a fight between two omnipotent beings! We stay, we all die!"

Though they wanted nothing more than to disobey him and help their parent, the animatronics silently agreed. But as they turned to face the long hallway leading to the office, where they would find the back door, they heard the rumble.

"They're going to take the whole bloody building down with them!" Caine gritted his teeth as they hurried. But then, just as they neared the office, the building shook again.

Then the wall between the office and one of the party rooms crumbled, smashed through as the Marionette was launched by a blast of energy. The pipes hanging from the ceiling collapsed and Mike could smell that very same stench from earlier.

He knew what it was, now. It was gas.

"Back." Mike choked out, "Get back! There's a gas leak!"

Backing up, they went to go back the way they came, but saw the crumbled walls blocking them from going back to the dining area. The beginnings of a fire was spreading.

Freddy stepped in. "The parts and services room. We need to wait it out! If you try to leave now, you're just going to get caught in the crossfire!"

"And the fire and crumbling building?"

"It's secure! It's got metal walls and a metal door! It's our only hope of surviving!"

Knowing that their choices were running out, Mike nodded. They started to go back the way they came, when they heard the rumble above them. Cracks formed in the fake ceiling and Mike's eyes went wide.

The ceiling's collapsing.

"Move. Move!"

But it was too late. The section they were standing in started to collapse. Just as Mike thought that it was the end, that they wouldn't make it, it stopped.

Looking behind him, he saw the animatronics, lifting their giant hands upwards against the collapsing ceiling.

"You five, get in there first." Freddy mumbled through the strain, "We'll follow."

Nodding hesitantly, Mike helped his father to the door. Pulling it open, he was surprised to see the parts and services room almost spotless. The room was clearly built differently to the other rooms, though he didn't know the reason.

Carl and Benji helped Spencer in, resting him against the wall. Turning around, Mike gestured for the animatronics to follow.

Slowly, Bonnie and Chica were first. Followed by their Toy counterparts and Balloon Boy, who glanced hesitantly back before entering. Though the ceiling seemed less stable, Mike knew that they would just have to hope it could last.

Then Freddy said something to Foxy that none of them could hear. Soon after, Foxy stomped to them, no hope in his eye.

"Okay." Mike tried to remain calm as he heard the collapsing ceiling rumble again, "You two, now. Hurry!"

Freddy and his Toy counterpart said something to each other and Freddy nodded in acceptance. Loosening his grip, he hurried as the ceiling began to collapse.

"Fred!" Mike called, "Quickly!"

But Toy Freddy looked behind him, seeing the battle raging; the winner of which was unknown to Mike. Looking back, he had a look in his eyes. Turning his head to face downwards, he didn't move.

"Fred!"

Looking up, Toy Freddy looked directly at him. He almost smiled.

"No. No, Fred! Fred!"

As Toy Freddy let go of the ceiling and backed away, Mike tried to go forward, to reach him, but he was grabbed by the collar and dragged into the room. In front of him, he saw and heard the ceiling collapse, concrete and rubber fall, before the door behind him was shut, leaving them in darkness.

Elsewhere…

As Fred backed up, he looked over his work. The hallway, once large and empty, was now covered in debris. Nodding in acceptance, he knew that he made the right decision.

Feeling the pressure behind him, he knew that feeling all too well. Not gracing his enemy with a look, Fred remained where he was.

Behind him, the room was battered, debris and other materials scattered around. Somewhere, the Marionette lay, either unconscious or dead. Approaching him was that same golden shade he had once been intimidated by.

"I never did understand."

Closing his eyes as he remained silent, Fred knew that he would have to listen to the words. It no longer mattered to him. All he cared about was the safety of his family, animatronic or otherwise.

"I could never understood why you…the others…chose this." Golden Freddy mumbled behind him, "This was not who we were. The pain we suffered could not be covered up by this game of pretend. We were never entertainers, or mascots. We were kids, who were wrenched away from who we were."

"Even from the beginning, you five acted like them. Like your lives before this didn't matter. It was foolish."

"I agree."

"You do?" He seemed surprised by this, "You agree that this was all a waste of time?"

"No." Toy Freddy smiled for what he knew would be the last time, "I agree you could've never understood."

Golden Freddy didn't utter another word. Slowly, he raised his hand and that brilliant golden light shimmered over the plastic bear. He squirmed, spasmed, as the light drifted from him to the ethereal animatronic.

Then, Toy Freddy collapsed onto the floor. Lifeless.

Looking over him for some time, Golden Freddy accepted the loss of life in his wake. Gazing at the rubble left behind, he sighed. It would take some time to get through all of this.

But he had nothing if not time.

Hearing the rumble somewhere else in the building, Mike looked to each of the other members of their surviving party as he checked on his father. Within what felt like moments, their morale had almost completely dropped and it didn't feel like it was going to get any better.

"I don't get it," Mike heard Benji say through gritted teeth, trying to keep his voice low, "why did he do that? He could've made it!"

"Fred and I saw the Marionette go down." Freddy answered mournfully, keeping his face downturned, "I…I believed I had deduced what he planned, but had I known it was to sacrifice himself in the process…"

Nodding in respect, Caine sat down, clutching his leg, "If he hadn't, Golden Freddy would've gotten to us before we could have secured the room. That is, of course, assuming he can't just pass through all that rubble…"

None of them spoke after that. Looking between the animatronics, Mike saw the empty stares in their eyes. They had all started to comprehend the simple fact that they wouldn't ever be seeing Mangle or Toy Freddy again.

That fact pierced Mike in the heart more than he'd been thinking it would. He'd only known them for a short amount of time, but…the Fazcrew had followed him up to the surface.

If they hadn't…perhaps the two of them would still be alive.

Taking his suit jacket off, Caine took his combat knife out and shredded a part of his sleeve off his shirt. Stretching it out, he passed it to Mike, who stared at it dumbly.

"Tourniquet." Caine explained, "Tie it to your father."

Nodding, Mike did so, tying the sleeve around his father's wound. Grimacing at it, Spencer heaved as he made spoke up.

"You don't happen to have any alcohol, do you?"

"Afraid not." Caine shrugged with a small smirk.

"That's a shame. Sorry that you had to ruin that suit for little old me…"

"No need." Standing up, Caine looked like he was about to say something, but turned and walked away. Though Mike knew he could never truly understand what went through the detective's head, he recognised the flash of guilt.

"He's a good one, isn't he?" Spencer gave a weak smile.

"Well, you did save his life back at the pizzeria."

"Ah, that was nothing."

Mike's smile fell when his father gave that blank look. Though he knew that panicking wouldn't get them anywhere, he could tell that every moment that passed, Spencer was growing just a little weaker from the blood loss. Those shards of glass had cut deep and without anyone with medical expertise…

No, Mike assured himself, it'll be fine. He'll be fine. We just need to get out of here.

Coughing, more blood came from his father's mouth. Resting his head back, Spencer closed his eyes for a brief moment. "Do you…remember when you fell off your bike?"

"Of course. I broke my leg."

"Yep. Your mother pretty much wanted to kill me, afterwards. Five minutes she left us alone, and you crashed. It was just one of those days."

"I became a better rider, though."

He smiled, "You did, at that. Remember how you wanted to get a motorcycle, when you were 14?"

"I still kinda do…"

"Huh. Well, maybe once this is all said and done…you'll get one."

Looking down, Mike tried to think of what to do. But nothing came to mind. He didn't know how he could solve this.

"Mike…I'm sorry."

Looking back at him, Mike's eyes went wide. "What for?"

"For…for abandoning you and your mother. I thought I was protecting you, but…I should've done more. They still went after you. You still suffered and worse still, you had to carry the burden of her illness alone…"

"Dad…I forgave you already. I know you did it for me."

"And what did it cost you? You went through hell…you've almost died too many times for me to even remotely believe that I made the right decision. All that you've suffered…it's my fault."

"No," Mike breathed in, "it's not. The animatronics weren't responsible for what they did to the other night guards and to Jeremy, and you're not responsible for what happened to me. It's Fazbear Entertainment. All of these sins…it's on them."

Looking at him, tears poured from his father's eyes as he spoke. "It's funny…I couldn't have expected any of this. For you to…follow in my footsteps. Working there…and caring for the animatronics, like I did. It's poetic."

"It was never my intention."

"And yet…fate had plans for you. I look at the people you've brought together…Benji is a good lad. He always has been. He'll keep you safe. Mr. Caine and Carl, too."

"And you, too. We're going to get out of here."

But there was that look in his father's eyes again. As if he was having to clear his throat, almost choking, he sat back again and sighed. "This place…these animatronics…they became my life. I thought it was all over, years ago…but I survived. But I suppose fate would catch up eventually. But…I got something that I never thought I'd get the chance to see…"

Mike's voice failed him and it took everything to fight back the tears.

"I got to see my son become an adult. And in spite of all my work…of the time, blood, and tears I've spilled…" His lips pulled into a smile as his eyes went to Mike, "…I'm so proud of you. Prouder than I have been of anything…"

"Dad."

But his father didn't respond. Staring at nothing, his eyes seemed to tremble as they closed.

"Dad."

If was as if a weight was lifted off his father's shoulders as his eyes fully closed.

The sob that wretched Mike's chest bowed his head. Touching his father, he rested his head into his shoulder, feeling his tears drip onto the tile ground.

He felt the shadow fall over him, but couldn't muster up the energy to acknowledge him. Crouching down behind him, Caine remained silent for a few moments before speaking.

"Mike…I'm sorry. I…I can't imagine what you're going through. He was a good man. One of the best I've ever had the luxury of knowing. He won't want you to die here. Please…we need to get out of here."

"I brought him here." Mike choked out, "He only came here because of me. He only got hurt because I was too stupid to look after myself."

"Your father died here for one reason and only that reason; because Golden Freddy is a murderer. Don't…Mike, blaming yourself for this is a place you do not want to go to. Trust me. None of this was your fault."

"I…" Mike tried to look through his tears, "I don't know what to do. I don't…I don't know what I have, any more…"

"More than you know."

"I can't leave him here. Not like this."

"We won't." Standing up, Caine approached the door that was not sealed behind rubble, "How long do you think we have?"

Gazing at him, Carl seemed grim, "Not long. I can hear him moving the rubble."

"You think he's just going to dig his way to us?"

"Well, it looks like the posters are like a gateway for him. There's none in here."

Nodding, Caine glanced at the animatronics, "If we ran full-charge at him once that door is cleared, do you think we'll stand a chance?"

"I don't know, detective." Freddy responded, glancing in sorrow at Mike, "Even if it does…where do we go from there?"

"Yeah, that's what I want to know." Benji chimed in, "What's the plan, here?"

"We escape." Carl stated.

But Caine shook his head, "No. That's not an option."

"Why not?"

"Aside from the fact that our job here isn't done? If we walk away now, Golden Freddy can just go back to the other pizzeria. He can get away with this. What's more, we just pumped half our ammunition into him and it didn't even crack his defence."

"Then we get help from the Crucible."

"And what good will they do?" Caine gritted his teeth, "If we leave now, this is all over. We've failed. Three of our own are dead."

Carl scowled, "I can count, yeah. And if we stay here, how many more of us will die?"

"No one. No one else dies tonight."

"That's going to be a bit difficult if you are insisting on dying here!"

Rounding on Carl, Caine held a finger up, "What do you propose happens if we leave? How do you propose we defeat Golden Freddy? Because so far, the only one who's been able to actually do anything to him was the Marionette! If they're dead, that's it! Game over! If there is a chance that they're still alive…"

"What?" Carl barked a laugh, "You honestly think they're still alive? Tom, this is over! We failed! We've lost three of our own, and for what? We need to fall back and work something out!"

"I am not leaving here until this is over. If you want to walk away, then feel free."

"You know for a fact that's not going to happen. But when we're both dead in the same hole, don't say I didn't warn you."

Toy Bonnie cleared his mechanical throat, "Maybe it's best if you leave. Let us deal with this."

Both Caine and Carl gazed at him, "That's not an option."

"Why not? This is our home. Our fight."

Closing his eyes, Caine shook his head, "Listen, I get it if you're angry about what happened…but Toy Freddy and Mangle? They came here because I agreed to this. I'm not leaving the three of you to this monster."

"We're not leaving you, either." Freddy stated, "We're a family."

Toy Chica shook her head, "We didn't come back for something to happen to y'all."

Nodding in agreement, Toy Bonnie shrugged, "This was something we assumed was going to happen. If we came back clutching our pearls, worried about what would happen to us, we would've never left the hole."

Freddy's eyes went wide, "You cannot seriously be saying…no, that is not what this was all about! Sacrificing yourselves was not something we would ever agree with!"

"Then it's a good thing we didn't ask you."

An angry hand rubbing his distressed face, Caine's voice was low. "I don't care what this is. If you're feeling guilty about the past, fine. Deal with it on your own time. But this was never a suicide mission. No one else dies tonight. Except him."

"What are you planning, detective?" Freddy asked, curious.

"Once these doors are cleared," Caine explained, "we strike. The plan is two-fold; destroy the posters, stop him from being able to escape. Then recover the Marionette and if he's still alive, we help him deal with Golden Freddy."

Carl grimaced, "And if not?"

"Simple. We bring the whole building down. Without the ability to escape, Golden Freddy will be buried."

"And how do you know that? You've dealt with ghosts before, boss?"

"Do you have any better ideas?"

"Unless you've decided that staying here is a stupid idea," Carl shrugged, "I guess not."

Nodding, Caine walked back over to Mike. "It's time to go. If you still want to bring him with us…"

"Once we're done here," Mike breathed out, "We can still come back to…to recover him. Right?"

"I promise you. He'll not be left here."

With a regretful sigh, Mike stood up. He knew that his father would give him an earful if he was up there, and had to watch his son get himself killed over this. Seeing his answer, Caine patted him on the shoulder and approached the door.

"How much longer?" Caine asked Benji.

"No more than a minute, I'd say."

"Good. Stack up on the wall."

They all did so, gripping their weapons warily as they listened out. The moment the large heave of metal came from behind the door, Caine nodded.

Then they pushed the door open and opened fire.

The blast of air took Benji off his feet and Caine barely avoided the metal rebar sent crashing towards him. Running down the hallway towards the dining area, the group watched as Caine ripped down one of the posters. Following in suit, Mike and Carl took down a pair of posters themselves.

"Lure him into here," Caine tried to explain as quietly as he could, "then double-back and go after the rest of them. Throw them in the fire."

Reaching the dining area, the question of whether Golden Freddy had taken the bait was answered when the table was thrown right into Caine, sending him flying. Cursing, Mike fired a few shots where he believed the ethereal animatronic to be before shouting out.

"Me, Benji, and the Toys will stay here!" He roared, "Anyone else, go!"

He and Benji opened fire upon Golden Freddy as the Toys ran at him, throwing heavy punches. Behind him, the Originals slipped behind him, back into the hallway. Parts and the ceiling had collapsed, the moonlight shimmering the path. Rows of fire, either in the rubble or the little furniture that remained, warned of the spread that was soon to occur.

In front of him, Mike saw Golden Freddy throw Bonnie towards the stage and then blasted Chica back. Benji got closer, firing shot and shot.

Oblivious to the pipes hanging over him. Golden Freddy was not.

"Benji, look out!" Mike screamed, but he was too late. A blast of air hit the pipes and they came crashing down.

Yelling out, Benji rolled, trying to get out of the way. But they fell on him and he screamed. Running over to him, Mike saw the blood and how the heavy pipe had fallen directly on his arm. Trying to lift it, he struggled until he felt the weight get lighter.

Looking to his side, he saw Carl had returned, helping him lift the pipe. They got it off Mike's friend and helped him to the side. Growing pale, Benji stared wide-eyed at the mess of his arm, bleeding heavily.

Feeling the hairs on his neck stand on end, Mike looked behind him and fell his stomach drop as Golden Freddy looked down on them as he approached, his eyes devoid of pity.

He didn't say a word as his arm shimmered in yellow light and he went to raise it.

Then Caine came back from the table, two metal pipes in hand.

Roaring in rage, Golden Freddy went to hit him, but couldn't avoid the swing of the pipes. Wielding them like two swords, Caine parried and blocked, dodging his strikes.

Pushing him back, Caine had gained the upper hand on the ethereal bear.

The speed that Caine moved at, he almost became a blur. Every time Golden Freddy went to hit him, he had already moved. With that same steady, almost blank look on his face, Mike knew that the detective was in his element.

Just as he was thinking that this was it, that they may have a chance to finally defeat him, Golden Freddy roared in anger, yellow light glowing at his finger tips which formed a fist.

"Caine…" Mike whispered, but his voice raised to a shout, "Tom! Look out!"

But it was too late. A sudden back hand by the ghost sent a shockwave powerful enough to shatter the remaining windows. Mike could do nothing as he saw Caine be launched into the air, as if shot by a catapult, into the wall near the stage.

When he went through it, wooden splinters cracked, revealing the fake wall in front of the fake wall. Sent cleanly into the wooden wall, Caine bounced off of the brick wall. He stumbled out of the fake wall's crevice, blinked a few times, before falling face-first on the tiled floor, unmoving and bleeding.

As Golden Freddy turned to look at Mike, Carl ran from behind him, towards where Caine had fallen. Spinning to Benji, Mike held him as the blood continued to pump out of his arm.

"Benji, can you hear me?"

Benji heaved as he stared at the mess of his arm, "I…I can't move my arm. I can't feel it."

As Golden Freddy started to approach them, Mike embraced the anger to overcome the fear, picking up Benji's hunting rifle and firing off several shots. Though each shot slowed him down, it didn't stop the ethereal bear.

From behind the bear, the shape of the animatronics appeared. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. Without a moment of hesitation, they attacked. Foxy drove his hook straight into the ghost's head whilst the others grabbed and punched as best as they could.

Looking over to the stage, Mike saw Carl fireman carrying Caine over to him, a grim look on his face. Resting him down, Carl shook his head, "He's out. We need to make a decision."

"Any suggestions?"

"The posters are taken care of. He's not leaving. But…we might not have another shot at this."

Knowing in his heart that he agreed, Mike glared at the poltergeist whose actions were unforgivable, "We're taking him down. Here and now!"

"Then we need to collapse this building. The Marionette was unresponsive. He's not solving this for us. Did you smell the gas?"

"Yeah." Mike frowned, "You're thinking we should rig the place to burn?"

"Why the hell not?"

Nodding, Mike looked around, "Can we use some of the material here to do this?"

"I believe so. I've got some light explosives, so it's domino effect time."

Seeing that Benji had fallen unconscious, Mike reluctantly nodded, "Then let's get to work."

Following Carl's lead, he and Mike ran to the fake wall, which now exposed the inner workings of the pizzeria. Inside were pipes that ran along the walls. Carl passed Mike a wrench, before they rigged one of the explosives onto the exposed metal.

"Thank God they still use gas," Carl mumbled, before backing up, "Just two more should do."

As they left, Mike saw Balloon Boy go up to them. Seeing the urgent look in his eyes, Mike nodded, "Carl? Anything we need to grab?"

"Gas might not be enough to do it. If we rig the wiring up…"

Mike nodded, "Okay. BB, grab anything Carl says he needed. Carl, I'll go for the other side of the room."

"Got it."

Running over to the other side, Mike found the exposed pipes and started to replicate what Carl had done. Painful minutes passed as Mike had no choice but to try and ignore the chaos going on behind him.

As those minutes passed, BB went up to him, passing him things to help him, like a flashlight. Realising that he needed a screwdriver to get through the panel into a section of the pipes, Mike scowled and spotted a screwdriver over towards the northeast area of the room.

"BB, grab the screwdriver for me."

Nodding, Balloon Boy ran over to where he pointed and hurried back over, "Mr. Mike, I got the—"

The speed that he moved was shocking. Mike could only watch as Balloon Boy flew backwards, right into the fist of Golden Freddy. The fist broke through Balloon Boy's back and out through his chest. Blinking in confusion, Balloon Boy looked down at the fist, at the gaping hole in his body which poured with liquid, before his eyes slackened.

Then that light came back and Balloon Boy's life essence was stolen.

You bastard, Mike gritted his teeth as the rage pounded his head.

From behind the poltergeist, Toy Bonnie ran at him, swinging a fist. He missed.

Golden Freddy didn't.

Gripping him by the head, Golden Freddy's hand glowed yellow and Toy Bonnie screamed. Smoke poured out his head before so many painful seconds before he finally collapsed. He hadn't even hit the floor before Golden Freddy took his life essence.

As Toy Chica ran at him, Mike knew what would happen. His body failed to move as he wanted to get up, to intervene, to stop this horrific thing from happening.

Grabbing Toy Chica, Golden Freddy raised her above his head, one hand clutching her legs whilst the other gripped her arms. Then, wrenching them, she split into two, sparks and oil sent flying with her separating body parts.

I brought them here, Mike couldn't ignore the words that hurt every fibre of his being, I brought them here and they're all dead.

Standing up, Mike approached Carl, who watched the horror happen with pain, "Give me your rifle."

Blinking, Carl stared at him, "What?"

"Give me your rifle. Get the others out of here. I'll hold him off. Do you have the remote?"

"Yeah, or you can shoot the pipes. Mike, don't do something you'll regret."

"This isn't up for discussion." Mike grunted, "Give me your rifle and get the others out of here. Carl, we don't have time for this! Just go! Get Caine and Benji out! I'll be right behind you!"

Though he could tell that Carl wanted nothing more than to continue the argument, he unholstered the rifle and passed it to Mike before running over to where they had left Benji and Caine. Though he was only just starting to get up, Caine had clearly woken up, looking around in confusion.

Gripping the rifle, Mike started to shoot at the animatronic. As the fight had gone on, the ethereal animatronic had clearly gotten more tired, the bullets having more effect on him. Mike roared, "Go! I'll cover you! Get out of here!"

Seeing their window, Freddy nodded and gestured to the others to run, Foxy the last one to leave. Though Mike could tell that the pirate animatronic wanted nothing more than to stay and fight, he reluctantly fled.

Mike put a whole round into Golden Freddy and saw the opportunity rise when the bear went to one knee. Running out of ammo, Mike threw the rifle down, and ran for the front exit, where the others had gone to.

He was merely feet away from the door…

…when he felt the hand grip his back and drag him further away.

Holding the detonator in his hand, Mike growled, "Make one move and this whole place goes up!"

"Then you'll die with me."

"You think that scares me?"

"It should."

Mike smirked, "Then you don't know a God damn thing!"

Preparing the detonator, Mike saw flashes. Of his past. The good and the bad. He knew what they were. Memories, both recent and otherwise. His triumphs and his regrets.

Closing his eyes, Mike went to push the remote.

"Let him go."

Mike's eyes shot open as he saw the detective, blood running down the cuts on his head, covering one eye. His pistol was aimed towards Golden Freddy and to Mike's horror, he stepped further into the building.

"Tom! Get out!"

"Not going to happen until you're out there with me."

Though he was trying to keep the image of composure, Mike could tell that Caine's shot was far from steady.

"If this is the end," Golden Freddy growled, "then he's going with me."

"It's over. Give up and die, already."

"Oh, I intend to. With Schmidt alongside me into the darkness of death."

"Mike is going to live. He's going to walk out of here and live his life."

"If you stay here, you'll die too."

"Then perhaps it's time. Perhaps I've lived too long. But Mike? If anyone here deserves a second chance, it's him."

"You're lying. You really stand there, saying you'd stay here and die with us? You don't have the nerve."

But Caine's eyes didn't falter. "Try me."

Silence remained between them. Staring at him, Mike tried to understand what he was thinking. All of this time spent with him, Mike knew what to expect from the detective. He would never do something like this without a…

Plan.

As the dark hands gripped Golden Freddy, the poltergeist shrieked in pain, his gripping on Mike slipping. Knowing that he didn't have time to look back, Mike ran for the exit as he heard the words behind him.

"Did you really think," The Marionette spat, "it would be so easy, my child?"

As the Marionette held Golden Freddy in place behind him, Mike ran and pressed the button on the detonator. Caine joined him, but the explosion hit them from behind and Mike felt himself lifted off his feet.

They both landed in the middle of the street. His ears bled and he felt an overbearing pain fill them. It took him a moment to realise that he was screaming.

His vision cleared up and he saw the damage they had left behind. Crumbling, the remaining part of the ceiling of the pizzeria collapsed, burying what was left. Fire and smoke poured out of the debris.

Feeling the hand on his shoulder, he felt the shaking. Blinking in confusion, Mike saw Carl with an urgent look on his face and his mouth moving, but Mike couldn't tell what he was saying.

Have I gone deaf?

Struggling to his feet, he saw the lights illuminating the streets. People, leaving their houses to investigate, nervous and eager.

There's nowhere we can go, Mike realised to his dismay, we can't avoid being spotted.

Around him, the animatronics slinked back in fear, watching the fire with wide eyes. Mike heard the helicopter above them. Not knowing if it was a news helicopter or a police helicopter, he knew that they needed to leave.

"Where's the truck?" Mike asked, groggy, his words slurring.

"Down the alleyway." Carl answered, glancing at the onlookers with unease.

Nodding, Mike spotted Caine on his knees. Crouching by, Mike shook his shoulder. "Tom, we need to go."

"I…" Caine mumbled, blood in his left eye, "I don't…"

Quickly understanding that Caine was too injured to lead them, Mike helped him up, spotting Carl pick up Benji. Looking at the animatronics, Mike gestured at them to follow, which they did reluctantly.

"Quick!" Mike called, trying to ignore the panicking yells of the crowd that had started to form, "Alleyway! Now!"

As Mike half-dragged Caine towards the alleyway, he was relieved that it wasn't blocked. The animatronics behind them were skittish as they looked at the eyes on them. People screamed at the sight of the robots walking. Pushing into the alleyway, Mike focused on the armoured truck in front of them.

He could only hope that they would be inside before the witnesses behind them started to take action.

Pulling on the lever on the truck, the back opened and wordlessly, the animatronics stepped inside. Mike placed Caine down on the floor, as did Carl with Benji.

Glancing at the animatronics, Mike closed his eyes, "Take care of them. Tell us if anything happens."

Freddy nodded grimly before Mike left. Though the night guard knew he couldn't think about it now, he found himself focusing on how they were leaving with less than they had arrived with.

Closing the back, Mike ran to the passenger side of the truck and got in as Carl turned it on. Biting his lip, Mike looked at him. "What…what's our next move."

Carl pulled out of the alleyway, the crowds of people yelling out and getting out of the way as he did, "I don't know. I think…I think we need the Crucible's help."

Though he knew what that would mean, Mike knew they didn't have a choice. Nodding and closing his eyes, Mike answered. "Do it. End the Prometheus Protocol."

Sighing, Carl turned on his radio system and started talking to the person on the other end. Not being able to listen, Mike gazed at his blood-soaked hands. His father's blood covered them.

I only just got him back.

This wasn't something they could come back from. Six of their own laid dead in those crumbling ruins. They had followed him and Caine, wanting to help. He'd failed them.

He remembered what Caine had told him, soon before they had arrived at the pizzeria.

Listen, he had said, I know you don't want to hear this, but…when the time comes, you've got to get out of here and you can't look back. This is over.

He knew that Caine had been right. Any hope of them getting away with this had died when that crowd had spotted the animatronics.

Once more, Mike found himself asking those words in his head.

Why am I still here?

The truck slowly pulled away and left the block, the smoke and embers announcing their sins reaching into the sky.

With that, Act 3 is finished. Just the epilogue to go, and we can put this story to rest.

TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3: Golden Freddy was always going to be the strongest and most ruthless threat they had come across. To the point where he'd even cut through his fellow animatronics to unleash his master plan. Of course, who knows if he's permanently out of the equation, now? Something tells me that neither he nor the Marionette are so easy to kill.

In a week's time, this story will be done.