It's an ironic moment – spilling all of life's secrets on her deathbed. She hadn't imagined that this would be the way she would die. Rather, she saw herself departing the world the same way she came in: For as she was awake after nine months in her mother's womb, so shall she go by sleeping in Death's welcoming arms.
A hacking cough brings her a dose of reality – dying from a 'mysterious cancer'. There's no cancer, despite the evidence brought on by every specialist in the country. She's sure of the fact that it isn't cancer, but rather her body punishing her for years from holding onto grief and anger rather than forgiveness.
"You gotta let go of the past. It's literally killing you." A therapist told her years before her cancer diagnostics. It reminds her of stories when people forgave those who have done wrong against them. How holding onto a grudge only damages the person, not the wrongdoer. She's reminded of how angry she would get at these stories, "Why would anyone be idiotic enough to forgive someone?" she would question. She would place themselves in their shoes, thinking of all the ways to get back at that person. She has done things to get back at her wrongdoer, with futile effort.
She remembers her therapist's words to this day, how it contributed to her choice to refuse treatment.
"It's no mistake, I'm being punished for what I've done and I will take this with a grain of salt." Her doctors would prove her wrong, telling her to stop prolonging and go on treatment. She'd refuse until it was too late. Now here she lies in hospice care, waiting.
"She's only in her early 50's, what a waste of life." They would gossip whenever they hear her refusal to get treatment. Treatment for what? How could one be treated for a heart broken beyond repair? How could they treat and possibly cure her from years of damage done because of him?
Because of Gabe Mercy, who has been everything but merciful.
When she'd met Gabe, a struggling full-time student paving his way through college by working three jobs. They fell in love and married after two months of dating. 20 years later, combining her intelligence and creativity with his determination and savvy business skills, birth of the PizzaPlex that stood to this very day.
Then, they had problems. A lot of problems which are bound to happen with the forthcoming of unspeakable fortune. He became arrogant, dismissing her ideas left and right, claiming them to be stupid. The number of arguments would lead to him spending nights at the PizzaPlex, willing to put up with Moon's antics rather than 'a whiny woman who should know her place'. One day, she'd decided to visit him with lunch and news: The expectancy of their first child.
Instead, she's met with Gabe engaging in unspeakable sexual intercourse. He didn't even seem remorseful in his actions, laughing in her face as she screamed in horror and betrayal. Days later, she's served with divorce papers and forced out of their house. He's hired a powerful attorney to strip her of all that she had. Then she gave birth to a son, who lived only two years before dying from leukemia. Gabe refused to pay for any treatments or child support, even twisting the evidence that confirms him to be the father.
She should have been thanking God, the Heavens, the Universe for removing that scum from her life. For one, she found out that he's the descendent of a serial killer. He's not a killer, not like his great, great grandfather, but his narcissism had come to light. He had shown her who he really was. She had wondered how different her life would be if she'd taken a different approach. She should have let it go, but she didn't.
When all those events happen to a person, he or she would have either broken down or snapped. She's done both. And she wouldn't let him get away so easily. For when she 'surrendered' her title as co-owner, she emphasized on wanting to maintain the rights to the software, the coding that made the animatronics who they are today. He'd refused and sent her a video of him updating the animatronics with the software that she 'wanted' back.
Unbeknownst to him, she had given him a programmed virus. Intentionally created for when competitors dare steal company secrets, their own creations would be affected – turning them into monsters. That virus that is practically untreatable, its secrets and origins not known to anyone in this day of age. Their competitors wouldn't dare to sue to not reveal that they had stolen and be countersued. She's done all of those horrific things, against her nature, to protect the man she thought she loved and he rewarded her with pain.
Her body trembles as she fumbles with a key tied around a string. Taking off the string, she turns and opens a small key box that she'd insisted should be with her at all times. Inside the compartment, a USB device – containing the coding to reverse the virus. The only one in existence. The TV plays in front of her, replaying a segment on the entertainment channel regarding the announcement of Fazbear Entertainment arranging for the 'Ferocious Four' to go on tour. She'd thought it was a stupid idea. It had been even more stupid to see the new animatronics next to Freddy. Where was Foxy? Where was Bonnie? Where's Chica?
She'd hoped they didn't decommission Chica, for she was her favorite. The chicken had been designed to reminisce of her humble days as a child, growing up and helping her parents on the farm. When the news segment broke the story of Chica going wild, it'd grieved her. It'd made her have a change of heart, knowing the damage that has already been done. She's too weak to leave the hospital and she doubts that any of the nurses or nurses' aid would have the heart to help out a dying woman. The bitterness held against these 20-30 something year-olds who are here for the pay and would not have any compassion. How easily they get frustrated over a simple task unless it was more about getting done for the sake of posting a TikTok. She'd thought that this generation was hopeless for the country's future in their apathy to help others.
Except for that one young woman. She had rewatched that video to see the woman's determination to save that little girl. That heroic young lady had some parts that reminded her of herself. Such a shame that she's being worked to death because of her ex-husband, who will only take the credit. It's why she withheld the repair device. She desperately wants for Chica to be fixed, but not at the expense of Gabe taking all the credit when he hasn't done jack –
A knock on the door. "I have someone here to see you." Her nurse announces in the same apathetic tone. Afterwards, a young boy with scrawny brown hair is ushered in and the door closed.
"Come closer. I won't bite."
He takes two steps. He seemed apprehensive to see her, like he isn't sure that he's in the right room or viewing the right person. "You're Carlene Denver?"
"The one and only. What's your name, young man?"
"Gregory."
