48% battery Power. System Updating... Error, error. Warning! Critical damage – 40%.

Her systems trying to repair itself were causing more harm than good. At that rate, she could think of three possible scenarios to come from this. One, her safety mode switches off, she goes bonkers and causes chaos until she gets obliterated. Or two, she shuts down completely with no chances of recovery; or there's also the possibility of her servos locking against this new and unpredictable weather. The wind, cold and unforgiving, whips against and through her casing. No other objects are affected by its velocity, other than when it picks up tiny specks of debris or ruffles the leaves of the shrubbery.

Chica remains on the ground as the wind moves, crippled by the aftermath of the whispers with each blow. Monster… Monster...

Her form coils at the daunting images of what she had done. Gregory.


Chica is used to hearing children crying. It is mostly from when they do not get their way out of defiance of their parents' parenting or against the 'unfair' rules.

Like the time she's seen two toddlers impose a meltdown because their mother did not buy the same size cotton candy. One stick was only slightly taller than the first, toddler #2 had a fit, demanded the same treat as their sibling and demonstrated their seriousness by mishandling their sibling's treat, causing a pinching battle and a trail of tears.

And the time a security guard denied a set of kids from getting too close to either her or the other robots. Granted, there have been incidents in which children had climbed onto her, although she never mind it, other security guards enforce the rule out of safety concern (not that she's seen anyone try to hurt children). Even Monty, despite his anger, would never hurt a child if they did something. To hear the word 'no' from a complete stranger caused the kids to angrily question and complain before they start crying. She hears yet another youngling cry, she goes to investigate, even though it is likely caused by not getting their way.

She finds a group of security bots trying to encircle a hysterical young boy. Every attempt, the child would break through the bots, causing them to rerouted their strategy. Then, one of them had succeeded in picking up the child to hold him in a grasp, only to have the boy forcefully elbowed the robot's head casing.

Chica's programming prompts her to leave. She had already been on her way to teach a Mazercise class. But she finds herself resisting, studying the chaos before her. The scene was slowly generating a crowd of agitated mothers, annoyed at the boy's behavior and shaming his parents. What stood out to her the most is noting the child's distress. He wasn't just crying, but screaming and wailing to the point of hyperventilation. It wasn't like any of the situations she had witnessed before.

That had been enough to resist and resisted against her systems until she gained control to willingly intervene. "Stop! Stop it!" She pushes through the crowd and interrupts the security bots' plan, scooping the child into her arms. "Hey, it's okay, it's okay." She kept her voice still and calm despite getting a few small dents in her casing. Gosh, this little boy was strong!

She takes a look at him. Messy brown hair that appears to never have been combed and bright amber pupils stood out in a red and teary sea. His pale complexion turning darker from the lack of oxygen prompts an encouragement of breathing exercises from the animatronic.

The mummers of people adding to the already over stimulating environment had made it hard for the boy. Chica positions the child so his face is shield from the crowd and to her greenroom. Rockstar Row had been closed to the public for an upcoming party, making it a perfect and quiet opportunity for her to escape the busyness. Again, she coaxed the child and succeeded in minimizing his breakdown before he collapsed in exhaustion.

She missed her Mazercise class. And a mini performance. And an opportunity to gap a whole pizza pie to herself when the staff bots had abandoned the kitchen due to a pranked fire alarm. She's aware of the scolding she would get, still she doesn't move. None of it mattered as long as she could continue to monitor the progress of the child's labored breathing as he slept.

She changed positions when she heard a whimper, peeking down at the small child squirming in what little space he had on the couch. Then second by second passes before his eyes open – first in confusion and exhaustion, before they widen. He glances up at her and lets out a scream of terror, scooting away from Chica and panicking as tears reemerged.

"No, no! Please don't cry," She pleads. He stops scooting once behind the arcade machine. "My name is Chica. I'm not going to hurt you." She listened to the few sniffles before he timidly glanced at her while clutching the sides of the machine. "What's your name, little guy?"

"Gregory." He answered her with the same tone, his stomach growled for food in which the noise reddened his cheeks. Chica extended her hand to him and after much reluctance, he allowed her to take him to the food courts. Gregory didn't have to talk to tell what had happened, security had witnessed his parents leaving him in the midst of a busy parking lot, where numerous insurance claims are made by the minute due to reckless driving. It didn't take long for the police and child services to get involved, but any attempts to separate him from Chica never resulted in good favor.

"He preferred the robots over human contact, children are weird sometimes. This is truly unconventional, but I think he is best staying until CPS returns in the morning." A cop concluded before leaving for the night.

"Hush now Monty, you wouldn't want to disturb Mother Goose over there." Roxy teased in which the alligator and wolf animatronic shared a humorous laugh. Freddy, on the other hand and per usual, had been supportive. "You have done a great job Chica." He had whispered while they both overlooked Gregory sleeping. When Freddy leaves after a while, she scoots near the couch where Gregory had absentmindedly taken her hand and curled it near his face.


Monster!

No! There's no way I could have done that to him. She hastens to her feet. Her being in a decent proximity to the PizzaPlex allowed for her to gain access to the employee database, noting Vanessa's address. It isn't far away.

Or it wouldn't be far away if she wasn't moving at a snail's pace.

Nearing the address, she remains hidden in the forestry, eying the residence and noting absences. She slumps behind a bush in defeat. She had thought they would be at home.

The sound of a car engine prompts her attention, noting the vehicle pulling to the curb. Under the street light, Vanessa exits with a slight limp, not partaking in the supposed conversation that the driver's trying to make. Her face laced with lines of weariness; she walks alongside the pathway to the front door. Chica hastily crossed the street. She moved to review Vanessa only clad in a T-shirt and jeans against this weather. She makes out a couple specks of blood on her shoulder of the garment.

"Vanessa!" She turns abruptly to face the animatronic, pulling a bat from inside the house. Chica stops in the midst of the lawn. Vanessa's posture matches a person sizing a threat and poses to act in defense. Chica doesn't blame her for acting so defensive if a tall robot with lightened eyes approaches one in the middle of the night.

Still she wearily chooses her next words to avoid future hostility. "Ness, it's me, Chica –"

"What are you doing here?!" She clenches the bat "What are you doing here?" Vanessa snaps, repeating the question shakily.

"Nessa–"

Clank! A swing to her side enacting metal sounds to emit the air. She's too damaged to respond to the hits and to ratify a defense tactic.

"You nearly killed him!" Another swing. Vanessa's voice crackles with tears flowing down her face. Chica moves further away.

"Vanessa, let me..." Another clank knocks her onto the ground. Vanessa's seething with rage as she delivers hit after hit. "Please, I came here to explain –"

"You dare try to justify how you put Gregory in a coma!"

Another hit. Clank!

"I should kill you right now!"

Another swing and clank. Chica is able to grab the bat, tossing it away and remaining at a distance. She wanted to explain, have her memory frame accessed to prove she wasn't the culprit.

Vanessa's expressions told her otherwise. Explain? What's there to explain? They saw you. You have no memory of it, they do. You can't prove your innocence. And they'll never let you forget it. It's six against one. It's you against the world… She's fighting against her own conscious thoughts, and it adds to the turmoil, weakening her further.

25%...

An object pierces through as an older gentleman rushes in front of Vanessa and aims the gun at the robot.

"Get away from her, you monster! Go on, get!" Another shot. A bullet enters her abdomen.

19%.

Chica rushes away diving deep into the forest. She could hear Vanessa crying as the man swears obscenities towards Chica, she notes his movement gaining. She moves, tumbling deeper into the forest. Sirens can be heard in the distance. It grows further and further with each step against her deteriorating systems.

She continued on for what seemed like forever. What difference is there between reality and her drifting off into that endless internal void?

Her legs giving out, she falls into a small plot of water, shaking as the exposed wires electrocute her. As hard as she tried, she could not move.

Warning! Warning! Less than 1% remaining. Initializing shutdown... 10:00. 9:59. 9:58...

She pulls herself away from the water, the lower half of her body weighs thousands of stones and her vision is riddled with warnings and countdowns. She could hear the entity's voice but it was hard to hear.

Good. She doesn't need her final moments to be filled with torture of cynical remnants. She'll go in peace knowing that it cannot overtake her.

5:01. 5:00. 4:59...

Chica curls into a bed of flowers, nestling herself against the buds and taking in its smell. Sweet and fruity.

Sounds of children's laughing echoes. The notes of a guitar blending in to make a perfect musical combo. Her and her friends were laughing and talking.

The scents change, bringing front a displeasing smell as taunts of her used-to-be friends' words surround her.

"Monster!"

"You got no one to blame but yourself!"

"I thought I could trust you… That was my mistake."

Their words seemed endless. "I'm sorry." She whispers into the darkness. Footsteps are heard closing in. Perhaps it is an animal or the humans tracking her to finish her off. It didn't matter.

00:30. 00:29. 00:28...

Her vision darkens and shadows around her edges closer. A shadowy silhouette of a hand reaches for her.

00:10. 00:09. 00:08...

"I'm sorry."

00:03.

00:02.

00:01.

00:00.