"The thing about happiness is that you only know you had it when it's gone. It's only looking back, by comparison to what comes after, that you really understand that's what happiness felt like."

- Kellogg, Fallout 4

Act 1 – Salvaged Pieces

Wednesday 1st March 1995, 02:14 AM

"I don't get it."

Looking around , Bonnie could see the worried, stricken expression on Chica's face as she stared at the ground. It wasn't often that she would be so quiet, but it was clear that, like he was, she was stumped.

"I don't get it." Bonnie repeated, which caused her to snap.

"I know," She spoke through gritted teeth, "you've said that twice now. It hasn't changed in the last five minutes, has it?"

Not responding at first, Bonnie looked away. Sighing, Chica closed her eyes. "Bonnie. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…I'm worried."

Nodding in understanding, Bonnie looked back at her. "This pizzeria's big, but not big enough for him to…disappear."

"I don't know. We've looked, but it seems he just up and vanished."

That was the only way they could describe it. It has been an entire day since Freddy had gone off on his walk. As the hours turned and nothing changed, their concern only grew. The worst thing was, none of them had sought to pay attention to where they last saw him. Bonnie could remember seeing him go down towards the office, but that was about it.

As much as it caused him more pain, Bonnie had to believe that Freddy hadn't intentionally left them. Because if he had, it would at least mean he was probably okay.

Holding his guitar in his hand, Bonnie found himself gently strumming the strings alongside a tune. It helped him think. These days, he found himself often alone with his thoughts. None of them could muster up the strength to act like anything was normal any more.

It had been three months since Mike had left them, to pursue his new life. Though Bonnie would never have admitted it to him, they missed him. But they also knew it was for the best. Everything that had happened could only mean one thing. Their time was about over.

Too many mistakes. Too many lives ruined. How many lives had they taken during those dark years? Under the control of someone they considered family once upon a time?

Golden Freddy's anger may have been justified, but he had forgotten. They had all been in the same boat. Had he really been so ignorant to believe that none of them missed their old lives?

No, Bonnie mused to himself, he never cared. It was all about him. Selfish.

It saddened Bonnie that he couldn't remember his mother's face. He could still remember her voice. Had she mourned him? Did she still? Either way, Bonnie hoped that she had moved on. It wouldn't have been fair on her to lose her own life due to his.

Stopping, Bonnie gazed down at his guitar. For ten years he had strummed, taking on the identity of this sidekick. This right hand man. His life, his entire purpose, had become to follow Freddy's lead. No matter what that entailed.

Without their leader, what was their purpose? They had already lost their guardian. They had already lost their purpose.

What else was there for them? For him, other than to keep strumming?

Sighing irritably, Bonnie placed his guitar back on the stand and stood straight. Looking back over the dining area, he nodded his head and considered one thing.

What would Freddy do?

The answer was obvious; he wouldn't stand here doing nothing. He would stand up, get down those steps, and go. He would seek answers himself, not wait for them. If Freddy, wherever he was, was incapable of doing so, he needed someone to act in his stead.

"Enough of this," Bonnie spoke up, "I'm going to find him."

"I'm sure he'll be back soon." Chica insisted.

But Bonnie continued down those steps, willing himself to press onwards. He was going to find Freddy. That was that.

First step was to go where he'd last seen his leader. From there, he would figure things out.

Although the thought made him hesitant, he couldn't help it. Was it possible that the reason why Freddy hadn't returned was because he was incapable? Had something happened? But that thought only strengthened Bonnie's resolve. If his friend was on trouble, if he needed help, then someone needed to offer him it.

As Bonnie reached the office, he poked his head inside and was saddened to see the state of it. Had Mike been here, he would have never let it get to this state. It had surprised Bonnie to see how organised the night guard had been.

Now, the office was barely a shadow of its former self. Another representation of how long gone the good days were.

Glancing back down the hallway, Bonnie swore he saw something in the corner of his eye. Something staring at him. Was it a trick of the light? Confused, Bonnie went back down the hallway and stopped when he saw the markings on the wall.

After crouching down, Bonnie squinted at the markings. Four shapes, all relative consistent size. Grey, with what appeared to be eyes.

It shocked him how long it took him to realise they were cupcakes.

Stepping back, Bonnie looked over them a few times. Sure enough, four cupcakes were scratched onto the wall. Lined up, staring back.

Had Chica done this? It seemed rather out of character for her to do this. They cherished these very halls that they lived in. But other than Foxy, with is semi-sharp hook, who else could have made them?

Deciding he would have to ask her about it once he found Freddy, Bonnie continued forward. He was about to leave the hallway when he spotted the shape in the corner of his eye again.

Blinking, his eyes darted right. Just by the entrance of the restrooms, stood a shadow.

"Freddy…?" Bonnie mumbled under his breath as he stared at the shadow. Sure enough, it was Freddy. Or at least, the shadow of him. But something was wrong. Why did Freddy's shadow stare back at him with those silver glints?

As quickly as he had appeared, the shadow of Freddy turned and went deeper into the restrooms.

That wasn't Freddy, Bonnie realised. But who else could it have been? Golden Freddy? The last time they had seen their evil fifth member of the band, he had been buried underneath the ruins of their summer home.

Swallowing his fear, Bonnie pressed onwards. If Golden Freddy had something to do with the disappearance with their leader, why? What was his motivation? He had lost, failing to complete his goals, whatever they were. In his failure, he had claimed the lives of their friends.

What more was there to gain?

Reaching the entrance of the restrooms, Bonnie stared inside. Trying to spot the shape of the shade that he'd seen. Fruitless, he continued forward and came to a crossroads. Down the hallway were the restrooms, a dead end in which he hardly ever visited.

To the left, a dead end. Or once was a dead end, as Bonnie stared in shock and confusion at the newly created entrance.

How did we not know this was here? Bonnie thought to himself as he stared at the archway, in a trance, How did we not hear anything? Whoever opened this must have had to make some noise…

He took a step forward and felt his foot hit something heavy. Wincing, Bonnie looked down at the ground.

When his eyes went to what he had stepped on, he felt his entire world come crashing down.

No, He pleaded to himself, no, please, no…

The shattered head of what was once his friend lay detached from his body, lifeless eyes staring at nothing. The top part of his skull was widened, broken and pulled apart. His top hat had been carelessly thrown across the room.

All around him lay the scattered parts of Freddy Fazbear's body.

He died. He died right there, barely fifty metres away from them. They hadn't know a thing about it.

But it was at that point that the horrifying thought hit Bonnie. Whatever had done this to Freddy, their leader, was still here.

I have to tell the others, Bonnie realised, turning around, I have to tell—

But he saw the shadow too late. Before he was able to move, the axe pierced the back of his leg and he fell down to one knee.

Attempting to scream, Bonnie barely got a sound out before the axe impaled his throat. He gagged on the oil that bled out and toppled to the floor. Looking around wildly, he tried to crawl away, but the axe came down on his right arm.

It's him, Bonnie realised to his dismay, he came back. It's like last time.

Bonnie could see that horrible grin on the Purple Man's face as he stalked him, circling his past victim and choosing with no hurry what limb to chop off next.

This is a cruel world, Bonnie bitterly thought to himself, no one was there to save us. We tried, but we could never stop him. Why was I brought back? To die again? Maybe this time will be different. Maybe I won't have to needlessly

again

suffer

Err

Saturday 28th February 2015, 14:11 PM

Mike had been forced to leave his bike back home. A journey halfway across the country was not possible on it, so after a plane ticket and the purchase of a rental car, he was here.

After twenty years, he was back home.

As he drove into what he remembered to be the southern entrance into his home town, he immediately recognised the old corner shop he would stop by on the way home from school. Instead of that wooden sign reading Elliot's Bargains, it was lined with the branding of a typical Walmart.

As he drove further into town, he frowned as he recognised little of what was once his home. Entire woods had been knocked down, replaced by housing estates and commercial areas. Stores he once knew were no longer there.

It would seem that the place he thought he knew had been gentrified. Mike didn't know how good or bad that was.

Against his better judgement, he drove by the street he had walked many times and stopped parked up at the lot he remembered anything but fondly. Across from where he stopped, he could see the spot where he had been stabbed. Almost gutted by a drug cartel.

Fifty yards from that spot stood the building he had once worked within. Where he'd fought for his life more than once. On the top of the building stood a metal rack he knew once held a sign. Though it was long gone, the chipped paint still could be read.

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza was barely a memory in a town that had long since moved on.

Knowing that there wasn't even a chance he could get inside without being caught, Mike sighed as he drove back out of the parking lot. Even if there was something inside, he doubted it would be worth the trouble.

Continuing onwards, he drove through the labyrinth of his home town towards the spot he had once lived within. As he stopped by where his apartment complex once stood, he felt a surprising pang of sadness when he instead saw a shopping mall.

He knew as he had set on his journey that he was likely returning to something unrecognisable, but he had underestimated how much it would hurt to see so.

Before he knew it, he had found a cafeteria near the town centre and had a small lunch on the table, alongside a newspaper. Reading through the local news, he once more found the article announcing the opening of Fazbear Frights.

Below that, near the advertisement section, an opening for an apartment listing peaked his interest. He knew that stopping at a hotel during this would be misguided, since it wouldn't give him the proper space and facilities for the job up ahead.

He could only hope that with a diplomatic tongue and a large bag of cash on his table, his future landlord wouldn't ask too many questions.

Within the next hour, he was meeting a small man with a scruffy jacket and a corporate haircut. Though there had been words saying appointments in their first conversation, those had dwindled when Mike had promised double for the listing. It wasn't too long after that when Mike found himself to be the new tenant.

Though his home town had kept up with the times, it seemed that the out of sight, out of mind mindset of the people hadn't quite left.

He was starting to drop off the little of his belongings he had brought with him when his phone bleeped. Confused, Mike stared at it for a few moments before picking it up and looked down. In the middle of the lit screen was a single line of text.

Look outside

Mike frowned as he did so, feeling like a fool. His eyes went to the car outside, where two people stood by. They both had bemused looks in their eyes. Feeling the scowl coming across his face, Mike stormed out of the apartment building, down the stairs, and to the front door. Pushing it open, he stepped into the sunlight and marched across the street.

"I told you," He said through gritted teeth, "that this was personal business."

"And we didn't listen to you." Michelle shrugged at that, "What's your point?"

"You shouldn't be here, that's what. Go home."

"Yeah, no."

"I think what Ella's trying to say," Jack chimed in, "is that we can't exactly ignore that whatever it is you're going up against is dangerous."

"That's my business."

"We're a team, Mike."

Mike sighed in frustration, "I never said we weren't. But Freddy's and what went down twenty years ago…"

Holding up her hands, Michele smirked, "We won't get in your way. We're not going to try and take over or anything. But if you're right about this, Mike, you need back-up."

Looking between them, Mike tried to think of another argument, but faltered. "You're not going to give this up, are you?"

"The pot, the kettle. So, what's our first step?"

Giving a sigh of acceptance, Mike nodded. "Standard procedure. We recon, first. We go to Fazbear Frights, try to figure out the situation there, and plan according."

Michelle shrugged, "Sounds easy, enough."

Mike almost laughed, "With Freddy's? Nothing is simple."

Saturday 28th February 2015, 14:54 PM

They used Mike's car. It was a rental, sure, but it had the space to fit their equipment inside. Driving through the streets, it didn't take them long to reach Fazbear Frights, or to spot it. Neon lights, turned on even during the day, signalled the presence of the attraction.

Although Mike doubted that many people still cared about the Missing Children's Incident, he couldn't see the logic in the blatant attempt to profit off the misery of many families.

Shaking his head, Mike parked the car in the side street across from a small park area where they had a clear line of sight to the building.

"It's uncanny." Mike murmured, which raised Michelle's interest.

"What about it?" She replied.

Sitting back, Mike kept his eyes on the building. "The location. The parking lot. The general atmosphere…it's like I've gone back in time. Maybe things will be different inside, but my gut feeling tells me that whoever opened this place did their research."

"I agree," Jack nodded, "Did you notice that it's near the wilderness? Fazbear Entertainment did that to hide the bodies. Whoever opened this place followed in their footsteps. I'm guessing they didn't know their reasons, though."

Blinking, Michelle stared at him. "You know, you seem to know a lot about their methods."

"I do my research."

Glancing at Jack, Mike chose his words carefully. "It'd be easy to make certain judgement calls, Ella. My first-hand experience, along with all those news articles. With Jack's ability to get off-the-books intel, too, it would be more concerning if he didn't know his stuff."

"I guess," Michelle spoke up, but her tone told him she still had her doubts.

"Anyway, we're getting off-topic." Glancing back at the building, Mike tried to see through the windows, but was bemused to find them to be blacked out. "We're going to need more than this."

"What do you suggest?" Jack inquired, though he seemed to know the answer.

Shrugging, Mike gave them that smile. "Not gonna get any more information out here. I'm going inside."

Michelle blinked. "As a customer, or something a bit more…risky?"

"What can I say? It's a recreation of a Freddy Fazbear's joint. What's Freddy Fazbear's Pizza without a night guard?"

Without another word, Mike stepped out of the car, feeling the slight shower of rain and pulling his coat on tighter, before walking towards the building. He was nearing the entrance when the doors were pushed open and a young man stepped out.

At first, the man didn't notice him. Mike took a moment to examine the man. He was youthful, in his mid-twenties. Over his sandy-brown hair was a green beanie hat, rimmed with red and orange. Instead of a suit, he wore cargo shorts and had a flannel shirt with the sleeves pulled up.

Glancing around, as if feeling the eyes on him, the man turned around and gawked at Mike, a flash of worry on his face as he looked at a rough-looking man twice his age marching towards him. Hesitantly smiling, the man cleared his throat.

"Uh, hey, dude!" The man said, "Place isn't open, yet."

Stopping in front of the building, Mike had a closer look at the sign. "Saw your advertisement in the newspaper. Fazbear Frights, huh? How's that coming along?"

"Slow beginnings, my man." The man seemed to relax a little, "Name's Reggie. Reggie Wood. You, um, came to see the place?"

"In a way." Mike gave a small smile, "Mike Schmidt. Only you working?"

"Yeah, I guess so. No one else is working here. You know, the whole new business and everything. Hey, uh, you interested in a job? Could do with some…well, security."

Mike almost ruined it by smiling. "Oh? Sounds interesting. Tell me more."

Updates will come eventually, as I previously mentioned. Work is going fairly well. Back To School Retail got dicey and hectic, but we got through it.

TU4QU0I53T4IAN6L3: I suppose you can take the man out of Freddy's, but not Freddy's out of the man. Mike seems to have never managed to move on and remains obsessed with his role in Freddy's. The question is, will he risk taking people down with him?