Author's Note: The sequel to 'The Machine, and Her'. Standard Disclaimer; I don't own anything. Do make sure you read 'The Machine, and Her' before this one. It'll make things make a lot more sense.

Ghosts of the Past

Prologue

If Roxy hadn't wanted it, she never would have gone back. There were too many painful echoes for her to risk ever going back to that place... too many hurts that had yet to close... but Roxy had instisted... had wanted to go back every so often so that she could see Freddy and the others. Jennifer had made it clear that Roxy was her own person, able to do whatever she wanted... and if that meant the few times where she took the stage again – 'reliving her glory days' she put it – then so be it. Roxy had even convinced her to fully stop running form her past, and take on her birth name again, Jennifer Simpson. It was a difficult transition to leave behind the life she had built over the last thirty years but... it made Roxy happy when she wasn't lying to anyone; least of all herself.

That didn't mean that Jennifer didn't keep tinkering, of course. Roxy loved it when she would see what portions of the 'Fazbear Standard Endoskeleton' as Jennifer liked to call it that she could replace. So far, the pieces she had replaced were the battery (that was first to go), some of her leg and arm hydraulics (leg hydraulics to give her a softer footfall and arm hydraulics so she could lift heavier objects) as well as replacing her sensory suite with an upgraded model that allowed her to hear and see things more acutely and from a farther distance. It was a strange way of thinking but... the times where Roxy was up on the Maintenance Cradle with her casing open was the closest thing to romantic intimacy the pair could get. Today's upgrade was an internal dynamo that would convert her limb movements (leg, arm, head, you name it) into excess power to siphon back into the battery – think like an alternator for your car. The upgrade didn't make her have a limitless source of power, of course... but it certainly went a long way to recycling what power she did use, and increased her battery life by an impressive seventy percent.

"How's that feeling, love?" Jennifer mused as she pulled her arm out of Roxy's chest cavity. With Roxy no longer doing constant birthday parties and performances, Jennifer had found a use for all that empty space in her chest.

"Ugh... oooh... bit... funky? But not in a bad sense?" Roxy answered, flexing her arms. "Can definitely feel the recycle..." Jennifer beamed at her.

"That's good! Should keep you on your feet longer... you know, if you want to."

"Oh, no... please... don't give me the ability to spend more time with you... nooooo... how could you...?" The sarcasm was palpable on her voice, causing Jennifer to chuckle.

"Stop it. Alright, let's close you up, and get you back on your feet." Jennifer spun in her chair and pushed herself up, her mechanical leg whining from the strain. Aye, she bore the scar of her 'game' with Vanny plainly for anyone to see. Her left leg was – from her groin down – amputated after her night spent at Freddy's. It was Roxy who ultimately had destroyed her leg – crushing it with a powerful stomp – but it wasn't Roxy whom she blamed for it. No, it was Vanny – the crazed psychopathic furry who had controlled Roxy and the rest – who was to blame for her leg. Sometimes, Jennifer catches Roxy looking at her mechanical leg, her eyes showing a measure of... pity...? Remorse, perhaps. But each time Jennifer catches these glances from her, Jennifer is quick to smile at her and it puts her core at ease.

She had spent a year without her leg, being carried up the stairs of her Fazbear Entertainment-funded house by Roxy, using the seven-foot tall Animatronic Wolf as a glorified crutch. Roxy had told her over and over and over again until she was sick of saying so; that she didn't mind helping her... didn't mind carrying her, or letting her use her as support. It was, after all, the least she could do after spending six hours trying to kill her.

Oh, yes... Jennifer had given her a full diagnostic after the fact, and made sure that if any traces of Vanny's corrupting code remained, she cleared it. Thankfully with Roxy's help, she was able to pull the few remaining strands off and clear her AI. After that, the next logical option was to build herself a prosthetic so she could at least move around. It took a while (as most of the neurological aspects were beyond her field of expertise) before she was able to build it, but once it had been finished, she found her freedom once more.

"Mmmgh..." Roxy grumbled. Jennifer could feel her gaze on her. She turned slowly and shook her head to her mechanical lover.

"Roxy. We've been over this." Roxy growled softly, throwing her head back onto the cradle's head rest and closing her eyes. "It wasn't you."

"I know, Jen... I know... I just... gah, it doesn't get easier!" She put her hands over her head, pressing her ears flat to her head. "...I just... I think about all I've done... all we've done and I just... nothing I do will ever make it better."

"You can't take the past back, Roxy... it's always going to loom over us like a shadow of death... the best we can do is learn from it, and be better." Roxy sighed, letting her hands slump down onto the cradle's armrests.

"...Yeah... guess you're right." Jennifer smiled.

"You're damn right I am. Now c'mon... you're all finished, what do you feel like watching tonight?" Since they couldn't be intimate like traditional lovers, they made up for it in other ways. Roxy would still sing to her at night as a kind of 'good night kiss' and they would while away the evenings watching movies or television shows as they saw fit. To the pair of them, the woes of the rest of the world were naught but dying whispers on the wind. The only thing they worried about was what would tomorrow bring for them.

Jennifer had gone through hell and back for Roxy... had repaired her from a shattered and broken frame to the picture of perfection she was today. She had used the retainer Fazbear Entertainment had graciously given her to keep updating Roxy's casing and structure – as mentioned – even going as far as building her entirely new casings as a way of allowing her to change outfits like a normal person. Everyone knew about the eccentric engineer and the rockstar-turned-housewife who had fallen in love with her, and a great number of people in this city were always happy when she showed up.

The next day had come too soon for Jennifer, finding her waking up stiff and a certain metallic coolness missing from her bed. Of course, Jennifer didn't expect Roxy to spend all night with her... girl had to charge eventually; and even an eight hour battery life had it's limit. Thankfully the charge pods that Fazbear Entertainment installed in her new home were cycled specifically for Roxy, so she charged in only about an hour and a half. Jennifer liked to be up around seven in the morning, so Roxy usually timed her early-morning charge cycle to finish around there. Almost as if on cue, the moment her alarm blared to life, the pod in her bedroom opened with a silent hiss, and Roxy stepped out. "Morning, beautiful." Jennifer smiled to her, causing Roxy to crack a smile. It was always hard to tell her demeanor from her face... Fazbear Entertainment didn't build their Animatronics to be very... expressive with their facial features; save for their eyes. It wasn't necessary, as they only really interacted with kids; who didn't care so much for the nuanced facial motions a daily conversation illicited. That was the first thing Jennifer had given Roxy; a more intricate face model that allowed for more expressive emotes from her; and more then just in her eyes.

"Morning yourself. How'd you sleep." Jennifer grinned broadly at Roxy's question and rolled over on the bed, splaying out across it.

"Kinda like this." Roxy chuckled. "...always loved your laugh."

"S'at so? Hey... look, I know you don't like goin' back but... I'd like to stop by today and say hi to Freddy and the others... think you'd be okay with that?"

"Sure thing!" Jennifer nodded. "You know I don't mind going back, so long as you're with me." Jennifer rolled back over and threw her feet out of bed onto the carpeted floor. "...should I find your keytar?"

"I don't... really feel like seeing the kids right now. It's nice and all but..." She grunted, her entire frame shaking in dismay. "...I had forgotten how... grabby they were. Don't want you having to clean grease out of my hair again..." Jennifer stuck her tongue out.

"Seriously, kids are gross. I can't believe I ever was one." This caused Roxy to laugh again.

"I bet you were a cute kid."

"And broken! Don't forget that!" Jennifer smiled in a far-too cheery tone for the subject matter.

"Stop. You are not and have never been broken." She tapped her gently on the back as she walked around the bed. "C'mon, let's get you something to eat." Jennifer jumped off the bed and began to collect her clothes for the day, discarding her sleep clothes in the laundry bin. "So... I'm thinkin' I know what I'd like the next upgrade to be, when you've got the time and money."

"Sure, sugar, what's that?"

"Figure I've got just enough room in this cavity of mine for a second battery. With that, it should bolster my uptime to almost fifteen hours."

"And your charge time to almost three hours."

"Small price to pay. Just means I go to charge earlier then usual. No big." Roxy shrugged, her servos whining at the motion. "Any price I have to pay to spend more time with you, the better. B'sides, you're not usually up for more then twelve or thirteen hours, anywho. Just means I charge once a day, instead of twice." Jennifer nodded to this, thinking.

"Would be nice... alright, while you catch up with Freddy and the gang, I'll speak to Micheal and see if I can't buy a battery off them."

"With their own funds, too!" Roxy grinned. Jennifer had basically blackmailed Fazbear Entertainment into building her this swanky new house with all manner of considerations for her at-the-time crippled state and for Roxy's consideration too. Plus, on top of that, they were forced to pay out four thousand dollars to her every two weeks to keep her silence. Because if that check doesn't come for even one week... she goes to every news outlet and police station in the country and tells them exactly what happened that faithful night in September...

...shit it had been September, hadn't it? Christ, that month was bad joo-joo for her. "...think I'm gonna just... hibernate through September from now on." She mused suddenly.

"..." Roxy blinked at her. "...for why?"

"Oh! Uh... sorry, that wasn't supposed to be out loud... uhm... September is... I... told you about the uh... 'mansion incident', yeah?" Roxy nodded. "...that... also happened in September."

"Yeah, I'd say hibernating for a month would be a good idea."

Jennifer had found out that the only kind of vehicle Roxy could fit in with any kind of comfort was one of those large Superduty trucks; her bulky frame unable to squeeze in a regular sedan or... really any other vehicle for that matter. It didn't bother Jennifer much, she bought a new car after Monty had trashed her old one a few months after the event (though never really used it until after her prosthetic came in), and hasn't looked back since. The pair piled in and headed back towards the Mega Pizzaplex. Jennifer didn't mind going back for Roxy... didn't mind her going to see her friends... but she had a rule. They were gone before sunset. There wasn't a chance in hell Jennifer was spending another night in that place. She considered herself a well-adjusted woman... but the thought of spending another night at Freddy's terrified her to the core. No. If the sun was down, they were leaving.

They made the drive into the city and pulled into the parking lot of the Mega Pizzaplex around quarter to ten, the place only starting to pick up. "You might be in luck, Roxy... depending on how much time you wanna spend with the boys – and Chica of course – you may be able to miss the brats all together."

"I'd like that..." The pair get out of their car – Roxy proving to be quite deft at it, despite her mechanical nature – and started towards the door. Jennifer spied one of the daytime security guards lock eyes with her and instantly go to his radio. Well, looks like they wouldn't have to find Micheal... Jennifer was on a on-call list for the Mega Pizzaplex... if she showed up anywhere on the grounds, she wasn't to be harrassed, wasn't to be forced to purchase a ticket and was generally supposed to have her every whim catered to. When the higher-ups of Fazbear Entertainment had figured out what former CEO Melissa Raynor was doing at night, they up and nearly had a shit fit. Micheal – being head of security – was placed as the acting on-site manager for the Mega Pizzaplex and his words carried weight; as evidenced to them capitulating to her demands to keep the whole sordid affair quiet. The same Security Guard who radioed her in opened the door for her and Roxy.

"Ms. Simpson. Roxanne. Good morning." He gave a curt greeting, nodding to them both. "Mr. Lee's been informed of your arrival, he asked me to keep you down here for just a few minutes. I trust it's glad tidings that brings you to us today?" Oh, of course everyone knew about what happened... it was hard not to. They had been lucky the Pizzaplex was closed on the weekends, or a thousand children would have gotten to see the city's finest rip the place apart and question everyone.

"Roxy wanted to see her old bandmates today, thought I'd bring her around. Also need to ask your boss for a favor. Nothing nefarious, I promise." The man smiled to her, nodding happily.

"I'm glad to hear it."

"It's quiet this morning..." Jennifer mused, looking about the usually busy main lobby.

"For a mercy... Wednesdays are usually quiet." As he trailed off, he turned to see a man in a suit – a Fazbear Entertainment patch on his shoulder – walking out of a staff door. He looked equal parts worried as inviting.

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you this morning, Ms. Hastel-"

"Simpson." Jennifer corrected him. "I'm done living a lie."

"Simpson, yes, of course... my apologies..." He cleared his throat. "S-so, what brings you to us today? I trust nothing... unflattering?"

"Don't worry, Micheal. Roxy just got a bit homesick, so I thought I'd bring her around so she can chat with your stars. You're okay with that, yes?"

"Oh, b-but of course!" He sputtered in relief. "Jerome, would you take Ms. Wolf to Rockstar Row and let the others know?" The young security guard nodded to her and motioned Roxy to follow him. There had been some massive overhauls in Fazbear Entertainment security following Melissa – or 'Vanny's' little traipsing about; mostly focused on nighttime security. At any time of the day – day or night - the Mega Pizzaplex had no fewer then four security guards on duty; not to mention all night time camera footage was recorded off-site for safety purposes.

"Also-" Jennifer began, Micheal's relieved look fading for a second. "-was wondering if I could buy a spare battery? Like you've got in the Animatronics? Roxy wanted an upgrade to her battery life, and I think I can fit a second in her."

"Yes, of course... I believe we have some down in Parts and Service... would you like for me to take you there?"

"Please." He nodded and lead her through the same door he had exited from. He lead her along a familiar path which took her through the bowels of the Pizzaplex and into the lower floors, where Parts and Service resided. Several endoskeletons rested either in a slouched standing positon or a seated position; waiting for a time when they would be needed – as a wall of even more parts rested within one of the smaller maintenance bays. Several of the maintenance technicians watched them as they worked.

"Some of the attractions have been breaking down more frequently in recent years... we've had to rebuild practically all of Fazer Blast, and our techs don't know why. They think it's neglect mixed in with a little negligence from the children but... we can't be too sure. The long and short of it is we have a surplus of parts we've been hoarding in case of a catastrophic event... similar to what brought you to us in the first place."

"Did you ever catch that kid, by the way?"

"Uhm... in... a fashion? The day before your... incident... we received a call about our missing delivery van... the... young man was found with his throat slit in the back of the van."

"...oh god..." Jennifer muttered, unable to believe what she heard.

"We... think it might have been Melissa's doing... there is no other real suspect aside."

"Why do you think he was targeted?"

"Much for the same reasons, we believe, you were. He was alone in the world; no friends or family to speak of. An orphan, one of the many unwanted." Jennifer nodded, knowing all too well the type of person who would kill an orphan.

"...I understand that."

"Anyway, here." He bent down and picked up a medium-sized motorcycle battery-looking object and handed it to her. "I don't think I have to tell you to be careful when installing it... improperly mounting the battery could result in some balance issues for Roxanne. I'll have a bill ready for you when you're ready to leave. Uhm... no rush, of course." Jennifer nodded as she took the battery under her arm.

"Of course not." There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice. She had always been welcome, Micheal's jittery exterior was more a product of the man being worried about offending Jennifer then anything else. He knew she could destroy everything they've built with but a single word to anyone. "And I'll certainly be careful installing it. Thank you."

"If you'd like, I could have one of my techs load it into your car for you?" Jennifer smiled to him.

"That'd be nice, actually. Just have them put in in the bed." He nodded.

"Alegra? Could I borrow you for a moment?" From the throng of technicians came a younger looking woman with chocolate skin and beautiful brown eyes.

"Sir?" She spoke with a bob of her head; her frizzy brown hair waving gently in the still air.

"Take the battery from Ms. Simpson and see to it loaded into her car, please? The white F-450 in the VIP parking."

"Of course, Mr. Lee." Jennifer handed her the battery with a gentle word of thanks.

"Is there anything else down here I can help you with?"

"No, thank you. I'll just head up and meet up with Roxy. Make sure some kids aren't crawlin' on her." Most of the kids didn't know that she was now private property, and not free to be climbed on. Micheal nodded, and motioned her towards the elevator. As she turned to follow him, the faintest giggle came to her ears. She paused and looked behind her.

"Ms. Simpson? Are you alright?"

"...thought I heard something... A voice... laughing..."

"Wouldn't surprise me. Sometimes the voices of the children can echo through the vents. Must be picking up upstairs." Jennifer took in a deep breath and nodded. Yeah... yeah, that made sense. With another nod to Micheal, she apologized and continued to follow him. He stayed quiet as the elevator ascended back to the front doors, and after that it was a quick jaunt to Rockstar Row. The group had congregated in Freddy's Green Room, and it was obvious from the moment they arrived that Freddy and the gang had missed Roxy immensely. Jennifer got to watch as Freddy practically spun her about in a hug. It brought a smile to her face to see that her old band mates loved her as much as Jennifer did. Micheal had brought her up to the door to Freddy's Green Room and swiped a badge to open the door, letting Jennifer in.

"...I get it, I get it... put me down you great lug'a metal!" Roxy chimed as Jennifer entered.

"Jenevieve!" Chica called out from her spot on the couch, waving broadly. "We're so glad you decided to say hello!" Jennifer smiled to her, waving lightly.

"Actually, Chica... I go by Jennifer now... I'm... done living the lie I've been living my whole life."

"Oh!" Chica grinned. "Well, that's cool! I still think you're a superstar!" Chica scooted over on the couch to give more room between her and Foxy, then patted the newly formed seat. "Sit-sit!" She announced happily. Jennifer shrugged defeated and took the seat between Foxy and Chica.

"So, I be understandin' I be ownin' you fer th' second chance at th' stage, lassy." Foxy put his one good hand on her shoulder, pulling her close. She hadn't had much interaction with Foxy; the catankerous pirate was usually doing his own thing during her visits – which admittedly happened later in the day.

"Don't mention it, Foxy. I'm glad you're back in the limelight."

"Fame, fortune an' booty be all a good pirate want!" He announced, motioning wildly with his hook-bearing hand. "I be havin' me fame... I be havin' me fortune... and I be havin' me booty in good friends!"

"Ugh, Foxy... you always make that sound so weird." Chica muttered, causing Foxy to laugh a gruff, boysterous guffaw.

"Though I think me booty pales in comparison to yer own!" He continued, Jennifer looking at him and blinking.

"...I don't follow..."

"C'mon, lassy! We both be knowin' th' girl be madly in love wi'cha! Ya got th' booty from th' company, and ya got the best booty around!"

"I heard that, Foxy!" Roxy growled to him, still trying to struggle out of Freddy's embrace. "Once... ngh... Once Freddy lets go, I'll make you need two hooks you seadog!" Chica, Foxy and Jennifer both laughed at her reaction. "Freddy, let go..." She sighed, looking defeated. "I missed you too, you big lump'a scrap... now let go..."

Jennifer had gathered her own cult following amongst the kids. None of the customers knew the circumstances that had brought Jennifer into Roxy's life – how could they? How do you tell a group of thousands of ten and eleven year olds that the Animatronic characters had kill commands? And that it was only by sheer dumb luck had one lucky bitch broke those parameters? That's not something you can condense into an easy-to-understand nugget. So, Fazbear did what Fazbear did best... they created a story behind how Jennifer and Roxy had met... and it was about as cheese ball as you'd expect. Neither Jennifer nor Roxy knew the full story, but they both knew it had something to do with meeting under the moonlight, a long walk on the beach and love at first sight... honestly, it was the kind of sickeningly sweet plot that made Jennifer want to chug a gallon of bleach... but hey, it kept the kids happy and romanticizing that no matter what, you could find someone who was perfect for you... even if you were drastically different. So... you know... that was nice.

No one minded the kids looking in on their meetings, but Fazbear Entertainment was quick to put the kaibosh on anyone who wanted to interject themselves into the meetings. So long as the group was in a Green Room, they wouldn't let the kids harass them. It was nice to have relative peace and quiet during their occasional sojourn back to the Mega Pizzaplex. An hour into her visit with the group, she was suddenly hit with the urge to use the restroom.

"Ugh... sorry folks, need to pee..." She got to her feet.

"Oh! Sure!" Chica smiled. "Know where it is?" Jennifer nodded as she was on her way out.

"Eyeah, between yours and Monty's Green Rooms." She had gone before, and she knows Chica's just programmed to give directions – usually to kids – towards the nearest restroom, so Jennifer didn't hold it against her. Chica beamed, and nodded. Jennifer quickly exited the Green Room and made a beeline towards the restroom. "Ooooh gotta pee, gotta pee..." Standing up had told her exactly how badly she needed to go... she hadn't gone before she left – boo on her – so she still had most of that 'early morning restroom break' to work off.

Sure, these restrooms were always more childish then she'd have liked but... what was she going to do? Complain? The whole place was designed to cater to the young. She managed to slip into a stall and get her pants down quick enough to sit down before the pressure just became too much. "Haaaaaaaaaaaah~!" She sighed happily, feeling the relief wash over her. She almost didn't make it. Resting her head against the back wall, she closed her eyes and just... drank in the atmosphere of the place. Yeah, she wasn't the biggest fan of kids, but she could still enjoy their joyful vocalizations, and the whole vibe of the place – during the day, anyway – put her at ease. After finishing her business, she cleaned herself up with a few small squares of toilet paper, and flushed everything – even her earlier unease – down the pipes.

She had never liked children, but it wasn't anything on them... really, they were sweet kids most of the time but... when you have one hell-bent on sharpening his giant-ass scissors on your bones, it kind of ruins the experience for you. She never wanted kids, so her relationship with Roxy was just alright with her... any kids she had were gonna be mechanical. Stepping out of the stall, she deftly washed her hands and threw the paper towel into the cutely Chica-themed garbage can. On her way out, however.

"...nif...!" A voice called – eerie and distant – from behind her. She couldn't make out what it had said, but it was clear enough to catch her attention. She turned around mid-stride and stared, focusing her ears on the voice. After several minutes of standing there and looking quite mad, Jennifer finally shook her head and started moving again.

"...just the kids..." She muttered to herself. Before she could walk out of the bathroom, one of the sink dripped. Now; usually this wouldn't have been anything out of the ordinary. Pipes dripped all the time, and it was probably the second most natural sound to hear in a restroom... however, this particular drip wasn't the sound of a water droplet landing in an empty sink... but of one striking a full sink, the sound of water-on-water echoing off her skull like a crack of thunder. She turned back around and checked the sinks... no... no, they were all empty. As she was about to leave once more, the same giggle echoed in the distance.

Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope. Jennifer had seen enough to know where this was going, and she wasn't having any of it. She turned right around and headed straight for Freddy's Green Room again. No, fuck this. Bad memories and nightmares she could deal with... but motherfucking ghosts? No, fuck that, and the horse it rode in on. She must have looked as scared as she was, because the moment she re-entered the Green Room, Montgomery blinked at her.

"Hey, cher? Ya feelin' alright? Ya plum look like ya seen a ghost..." Jennifer kept a strong face up, smiling at Montgomery.

"Y-yeah, bud... I'm good just..." She wracked her brain for some excuse to make. "...hungry." She finally settled on.

"Oh! If that's the case, why don't I get you some pizza?" Chica chimed in, Jennifer smiling and chuckling at her words.

"Oooh, Chica you know I love their pizza but... their pizza does not love me. Makes me gassy and gives me acid reflux." Not a complete lie... Fazbear Entertainment pizza was good... but just too much for Jennifer. Always had been. "Just gonna sit down for a bit, and we'll pick something up on the way home."

Beep beep. A small little digital beep came to her ears, Jennifer looking down at the watch on her wrist. It was a novelty Faz Watch the Mega Pizzaplex sold, themed around Roxy. Roxy had insisted that she wear it that way they could keep in touch. It was upsized for her, being considerably larger then the ones sold to the kids.

'You sure you're okay? You don't look so hot.' The message was from Roxy, and a single look to her told Jennifer she was worried about her. Jennifer mustered up a smile and nodded to her.

Roxy had spent a few hours with her friends until it was time for their second show (apparently they had arrived shortly after their first) so Roxy and Jennifer bid the group farewell; much to Freddy's disappointment. The poor bear was beside himself with worry that he'd never seen Roxy again.

"I'll be back, you goof." She assured him as he hugged her. "Could you let me go, you're... crushing my endoskeleton..." Jennifer, for her part, couldn't wait to get out of that place. Roxy knew it, she could tell it just by how she held herself. Jennifer was first out the door and had already cleared halfway to her truck before the door had even closed. Roxy took her time, catching up eventually before climbing into the passenger seat. "Alright you." Roxy began, twisting her torso to face Jennifer. "Spill it. You're not okay, you look like you could vomit at a moment's notice, and I've never seen you so hell bent to get out of that place. I know you're leery of it – it's why I always agree to leave well before nightfall – but you've never been this skittish. What's going on, and don't say nothing."

"I'm hearin' shit, Rox... When I was down in Parts and Service with Micheal to pick up your battery, I heard a... a laugh. Like a girl giggling. I chocked it up to sound carrying through the vents."

"Which makes sense."

"Right, so think nothing of it. Then...when I go to the restroom, I hear a... dripping sound." Roxy blinked, her sound of her lids shuttering closed for a split second the only sound in the cab.

"Dripping? Leaky pipes have you on edge?"

"I know... I know how it sounds but... this dripping? None of the pipes were leaking, and even if they were, it sounded like the dripping was landing in water and... not like it was from a faucet, but a bathtub."

"A bathtub...? You sure?"

"I know that sound, Roxy. That... cursed dripping is more ingrained in my head then you think. After that, just before I could leave, I heard another voice call out. Distant... faint... I... couldn't catch most of what she said but..." Jennifer put her head in her hands. "...god dammit, Roxy, it was Rolla..." Roxy blinked again.

"Who...?" Jennifer looked up from her hands and drew in a deep breath.

"...I've got a story to tell you when we get back."