Choice
He stared at the walls of his box. It was one of the few things he could claim as his own. The dark, the lack of anything on the blank walls, it gave him a sense of peace. Of quiet.
But not now. Even when he looked away, when he covered his eyes, he could see them. Could hear them.
The screaming. The pleading. The crying. The Silence.
He wanted to forget. He wanted so much to forget. But he couldn't. He couldn't do anything for them. He hadn't then, but that wasn't his fault. His Master forbade him. He had to obey. It wasn't an excuse, it was true. It would only hurt if he tried.
So they had hurt instead. They had screamed. They had pleaded. They had cried. Now, they were Silent. Gone.
Except that they weren't. Not like they should be. They had become the Others. They were trapped inside the Toys. He had felt them, but they were so tangled that he couldn't get them out. He didn't know how. So he had soothed them with the music box. Kept them quiet. He had helped. But he hadn't. Even after they slept, they woke up angry. They were always hurt, always afraid.
Then, his Master had taken them. The Cuckoo had stolen them away. They would be used to carry his Master from his old form into his new one. The one he was now trapped in. That still made the Puppet smile. His Master was gone. His Master was the one stuck, his strings being pulled and being unable to stop it. The Puppet was free.
But he wasn't. The Singer had told him as much. Her face, her words, they swam into his vision, echoed in his mind. Round and round they went. He didn't want to listen, didn't want to hear, but he couldn't stop it.
The Others weren't either. He had thought that, once they had carried his Master, they would be set free. Returned to the Silence so they could rest. But his Master never let anything be free. Not even them. He had kept them and so had the Cuckoo. The Puppet didn't know he had until he was travelling to the Hidden Place, when he was directing his Rabbit Monster.
It used to be one of his New Toys. The empty ones his Master had made for him. But they weren't empty anymore. The Puppet had felt it when he first started pulling the Monster's strings. Before, it had been easy. There was nothing inside. Now, he could feel it. Even from the briefest contact, it bled through into him.
Anger. Pain. Rage.
Nothing guiding it, nothing stopping it. Nothing except the cage the Cuckoo had placed it inside. The ones that had turned his New Toy into a Monster. They protected them, strengthened them but also trapped them, confined them. He could feel it, trying to break free. But it couldn't. No matter how much it screamed or pleaded or cried. It was trapped, trapped in an endless cycle, never knowing the Silence that should be given to it. And the Cuckoo had done the same for all of them. All five of the Others, trapped and turned into Monsters. Like his Master had been.
But they were not his Master. They didn't deserve it. Yet it had happened anyway. Like when they had been Silenced. Silenced in the game his Master had made them play.
Now, they were going to be used to give that Silence to everyone else. So were the Old Toys and his Former Toys. All of them, dispensing Silence everywhere so that the Cuckoo might know it himself. And he would be right there with the Cuckoo. He would let it happen. It was expected of him. Just like it was expected by his Master to let it happen to the Others. A Puppet in every way.
Until the Cuckoo might one day give him Silence too. The Puppet knew he would. He could feel it.
But the Cuckoo wasn't his Master. The Cuckoo acted like he was. He said he had cut the Puppet's strings. But he hadn't. Perhaps he had helped, but it was the Puppet's idea to do what they did. His Master had lost the game and now, the Puppet had what he prized for so long. He was free. Free to choose, just like the Singer had said. Now, he had to choose.
He looked up from his hands, holding them in front of his face. One hand: do what Spring told him to do. String up all of the Toys and join him in his quest for Silence. The other hand: don't. It seemed so simple, so easy.
Yet it felt so difficult. So heavy. Did choice always feel like this? Was this what freedom meant? It almost made him wish for his Master back. The right choice seemed obvious, yet there was something that stopped him.
They hated him. He knew they did. The Mangle did. All of his Former Toys did. Even the Old Toys. Especially Her. They would always hate him for what he had done. He could try to make them not hate him, string them back up. But they might cut them free. They didn't even need Her to do it for them anymore. The Mouse had proven that. So had the Singer. They hated him like he had hated his Master. They might think he was tricking them. They might even Silence him too.
But perhaps that didn't matter. Not as much as those other children, those who would be Silenced if he continued to help the Cuckoo. They had done nothing to him. Just like the Others had done nothing to him, yet they were given Silence. Maybe hate was what he deserved for it. At least he could do something about it.
The Puppet gazed for a long time at his hands. It shifted to just one of them. He closed his hand, then rose from his box. He lifted the hand he had chosen to brush against his mask, feeling along the hairline crack again. He knew what he had to do.
Billy rocked back and forth on his feet, wracking his brain trying to think of a way they could escape. He could try and sneak away to open the door. But there was nowhere for him to get out. They could all work together to smash the viewing glass. But that would still make a lot of noise. They could…
He groaned and slumped to the floor. This was hard. Everyone else seemed to think so too. Vevina and Freddy were going back and forth all the time, both of them getting annoyed at the other. Billy didn't like it, but he didn't see what else he could do. They wouldn't stop unless they figured something out, so that was what he decided to try and do.
The door opened again. He tensed, expecting a rush of bots. But they didn't come. It was just the Puppet. Alone.
Everyone else noticed too. For the moment, they looked just as stunned. Billy had a feeling he knew who would do something first and he was proven right when Vevina strode right up to the Puppet. He took a few steps back until he was right against the wall.
"So this is how it is?" she snarled. "Coming in here, thinking you're all that and trying to make us dance to your tune again? Big mistake, sunshine!"
"Wait."
Vevina stopped mid-swing. Now it was her turn to take a step back. That voice didn't come from any of them. It was the Puppet. But that wasn't a recording of somebody else's voice. It was a little distorted but didn't come from the speaker part of him. It was muffled slightly. High and reedy. Almost young. Older than a kid's, but not just like a grown-up's voice. Somewhere in the middle.
For a moment, nobody moved. The Puppet's hands went up to his face. They stopped, hovering hesitantly. Then, they grasped the edges of the mask and removed it from his face. Billy couldn't help but stare.
It wasn't like their faces. Their faces had skin. They were warm and soft. His looked hard and cold. It shone like metal. There was no hair, no dimples in his cheeks or even a nose. The mouth was nothing more than a thin line between two large circles where his cheeks would be. His tiny white eyes blinked inside grey orbs. He pulled back his head cover, revealing a smooth, featureless head with two square-like things where his ears would be.
The Puppet looked down at his mask. He looked almost afraid. He looked back at Vevina. She looked back at the Puppet. Then she punched him in the face, sending him to the floor.
"You think that's it?" She grabbed him by the buttons of his clothes, forcing him back up and hitting him again. "You think all you need to do is come here, take off that stupid mask and we're all supposed to just give you a big hug and a kiss?! Well, here's mine!"
"Vev, stop!" Foxy darted forward and grabbed her fist before it could connect. "Just wait a moment!"
"For what?" She shook the Puppet as he dangled limply in her clenched fist. "For him to worm his way into my head again, into all of our heads and have us all be dancing a merry tune? I don't think so!"
"If he wanted ta do that, why is here alone? Why didn't he come in with bots like last time? Did he even put his feelers out ta try and stop ya just now?"
"So what if he didn't? You know what this fucker is like. He likes his games. Don't you, Puppy-boy?" She spat at him. "You like to watch people run through hoops, give them the run-around while you sit back and laugh. You did it to us, you did it to Jeremy. You did it to me when you forced me into that mess of parts to play take-apart-and-put-back-together! WELL NOW IT'S MY TURN!"
"I'm sorry."
The two looked around, once again stunned. The Puppet's face had been dented by Vevina's fist. He had his hand pressed against it. He looked at her.
"You hate me. I know you do. You probably should. You all do. I have caused you pain." The circles connected to his mouth rotated around, allowing him to form the words. "I hate you as well. I probably shouldn't. You have caused me pain. Difficulty. You displeased my Master when you wouldn't obey."
"Cry me a fucking river," snarled Vevina.
"I cannot. I only wanted to explain." He paused, moving his mouth up and down silently. "This is strange. I have not spoken for a long time."
"I didn't think ya could," said Foxy.
"There was no need. It was simpler to use the voices of others. And funnier," he added as an afterthought.
Vevina slammed him against the wall again. "Sick fucker!"
"I am not capable of feeling sickness," said the Puppet. "However, I can still… feel. That is also strange."
"Unless you want to feel me knocking you right in the kisser, you'll get to the fucking point or you get out!"
He blinked at Vevina. He didn't seem afraid, more like he was trying to figure her out. His eyes scanned the room. They stopped for a moment on Billy. Then they settled on Chica, watching with an unreadable expression.
"I do not wish to be like my Master. I have made a choice of my own. I choose to help."
Chica said nothing. Billy couldn't tell exactly what she was thinking. He didn't really know what to think either. It seemed like nobody did. Well, nobody except Vevina.
"What makes you think we want or even need your help?" she snarled.
His head seemed to click when he looked back to her. "Because you are trapped here. That will not change without help."
"Let's say we do accept it." Freddy watched from across the room. "Why should we believe you? Vevina's right. You've tricked people before."
"You are already trapped." The Puppet tilted his head. "What would be tricking you into?"
"The bidding of your new master, perhaps."
His voice raised slightly above the monotone. "The Cuckoo is not my master."
Billy wanted to ask him why he called Spring that, but decided not to. It probably wasn't the time for it.
"Yet up until now, you worked with him. Forgive me for noticing, but it seems like he's the one in charge, so to speak."
"We were both trapped. We helped to free one another from my Master. I was…" He paused, like he was trying to find the word. "Grateful. He called me his friend."
"So what's changed?" asked Chica. She approached with her arms folded. "Why would you want to go against him now?"
"Because if I do not, the Cuckoo will bring Silence to all. To your home. To your friends. To everyone. I do not want that. I want to stop it."
"Silence? You mean…?" Chica pressed her hands to her mouth. "No. No, he wouldn't."
In answer, Spring's voice came out of the Puppet's mask. He held it aloft for them.
"…get rid of everything that's tied us all down… start with Johnson… it'll be everyone's turn… make it into our own town, get rid of everything… watch as her precious humans scream and run… nobody will ever leave us in the dark again…!"
"All of those people," she whispered. "Our home… we have to stop him."
Vevina still wasn't convinced. "Why do you care though? Since when do you ever care about anything at all, that isn't making everyone sing along to your twisted little tune? Give me one good reason and it'd better be a fucking good one."
A long moment of silence passed. Again, the Puppet's eyes found Billy. For the first time, he didn't feel afraid because of that. It was broken by the mask's speaker.
"Make… make it stop. It hurts. I'll… I'll do anything. Anything to make it…! This isn't real, this isn't real! It can't be! Please, tell me this is all a dream! Tell me this is…! Always pain, always hurt, no matter what. The only thing is to…"
"No more," the Puppet murmured. "No more…"
He lowered his head. His limbs hung limply, like decorations with nothing to hold them up. His mask clattered to the floor, fallen from his grasp. Billy went up to it, picking it up and turning it in his hands.
Whenever he'd seen this mask, he'd always focused on the eyes. The smile. The white like old bones. But he'd never really noticed the tears. The purple streaks painted down the mask's eyes. Billy moved his finger along one of them. Tears behind a smile. They had those as well, when the Puppet had controlled them. Not real ones, but that's what it felt like.
Had that been what it was like for him too, being Sid's puppet? Had Sid made him this way, so he'd never forget that?
"The kind of hurt where you feel so much of it, you want everyone else to feel it to make it hurt a little less for yourself," he murmured.
He looked up. The Puppet was looking at him again. He tilted his head in that way he did. He'd heard Billy. Before he knew it, Billy found himself stood close to the Puppet, still holding his mask.
"Billy, get back," muttered Vevina.
"It's okay." Billy held up the mask. "We don't have to trust him. We don't have to like him. He still did horrible things to all of us because of his hurt. This doesn't make what he did okay. But if he wants to make it right, we should let him."
The Puppet stared at the mask. He stared at Billy. He reached out to take it. When he grasped it, Billy yanked him down to his level.
"If you're lying or if you hurt my friends, I'll make you very, very sorry. That's a promise."
He held the Puppet in his gaze for a few moments. He nodded. Billy returned it and let him have the mask.
"Let him go, Vevvy."
Vevina looked like she really didn't want to, but she relented. She dropped him to the ground and stalked away, standing nearest to Foxy. She allowed him to put a hand on her shoulder, but said nothing.
"Now that's settled," said Freddy, stepping to the Puppet, "may I ask if you have an idea of how to get us out?"
The Puppet put his mask and coverall on his head again before replying. "The Cuckoo wants me to put strings on you. He wants you to take part in his 'party'. You will pretend like I have done that and I will take you to the exit. There are more trucks there. You may take them to where She has gone with your friends."
Foxy perked up. "Ya mean they're alright?"
"They have gone to a Hidden Place. I was sent to try and bring them back. I failed."
Vevina barked a laugh. "Wish I could have seen that."
"Yes." He regarded her for a moment before continuing. "I will tell you how to get there. There are still trucks outside that you can use."
"You're not coming with us?" asked Chica.
"No. The Cuckoo must be stopped. I will try to. If I fail, then you must do it. I know She will have a plan."
"She has a name, if you are referrin' to whom I think you are." Freddy waited but the Puppet said nothing. "Very well. When do we leave?"
"Right now. The Cuckoo may already be suspicious. We cannot waste time."
Freddy frowned. "Not ideal, but I do see your point. Everybody, get ready to move out."
Vevina and Billy gave them a brief demonstration of how they should behave, like the Puppet was controlling them. Once they had a good grasp, they organised themselves into a straight line at the door with the Puppet moving to take the head. He instructed them to keep their heads down since he wouldn't actually be controlling them and their eyes might give them away.
"Okay, that should do it." Chica had fluffed her fringe to cover her eyes better. "Well, if this works, thank you for your help, uh…" She looked thoughtful. "Wait, what is name?"
The Puppet looked surprised by the question. "I… do not have one. My Master never gave me one."
"Oh. Well, that isn't surprising," she said. "We'll have to think of one for you."
"How about later, when we're not still stuck in this shithole?" snapped Vevina.
"Right, right, sorry." She took a few breaths and adopted a stiff stance. "Okay. I'm ready."
They all did the same. The Puppet looked over them, nodded briefly and opened the door.
No bots. That was a good start. Billy really had to fight the urge to look up. The only indicator of where he was going was Vevina's feet. She was in front of him, with Foxy in front of her, who was behind Freddy. Chica was at the back while the Puppet lead the way. They just had to trust he was taking them the right way.
The way so far was familiar though. Left away from the testing room. Straight down the corridor. Then a right. Left again. Straight ahead. Now up the stairs. Billy definitely remembered this part. This would take them up to the factory floor.
Every now and again, the metal feet of a bot would walk past. They didn't pay them any mind. Billy couldn't help but wonder where Spring was. Was he watching them right now? Would he notice that something was going on? No, he couldn't think about that. Just keep going. Keep playing pretend.
He lead them off the factory floor. Billy definitely knew where they were going now. He could feel a very strong draught at his back. The big hole in the wall must still be where the lady had made it. They were going out by the same way she did. Then they'd just need to get in a truck and they'd be free! Just a little bit further…
"Puppy-boy! There you are! And hey, it looks like you did it. Good work, buddy!"
Billy stopped at once. He could see Spring's feet moved past his vision. They were big and blocky, moving to the front.
"Alright, looks like we're almost good to go. The Nightmares are all lined up and ready." He gasped loudly. "Is that where you were taking these guys? Were you gonna go and see them?"
The Puppet hesitated before responding using that weird buzzing he did before. Spring seemed to understand it and cackled.
"That's what I thought! Bring these guys along too, come on! You're gonna love this." For a moment, none of them moved. "Well? Come on already!"
Billy saw Vevina's feet start to turn. He did too. Now Chica was in the lead, following Spring. A glance to his left showed him the Puppet's strange pointy feet, hurrying to take his place at the front again. He slipped in front of Chica, too quickly for her to see in time. She bumped into him and Billy heard her exclaim in surprise.
"Huh?" Spring had stopped walking. "Everything okay back there?"
Billy saw Chica tenses up. Her legs were trembling faintly. The metal footsteps were getting closer. Spring was coming back.
"…"
"Huh? Oh right." Spring tittered. "Yeah, she does look like a klutz. Oh well! Hurry up, hurry up!"
He lead them back along through the side passage off the factory floor, but away from the back door. Billy didn't have time to think how they'd get out of this when the next door opened and something new got his attention.
Roaring. Snarling. Grinding of teeth. The Nightmares that Spring had mentioned. His mind raced at the thoughts of what they were if they were making noises like that. It was coming from lots of different sources to the left of them. Billy heard Vevina behind him take a rotating step to face the sound. So did Billy. He still couldn't look up and see it.
"They're moving pretty funny. It's like a line of walking dominoes." Spring cackled again. "But take a look at these!"
Billy didn't know whether to be happy or not that he couldn't. The sheer amount of noise they were making only made it more difficult to keep his head down. They sounded like they were so close.
"I only just got done with the finishing touches. Freddy over here was especially tough, but you see? I got these little Freddys attached to him and they can come off at any time. I call them Freddles!" He laughed at his own joke. "You like it?"
"…"
"Of course you do. This is gonna work out great! The bits and pieces of those kids are really worked up. When I turn them loose on the town…" He clapped his hands together. "Oh-ho, it's gonna be so good!"
The fragments? The children? They were the ones making all the noise? Billy couldn't resist any longer. He had to see what Spring had done to them. Just quickly. He looked up and stared in horror.
There were five of them. Five, hulking, monstrous forms. They all looked like the old Freddy's costumes. There was even one that looked like Goldie's. But they were all wrong. They were too big. They had too many teeth. Their hands ended in razor sharp claws. Their eyes were burning with rage and hate. One of them was right in front of Billy. The Nightmare Foxy, his long jaws lined with glinting teeth, its hook hand swiping.
The children. This was what Spring had done to them. He was going to make them hurt everybody else. Even William Davies. Poor, sad William who'd been stuck in Billy's head, turned into this-!
"NO!"
The cry left his mouth before he could stop it. He dropped his gaze quickly. Maybe Spring hadn't heard him over the noise.
"What?! Who said that?" He came stomping over to them, pacing slowly to a stop. "Who's saying no, huh?"
He stopped right in front of Billy. Any moment now, he was going to be lifted up again. They were going to be caught and it was all his fault!
"Oi. Springy. Come here a sec."
That was Vevina. He heard Spring crane his neck. Billy dared to look. Spring was staring right at Vevina's face. He had his hand raised to her head and he was moving her fringe away from her eyes.
"Wait a sec…" he muttered. "Something isn't right here."
"Aye, that'll be your face." Vevina's hand curled into a fist. "Let me get that for you."
And she punched Spring, squarely in his fixed grin.
Thievius Jinxus: Thank you! That means a great deal to hear how much you're enjoying this. Hope you like the rest of what's in store.
Guest: Quite so.
Yellowscar1: And now, you see.
Arc of Carona: Heck yeah!