Greeting: The number of 66 is upon us. You know what that means, right?
Rachel and her friends need to escape and fast.
Enjoy it, you amazing people!
( Rachel and Doug's)
They were running out of space sooner than they were expecting.
The monsters were underneath the whole pizzeria just like Ray had anticipated. Another room had to be closed off.
Some man had gone there to get some fuel canisters for their escape plan. He had heard some annoying clanking coming from the walls in there.
Nick had closed it off as soon as they had saved all the fuel canisters.
Ray had also removed the lamp from the ceiling to extract some electric fluid from it. That was what they needed to make a barrier which would stop the monsters.
Fuel and electric fluid were simple ingredients. Nick was lucky to be a multitalented person.
He knew that the mixture would be good. Those two weren't going to react with each other in a weird way.
Rachel's idea had been extremely wise. Nick was really proud of his animatronic as he was mixing the two liquids together.
His staff was helping him.
Rachel was sitting in a chair, a few meters away from Nick. She was holding a baby on her lap.
The tiny one was so frail but Rachel's arms were there to defend her.
" I promise you that we'll get out of here. I have met Bonnie of Freddy's. She is really nice and will definitely take care of us", Rachel spoke to the baby.
" I heard they have very kind animatronics in there. Lily says that there is also Springtrap and he is really nice. So don't worry, tiny one.
We will make it and once we are there, we'll be safe", Rachel was soothing the baby.
" Rahel", the baby tried to say her name.
Rachel smiled at that and her eyes shone. The baby had been affected by her words.
If not specifically by them, then at least by her tone.
" I think those animatronics will be so happy to hear that you are safe. Life must have been hard for them.
We'll bring some joy into their lives as well", Rachel said to the baby.
She didn't know why since the baby didn't seem old enough to speak.
" You don't even understand what's going on, do you?", Rachel sighed to the baby, falling asleep.
The other kids were having a nap as well. Their parents were with them.
Rachel glanced at the bus and wondered how they would ever fit into it. Nick had claimed to have a plan.
Speaking of the Devil, Nick sat down next to Rachel. He wrapped his other arm around her.
" Are you worrying about something again? The baby won't give you answers to them", he said to Rachel.
The rabbit glanced at him and then at the bus.
" It looks really small, we won't fit into it. We have too many people in here. It has been troubling me a lot", revealed Rachel, glancing at the staff.
Nick nodded to her.
" They are ready to save your life. We all are", Nick didn't answer properly.
It couldn't fool Rachel though.
" Some of us are not leaving, are they? We and the kids, only we will get out of this pizzeria. Do the parents know?", Rachel asked Nick.
She was quite calm, she had expected something like that.
" Why do you think they are with their kids? It's at least reasonable to give them a chance to say goodbye", Nick answered her.
It was the plan.
Nick had never said it out loud but adults thought alike. It made perfect sense in their head.
That is why the animatronics and the kids were left in shadow. Rachel hugged Nick.
" We will all miss you", she said sincerely.
Nick patted her on the back.
" I won't leave you. Only I can drive so you need me. It will give me survivor's guilt but I'm ready for it", Nick told her.
Rachel nodded to him and glanced at the baby.
Nick went away and left Rachel with her thoughts. The adults were going to stay behind on purpose.
It would be just them and the kids. It was the only way since if they stayed, all would die.
The parents were ready to die for their offspring.
Rachel was amazed that they were ready to trust her with their children.
After all, she was just a cuddly bunny and the monsters had long claws.
It was like protecting oneself from a bullet by taking cover behind a pillow. That was why Rachel had spoken to the baby, she was so uncertain of herself.
Ray, Bane and Doug were barely better than her. They were simple entertainers but the adults were ready to give their children to them.
What had Rachel done to earn such trust?
She had had a mental breakdown after they had found Jason and Lynn had shot herself.
Rachel was nothing more than a kid with no experience in anything else than playing. It made no sense to her.
The parents had too much faith in her and her friends.
Surely, Rachel was not going to tell them that but that was how she felt.
Rachel glanced at the window where she could see her reflection.
" Am I really worth their sacrifice? There is nothing more in me than a rabbit that is nice to snuggle with", Rachel asked herself.
She saw a bunny in the reflection.
The eyes were huge and her feet were heavy. She had no strong legs to hop around with.
They were simple plantigrade legs. Rachel had heard someone call them that.
Her body was everything but that of a warrior.
How was that body going to make the journey without experienced adults? Nick was amazing but not omnipotent.
He was going to need help but was Rachel up to the task?
She had no idea.
An hour vent by, maybe a few. Rachel had no idea.
A man came to take the baby from her. Rachel was looking at the man with sorrow in her eyes.
When the man glanced at her askingly, she hugged him.
" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry", she apologized the man.
Based on his nod, he knew what she meant.
" Our children need you. There is nothing to apologize for", he answered her, which shook her core.
Rachel's uncertainty was twice as bad when the adults had faith in her.
She didn't want to let them down but she didn't want to reveal the truth either.
After the kids had woken up, Nick called everyone to the main room.
He had tons of canisters with him. All the children were present and their parents were kissing them.
The kids had no idea of what it meant. Rachel and her friends did, they weren't stupid.
Rachel had told her friends about what they planned on doing.
" Is everyone here? No child is left behind", Nick told the adults.
They counted their kids and everyone put their thumbs up.
" All the kids are here", one woman told Nick.
He nodded pleasedly.
" I think it has come the time to say goodbye and put our plan into action. Let's hurry up, the ventilation won't hold up much longer", he told everyone.
The parents hugged their kids and said goodbye.
Rachel listened to one man who was beside her.
" Now you go with Rachel. Just run to the bus and don't look back", he told his daughter.
" Dad. What about you? Can't I be holding your hand?", the innocent girl asked him.
The dad sighed.
" I'm staying here. There isn't enough room for everyone. But I'm with you anyway. It's like when I go to work", he explained to his child.
" Except that this time you will never reunite", thought Rachel by herself.
" You trust Rachel and Doug, right? They will take good care of you. I love you", the dad kissed his daughter and spilled a few tears.
Rachel expected that the other parents had told their kids something similar. The older kids left their parents reluctantly.
They knew that their parents would die.
Rachel embraced some of the kids as they came to her. She patted their heads and assured them that they would be alright.
Some older kids were in the middle of the group with babies. The girl who had promised to climb into the bus, was with Nick.
Ray joined them to protect the girl.
The plan was that the adults would spread the fuel around and light it up.
Some would die but that made no difference, all adults except Nick were already dead.
The kids would come later with Rachel, Doug and Bane. Doug bent down and looked at the children.
" Trust us. Just close your eyes and don't pay attention to anything you hear. We'll protect you", he promised.
Rachel told the kids, near her, the exact same thing as did Bane. Rachel couldn't even imagine the shock which the children would see if they opened their eyes.
Rachel knew that there was going to be tons of blood.
The monsters were waiting and eating animals. Rachel glanced at them and saw that they were eating a raccoon, a big bull, a bunny and someone's dog.
It was so clear a message.
" We will kill you. These animals are you", it said.
Rachel prayed that the kids would do as they were told and keep their eyes shut.
She was so afraid of the future, it was hard to remain calm.
" You know your job. Are you ready to save your children?", asked Nick, talking to the adults.
His staff nodded, they liked kids like they were their own.
" We are moms and dads. Always have been", said one mom.
The others had nothing to add, she had spoken for all of them.
" Are you ready, Rachel, Doug and Bane?", Nick asked them.
The two others glanced at Rachel after she didn't respond.
" These children are our life. When it comes to kids, we are always ready", she sucked up her fears.
Then Nick nodded.
" Then we all are. Good luck, all of you. We are going to need it very much. Show no fear though, we can do this", Nick told them all.
It was far away from a good, encouraging speech.
He had nothing else to say about it. It was a desperate attempt to save what mattered them most.
Rachel kissed the kids, around her, and assured them once more that she would not let them get hurt.
" I love you, children. Despite what I did, I have always wanted nothing more than your safety", Rachel told them.
" We love you too, Rachel", the kids responded.
Rachel's thoughts drifted. What would she do once the kids would start asking about their parents?
There would be much to take in. She wouldn't have wanted to keep secrets from them but she had to.
Rachel refused to hurt the children.
The adults grabbed their canisters and lighters. At that point, the monsters began to wonder what they were doing.
The monsters had expected them to be preparing for a last stand.
" What are they doing? Are they trying to escape?", one black-eyed monsters asked a beast witch.
" Seems like they are. This will be so fun. Adorable even", the witch smiled with blood of a freshly-killed raccoon dripping from its teeth.
Nick nodded towards the animatronics. Rachel bent down.
" Okay, kids. You know what you need to do. Close your eyes now and don't open them unless I say so", Rachel spoke loudly to all the kids.
The children obeyed and trusted Rachel.
" I'm sorry, children. I'm so sorry for this", Rachel thought in her head.
The kids seemed to be taking deep breaths. Rachel looked at the adults.
" Nick and Ray. Stay behind us. We've got you covered", a man told them.
Nick nodded with gratefulness in his eyes.
" Thank you. I wouldn't have been able to sacrifice everything you did", he felt down.
" No problem. You won't know how we feel until you have kids of your own", the man told him.
The young girl was between Nick and Ray. She was ready and one bold kid.
Ray had wrapped his other arm around her.
" I'll defend you, sweetie", he promised her.
Nick told the parents and staff what to do next. They would open the door and run out.
They had found pitchforks from the storage room and used them as weapons.
" If someone goes down, you need to pick up their canister. We must create a corridor of fire for the kids. That's how they survive the onslaught", explained Nick.
It was clear as crystal but easier said than done.
Only few people had actual experience in fighting. Most were just housewives and office workers.
Nick could hear the monsters around them. Even the floor underneath the stage was getting weaker due to claws scraping it.
" If we make it, it will be close", Nick thought by himself.
The monsters were getting closer and closer as the time went on. The basement's defences were already breaking.
The last time Nick checked, the door was being punched.
" Let us out!", the voices had been shouting.
It still gave him the cold chills.
" Okay. Let's open the door. Guys with pitchforks go first. And remember to run", Nick reminded everyone.
They started it as Rachel and the other animatronics were watching. The last girl shut her eyes in fear and held onto Ray's arm.
The raccoon animatronic whispered into her ear and told her not to open them.
" Attack", the man at the front shouted as he opened the door.
Rachel wondered if it was better for her to close her eyes too. The adults were met with the grinning monsters that sprang to life like robots.
" Get them! It's time for a feast!", announced the beast witch at the back.
Most children reacted to the sound of someone dying. They heard a scream.
" Gregg! No!", a woman shouted.
" Dad. Mom", one child recognized the woman's voice and the man's name. Doug hugged him.
" Quiet down. Don't open them. I'm here", Doug's voice was frightened as well.
" Come, children! You'll miss the party", an evil voice cackled outside.
The girl, holding onto Ray, opened her eyes but closed them immediately. The beast had gotten in but it faced Nick's improvised spear.
" Don't come, kids! Don't listen to it", Nick told the children.
There was nothing to worry, the children were too scared to open their eyes or move.
The adults had spread the fuel to the sides of their group and the flames were already reaching for the sky.
The beast had jumped through the flames but luckily the others couldn't. It was working so far like a dream.
The monsters were growling and gacking like plague victims. The flames were an unbreakable barrier for them.
The people had already lost adults. A woman was forced to step over her husband's corpse before she got taken as well.
Her head ended up between the monster's jaws and she screamed. The adults, with weapons, were approaching the bus.
The flames formed a wall on their both sides. It was not perfect, some monsters got through the tiny gaps but it was enough.
Inside, the animatronics were as terrified as the children. Their eyes were wide and their concern for the kids couldn't have gotten any stronger.
Nick's voice penetrated the screams and shouts of the adults, outside.
" Let's go. Rachel, Doug and Bane. Bring the children over here. We need to move", Nick told them.
Rachel was forced to open her own eyes and then she realized why Nick was so scared.
The adults, still inside, had closed off the corridor, leading to the Raccoon hut. The monsters had broken through there as well.
" These things have realized our plan. They're trying to stop us", Rachel thought by herself.
The animatronics brought the kids closer and told them to hold hands. The last thing they wanted was the group to start breaking.
That was when Ray's striped tail vanished into the chaos, outside the door. The girl was staying very close to him.
" No! Ray!", Doug said to him even though Ray was gone already.
" Forget him, Doug. We have our children to take care of, Ray is able to take care of himself", Bane told the dog.
His tone was serious and it scared Rachel. The kids were starting to wonder what was happening.
" I want mom. I'm scared", a boy said to Doug.
He petted the boy's head and a tear fell to the boy's scalp.
" I'm too. We'll get through this. Just keep your eyes closed", was all Doug could say.
Nick told something to one of the adults, outside. Then he suddenly fell back.
A man, on fire, ran back inside with a monster on his back. Both fell to the floor and the man tried to roll on it.
The monster was already dead but its claws were deep inside the man's neck. Bane heard a boy scream beside him, the child had opened his eyes.
Bane covered them with his hand.
" Don't look! Let's just keep on walking", he told the boy.
The man, on the floor, let out a gack of agony accompanied with growls of death. It was his end.
" Are you alright, Nick?", Bane asked his owner who had almost had a heart attack.
" Yea. I'm okay. Come, guys", he hurried the animatronics.
He was busy.
Nick suddenly glanced outside and his voice was alerted.
" What is happening in there?", he asked.
Rachel's core stopped.
" Oh no. Ray!", she was about to run outside.
Nick extended his hand towards her.
" Stop! Go back. Do not leave the children's side", he commanded.
Nick never spoke in that tone unless it was absolutely necessary. Rachel's system was in stasis, she was paralysed.
A loud scream echoed across the front yard, it was Ray's girl. The kids hugged each other and the animatronics had to tell them once again not to open their eyes.
" Are you okay?", Ray asked the girl, across the yard.
They were quite far away from the door. The girl's foot had gotten stuck in a corpse.
She had been forced to look down and witness the corpse's ready-to-scream expression.
The girl had yanked her shoe out of the flesh.
" Hold me, Ray. I'm terrified. I don't wanna do this", she weeped.
Ray glanced at the bus which was very close.
" You're doing so well, sweetie. We're almost there. Come on, the others will follow us", Ray embraced her.
She buried her face into the safety of Ray's hands. They kept on going.
" Escaping? How sweet?", a voice said behind them.
Ray peeked behind himself and saw Pete the pig. He was just about to pull a pitchfork out of some staff member.
" Run. We need to move", Ray alerted the girl.
" Was that Pete? He sounded and looked evil", the girl asked him.
" That was not Pete. The monsters are playing games with us. It's not Pete", Ray assured her.
They were right behind some adults who were spreading fire.
" Hurry up! An angry pig is heading our way. Go faster", Ray told the adults.
" We're running out of fuel", responded one man.
Then another man, beside him, was torn away from the group. Ray saw a monster, jumping over the people with the girl's death as its goal.
Ray went to the middle and grabbed the monster from the air.
" If you want her, you go through me first. Stay away from my children!", Ray told it in his threatening tone.
It was the same tone Ray had used to speak to Pete in his show.
The monster was growling as Ray broke its neck, it was far from dead after that.
Ray had to shove it into the flame on his left and let go. The monster was set on fire and it ran away from him.
The raccoon's attention was immeidately caught by the girl.
" Are you alright?", Ray bent down beside her.
The little girl had not been wounded but she was having a panic attack. Ray helped her vomit.
" I can't do this", she cried, holding her stomach.
Ray forced her to look at him.
" You can, sweetie. We are so close. I believe in you", he told her.
The girl nodded and looked back at the pizzeria. The path was covered in corpses.
There were people around too, they were blocking her and Ray from seeing the door of the pizzeria.
" Where did Pete go?", the girl asked Ray.
The raccoon glanced at the path and realized that Pete was indeed gone. Then some people, in his view, moved away and revealed Pete, looking away from Ray.
" Why is he looking that way?", Ray asked himself.
Then the shock hit him. He saw two rabbit ears peeking over Pete's head.
" Rachel. The kids! Oh no", Ray realized as his eyes widened in fear.
Farewell: The tension continues in the next chapter. I think this is pretty hard for the animatronics.
This is way different that some of the other fights. This is pretty much an emotion driven fight.
THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE IS TO WRITE.
