B25 – THE PERSONAL DIARY OF DETECTIVE PETERSON, LEAD INVESTIGATOR OF THE FAZBEAR MURDERS

[Peterson's grey pickup truck is full of people. She is driving and pondering their strategy aloud, with Eduardo tapping frantically on his phone in the passenger seat; in the back row, Officer Ramirez, a huge bull of a man who's seen plenty of action in his day, is crammed alongside the slight, dark-haired Officer Williams, who looks a bit inexperienced and nervous. This is only his third or fourth real mission since the academy, and he's clearly hoping Peterson and Reyes have a plan.]

[Peterson speaks as she checks her GPS.] "We're going to work under the assumption that if our killer is in the building, he knows about the back entrance, and he knows how to work the interior and exterior cameras. He'll see us if we pull up at either entrance – and that's if we don't call in the SWAT team."

"How do we get in, then?" [This from Williams, who glances uncertainly between Peterson and Reyes.] "If he sees us coming, he'll kill the hostages and flee the building."

"And then we're in all kinds of hot water." [Ramirez snaps bullets into his gun.] "We need to get in without him seeing us. Period."

"Exactly. So we need to find a way in without the cameras picking us up, and we need to get through the building and find the hostage room unseen. How do we do that?" [Peterson looks around the truck.] "Any ideas?"

[There's a brief silence. Williams looks nervously at Eduardo, then speaks, hesitantly.] "I might have an idea."

"Okay, let's hear it." [Peterson glances back at him.] "What's your plan?"

"You know about the loop trick, right?"

[Peterson nods.] "I've seen it before. A perp will hack into a camera feed and make it loop the same empty feed, so everything looks normal to whoever's watching. It's called a dummy feed. The only way to spot the loop is to look closely at the timestamp."

"I was a server technician before I was a cop." [Williams smiles tentatively.] "I might be able to pull something like that off."

"But how do we hack into the Fazbear cameras? They've got to be decades old." [Eduardo tilts his head, considering.] "It's a good idea, I'll grant you, but there's no way we can pull it off remotely, unless we have physical access to the camera rig or it's connected to an unsecured network."

"If they've got them on a vulnerable network, I can get in. But I'd need a good computer and some time." [Williams looks between them hopefully.] "Did anyone bring an Asus with them?"

"It's no beast, but I've got mine." [Peterson rummages under the seat, emerging with her computer bag. She pulls out an old Mac and hands it to him.] "Go nuts. The passcode is 4391."

"Perfect." [Williams starts typing rapidly as Peterson parks the truck in front of a nearby restaurant; they can see Freddy Fazbear's Pizza across the street, darkened and shuttered, as always. But this time there might be a killer inside.] "Okay, searching for nearby networks…"

"How much time do we have?" [Peterson checks her watch.] "Okay, we've got forty-five minutes. Pick up the pace, everyone – we've got two people to save."

"Plus we don't know how wide his surveillance net is." [Eduardo looks at Ramirez.] "So if we're going to loiter in this parking lot, we have to seem natural. Can you go get us some food?"

"Copy that, Detective." [Ramirez unstraps his bulletproof vest and strips down to civilian clothes, then hops out of the truck to get some food. Meanwhile, Williams is muttering to himself and clicking furiously.]

[Peterson checks her watch again after a while.] "Forty-two minutes. Tell me you've got something, Williams."

"I'm in the network. Okay, now to set up some dead feeds…" [Williams clicks a few times, focusing intensely.] "I don't see anyone inside the building, so the room he's in must not have cameras. I'll only dummy out the parking lot camera. If I fake out too many, he'll notice."

"So once we're in the building, he's sure to see us. How are we going to get to the hostage room? We don't even know where it is." [Eduardo looks worriedly at Peterson as Ramirez clambers back into the car, carrying bags of burgers and fries.] "Unless you dug up some building plans?"

"I did, but there's no mention of any secret room. And I couldn't track down any architects or engineers who knew about one. But Antonio did mention there was a room that the staff weren't allowed to go in, and the robots were programmed to avoid. It's in the northeast part of the building, behind a locked door." [Peterson motions to the master key ring on her belt.] "And guess who has Quincey's keys?"

"Okay, so we'll assume that's the safe room we're looking for." [Eduardo nods.] "But we still have to get in. Williams, are you sure you can't dummy out the interior cameras?"

"I can, but it'll be really obvious…"

"At this point we're desperate. Do it."

"Okay." [Williams clicks a few times.] "Done. I've got everything on a ten-second loop. If he looks for too long he'll see it, but as long as we get in quickly –"

"On it." [Peterson steps on the gas, and the truck clatters out of the parking lot.] "Is everyone ready? Do we know the plan? No one make noise, and if you see him, shoot his ass."

"Got it." [Ramirez snaps the safety off on his gun.] "Let's go."

G2 – ?

[Antonio watches fearfully as the killer studies his camera feeds, laughing softly. He looks at his hostages, smirking under the mask.] "They're not here yet. How disappointing." [He walks over and rips the duct tape off Antonio's mouth; he yelps in pain.] "But then again, it gives us time to have a nice chat, doesn't it?"

"Who are you?" [Antonio tries to be brave, even though he nearly pissed himself watching the killer record his ultimatum. One hour, two hostages, and after that hour's up… How the hell did he get into this mess? He looks frantically at Karl, who is stewing in silent rage, eyes burning as he struggles against his restraints; he's fighting the ropes so violently that they're tearing into his skin and drawing blood.]

[The killer, however, ignores Karl completely. Instead he touches the knife to Antonio's throat, tracing the bite scars.] "I think I know where these came from."

"You didn't answer me."

"And I don't intend to." [The killer taps the knife gently against his neck.] "Do you want to die, Antonio Benedicto?"

[Antonio swallows, his heart thundering in terror.] "No."

"Of course not. No one wants to die, do they? Not even you, who has died twice." [He presses the point a little harder, and a bead of blood dribbles down; Antonio tries not to panic as his neck stings with pain. He knows that if he twitches or tries to move away, it'll sever an artery, and then Peterson won't have to worry about playing games anymore.] "The first time was at your fifth birthday, and the second… well, we both know about that, don't we?"

"N-no…" [The knife is icy cold on his throat.] "How could you possibly know that?"

"I know everything, Antonio." [The killer gently runs the knife down Antonio's neck, tracing the veins and nerves as though studying a masterpiece.] "Perhaps you remember the animatronic who bit you?"

[Antonio's heart jumps in his chest.] "I don't want to remember."

"What if I told you I knew where it was now?"

"They destroyed it." [He closes his eyes, praying that however he dies tonight, it will at least be quick.] "You're lying."

"Am I?" [The killer chuckles darkly.] "The people we once worked for – they have a way of burying things, rather than burning them. When fire was the answer all along." [He smirks at Antonio knowingly.] "Would you like to see your old friends?"

"No."

"How unfortunate for you." [The killer takes the knife away, and looks at his camera feeds, smiling as he watches his feeds start to loop in on themselves. It seems that someone has set up a little game of their own.] "If all goes well with our friends tonight, you might just get your reunion."

B26 – THE PERSONAL DIARY OF DETECTIVE PETERSON, LEAD INVESTIGATOR OF THE FAZBEAR MURDERS

[The truck swings slowly into the Fazbear's parking lot, the sunset gleaming off the silver paint. They park in the back of the lot, as far away from the dummied camera as they can, and hop out, readying their gear and weapons.] "Are we ready, team?"

"Copy." [Ramirez readies his sidearm, and Reyes stands beside him and Williams, watching as Peterson unlocks the front door and pushes it cautiously open.]

[The restaurant is dark and empty, as before; they all slip inside as quietly as possible, shutting the door silently behind them. Peterson leads them softly towards the safe room, eyeing anything that moves; it is perfectly still and silent, nothing shifting except the sunbeams. The whole building feels cold and eerie, like a dead thing.]

[She approaches the safe room door, looks at her team. They quickly press themselves against the wall by the door, ready to burst in when she opens it. This is it.]

[But when she touches the handle, a laugh rings from the speakers on the walls.]

"You didn't follow the rules, Detective."

[All of them whirl, aiming frantically around. Peterson cocks her gun and shouts into the restaurant.]

"Where are the hostages?"

"I've made a new game for you, since you didn't seem to like the first one. Aren't I generous?" [The voice chuckles eerily through the speakers.] "You're lucky I'm in a good mood. Why don't you open that door?"

[The officers look at each other warily, knowing that the only way to save their hostages is to play along. Then, cautiously, Peterson unlocks the door and pushes it open.]

[The light falls across a slumped animatronic suit, lying on the floor. At first it looks like Bonnie, but then Peterson realizes it's older, torn and shredded, and a rotten golden color; and there are human eyes in the sockets, staring fearfully back at them. It's Antonio, trapped in the suit.]

[The speakers crackle with laughter.] "Do you recognize that, Detective?"

"Antonio, don't move." [Peterson lowers her gun, moving slowly towards him.] "Breathe slowly. Don't panic. If you move, the gears in that suit will spring loose."

"Oh, so you know how this works." [The killer snickers.] "Let's play another game, Detective. Try and get your friend out of the suit… without killing him."

[Antonio stares at Peterson, eyes huge with terror, as she kneels down in front of him. She sets her gun on the ground, then reaches for the head of the suit.] "Antonio, whatever you do, don't move. No sudden movements. You're going to be fine, okay? Just relax."

"Detective." [He whispers fearfully.] "Detective –"

"Shh. Don't talk. Your breath will moisten the mechanism." [Peterson carefully probes the suit's headpiece, searching for the latches. Her hands find the snaps, and she pops it off; everyone exhales in relief as she sets the head aside.] "Okay, we're almost there."

"Detective." [Antonio sounds like he's on the verge of tears.] "Listen –"

"Not now. Just relax." [She carefully starts undoing the latches on the back of the suit.] "Breathe slowly, and stay as calm as you can. Don't squirm."

"You have to listen to me." [He grits his teeth as Peterson carefully works at the buttons and snaps, trying not to activate the gears.] "I couldn't remember why I knew the name. Joymakers LLC."

"The company that made the animatronics." [Eduardo frowns.] "They were the ones who shipped the robots to Quincey, and helped cover up the first murders. How do you know that place?"

"I forgot all about it. But I just remembered." [Antonio closes his eyes and breathes deeply, trying to relax.] "My stepfather, Tony. He used to work there. He used to work for Joymakers, selling animatronics."

"What?" [Peterson looks at him, startled.] "You never mentioned him in your interviews. Do you think he's involved with all this?"

"I don't know, but –"

[There is a loud snapping sound, and Antonio screams. The springlocks in the suit's right leg have just come loose, and blood blooms through the matted fur, soaking into the floorboards. Antonio cries out in pain, and Peterson yells in frustration.] "Shit!"

"Get him out of there!" [Eduardo rushes to help.] "Quickly!"

[Together they rip open the last snaps and pull the suit away. Antonio sags against the wall weakly as Peterson starts binding his leg] "Eddie, we need to get him out of here. Can you carry him?"

[The voice over the speakers chuckles ominously.] "Now when did I say I was going to let you leave? You've only won the first game, and I have so many more to go."

"We're done playing your sick games!" [Eduardo shouts up at the speakers.] "What have you done with Borsovich? Where are you hiding?"

[The killer laughs softly.] "You're not alone in this restaurant, Detectives. Haven't you noticed?"

[They all look frantically around as Peterson tends to Antonio, and then, suddenly realizing what the killer is talking about, Eduardo exhales.] "Oh, God."

"What?" [Williams looks fearfully around.] "Where is he?"

"Not him." [Eduardo shakily motions to Williams.] "Show me those camera feeds on your laptop again. We walked right into his trap."

[Williams pulls up the party room feed as Eduardo and Ramirez cluster around him. And now they all see what the killer has done.]

[The animatronics stand where they stood not so long ago, as though they never left. Freddy, Bonnie and Chica on their stage, holding their instruments. And the curtain over Pirate's Cove where Foxy lurks in the shadows.]

[The killer chuckles, the sound eerily distorted and rolling through the speakers like thunder.] "Are you ready to play a game, Detectives?"

[Ramirez grits his teeth.] "The SWAT team will come if we don't get back to base soon. You can't trap us here for long."

"Oh, but I already have. All you have to do is survive until morning. You can do that, can't you? But you'll have to be careful… or you'll end up like the last one who played this game. Our poor little Dresden Lockwood."

[Eduardo groans.] "You sick motherfucker."

"Win, and I'll let you all go free. But if you lose…" [He snickers with malicious glee.] "It'll be the end for all of you. Every single one."

[Williams's eyes widen.] "Oh, Jesus."

"Don't panic. The team will be coming for us soon." [Peterson is determined not to lose her cool, to maintain her composure for the other officers' sake.] "We just need to survive until then."

"But how?" [Eduardo is starting to freak out.] "Jane, we're sitting ducks. They'll hunt us down, and Antonio can't walk –"

"We'll hole up in the security office. Those doors can be shut and locked – we'll be safe from the animatronics in there, at least. Ramirez, you carry Antonio. Eduardo, give me a light."

"Copy that." [Eduardo steadies himself and turns on a flashlight.] "Lead the way, Detective."

[They head out into the hallway, walking quickly through the party room so as not to look at the animatronics onstage; but Antonio's gaze wanders over anyway, and he stares at the robots who have so haunted his childhood, knowing all too well what they're capable of.] "They're stronger than they look, Detective. They can break bones. We can't let them catch us."

"I know." [Peterson reaches the security door first, and herds them all into the cramped office, then shuts the doors to lock them inside. It's a tight fit with Peterson, Eduardo, Ramirez, Williams and Antonio all sharing a space designed for two people at most. Ramirez carefully lays Antonio down on the floor; meanwhile, Williams sets his laptop down on the desk so they can watch the cameras, and Peterson peers at it critically, watching for movements and listening for sounds.] "If he wants us to play his game, then so be it. We'll have to follow his rules. Watch the feeds, use the lights and flashlights, shut the doors if something gets too close."

"Where do you think he's keeping Borsovich? He must be in the building somewhere." [Ramirez frowns.] "Antonio, did you see where he took him?"

"No. He just put me in the suit, then dragged Karl off and shut the door. I didn't see where he went." [Antonio grimaces as Ramirez binds his mangled leg tightly, securing it to stop the bleeding.] "I'm not going to die, am I?"

"No, as long as we get you to a hospital after this. But it might leave a mark." [Ramirez finishes bandaging the wound, then takes his own coat off and wraps it around his leg for good measure.] "Don't move too much, or it'll start bleeding again. We'll keep you in here for now."

[Antonio chuckles wearily.] "Adding to my Fazbear scar collection, I suppose."

"We need to focus." [Peterson sits down in front of the camera feed.] "I'll watch for movement. Eduardo, you keep an eye on the security hallways, and shut the doors if you see anything. Ramirez, keep an eye on Antonio. And Williams, you stay by me and help me with the computer."

[The officers rush to their assigned jobs, and Peterson lets out a slow breath, calming herself down. She's matched wits with killers before, and this is no different. She can win his games, however twisted and scheming they might be, and save Antonio and Borsovich in the process. She can only hope the team will arrive to save them, before it's too late.]

[She steadies herself, and then leans forward, and the game begins.]