A/N
For Jessica and TakoSuKiti
"In the main, ghosts are said to be forlorn and generally miserable, if not downright depressed. The jolly ghost is rare." ~Dick Cavett
I was twitchy. No idea why, probably because of last night. I spoke and was heard. It seemed impossible, but it happened. I'd avoided the kids for most of the day, but managed to sit at my usual table, watching the curtains of Pirate Cove fluttered. I felt the tingling in my fingers and toes, clenching my teeth, looking around like I was cursed.
"What the hell is going on?" I whimpered, leaning back in my chair.
I shut my eyes, listening to the children playing. When my eyes were shut, it almost felt like I still lived. I was still real. I felt the slightest tug on my leg, which peeked into the isle. Opening my eyes, I peered down at the small boy who had tripped over me. Reaching down to help him, though, I was again ghostly and simply passed right through him. He bawled, calling for his mother and holding his knee. The young mother came running over and swooped up her child. I sighed, leaning back again.
"Did you used to be a kid?"
I didn't have to open my eyes to know it was Stephanie bothering me as normal. Based on her tone, she wasn't trying to trick me or even the angry tone they were giving me last night. I heard her humming a song, waiting for an answer.
"Everyone was a kid once," I replied.
"Did you play here?" she remarked.
"No. It wasn't big when I was a kid and didn't have the animatronics," I nodded.
"You worked here, right?" she purred.
"Yes. I was the mechanic, remember," I sighed, opening my eyes and sitting up. "I worked here for a good few years before everything fell apart."
"Did you have a girlfriend?" she snickered.
I rolled my eyes, smiling lightly and shaking my head. I wasn't about to say it but I did have a girlfriend. We weren't dating when Foxy had come into the store. It was conflicting interests of our future. I loved her, though. I remembered the softness of her skin, her dark hair with little blond streaks, beautiful eyes that seemed to change color with mood. A wonderful artist, sweetest little pea.
"Which one do you like?"
"Freddy."
"Freddy? Really?"
"I just like him okay."
"Okay, Jessica, I get it. Maybe we can come here sometime when I'm not working."
I sighed, shaking my head again. I missed her. I wish I could've told her I loved her when I was alive. I wish I could've done a lot of things before I died. Tell my parents I loved them. Donated blood. Try seafood. Build a go-kart. Go to Paris or London or anywhere over seas. Leave this little town.
"Tyler and lady, sitting in a tree…" sang Stephanie, calling upon the other children to join her.
"Shut up," I grumbled, standing up.
"That guard won't last the night, you know," she added.
I glanced over at her.
"Last night was a fluke," she hissed. "Tonight, rules say we can play with the fox."
"No…leave Foxy out of this!" I ordered.
The lights flickered. Stupid old building.
"We just wanted to have some fun," remarked Stephanie.
"This isn't fun. This is insanity! This is wrong!" I shouted.
"Being dead is wrong!" screamed the kids.
Lights flickered again. One blew out. Some of the guests exclaimed but were reassured by the workers.
"We didn't ask for this but its not our right to punish others for…Ben's mistake," I grumbled.
"We want our childhood," snarled Jack.
"We want to be free," added Stephanie.
"We want to play," hummed Gavin and Michael.
"We want to die," whispered Conner.
They walked away, returning to their posts. I slumped back into my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose. So much pain. They didn't deserve this. None of us deserved this kind of punishment. What did we do to deserve this pain for eternity?