"Old friends die on you, and they're irreplaceable. You become dependent." ~Lionel Blue

The night seemed oddly quiet during the beginning. Bonnie appeared a few times but other than that Chica and the others were virtually none existent. I feared the children and what they had plan. There were some minor crashing and noises from the kitchen and within the cove but I was used to them by now. Chica in the kitchen. Foxy in his cove. This felt different though. Mike didn't seem fazed, moving through the motions as the last two nights.

"This doesn't feel right," I mumbled.

"I'm enjoying it," smirked Mike.

"That's because your job is easier," I chuckled. "but I know for a fact that the kids don't usually play like this…"

"Play?" repeated Mike.

"This is a game to them," I sighed. "Don't ask me why."

"Maybe because they can't do anything else…" shrugged Mike.

I sighed but nodded. I couldn't image being one of those kids stuck for eternity in this one place. You couldn't leave, couldn't enjoy the outside or the games inside. Messing and killing these night guards was probably the only fun these kids got in their unnatural lives. I didn't like it, but it kind of made sense.

"Mister Mechanic…"

I was the only one to hear Stephanie's pleading voice. It was the sound a child makes when they hurt themselves or fall. I looked over at her slowly, trying to look annoyed with arms folded. Seeing her though, I relaxing. Mike looked up. Stephanie looked broken, blinking in and out of view. Her eyes were wide, tears dripping down her cheeks. I stepped over toward her, Mike following me with his eyes. I kneeled down, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Stephanie, what happened?" I gasped.

"Stephanie?" whispered Mike.

"He's broken….we can't stop him…" she sobbed. "Foxy's broken…"

"What do you mean he's broken?" I pleaded. "You've had Foxy under control up until now."

"Something's wrong…we tried to make him calm down but he just won't listen. The others…the others broke free too…they're all upset…we can't…" she sniffled, choking on his tears.

"Everything alright?" Mike hummed, standing up.

"It's Stephanie…" I replied, standing up. "One of the children. She says something is wrong with the animatronic."

"Wrong as in they won't kill me or wrong as in they'll kill everything?" Mike remarked.

"Hard to say," I sighed. "Let me check it out."

"He can hear you but not me?" whispered Stephanie, clinging to my pant leg.

I nodded, leading her out. The noises were growing louder the closer we got to the cove. Pulling back the curtains, I found the mess that was unfurling. The children stood in horror as the Freddy and Foxy seemed to be in a heated argument. Bonnie, who held tightly onto Jack's hand, looking on in fear beside Chica. They didn't even notice Stephanie and I enter.

"How'd this happen?" I gasped.

"It started out as they just were a little delayed in following us…then Chica completely wandered away. It was fine until Foxy completely lost it! He was yelling and then Freddy came and it got worse!" Stephanie whimpered.

"Well, this hasn't worked yet but its worth a shot," I sighed, stepping away from her.

I moved passed the group of children, who all watched me step between Freddy and Foxy. Neither seemed fazed which meant I was still invisible to their eyes. I sighed, glancing back at the children. They looked so sad. They hadn't given me that look in so long. I turned back to Freddy and Foxy. I was facing Foxy, watching him shout and snarl at Freddy who stood behind me. I forgot how small I felt standing beside him, how he towered over me. I sighed, feeling the breath enter and leave my lungs. I felt oddly relaxed. I didn't like listening to him shout. It wasn't him. It wasn't Foxy.

"Foxy, stop…" I whispered, lowering my head. "Foxy, please…stop…"

The shouting stopped. Everything fell silent. I didn't move. I couldn't hold back any more and had started crying. My body shuddered under my sobs. I wanted my life back. I wanted to be free of this. I wanted all of us to be free of this nightmare.

"Don't cry…"

I knew the voice but it had been a while since it was directed toward me. I raised my head lightly, looking over. Chica was standing beside me, feathered fingers gently resting on my shoulder. I sniffled, looking away. I heard Freddy's footsteps behind me, backing away. I looked up slowly, meeting Foxy's eyes. He stood, completely frozen. Chica stepped back, I felt her hand leave me.

"Foxy," I whispered.

He didn't move.

"I'm so sorry…" I sighed, lowering my head and closing my eyes.

The second I did that, I felt the metal form wrap around me and squeeze me into a hug. I could feel Foxy's head on my shoulder, hear his whimpering vocal processor hum. I opened my eyes slowly, looking up. He was kneeled, hugging me. I smiled lightly.

"I knew you weren't gone…" Foxy whimpered. "I knew you were still here…"

I placed a hand on his back.

"I knew you could hear me…" I grinned.