"I regret those times when I've chosen the dark side. I've waste enough time not being happy." ~ Jessica Lange

The news hung around the building all day and well into the evening. Mike called the police sometime after Freddy uncovered the bodies. After moments of gaging and disgust, Mike told the police what he discovered and the whole event came to light. The news seemed to call it a blast from the past, while the parents of the children, aged from mourning, watched wearily as the body bags of their loved ones were taken away. They had known for a long time now that their children had died, but knowing that they can be buried properly is no doubt a great step forward in remembering and moving on.

As the bodies were brought up from the dark undergrounds they had been hidden, the ghost children began to circle. Their burnt black forms seemed to glisten, falling back into how they looked when they died. Stephanie's hair fell back along her neck. She swished her skirt in enjoyment. Gavin and Michael danced around, applauding their outfits for whatever costume party they had been attending beforehand. Jack grinned, placing a hand on his once new Superman shirt he'd gotten for his birthday. Conner fixed his pants legs, uncurling them so they touched his ankles. They looked like genuine children now.

"Thank you."

They followed their bodies out, one hand on the body bag. As they stepped outside the front doors, they vanished, each one by one. Mike and I stood, watching everything die down. The news people stayed a round a while longer, taking images of the old pizzeria and interviewing Mike, who was trying to come up with a plausible story rather than the animatronics told me after they argued with the ghost of the dead mechanic. Though, I'm sure that story would've been interesting too. By the time the news reporters left, it was about time for Mike to start his shift again. He locked the doors.

"I thought I told you to take the night off," I snapped.

"Come on, old friend, I'm not going to leave you all alone," he giggled.

"He's after your life, not mine," I grumbled.

"He's not getting me without a fight," Mike grinned, putting his keys away.

We waited several hours without a sign from Ben. Foxy soon joined us, sitting with his legs sprawled out and hands in front of him. I remembered a dog sitting like that once. Freddy left, hiding in one of the back rooms. He said something about this not being his fight. Bonnie and Chica stayed on the stage, looking wearily upon us. Eventually, the night struck two. Night 5 was nearly over and Ben was nowhere to be found.

"Well, this is anticlimactic," complained Mike.

"It could be worse," whimpered Foxy. "He could show up."

"At least then it'd be a little more interesting than sitting here and waiting," grumbled Mike, leaning back in his chair. "You think a maniac ghost could at least be on time."

Suddenly, Mike's chair flew back with him still seated. He collided with the wall, slamming his head hard into it. The chair shattered. Mike slumped onto the ground. Foxy and I stood up, prepared to rush over and help. I felt an arm around my throat, pulling me back, as Foxy ran over to assist Mike. I could still see his chest rising and falling with each breath. He was still alive.

"Ben," I choked, throwing him off me. "What's the point of this! What do you want!"

Ben looked at me with a quizzical expression. Something didn't feel right. I continued to step away from him, glancing back at Mike and Foxy when I could. Ben put his hands on his hips, giving out a deep sigh.

"I'm just as tired as you are, Tyler. I don't know why I'm back or how to get lost," he shrugged. "I'm just making the most of it…"

"Mike looked it up," I explained. "Something is keeping you here. You want something."

"What do you want?" he grinned. "You're here for something too, right? Some big wish or regret?"

"You have regrets?" I whispered.

Ben perked at that line, for a moment showing a bit of sadness, but quickly covered it up with a deranged grin and wide eyes. He charged at me but I easily dodged it. It was as if he wasn't even trying. I spotted Foxy carrying Mike away. Rise. Fall. Rise. Fall. Still breathing. The blow must've just knocked him out for the time being. Ben came charging at me again, this time using some of his ghostly prowess to move a few objects to hinder my escape. Nonetheless, with a minor tumble over a chair, I once again escaped his attack.

"It's like you're not trying," I mumbled. "Ben, you didn't answer me! Do you have regrets?"

Ben snarled, obviously annoyed by the question. This time he spun on his heels mid charge, wapping me in the head and knocking me down. He placed on foot on my chest. It hurt. Why did it hurt? I could hardly move anymore. He kneeled down, moving his foot away and placing a hand on the spot. I remembered. This is where I'd been stabbed by him. Everything seemed to slow down. Ben…looked sad.

"You weren't supposed to be there that night, you know," he whispered, standing up. "You were supposed to either be at home or too drunk to move."

"What?" I gaped.

"You…weren't supposed to die…" he sighed, looking away.

His image seemed to flicker for a moment. I perked. Regret. Ben's regret was me. I grimaced a moment, thinking how cliche and stupid that kind of seemed but it oddly made sense. I got to my knees, watching Ben's flickering stop as he snarled. He sharply turned his head toward me, glaring. With a swift jab, he kicked me over. Maybe, I was wrong about the whole regret thing, but it was worth a try. Resolve a regret, right. That's a way to get rid of a ghost.

"I get it now," I coughed. "You do have regrets…you regret killing me."

"Shut up!" he shouted, kicking me in the stomach again.

"The children…you were distant from…" I choked. Everything hurt. I felt like I was bleeding. "You didn't know them…me, you knew…killing me hurt…"

"Stop!" ordered Ben, flinging me across the room.

Everything hurt. I felt like I was the hero in some action movie, in the scene where he gets the snot beat out of him. I felt like I could cough up blood and just pass out. I was obviously striking a nerve with Ben now though. This was his regret. He did feel bad for killing me. Oddly bittersweet, eh? I sat up, simply sitting as Ben towered over me. I sighed, lowering my head.

"Do what you want to me…you were…my best friend…" I mumbled. "You killed me once…what's a second time?"

I had my eyes shut, waiting for Ben to wail on me. He was never much for giving up and yet I never felt him touch me. Instead I heard him collapse to his knees. I opened my eyes, lifting my head slowly. He had his face buried in the palms of his hand, violently shaking in sobs. Something told me it was over. I rolled onto my knees, sitting directly in front of him.

"If you want me to forgive you…I'm afraid I can't do that," I replied.

Ben lifted his head slowly.

"You were…my best friend," sighed Ben. "You weren't supposed to die. In the end…I guess I wanted you to be the one to stop me…"

"Technically, I did," I grinned.

"Technically, your fox did," shrugged Ben. "I'm sorry, Tyler…I really am."

His form began to flicker again. This seemed like a cheesy way of ending things between us, but it was Ben's biggest regret. He lowered his head and vanished from view. I sighed, leaning back against the wall. It turned out this fight wasn't about actual fighting. Ben just wanted to apologize. That was his biggest regret in life. Now if only i could figure out what mine was.

I sat in my position, back against the wall, for a while. Eventually, Mike and Foxy joined me on either side, leaned back against the wall, eyes shut and deep sighing every now and then. My afterlife has been rather exciting.

"What's do you regret not doing?" asked Mike.

"I was in my twenties…there's tons of things i regret not doing," I replied.

"What do you regret not doing here?"

"I don't follow."

"You are haunting here!" Mike explained, sitting up. "You're haunting Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria for a reason! Your biggest regret is here somewhere! What do you regret not doing here!"

I opened my eyes slowly, looking at the ceiling. With the deep sigh, thinking things through, I gently turned to head toward Foxy. I smiled lightly. I remember now.