Alright, so I wanna start off by saying I'm really sorry about the super-long wait. Unfortunately...this is probably how things will be going from now on. I write when I get inspiration, otherwise the product ends up being complete crap.
So yeah. Really sorry. Hope this doesn't kill the joy for you guys.
Second announcement is that some of you may have read in the author's note of chapter one that I'm writing another version of this from Jeremy's perspective. Well, I lied...kinda.
Let me specify. I won't be writing it. Emphasis is on 'I', which implies that it'll be written...by someone else. And if that's your guess, then you're absolutely right. My friend has decided to take up the challenge! More info on that as she gets further along. As of now, all I know is it'll be from Jeremy's perspective, a few chapters behind this one, first-person, past-tense, and (maybe) called "I Have a Glass Jaw." Of course, some things may change as it's worked on. Nothing set in stone quite yet.
Third: I might be starting another FNaF fic alongside this one. I have the idea sticking as heavy in my mind as "I'm Coming For You" did, which is, as of now, my only fic I'm actually proud of, so hopefully that'll be decent. It'll be everyone working at the Fazbear establishment as humans. Yes, humans. Freddy Fazbear, for example, is a normal guy who happens to own Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria and either used to or still does preform there with his fellow band members, Bonnie and Chica. No animatronics, just friendly adults working to put smiles on little kids' faces :) ...And yaoi. All da yaoi XD Seriously though, there's gonna be a lotta characters...I'm not even sure there'll be a main one. Guess we'll find out!
Fourth and FINAL announcement, which is VERY IMPORTANT for those of you who like lore! I highly doubt people caught this, but there are several hints of major plots scattered throughout the chapters in some of the most unsuspecting places :) I can already point out a few, and maybe you can too...just look for things that maybe don't sit quite right. Not only should you pay close attention throughout the story, but I also might post an odd message every now-and-then in an author's note. Keep your eyes peeled...everywhere.
Btw, I make every word count. If you think something's wrong, DON'T pass it off as an error (though it'd be nice to alert me anyway. Who knows? My response might not be entirely what you were expecting...). Every word is there for a reason. They're all your clues to piecing together the entire picture.
Good luck, my friends!
And did I mention pancakes?
Realizing I was back in my own room, my mouth quickly closed and the noise vanished. I really hope Daddy didn't hear me. I don't want to face him after what happened last night; at least not screaming.
But my rumbling tummy is making it hard to stay locked up in my room. After a few valiant seconds of battle, I finally surrender to it and hop off the bed.
The smell is getting worse with every step I take. Finally I reach the kitchen, where Daddy stands over the stove. As soon as my foot makes a noise on the tile, he turns around.
He instantly rushes toward me and wraps me up in his arms.
"H-Hannah! I-I'm so sorry f-for last night. I-It'll never happen again!"
There's water dripping down his face, soaking into the cloth on my shoulder.
"Daddy? Am I a good girl?"
He grabs hold of my said body parts and we gaze into each other's' eyes again. His are still pretty as ever, even with the water falling from them.
"You are a very good girl, Hannah. D-Daddy j-just needs some space sometimes… I p-promise I'll n-never h-hit you ag-gain...I-I'm so sorry!"
His face softens, and I know it's the truth.
"I still love you, Daddy."
The air grows still; I can practically hear his heartbeat through the silence, sticking around in my head while he whispers, "I l-love you, too."
Happy thoughts are cut off at the sound of my rumbling tummy. "Pancakes?"
Daddy smiles at me lightly. "Pancakes."
I'm so glad he's not sad anymore. I don't even want to ask the questions as long as he stays happy.
"H-Hannah?" Daddy calls to me when I slide into a kitchen chair. "H-how'd you like to g-go to work with me t-today?"
To the zoo?! "I'd love to!"
After Daddy quit working at the place with singing animals, he moved to a place with real animals. But I've never been there before! He always gets nervous when I'm around animals. I guess that's why.
My favorite animal is a bunny! Daddy doesn't like them, though. He acts like he does, but when I give him one as a gift, he always throws them out. A lot of gifts end up like this. I'm surprised he likes animals at all! Every time a new pet comes to our back porch, the trash can ends up getting it...
...Anyway.
I never tried giving him a giraffe or elephant before. Maybe that's why he works at a zoo- to work with the animals he likes!
"I-I can't be with you a-all day," Daddy says, setting down the chocolate chip breakfast on my plate. "I-I have to work my shift. W-would you be okay w-with Fritz until I-I'm done?"
My green eyes light up at the sound of Fritz's name. "Okay!" Fritz always buys me ice cream when we're together and sometimes other food. That's not the only reason I like him. Mr. Fritz sometimes watches anime with Daddy and I. Plus, he's a really nice person, like Daddy (or Uncle Mike!).
"Can Jasmine come?" I ask, lifting up a few bites toward my mouth.
Daddy's eyes droop and the sparkle in them dies. "We- I...I-I don't have enough m-money for both of you..."
That's okay, Daddy! I'm sure Jasmine understands!
"Okay!" I giggle, clanging the fork onto my empty plate. His returns and he finishes the rest quickly. As soon as the dishes are in the sink, I bolt out the front door.
"H-Hannah! W-wait! I'm not ready!"
Too late, Daddy! My shoes are already on!
I could see him smiling as he put his work coat on.
Mr. Fritz was waiting for us at the front gate and I nearly bounced out of Daddy's arms when his bright orange hair caught my sight. He sets me down, though. Good thing. I probably would've hit the concrete otherwise.
"Hey lil' Han!" His arms open for a hug, which I gladly give. Fritz is the funnest to hug because he's all squishy! But don't say that in front of him. His eyes get all droopy and he looks like Daddy before the latter runs to his room and locks the door.
That's not now, though. Now his amber eyes are sparkling just as much as Daddy's emerald. Then they turn to the front gate as his hand reaches into his pocket, pulling out a Star Wars wallet.
"Th-thank you for d-doing this, Fritz."
"Anytime, Jere!"
My own eyes go to one of the exhibits visible from outside. It has walls close to the ground (but I don't think I could climb over...) and a lot of sand. But... I don't see any animals! Somebody must've stolen them!
"Daddy!" I pull on his pant leg when we make it through the swirling bars.
"W-what's wrong?"
"You're not doing a good job."
"What?"
I point to the empty exhibit. "You let the animals get stolen!"
He stares at the area while furrowing his brow while Fritz only chuckles.
"They're not stolen. Do you see those holes?'
Daddy lifts me up so I can see over the gate. Fritz was right- there's holes everywhere! "I see them!"
"Those are where the prairie dogs hide."
Prairie...dogs? "I wanna see!"
"Th-they're hiding, Hanna." Daddy sets me down again. He looks left, then right, then back at Fritz. "I-I have to go do my sh-shift, now. P-page me if there's any tr-trouble."
"Alright," the redhead replies in his thick, Scottish accent. "I'll keep a close eye on her."
"Th-thank you." The security guard gives both of us a hug before going off to work, at which point Fritz picks me back up.
"You wanna see the prairie dogs?"
"I thought they were hiding."
"Right now they are. Watch this." With his free hand, Fritz drums onto the edge of the gate, but nothing happen-
Wait.
There's something poking out of one of the holes! It looks like a mutated guinea pig head.
"Do you see him?"
I nod as the thing comes out further. Weird guinea pig! Weird guinea pig!
I guess Mr. Fritz notices me clinging to him. "He's not gonna hurt you."
"Th-that doesn't look like a dog!"
He chuckles again. "I guess not. Do you know why they're called prairie dogs?"
"No..."
"Me neither. Why don't we go ask someone?"
"Okay!"
Unfortunately, the only woman here is stupid and doesn't know about animals, so we settle for ice cream instead. It was right at the front of the zoo; how convenient! The line isn't too long. There are, however, three little kids in the front taking their sweet, sweet time.
"I want chocolate!" one calls.
"But I want vanilla!" another screams.
"No! No! Mint! Mint!"
And of course, their mommy is only getting one ice cream.
There's so many animals I wanna see, but I'm stuck in the stupid ice cream line! And don't you even think about telling me not to get ice cream!
The elephants are calling to me. Baby one, two and three are still fussing about flavors and the elephants are calling to me!
"Come play with us, Hannah. Sit on our backs, Hanna. Do you like our long trunks, Hannah? They would make nice decorations, Hannah."
By the time those babies finally moved on to toppings, the lions and giraffes joined into the choir.
"Our manes make soft pillows, Hannah..."
"Our necks are fun to slide on, Hanna..."
"Don't you want a nice, loud voice box, Hanna?"
Their voices are really scary and make me cling to Fritz even tighter. But...they're not all bad. The little mutant guinea pig pokes its head up further, beady eyes trailing over to my frail figure.
"Hello, Hanna. I want to play. Please come play with me."
His voice isn't creepy like the others. Instead, it's short, simple, normal. His eyes are beady, but comforting. Now I don't even know why I was scared.
"Please play with me."
Okay, Prairie Dog. I'll play with you.
"I wanna go look at the prairie dogs!"
Fritz takes a glance at the children leaving the line, probably smelling yummy yummy mint chocolate chip. "We're almost there..."
"B-but I wanna play with the prairie dogs..."
A long, quiet sigh escapes his lips. "Okay...you can go look."
"Yay!" I slide down his chest and scurry over toward the first exhibit. Only one head pokes out of the ground, staring at me still. His black eyes never move away from me once. It simply sits there, eyes fixed on my very soul...
After a few minutes of that, heavy footsteps creep behind me, forcing my head to turn. I don't know what I was so frightened would be the cause, but to my relief, it's only Fritz.
"Hey!" His eyes trail to the spot mine was at only moments before. "What are you looking at?"
"Prairie-!" But when my head swivels back to view the creature, his fuzzy head is gone, only a flawless hole left in his place.
Mr. Fritz only chuckles. "I bet they're hiding again." A strawberry cone is shoved in my face and my mind switches focus instantly from the disappearing animal to an ever-so-delicious frozen treat. Yummy ice cream!
"You want to look at some deer now?"
Deer? Deer don't say creepy things... "Okay!"
He reaches for my lavender hand and begins to lead me to the other side of the zoo. By the time we actually make it to the forest part, my legs feel like they're about to fall off. I glance at Mr. Fritz's Lego watch. Two hours?! We've been here for two hours already! That means Daddy's work ends in four hours! So...a third of that time has passed already, because two hours is one-third of six hours!
"Daddy's one-third done with work!"
"Where'd you learn that?"
"School." My bright white teeth shine through a wide grin. "Ms. Yancy says I'm really smart!"
"It sounds like you might grow into a scientist like me."
"B-but..." Images dance around of little puppies and kitties sneezing their adorable hearts out. "I wanna be an animal doctor..."
"You can be that, too! Medicine and doctors have to work with science."
"O-oh. I didn't know that."
He hoists me up high enough to see a little baby deer cuddling with its mother. "I think they have to study biology, which is what my parents work with."
"Oh. I like bi...bilo..."
"It's 'biology'. Do you know what biology is?"
"No."
"Biology is the study of life. Zoology is a part of biology. That's where you study lots of animals, like the fawn and doe over there."
"Those are deer!" Silly Fritz! You need to go back and study bilogee!
"But they're not just deer. Momma deer are called does and babies are fawns."
I push off his chubby body, once more planting my sandals firmly on the hot pavement. "I wanna be a fawn!"
"Do you have a momma?"
Oh... "N-no..."
"Mm...I bet Jeremy works hard enough to be both your momma and pappa."
"Yeah..." Though I'm not quite sure I believe it anymore.
I can see his mouth open to say something when one of the anime theme songs he loves fills my ears. He flips out an old cellphone after peeking at the name on-screen.
"Scott? What's up?"
There's a long pause, but with every agonizing second, Fritz's face falls further and further until he looks like the boy at school who pees himself every time Jacob pulls at his hair.
When the silence is finally broken, Fritz's voice squeaks. "You...what?! She's okay, right?"
Time is literally frozen for when whoever is on the other end speaks. The air around us is so silent that I jump at Fritz's final words. "Oh my god... I'll be over as soon as I can." He turns to me, eyes straining to retain excess water. "You need to get dropped off with your papa. I need... I need to go to the hospital."