Darlene's POV:
Huh… Where am I…? I'm in the back room of the first pizzeria! Even my friends' bodies are here! Wait, who is that? Is that the Puppet?
"Don't you worry… I'll give you the gift of life… You shall stay in the animatronic you were stuffed in and haunt it until the killer is dead."
The puppet gave my friends the power to possess the animatronics that the killer stuffed them in?! Looks like James is in Bonnie, Evan is in Foxy, Samantha is in Chica, Ash is in Freddy, and Trevor… is in…
-after dream-
I suddenly woke up in my bed, 10:00 pm. I stretched and yawn, getting out of bed. Now that I know who's in what animatronic, it makes things a bit easier for me. Maybe they'll recognize me if I called them by the names of my friends. Then again, what if they mistake me for the killer?
*ring, ring, ring*
"Hello?"
"Hey. Darlene, was it?"
It's the guy I bumped into earlier! "Yea. I'll be there in minute or two."
The guy chuckled. "You already knew what I was going to ask. You psychic or something?" I giggled. "Anyway, see you there."
I put my uniform on and walk into the kitchen. My mom was already in there, making toast. "Hey mom," I said.
"Hey, sweetheart. How's the job going?"
"Good. Um…also…I think my friends have possessed the old animatronics…"
"Really? What makes you think that?"
I told her of the dream I had just a bit ago.
"Well, yeah, but that was just a dream."
"How does that explain the other two dreams I had then?"
Mom was silent for a bit. "Good point…"
"Well, I better be going," I then said, heading for the door.
"Gotta date?" she teased.
I chuckled. "Not really, but I think someone may have the hots for me."
"How sweet. Stay safe, honey," mom said giggling.
"I will." I left for the pizzeria then.
-at the pizzeria, 11:30 pm-
I got here earlier than expected, so I put the Annabelle suit on and walked around for a bit. I walked over to Kid's Cove to see Mangle just lying there, looking almost depressed. I felt sympathetic for her…him… it…? I'm calling it a her since the spirit in it is a girl and it has a feminine voice. I pet the mangled fox (no pun intended), hoping it would make her feel comforted.
I then paid a visit to the main stage to see Freddy T, Bonnie T, and Chica T. Now that I think about it, Crystal, Drake and Seth were always playing together when I saw them. That leaves Billy. I'm sure he's in BB, since I think Scott is the Puppet.
As I walked over to the Parts and Services Room to look at the old animatronics, I thought I heard a strange voice. "I know why you're still here. You want to see your old friend again. Don't worry. She will join you soon. Just keep searching for the night guard…"
Who was talking? Could it be…the killer?! I ran to the door and opened it…only to see the guy I met earlier.
"W-were you talking just a second ago…?" I asked, fearing for my life.
The guy got up from his kneeling position and walked towards me. "No. You must have been hearing things."
I shivered a bit. "I-I could've sw-sworn I heard s-someone say…"
The man put a finger on my lips, shushing me. He then took my Annabelle head off and rubbed my head comfortingly. "Poor thing. You must have the pre-shift jitters. Here; I'll help you get settled in the office." He took my hand and led me to the office.
"You do realize this is my 4th night, right?" I ask.
"I know," he replied, "I just want to help you out so you won't be so nervous once your shift starts."
I feel my cheeks warm up a bit. This person is being so sweet to me. I wasn't watching were I was going, and I tripped on something. I also ended up cutting my right arm on the desk corner. "OW! …Ow…"
The man turned back to me and saw the cut on my arm, the costume ripped there as well. He grabbed the bandages out of a drawer and helped me take the costume off. He then wrapped the bandages around the cut. As he did, I had another flashback.
-flashback-
"Ow!"
"What's the matter, little girl…?"
"*sniffle*I…I got myself with a table corner… It hurts!"
"Oh, don't worry. I've got some bandages. I'll help you feel all better."
"…Thank you so much, mister. I feel a lot better. I like you!"
"You…like me…?"
"Of course. Let's be friends!"
"Okay…I like you, too…"
-end of flashback-
…Is this the same person that helped me when I was little…? Now that I think about it, he does look familiar… He finished wrapping the bandages and started sewing the ripped part of my costume.
"Th-thank you very much," I told him, "For everything…"
"It's no big deal…" he replied, "Here. All fixed and good as new."
"Thank you!" I said again as I quickly put the costume on.
"Well, I better be going now. Just make sure you don't do any funny stuff," he said to me.
"Are you accusing me of being the killer?!" I asked, irritated, "I'll have you know that 1. I'm only 18 years old, and 2. Might I remind you that my friends were killed by that person on my 6th birthday?!"
The man looked at me, shock written all over his face. "R-right…I-I-I forgot… S-s-s-sorry…"
I sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I just…miss them…"
After a moment of silence, the man cleared his throat and asked, "Um…if you could, would you be willing to join them…?"
"Not now," I answer, "I still have a life to live, a job to do, that special someone to find… I wouldn't give up my life to be with my old friends just like that."
…No response… I look around to see that he had just left. That guy is so weird…and yet, I think I like that about him…
Oh, what am I thinking?! He's gotta be, like, 20 years older than me! I think to myself.
-12 am-
*ring, ring, ring*
"Yello?"
"Hello? Hello? Uh, hey there, night four! I told you you'd get the hang of it!"
"Thanks!" I said to the recording.
"Ok, so uh, just to update you, uh, there's been somewhat of an, uh, investigation going on. Uh, we may end up having to close for a few days... I don't know. I want to emphasize though that it's really just a precaution. Uh, Fazbear Entertainment denies any wrongdoing. These things happen sometimes. Um... It'll all get sorted out in a few days. Just keep an eye on things and I'll keep you posted."
I already knew what happened; the killer had struck again, killing the 5 children that I met earlier in the week.
"Uh, just as a side note though, try to avoid eye contact with any of the animatronics tonight if you can. Someone may have tampered with their facial recognition systems - we're not sure. But the characters have been acting very unusual, almost aggressive towards the staff. They interact with the kids just fine, but when they encounter an adult, they just...stare.Uh...Anyways, hang tight. It'll all pass. Good night!"
Now that's odd… I wonder why that is…
I suddenly heard movement, and I put the Annabelle mask on after winding the music box. I turned the flashlight on to see Freddy in the hallway! "Ash!" I blurted out. I covered my mouth right after. Crap!
The footsteps got closer and closer until Freddy was in the office.
"Hey, Freddy," I say, "It's nice to finally meet the original Freddy Fasbear."
Freddy said nothing. He just stood there, his expression showing he was not amused. He then took the Annabelle mask off, and I gasp in surprise.
"You are a human!" he said, a growl in his voice.
"D-don't hurt me, Ash…" I whisper, too scared to talk normally.
Freddy froze. "What did you call me?!"
"I know it's you, Ash…It's me, Darlene. Your friend…" I slowly and gently grabbed his right arm, trying to show him that it was really me.
When he spoke again, his voice sounded like Ash's. "I know it's you, Darlene. I…we…saw that man take your mask off. The actual animatronics, though, I'm not sure if they saw."
I got up and hugged the robot bear. "I'm so glad I get to see you again, Ash!"
"Also…" he added, "That man that was with you…" he trailed off.
I smile shyly, "He's been so nice to me…"
Ash took my left hand into Freddy's right. "Darlene…" he said, sounding concerned, "You…you shouldn't…"
"STOP!"
The animatronic and I turned toward the left vent to see a bare endoskeleton. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I was going to be used for a new animatronic, but the idea was scrapped before they made the suit. Anyway, Freddy, may I speak to you?"
Ash nodded, and they walked into the hallway. I could only make out a little bit of what they were saying.
"…can't…loves…don't tell…"
"Why…tell…she should not…him… What makes you think…loves him?"
"I can just…"
"It shouldn't matter. Love or not…has to…he really is."
"Like she…very nice…maybe he has…"
"Then what… he said to…"
"…Maybe he just…in this place forever…think he's…"
"Either way, we…warn her! We need to…who he is and…to her!"
Even though I couldn't hear most of what they were saying, it got me curious. I then hear James' voice.
"What are…about? Is that…Darlene…?"
"…he was…her… animatronic thinks she…with…"
"…I guess…possible. After…doesn't know…"
"That's why…to tell…"
"If she does…let…happy for at…bit…"
"*sigh* You win…if she is…guy, it's your…"
Freddy came back, along with Bonnie. "What were you talking about?" I asked.
The two animatronics looked at each other nervously, and Ash spoke, "It's not as important as I thought it was. Don't worry about a thing."
Silence. Then Ash spoke again. "James, we should tell the others before we forget…"
The bunny animatronic said, "Okay. See ya, Darlene!" Then they left to tell everyone else about me. I sighed in relief. Hopefully this will make the rest of the week easier.
-6 am-
All I had to do for the rest of night was turn the music box every now and then. Once it was 6, I took the suit off and walked over to the front door. I debated on waiting for that guy to come back, but I thought otherwise. I ran home, feeling so happy and free. I then saw someone walking my way, and I panic, trying to stop. I didn't stop in time and ran into the person.
"Gee, Darlene, I didn't know you felt that way."
Ack! It's that guy! I immediately get up and stutter, "Sorry! I didn't mean to!" I helped him stand up, and he chuckled.
"I was only joking. Though I do think you're cute," he said, embracing me to show there was no hard feelings. However, I was suddenly starting to feel a little uncomfortable. The hug felt a little…too nice…
I then thought back to when Ash and James were arguing with the bare animatronic over something. I heard the word love a few times… Did the bare animatronic think we're in love with each other?! Although it seems like he likes me, I don't really see myself with him…
After a while, I broke the hug and said, "I-I better go home...and make sure to get some sleep…" I ran home right after, forgetting to ask about his name.
-a bit later-
After chatting with my mother for a minute or two, I closed the door to my room and lay on my bed, still thinking about what I could hear from their conversation. There must be something about that guy that I don't know of yet.
I should probably make sure to not become too close to him…
-w/ the animatronics-
Normal POV:
"We have to do something!" Bonnie said, concerned, "We can't let Darlene get too close to the killer. Who knows what he could do!"
"But if she is in love with him, why not let her have a chance at changing him? Maybe being with someone will help stop him from killing more people," Toy Chica suggested.
"I don't wanna take any chances," Freddy said, clenching his fists, "Darlene's our friend, and it's our job to protect her."
"Hey…" Toy Bonnie then said, "Has anyone seen Maxine…?"
Everyone else just shrugged their shoulders.
Meanwhile, at Kid's Cove, a broken Mangle sat there, crying. "I hate those toddlers…" she mumbled to herself, "But I'd never hurt them…I need…something…to take out all this frustration on…"