This chapter is much longer, hope you've got your popcorn ready! Each of the nights will be longer chapters, since they're the bulk of the story and I don't see a reason to split them up. If I did then they'd be too short.

The next day after Atem went to bed, Yugi asked his grandfather for Cecil's phone number. "Want to give him a good review?" He smiled. "Well, that and I saw a job offer sign in the window yesterday. The hours would be perfect for me to earn a little extra cash and still spend time with Atem."

"Ah, I commend the idea! Here you are." He wrote the number down and handed it to Yugi. He went into the living room and sat on the couch, dialing the number from his cell phone.

"Hello, Cecil speaking?"

"Hello Cecil, sir. My name is Yugi Mutou-"

"Sugoroku's grandson! What can I do for you?"

"I saw the help wanted sign in the window yesterday, and I was wondering-"

"Ah just say the word m'boy, the job is yours! I know you came in yesterday, I've had a lot of traffic today from kids hoping to see you again! In fact, if you want a day shift I can-"

"No, no, you see, with the way my life is at the moment a day shift really wouldn't suit me. I need a way to earn money that doesn't interfere with what I've already got going on."

"Night shift it is then! And only top dollar for my friend's grandson! It's a piece of cake though, really! The doors all get locked, there's a metal gate that gets put up around the front windows to prevent hooligans from simply smashing them in, and hey- your grandfather told me you're in school, right? You can just hang out in the office all night and do your homework!"

"Really? That sounds perfect! When should I start?"

"Can you come in today? We've gotta get some paperwork out of the way first."

"Of course. I still have time before my first class, so I'll head over now."

"Great! Meet you there!"

The next morning, Yugi told Atem about his new job.

"A security guard? You? Yugi… I'm not comfortable with this. You're… uhm, how do I put this nicely…"

"I know, I'm not super strong or anything. But Cecil said it's not about strength. All I've gotta do is keep an eye out and make sure nobody gets in, or that nobody hid anywhere and stayed overnight to mess with stuff. I'll be in the office all night, with a camera system, and if I see anything funny there's a panic button that calls the police. Plus there's a guy before me, he'll probably have chased anyone who did sneak in out by the time I get there. Heck he said the animatronics' night mode is basically a security system in itself, since they wander the halls freely. Something about their cervix locking up."

"Their what now?" Atem raised an eyebrow.

"Er, maybe it was 'servos.' Anywho, they're programmed to call the police when they see anything suspicious. So I'll be totally fine!"

Atem hesitated. "Alright… but promise you'll text me tonight. Often."

"Fine, if it'll make you feel better." He wrapped his arms around Atem, and they snuggled until Atem's bedtime.

Yugi showed up promptly at 11:30. He was asked to show up a bit early this night so the guy working from 6 to 12 could teach him about the cameras and such.

Yugi knocked on the back entrance he was showed earlier that day, and after a moment he heard the sound of locks unlocking, and finally the door opened. "Hey, Kid." Yugi stepped inside, "Hey there. My name's Yugi!"

"Yeah, Cecil said the King of Games wanted to come work the night shift. Heh, honestly I didn't think you'd show up."

Yugi tried to laugh with him, "I guess it is a bit farfetched. But, I have a strange schedule, and this is what works for me."

"Fair enough. I'm James, by the way." He held out his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you, James!"

James was fairly tall, about Atem's height. He had relatively short, black hair with bangs that went down just a little past his ears. He had green eyes and held himself with confidence.

James motioned towards the room, "So, here we are. Central command." Yugi looked around. It looked like a pretty standard office. There were a few file cabinets in the corner of the room, a large desk set near the opposite wall, with the desk facing the open area of the room so that when you sat at it your back would be to the wall. On the desk was a slim monitor and a few semi-organized stacks of paper. "Oh, by the way, all the cameras can be viewed through this thing." James showed him a tablet he had been carrying with him. There was a small map in the corner of it, the building, if Yugi recognized it correctly. The stage was currently displayed, taking up the rest of the screen. "That's pretty cool. So you just touch the little map to change the camera?"

"Yup, piece of cake."

"Got it!" Yugi took another look around the room, and this time he noticed the same lower-able gate that currently covered the front windows, only hanging in front of the door that lead to the office. It seemed to be hooked up to a large battery. "What's all that…?"

"That… is… well… our only line of defense."

"What?"

James sighed, "Nobody believes me, but there's something not right with those animatronics… They seem fine until about eleven o' clock, an hour after all the other employees go home. Then they get… weird…"

"Weird, how…?"

"I… I'm only telling you this because if you don't figure it out soon, you're probably done for. Believe me or not, but those things are evil."

"What? They're robots, how can they be evil?"

"I don't know! But they're always… staring at me… through the cameras, through the doorway. They've run at me, full force with everything they have before. I flickered this at them and they stopped short and seem to resume their business." He pulled out a heavy-duty flashlight. "I'd hoped there was a reason for the 'no flash photography' sign by the stage." He then motioned with it at the electric-powered door, "This contraption is the only sure way to keep them out of the office. And I know the gate itself won't stop them for long…They're way too strong for it, but I haven't figured out how to build anything stronger that won't get me in trouble for messing up the office. Even with this I had to tell them it's a project I'm working on… So you hit this button here," he pointed at the red switch on the battery, "it sends electrical currents through the gate. They get a good shock, just enough to reset them. No real harm done…"

"No harm? You sound afraid for your life! Assuming this isn't a joke, why the hell are you still here?"

"I got in with some bad people… this is the best job I can find right now… it pays really well, but if I don't risk dying here then I'm risking death out there anyway. Somehow robotic animals aren't as bad as people. At least until I find something better. And trust me- I'm looking."

Yugi looked him up and down, unsure of whether or not to trust him.

"Look," James spoke up amidst the silence, "I get it. You think I'm nuts. But as soon as you see that glow in their eyes you'll know I'm not."

More silence. Suddenly a tiny alarm clock sound went off, causing them both to jump. James grabbed at his watch, shutting off the alarm. "It's midnight. Good luck. I'm clocking out and putting this crap behind me for another night." He went to the computer, probably punching out. "One more thing. They seem to get really upset after about 4AM. Stay on your guard the whole time, but especially after four. Here's the keys, the morning MOD will be here to take them at six. She'll see herself in, and she'll take over from there. Take down the gate and the battery, take it home on the dolly there and recharge it."

"I can't do that!" Yugi protested, immediately thinking of a number of reasons he wouldn't be able to.

James was quiet for a moment. "Fine, then leave it here and I'll be back for it tomorrow. But if you won't help me keep it charged after tonight then I'm taking it home with me next time."

This is insane… "Fine. Because if things turn out as crazy as you're saying, I'm quitting after tonight anyway."

James was quiet, "Thanks."

Then something occurred to Yugi, "Wait, they weren't so crazy when I was here a few days ago. And they can't just, stop being 'weird' at 6AM."

"I don't know, they just stop at 6AM. Maybe they know the restaurant is opening soon."

"How do you know all that if you were only here until 12?"

"I've worked your shift. Soon as I realized what was going on I begged Cecil to move me… Sorry, kid. But from what he told me, you're the one that turned down the normal job. This is all I can get."

"Well if I knew crazy animatronics were going to be involved-"

"Too late… Sorry. I've left notes, taped to the underside of the desk. That's all I know so far. And I'm still willing to help if you come up with any new strategies, or notice anything else that's… weird. Believe it or not, I do feel bad forcing you into this position… And, I can't say I blame you if you quit tomorrow, either. I won't hold it against you. But for tonight… good luck. And," his eyes flickered towards the electric door, "Watch your back a little more." Yugi turned to see where James had glanced. A dark figure stood about ten feet from the doorway. It had no ears, no top hat, and no creepy girlish figure. It sort of resembled Chika. Yugi looked down at the tablet, and decided to check on the stage. To his horror, Chika was indeed not on stage. "Read the notes." He heard James open the door and slip out. Yugi turned to look, but the fear of what James had told him caused him to quickly return his gaze to the doorway. Through the grating of the gate, Yugi could tell the chicken had moved closer. He was frozen in fear.

I'm so not getting any homework done tonight.

He decided to flicker the flashlight at Chika. She still looked the same as she had the other day, but the darkness and his current knowledge made her even more scary than any foe he had faced before. Finally he watched her turn to the right and walk off towards Pirate's Cove.

Yugi hurried quietly to the desk, and felt around the underside until he found a notebook. He opened it and found James's notes, scribbled in neat but rushed handwriting. There were a few pages of notes, each one dated. Finally he came across a simple looking list:

Notes to the new guy:

1) Toy Chika is very calm. She very rarely even comes near the office. Frequently found near the basement door. Not sure if this holds any significance.

2) The Freddies hate to be stared at. If anything it agitates them into attacking. This is especially true of the yellow one. Flashlight effective on Freddy and Toy Freddy. If you see the yellow one, flip on the battery and hide.

3) The Foxies are the opposite. Check their Cove often. They somehow know when I haven't checked in a while. Have not figured out how often I should check, but you can't be too careful. Foxy sprints at the gate as soon as he reaches the hall, flashlight ineffective.

Yugi took this moment to check on Pirate's Cove. Both Foxys were seen walking around, looking at nothing Yugi could see as important. He wondered how Foxy got off the stage when it was so tall, but it wasn't important right now. He returned his gaze to the notebook.

4) The Bonnies are very aggressive. They like to peer in from the sides- Bonnie on the left and Toy Bonnie on the right- usually teaming up, presumably so they can see as much of the room as possible. Flashlight effective on Toy Bonnie, however Bonnie seems to only leave when it's satisfied that I'm not here. Also, Toy Bonnie wanders throughout most of the building whereas Bonnie seems to prefer the main hall.

5) Chika wanders around the entire building. I know she and Toy Bonnie are programmed to look for lost children during the day. Flashlight effective.

6) I think they're getting more aggressive as time goes on… Not sure if they're learning my habits, or if all this taking such a toll on me that it's getting hard to keep up. Let me know your thoughts.

7) Start keeping an eye on the balloon boy. I think I saw him move last night.

Please feel free to take up a few pages for your own notes. We'll get a second notebook if we have to. We'll need to use each other's experiences if we're going to survive this job.

Yugi checked the Cove again, then flipped over to the hall outside the door. Chika was back. He stepped in front of the door, forcing himself to look at it, and flashed the light a few times again. Before long she wandered off.

Yugi was unsure of what to do with himself. The animatronics all seemed to contradict each other- what upset one didn't matter to another. The only way he could figure out how to deal with them was to actually know which one was coming. He wished he'd asked why James didn't leave the battery on the whole time, but there had to be a really good reason that he didn't…

Oh Gods, I'm sorry Atem. I should have listened to you. I mean, there's no way even you knew it would be this bad- and on my very first night even. But if I'd listened when you said you weren't comfortable then I wouldn't be here!

A tear slid down his cheek as he checked the Cove again. Then the main hall. The stage. Prize counter.

The yellow one was gone.

Yugi took a deep breath, and let it out.

He checked the bathrooms. He saw two white, beady eyes staring at him from the girl's bathroom. He couldn't tell who it was in the dark.

Next he checked the basement door's camera. There was a large "EMPLOYEES ONLY" sign on the door. Toy Chika was indeed staring at it. However after a moment she turned to the camera. Those beady white eyes once again bore into him, and she was somehow missing her beak. He quickly switched cameras back to the Cove.

The night went on like this. It felt like a week could have passed with him sitting there, wondering if the missing animatronics were just going about their business or were coming up with ways to…

He shook his head and checked his phone for the time, trying to push the thoughts of death from his mind again. He was so focused on the time that he didn't notice the missed calls or text messages. 2AM. He stifled a groan.

Just then he heard another groan, though whoever released this one wasn't holding back. In fact, it sounded like they were having trouble breathing…

He heard a familiar buzzing. Lady Foxy from a few days ago flashed into his mind.

He checked the Cove, but Lady Foxy was still there. Just then the gate began to shake violently. Yugi fumbled for the battery switch, and he heard the most horrifying screech before shining his flashlight through the gate. He caught sight of Bonnie's backside.

Bonnie had tried to get in.

Maybe I should be hiding under the desk… but then I can't reach the battery…

Yugi sat there shaking, still in a panic. He couldn't decide if he should move away from the battery or not. Couldn't James have made it remote-controlled?

The next two hours were fairly quiet. He flipped mainly between Pirate's Cove and outside the office, only moving when he had to flash the light at Chika, or the one other time Bonnie stopped by. Chika showed up with Freddy once, but the flashlight drove the both of them off.

Yugi checked the time again. 3:47. He was terrified now.

He checked the camera outside the office once more. He was shocked to find Toy Chika there, when the notebook had said she was the least aggressive and stayed near the basement.

Which meant James had never needed to flash the light at her. Or deal with her trying to attack at all. Which meant Yugi had no idea either.

He peered around the doorway, and sure enough there she was. He flashed the flashlight at her. She took a step forward. Yugi ducked back behind the doorway, his hand on the switch for the battery. The footsteps got closer. On the screen he could watch her come towards the doorway. He flipped the switch.

"Hey, can you see me?"

His heart skipped a beat. He couldn't move.

"Can you hear me?"

He peered back around the doorway. There stood a small girl, no older than 7. She wore a cute little pink dress with white Mary Jane shoes. A gold heart-shaped pendant hung from her neck. She had blond pigtails sticking out from either side of her head.

"H-hey, what are you doing here so late, little one?" Yugi tried to sound strong, but he couldn't figure out where Toy Chika had gone and how this girl had gotten there without the animatronic attacking her.

"You can see and hear me! I wanted to ask you what you were doing here so late!"

"I- I'm just doing my job… You should, come in." He flipped the battery off, "The, uhm, band, they're not-"

"That's not a good idea."

"Huh?"

"I can behave myself right now, though I'm honestly not sure why. But I'm afraid of what I'd do to you if I was allowed any closer."

"What?"

"The Marionette told me I should ask for your help. He senses that you have a strong spirit."

Yugi's head began to spin. The girl wasn't explaining anything, despite his obvious confusion.

"Look at your camera."

He obliged, and gasped. Where he should see the girl, Toy Chika stood, just staring into the office.

"I'm Toy Chika. I… can't remember my real name anymore. But it's okay! The Marionette says you can help us!"

"Help you? Help you with what?"

"To be free. We all just want to go home… but we're stuck in these animatronic bodies."

"You… you're… haunting, the animatronics?"

"Yeah… but I don't want to anymore. I want to go home. I don't want to hurt you or that James guy, or anyone else ever again. I don't like the screaming anymore…"

Yugi's stomach churned, "Then why do you and the others try?"

"Well, because it's against the rules here. You're not in a suit. Nobody's allowed to be out of their suit here. But… suddenly my mind is just so… clear. You're not an endoskeleton. You're just a person. Like all the people who visit in the daytime."

"Th, that's right. I don't need a suit. Although being dressed up doesn't sound so bad…"

"The suits aren't exactly empty… There's a couple of extra ones in the basement. I can't say I know exactly what's inside, but based on the other night guards' reactions there's a lot of sharp stuff in there."

Yugi cringed. It took all he had not to vomit at the idea. "That's absolutely awful…"

The girl looked shyly at the ground, "I know… now. It never really occurred to me that they might be screaming in pain, not just protest at wanting to be a rule breaker…"

Yugi swallowed hard, "Toy Chika… Chichi? How can I help you and the others find peace?"

"I don't know."

"Then how do you know I even can?"

"The Marionette said so. And you can see me. Nobody else has ever been able to."

"The Marionette? Who is that?"

"Owner Cecil left him in the basement. We heard him say that he was too creepy, and not worth the investment to repair. But that's not fair! He wants to wander around too!"

"I'm sorry, Chichi. I don't know anything about animatronics, so I can't repair him… And, y'know, if his, uhm, mind is as cloudy as yours and the others'…"

"I understand." She looked up at him and smiled shyly, "I like when you call me Chichi. What's your name?"

"I'm Yugi."

"I like your name. I hope you don't get stuffed into a suit!"

Somehow her cuteness made that sentence even more terrifying. "Thanks, that makes two of us."

"Oh! One of the security guards from before used to wear a mask! Foxy said he could see right through it, but it fooled a lot of us. You should try it!"

"R-really? Did the ones it, fooled, ever figure it out?"

"Nope. Foxy even tried to tell us when he could see through it. But our facial recognition software is hard to argue with."

"Okay… thanks. Any other advice?"

"It's almost time. I have to go. If I have the mind to I'll come see you again tomorrow!"

"What? No, Chichi, wait-!" He watched her spirit evaporate, and in her place stood the tall and menacing Toy Chika. This close up, he finally took notice of her creepy cupcake. He hoped it wasn't possessed too, what with its own huge eyes.

She turned and walked away. Yugi stared after her until she turned the corner, out of sight. He checked the cameras. Everybody was in their place. He stood up and removed the gate , placing it in the corner of the room. He figured out how to unhook it from the battery just in time for the morning manager to walk in, "Mornin' Newbie! How was your first night? Hope it wasn't too creepy!" She laughed. "Nah, it wasn't that bad. James showed me his project, he's got me roped into helping with it." Yugi forced a laugh.

"Gah don't be afraid to tell him to do it himself. I can't even figure out why he keeps it here, it looks pretty done as far as portable electric fences go."

"Heh, well you know what they say. There's always room for improvement." Yugi handed over the keys and clocked out.

"Oh by the way, your friend was waiting out front. I told him he couldn't come in, but he seemed really worried about you. I told him he shouldn't be, but since he's here you might as well ride home with him right?"

"R-really? Thanks." Yugi pulled out his phone. 18 messages from Atem. 6 missed calls. He swore under his breath at remembering his broken promise.

He scribbled a quick note for James and taped it to the folded gate:

James-

I tried to take the battery home to charge it, but my boyfriend came to pick me up. I can't let him know that I'm helping with your project, but I'll try to find a way to charge it for you tomorrow! Sorry you have to pick up the slack today!

P.S. Text me at this number ASAP:

Yugi circled the building from the back entrance to the front. Just as expected, he saw a worried Atem staring into the building. "Hey, I'm really sorry I haven't replied! I had my phone silenced and forgot to check it." Yugi hoped the quickest path to forgiveness was a pre-emptive apology and the cutest apologetic look he could muster. Atem rushed over and wrapped his arms around him, "Yugi, I could smack you! Don't ever do that to me again! You knew I was already worried, silenced phone or not how could you forget to check in?"

"I'm sorry. I was so engrossed in my homework. I got it all done though!" He smiled, praying Atem wouldn't see through his lie.

Atem sighed in response. "Let's go get some coffee. I left work early to rush over here, I'm more tired than usual."

That makes two of us. He tried not to shudder at the déjà vu of the sentence he'd said roughly a half hour ago.

Nights one and two are eight pages each... hidden Slender reference? Nah just kidding, the FNAF lore has enough going on without Slenderman.

Hope you're enjoying it so far!