Foxy
The soles of my shoes scrapped the wet asphalt while trudged my way inside. My shift started a bit later today, giving my time to sleep in and do some shopping before hand. Even when I wasn't at work though, my mind was here. I wouldn't say I was excited by any means, to go to work but knowing there was someone here who genuinely seemed to want to be around me helped a bit. I hadn't felt that way in a long time.
"Hey Penny, how's it going?" My attention turned to the middle-aged woman running the ticket booth. Vincent was the only one who seemed remember my real name while everyone else just read my nametag.
"Good Karon, it kinda looks like a storm's brewing huh?" Trying to get the small talk out of the way.
"I'm sure," was all she said clearly not interested in having any sort of conversation beyond hello.
"Well I'll see you around, gotta go put my stuff away." With her eyes fixed on the computer screen, all she could offer me was a muffled noise in response. Hanging up my jacket and bag in the broom sized area that counted as a breakroom. I huffed leaving towards the crowded party room. So begins another day.
Halfway through my shift a strange thing occurred. The whole party room, hell maybe the whole restaurant started humming to life. All the kids were shouting together like adults at a football game. Chanting one thing over and over so loudly and out of sync, it began to give me a headache. With my face scrunched in annoyance, I made my way to Karon at the front.
"What's going on?" I almost yelled over the noise.
"Oh, they're just getting ready for the animatronics to come out." She replied unfazed by the high-pitched voices in the other room. What was she talking about, only having been here three days I thought I had seen all the animatronics.
"Just go and see for yourself," she said.
Moving back into the room the chanting voices began to blending into one distinct word. Or name to be precise.
"Foxy"
Still confused, I recalled the three animatronics I knew of and never recalled seeing a fox-shaped one. Maybe it was new? Or really old so they only ever brought it out once in awhile? Rounding the corner to see all the kids had gathered around a small stage set aside from where the other animatronics performed. It had thick purple curtains covering it completely. Seconds later a metallic click silenced the room. Slowly the currents began moving apart. I noticed for the first time that there was a sign in front that read Pirate's Cove. Now the currents were fully retracted and there standing still in the center of the small circular stage was the fourth animatronic. It was a faded red color, an eye patch covering one eye and a silver hook gleamed at its side. It's eye opened, its head began looking from side to side mimicking the other three when they were on stage. The kids erupted in screams and laughs all stretching their arms out trying to touch its feet. Meanwhile, one poor employee had to play keep away with the most ambitious ones trying to climb on stage. I was about to move closer to get a better look at this foxy character when my name was hollered from behind me.
"Penny I need you to take over in the kitchen." It was the part-time manager who had yet to introduce themselves to me.
"Oh um, I've never done that, I was told I was just going to be out here and-"
"Sorry I need someone to cover it and everyone else is busy, you're going to have to." He said already trying to move away to Karon's desk.
"But sir! I don't know how to…" I called hoping he would reconsider.
"It's fine just put the pizza's in the oven they are pre-cooked. Just make sure they don't have freezer burn, now hurry I don't have anyone back there right now." With that, he was gone. My hand hovered in the air silently pleading for him to chose another but at this point it was useless. I walked nervously through the kitchen doors, this ought to be an experience. Serving hundreds of kids cheap pizza. Prying open the freezer. Scratch that, serving hundreds of kids cheap and out of date pizza. What could go wrong?
11:00 PM
"Eww." Groaning, I peeling yet another piece of cheese from my hair. Having made more pizzas than I thought possible and now currently trying to rid myself of the pizza sauce and rubber cheese. Screw the checklist, If they expected me to do all that and clean up afterward they were dead wrong. The only thing I had managed to do was a quick clean up of the party room and the security reboot. Everything else well, Damn, sorry boss totally slipped my mind. Turning off the water and dabbing my hands dry with paper towels I went out to check the party room one last time. It looked "decent" at least. I hadn't put out plates and balloons for tomorrow but one time wouldn't get me in too much trouble. My focus flickered to Pirates Cove. The curtains were quickly drawn back to their normal state soon after Foxy was done his show. Not that I would really know, I was busy burning pizzas in the back. My lips quirked to the side. Since being banished to the kitchen I never got a good look at it. Why did they keep it separate from the others? Why did it only come out once or twice a week? These questions plagued me while moving towards the small stage. With time to spare until Vincent showed up and the security system resetting most of the cameras wouldn't be functional for at least ten minutes.
"No harm in looking" I mumbled out loud.
My fingers wrapped around the edge of the curtain , I could feel the wire within that kept it so straight. A few tugs only moved it a centimeter. There must have been a mechanic in place to keep kids from peeking behind it. Putting my weight into it this time, with one foot wedged on the structure of the stage I held my breath and pulled hard. My fingers ached as they dug into the wiring, my foot slipping. Moments away from giving up and SNAP. I stumbling back as the current shot open about a foot. A small section was bent from my grip, the current shifted back and forth whatever stoppers had it place before seemed broken.
"Shit," I whispered glad no one was around to witness me breaking stuff. Not that I wouldn't get in trouble tomorrow. It was dark inside not letting me see much from where I was standing. Having already broke something to see Foxy I might as well get what I came for. Moving closer, putting my palms on the stage's edge my head leaned forward into the darkness. There. Even with the dim lighting, I could only just make out the metallic toes of Foxy. He only had two on each foot it seemed. My hand stretched out, could he move from the stage or was he was rooted to it? Fingertips brush the cool metal, it didn't have the red coating like the rest of him as if whoever built him wasn't trying to hide the fact he was a machine. I looked up to where the head would be. If only there was more light I'd be able to look at that too. I considered grabbing a flashlight from the back office before my attention faltered suddenly. Above me in the darkness was a small blinking light. I tilted my head to one side, my eyes narrowing. I couldn't tell if it was part of the animatronic or it was coming from behind. A stage light or a camera maybe. My shoulders tensed at a noise in front of me. There was nothing. I mean nothing, where did the foot go? Light burst into my vision, my breath cut short as I stared into the small bright orb above me. It illuminated a red cylindrical snout, black nose and...teeth. Adrenaline pumped into me as I tried to back up, but faster still something shot out towards me with a resounding thwack. Pain shot from my hand where a metallic foot held it firmly to the stage. No.
"Let go!" I nearly screamed my voice cracking from shock. Uselessly pulling my arm backwards in a panic. Looking back into the spotlight that was his eye, the half of his jaw that was visible rattled open and close, the old metal parts making it sound almost like an animal growling. What the hell is happening? I yanked again at my arm fear overwhelming me. This time, my hand slipped, leaving my fingers to bare the weight alone. The pressure was unimaginable. Now I screamed.
"Stop! Let go!" The room erupted in noise, Foxy's mouth hung open his eye patch flying up as he let out an awful sound like metal grinding on a chalkboard. Pulling with all the strength I could muster, my fingers ripped themselves from underneath his foot the numb pain forgotten as I fled palms pressed against my ears. I stopped dead when I heard a loud thump behind me.. He was off the stage, standing less than 15 feet away his eyes staring straight into mine. Before I had time to think he lunged flying through the air his hand and hook outstretched. Eyes blazing. Ducking on instinct feeling the air shift above me as he sailed over crashing into the table behind me. I didn't wait to look, my body moved on its own seeing as my mind was blind with fear. I stumbled into the next room pausing for what felt like an eternity looking at my options. I needed to hide, he was too fast there was no way I would make it to the door. Plastic cups rattled against the floor in the next room spurring me forward. Jungle gym it was. I grasped the rope ladder pulling myself up. Each time my foot slipped through a gap my heart lurched. I scrambled into the tunnels not a second to spare as he shot into the room on all fours. Shoving my palm to my mouth I stopped breathing and watched as his head snapped back and forth, his nails scratching the tile floor. The long ears shifted as if they worked like a real animals. Could they hear? I prayed silently the answer was no. My throat tightened, my lungs were screaming for air. I opened my mouth wide trying desperately to let out the quietest breath possible. But I was shaking, my eyes glistened and my lungs wanted to heave out heavy hyperventilating breaths. Don't cry. Don't cry. I repeated inhaling slowly. My eyes snapped shut when his yellow bulbs turned in my direction the growling noise he made early started up again. Go away. Please go away. I mouthed holding my breath once again. Then there was silence.
Slowly opening my eyes and let my lungs release air. I peeked through the round holes of the playhouse. The room was empty, The lights flickering above showed no sign of him. What the hell, where is he? Mentally scolding myself for closing my eyes, now I didn't even know where he was. I stayed silent, listening. Wait, did I? Laying against the tunnel I felt it again. Not so much a sound as a vibration. Again, it felt as if -no it couldn't be... The jungle gym rattled again, this time, the undeniable sound of metal carving into plastic. Quickly sliding into a crouch I got ready to move. But which way? I held in a squeak of terror as the tunnel jumped underneath me. Where! Where is he coming from? That's when I heard it, Foxy's cackle. My head snapped to my right where I could see the tunnels opposite of me. The plastic was arched, bending under weight it was never meant to hold. My mind screamed at me, MOVE. Lurching into gear I stumbling my way down the tunnel all the while hearing Foxy do the same. The slide, it was the quickest way out but-rounding the corner. Halfway down the tunnel sat the entrance to the slide, a few feet further two golden orbs blinked at me. I didn't stop, Pushing forward with my back scraping the roof. Foxy tried to lunge but he was too big for the tunnels. Seeing him crammed in the small tube made him all the more disturbing. His joints cracked as he shook his way through the plastic, the closer I got the harder he thrashed like a wild animal. Every instinct I had was telling me to turn around. It wasn't possible not with him so close, not with these tunnels so small. Tears leaked down my face as I crawled closer to him the tunnel a arms length away. My panic grew. He was moving faster with each second. Mimicking my movements to pick up speed. Just keep moving, almost there. My fingers grasped the edge of the tunnel, Foxy's hand shot out suddenly, his claws stuck in the plastic dangerously close to me as I pulled myself inside the slide. My breathing was quick and rapid as I tried to push myself to get going. My sweaty palms licked across the surface uselessly. Foxy screamed behind me the whole thing shaking madly as he slammed his teeth into spot my feet had been seconds ago. Digging my elbows into the slide a pit in my stomach swelled as I finally began to fall down. Gravity alone helping me escape.
As soon as I saw the light of the restaurant I was on my feet and taking off towards the nearest room. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears, felt my lungs pushing against my ribcage. My vision was blurred from the line of tears rushing down my face as I burst into the kitchen. Only having got as far as the fridge I heard the rush of footsteps, swinging open the door as a shield a scream escaped when his weight rammed into it not a second later. Weapon, I need something to defend myself. I grabbed the first thing I saw. A milk carton full of water. My brain stutter, Maybe water will short him out? Electricity right? He was up on two legs again, the fridge door gliding closed now that I wasn't holding it open. Without hesitating, the gallon plummeted straight at him exploding on his chest. Nothing. No sparks, no short out. Just a few seconds extra to think of something else. My mind wasn't working right, I was breathing too hard barely able to think let alone move fast enough. A knife glinted on the counter between us. Would it even pierce him? Lunging for the knife I was greeted by a searing pain across my shoulder. My scream was short and pitiful as my body toppled backwards onto the hard kitchen floor. My shoulder burned as I slammed myself against the cabinets. Dammit. I sobbed out loud,
"No, don't! Stay back!"
I was dead. So dead. Defenseless, on the floor. Dead. My pulse rushed in my head making everything hazy. I'm going to die.
Everything went black. No. not yet. Everything had gone dark. I could still see the light of Foxy's eyes but only what was reflected off the tiles. Something large was in between me and that death machine. My chest rose and fell unsteadily as I struggled for air. I tried to focus, tried to see what was going on. I saw foxy blink, recognition? He turned and left as if suddenly realizing he wasn't supposed to be here. My vision darkened for a moment, I can't breathe. My cheek was pressed to the floor. Had I fallen over? I saw a boot...or a foot. It stood near the bloody water that trailed from my shoulder. My blood? Looking up my eyes glazing over only being able to distinguish a large silhouette towering over me. I could have sworn it had...bunny ears?