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I started to panic, all of the pieces coming together. She wasn't trying to save me…she was one of them! Her human like appearance had slowly started to cloud that fact. Fumbling to my feet, I finally answer her question. "It's…no…it's yours'?" The instructions had mentioned that it affected one of the animatronics but it never said which. Another laugh escaped her mouth, that human like laugh.

"And what's its purpose?"

I try to recall the details from my manager. "To…to…keep you calm." Her laughter fills the room again. "Is that what you were told?" I take the time to think, looking over her body language. She has no resemblance to the other animatronics. She's almost human but why? Why make her different? I continue to observe her, eyes only shifting for a moment to check my watch. She finally moves, distancing herself from me to pick up her music box. "It's only 4am…I'll never make it! Please…" I beg as she slowly approaches me. She extends the hand holding the box, "I will not harm you. Is that your desire?" I shiver, staring at the silent device. "Why are you giving me that? The song's over." She stands unmoving, hand still extended. I hesitate before taking the small device.

There is no movement on her part. She just stands, as if she is waiting for something. Even if I wanted to, I cannot bring myself to crank the handle. "Whoever holds the box is my master." She explains. "Your master? What the hell?" I process her words. She was part of a family establishment, was she not? Something about that seemed wrong. "Please remember, I am a marionette. I am made to serve. To make people happy." This game may be dangerous to play, but my participation was no longer optional. I wonder if she was smiling under that mask of hers. I'm finally able to look over her appearance, as safely as I could to avoid death. Nothing about her fit the threats of the other machines wandering.

"What is it you wish of me, Master?"

The options fly through my head. Being handed someone's free will is a large burden rather than a gift. I needed to start slowly. "How about you just sit here and stay with me?" She nods, waiting for my movement. I back up towards the wall and slide to the floor, the only seat due to the lack of chairs. She followed me, almost imitating me as she descended. I tensed a little as she placed herself under my right arm, leaning against me. My breath catches in my throat, but there is no movement in her body. Only her masked face turns up to look at mine, voiceless.

I couldn't help but wonder if a human face was hiding underneath to match her form. She has yet to move aside from a light swaying of her feet. Curiosity started to get the best of me. I placed the box by my side and reached for her mask, fingertips lightly grasping it. She tensed a little, a small shake in her frame. "Does this come off?" I say, no higher than a whisper. She nods slightly in response.

"Does Master wish for it to be removed?"

I nod in affirmation, choosing to leave out that the mask was a tad freaky. More than likely it was a safe thing not to say it for my own safety.

"Yes, M-Master."

She stutters a bit, using both of her hands to pull the mask away from her face. It was only held to her face by a string concealed in her hair. As it falls to the floor, I take in her face for the first time. Honestly, I had to remind myself that she wasn't a living girl. Her hair is short and dark, bangs slightly covering her eye if she tilted her head. Her irises seemed to be an odd mix of blue and green, with a distinct ring of gold in each. It still made me wonder why she was built to look the way she had been. She must have noticed my observations as she broke the silence.

"I'm built to be indistinguishable from a human female."

I lightly stroke her hair, noting the authenticity. "You're kinda cute this way." She momentarily breaks eye contact. "I was not before?" I instantly correct myself and assure her that that was not what I meant. "I mean that you shouldn't hide such a nice face under that mask." She nods. "When I'm on the floor, I put it on the side of my head." She explains, placing the mask in her lap. "On the floor?" I didn't recall her moving at all when I had seen her, "As part of the show?" She shakes her head. "I'm not part of the show. That's everyone else. I'm a waitress somewhat, as well as a side attraction like Mangle." A 'side attraction' was not the phrase I would have used.

"Because you're…a puppet?"

She nodded, kneeling to face me, looking almost sad.

I reach up and lightly touch her cheek in comfort, causing her to tense a little. "With no will of your own?" I ask. She shakes her head slightly. "I'm made to be controlled. Usually the children are my masters. The music box keeps me tame for them." Her cheek never leaves my hand. More than likely, she doesn't understand that it's a gesture of comfort.

"You don't seek freedom?"

She just stares blankly. "I have never known anything like that. I'm meant to be controlled. The children can be abusive. Look at what happens to Mangle." Her eyes lower, "She's never been the same since that option was put into play." I finally retract my hand and pick up the music box. She didn't seem to be in a threatening state, so I don't bother winding it up. I remember briefly that the manager mentioned that the newer model of Foxy, renamed by the staff as "Mangle" was almost like a build your own animatronic game. If she was a waitress, how could she be a side attraction? "So you just serve?" I asked. She shook her head.

"As long as they turn the handle of the box, my programming stays in control. And by 'in control,' I mean that they make me dance or carry them around. Whatever they order me to do. The worst has been allowing myself to be hit over the head by a pizza tray. Some maintenance was done after that."

"Oh…" I manage to let out, easily picturing abusive children. "I-Is there any way I can help?" She looked at me, computing my words. "I don't understand. You want to help me?" I nodded, not really sure where my train of thought was going. I wasn't manipulating her, per say, but she was the only ally I seemed to have. I needed to have at least one to make this job easier. I nod again, reaching out to place my hands on her shoulders. "I do."

"You…you do?" She smiles at me, even if she doesn't seem to fully understand. "I do, it that's okay. You'd probably like freedom more." My fingers slowly start to rub her shoulders. "But…you barely know me." She stated, her head tilting to the side. Her eyes were glowing, as if she was scanning my face. I needed to figure out how to explain to a machine while figuring out myself just how this could work. "I…I like how you looked at me. And kept me safe. You could have let Bonnie kill me." This wasn't an exaggeration. There must have been a reason that she was so fascinated with me. Her coding is mainly towards children's satisfaction. Something made her come for me, and it didn't appear to be malicious.

"And I tricked you." She said, as her eyes returned to normal. "Not a hard feat, but" I pulled her back to me so she was in my lap, "when you tricked me, you didn't fully take advantage of it. You tricked me so you'd regain control, right?" She sat there, confused by the sudden closeness. I wanted to show her she could trust my words and I could only imagine that her programming left her mental state more innocent minded. "Yes…I didn't want the others to hurt you. But if I was nice, they'd see through it." She explained. Hearing that the animatronics caused bodily harm at night was nothing new to me. They were in free range mode and programmed to protect the children, including build in sexual predator and criminal data base into their eyes. It was often why they just seemed to stare into your eyes for no reason. "T-Thank you," escapes my lips as I run a finger through her hair.

"You're welcome. The risk of physical assault is not just towards you. They'd hurt me too." Her eyes seem to darken a bit. "They hurt each other? Why?" There had been no mention of that in the instructions. "You have the seen the older models of Chica and Bonnie? Not so much Freddy and Foxy though. I mean, the newer Bonnie isn't even the same color." I just look into her eyes, watching slight flickering of colors resembling the base unit of a computer. "Why? Why do they want me dead? I'm just the guard! I-I mean, technically I keep you all safe…How would I even stop anything?" The best information on how to handle the adversities is to go right to the source. She looks to the side and points at my discarded flashlight.

"That flashlight…messes with our circuits. They see you as a threat. Guards keep us from harming ourselves and people."

Nothing comes out of my mouth. I had always wondered what the point of this job in the first place if it wasn't to keep someone from breaking in and stealing. Then again, good luck stealing one of these animatronics. That explained the flashlight, even though I typically didn't leave my desk. "But you're different. They see you as a member of the family, as it were." She stood up at my statement. Before I could ask her what she was doing, she pulled up the bottom of her dress high enough to reveal her abdomen. My eyes darted away for a second, before mentally screaming at myself that not only did she have panties (Freddy Fazbear brand to be exact – an odd detail for an animatronic) and thigh highs on – she WASN'T REAL.

"This scar happened to me because of Foxy. He did this when the other guard was here."

I stare albeit partially because she was exposing her body but it was the scar I came to focus on. Her skin really did appear to be soft. The scar was a slightly raised line, with another matching one towards the center of her abdomen. The scars were the result of welding the metal. "His hook went in one hole and out the other." She explained, before releasing her hem so her clothing went back to how it was before. I had slightly cringed at what she said. The experience sounded painful and due to her frail form compared to the other machines, damaging her seemed easy. Then again, I wasn't even sure if she could feel pain.

"The other animatronics have some issues in their software where on occasion they are unable to distinguish me from patrons. Occasionally, they will come for me. When I'm threatened, my inner hostility comes out. So the music box is to protect me as well as keep my programming in check." She lowered herself back into my lap, "I'm here to serve the children. They are there to demand their attention." Her hair fell in front of her eyes, seeming almost sad. "You really don't have any joy…" I mutter lowly. She didn't reply, only leaned forward as her head came to rest on my shoulder. The tension was gone at her movements. She didn't seem as dangerous as the others could be. She wouldn't be the ambassador to the children if that were the case. Something told me though that behind that innocent face was the most powerful animatronic in the building. Why else have a solo object to keep her under control? A forced addiction. Right now, she had someone to aid in the distraction but for how long? How long could she truly go without it?

For tonight, it had been enough. Before I knew it, the alarm on my handheld signaled that it was 6am and my shift was over. She instantly removed herself from my lap and looked to the ceiling, as if she was looking at something. I stood as well, keeping an eye on her face. "What is it?" I ask, a slight buzzing coming from her.

"Just making sure they are all returning to their proper place."

I didn't bother to ask why she knew or even how she could tell. All I knew was that my shift was over tonight and it had been the easiest one so far. All thanks to her. Her attention drifts back towards me.

"Until tomorrow night?"

At first, I say nothing. I would be back the next night but the question was: should I rely on her to save me from now on? She gave me a legitimate smile for the first time since our introduction. Something about that smile gave me the answer I wanted.

"When I come tomorrow and wind the box, I want you to come to me."

"Yes, Master."

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