Hey guys! So yeah chapter 2. I'll try to post new chapters daily. It's funny I think I'm typing so much till I realize I didn't even go above 1,000 words. So I apologize on that and I'll make the chapter longer. Thank you again!

Chapter 2: Tear-Covered Backpack

After the fiasco with the door, I went to my bed and got ready to go. What do you bring for a night guard job? Huh. I grabbed a small backpack and put a flashlight, batteries, the beef jerky, and a pocketknife. The only reason I'm bringing that is because let's say something, does happen, I'll be prepared… I guess. I'm thinking too much about this. It's a children's pizzeria. Who would rob that, better yet break into it. Whatever, some people are fucked up anyway.

I assumed they would give me a uniform so I just put on my usual attire. I got my backpack with me, grabbed my car keys, turned the lights off and closed the door.

15 Minutes Later

Damn… I didn't expect the place to be so far. It was about 10 PM, when I was going to be given the "grand tour" of the pizzeria. I walked up to the glass doors noticing the various posters on the walls, "Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria! Where fantasy and Fun come to Life!" The poster showed the three animatronics: a bear, a chicken, and a bunny. What a odd combination…

I opened the door to a wave of different smells and sounds. It smelled mostly of sweat and pizza. There were kids screaming and laughing all over the place looking like they were having the time of their lives. I could see the stage with giant curtains tied up to the sides while the main attraction was out in front. The three animatronics were in the center area interacting with the kids.

"I see you were checking out the crew!"

I looked over to my left to see a women holding a clipboard looking at me.

"Yeah I was. They are quite the bunch aren't they?" I replied to her.

"They can be sometimes, but they are SO adorable right?"

She was super happy for some reason. It was kind of… what's the right word here? I guess disturbing. She stared at me, right I should respond.

"Eh. For little kids sure."

"Alright. Anyway why are you here?

Oh right. I haven't told her yet. "I called about the night guard shift remember?"

"Ah! Of course! Hi Mike. Let me get your uniform out real quick." She walked off around a corner and was gone. I walked up to one of the tables in the center. The kids didn't mind me; they were focused on the animatronics. I looked off towards the corner she walked too when I saw a mini stage. It was a couple rooms away so I couldn't see it clearly. It had small purple curtains with what looked like stars printed on them. I was looking closely when I saw it ripple. What?

Pain. Pain right in my ears. I held my ears and screamed. It was a like a robotic scream turned full volume right at my ears. I fell off my chair and went into fetal position hold my ears. The kids turned over and stared at me. Some of them started to look scared. The crew of animatronics looked at me before walking over.

"MIKE LEAVE" the robotic screech said over and over again. The bear animatronic went in front of me, with the bunny and chicken behind him. He reached his paw on my side. The voices stopped as I stared in the bears eyes. I got on my knees before regaining my bearings. The bear cocked his head to the side and looked at me. The bear looked… sad for me?

"Are you ok?" The bear said as I looked in shock. They can talk!? I was frozen. I brought my mind back to reality. It didn't take long for me to figure it's name. Freddy. Of course.

"Yeah I'm, uh, I'm fine." I replied still curious as to how this is happening.

"Great. What's your name buddy?" Freddy said to me with a smile.

"Mike, Micheal Schmidt"

Freddy stiffened. He stared at me for a second before getting back on his feet. "Mike, uh, have you been here before?"

"No, never. Why?"

"Just… curious"

Can I trust these robots? The thought entered my head. It ended when I saw my hands. They were soaked with blood from my ears.

"Where is the bathroom? I need to wash this off." I said too Freddy.

"Down the left corridor to the right." He said.

I slowed walked towards it. The kids all stared at me, including Freddy and his crew. I felt horrible. I must have ruined these kids day, and made a terrible impression for the animatronics. I saw the men's bathroom and walked in. I went over to the sink and washed my hands. I looked down at them while they were being washed. Red water getting sucked down the drain. I grabbed my backpack. The top of it was a little wet. What? When I looked back up I almost had a heart attack.

"Mike we have two minutes!" Foxy said as Mike walked out of Pirate's Cove and what Foxy said happened. Time stopped. Completely.

Mike and Foxy walked towards the dining area. Mike saw himself, looking towards the Cove with confusion in his eyes. "Alright Foxy, let's do it."

"Ok."

Foxy walked up to the side of the frozen Mike and started to speak when Mike gasped.

"FOXY HE'S COMING!" Mike screamed as Foxy turned towards him terrified.

"Shit…"Foxy muttered under his breath.

"Foxy scream or something just do it!"

Foxy was scared, confused, and freaked out. So he followed what Mike said to do. Foxy screamed right into the still Mike's ear. Just then time restarted, causing the entire scene to carry out. The Mike sitting in the chair screamed as he covered his ears. He fell off the chair and went into the fetal position. The kids and animatronics watched in abstract horror.

"Foxy you need to tell him to leave!"Mike whispered to Foxy as he approached the screaming Mike on the ground. Foxy laid a paw on Mike's head. He knew Mike wouldn't be able to feel him but it didn't matter to Foxy.

"I'm so sorry for this lad." Foxy said before doing as asked. "MIKE LEAVE!"

The Mike on the ground was crying now. His ears started to bleed. Foxy turned around to see the real Mike look at him. Foxy had a tear in his eye as he went over to the real Mike and hugged him.

"I'm sorry Mike…" Foxy said as he cried over Mike's shoulder.

Foxy released the real Mike before walking to the crying Mike. Foxy got on his knees and cried over him. Some of the tears hit his backpack.

Just then Freddy and the other animatronics looked over at the screaming and bloody Mike and walked towards him.

"Foxy. They will help me here. We need to go NOW." Mike said to the crying Foxy as they both made their way back towards Pirate Cove. Mike looked behind him to see Freddy kneeled down talking to the crying Mike.

"Thanks Freddy." Mike breathed out before stepping inside the Cove. Foxy, tear stricken, looked at Mike picked him up and started carrying him. They stared at each smiling, before materializing into thin air once again.

He watched them materialize away. He laughed to himself. It was too good to be true.

He enjoyed every second of it. The pain, the crying, the blood. He cherished the moment.

He had seen enough. He turned around and walked down the corridor…

Well guys here was the second chapter of Paradox. I have to admit to myself that this wasn't the best chapter. I will probably go back and re-edit the chapter eventually. Hopefully this was a good enough length for a chapter. Clocked in about 1,368 words this time. It was more than double the amount of words in the first chapter. Thanks so much for reading!