All the stories are true

by Dayfal

A fan of the "Five Nights at Freddy's" franchise is brought in a world where the events of his beloved video game series have yet to take place. Taken in by the Emilys, he slowly adjusts to his new life and tries to stop the murders and save those that would have originally died as well as stopping William Afton, all while he figures out the games' extensive lore from memory.

17. Chapter 17

The Emily siblings realize they have each other for therapy, Cassidy sees that her dream has left its mark on her, Elizabeth is a good daughter and sister, Matthew is worried for his puppet's future and William walks into a bar.

Dark0000: Thank you 8D! Matt is going through some tough stuff but there's still hope for him! However, I have to warn you that I love torturing protagonists, so expect to see him abused a lot in this story. Mentally, that is.

This chapter will have some edginess in it, but not as much as the last one. Hope you guys will like it ^_~. Trigger warning for mentions of mental illnesses and violent fantasies.

Act III – Catalysts

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Creatures are waiting, anticipating, eyes revealing a glow awaiting everyone to come home.

"Matt." her stare was pleading and her voice was soft. She didn't know what she could do, but she didn't want her brother to suffer in silence. She would offer her shoulder for him to cry on if he so wished, but so far, they hadn't managed to get him to utter a word since the visit. It tore her up inside to see him bottling his feelings like that, and she wished he would just talk to her. She might not have anything meaningful to say that would help, but she could at least provide him some comfort and let him know that despite what he may think, he was not alone. He would never be alone as long as he was part of her family, and he would always be part of it. Always.

He could share his burdens with her and she would happily accept them as her own, but… she couldn't help someone who couldn't help themselves. Matthew needed to open up by himself to be able to receive aid, and he was not the type to do so.

The boy stayed silent, leaving Charlie to sigh, rest her head on his shoulder, and hug his arm. They both sat on the couch on Mari's thin yet supple thighs, who had wrapped her slender hands around them both, acting as a pillow for the siblings, having seen that the visit did not go as planned. The puppet sung quietly as it held the two children.

Her father had attempted to talk to the boy while inside the car, but had given up before they even arrived home and headed straight to the basement when they did, not saying a word. Charlie's mouth had hung open upon seeing her father refusing to bat an eye, and for a moment she'd been about to snap and shout after him to not just walk away, but she had controlled herself.

She regretted doing so however. The girl wouldn't have imagined that her father, a man so caring and kind- her role model for how she wanted to be in life-, could just walk away from a boy he had made part of his family. It was like he had betrayed her, stabbed her in the back and pushed her off a cliff. It burned her heart her to see her father being so cruel, and on some level, she did not want to admit that was what had happened, but she couldn't deny the truth. It wasn't her that was the only one betrayed though, because her dad had essentially ended the trust that Matthew had for him.

The sentimental part of the girl rationalized that maybe he didn't know what to do, but the logical one argued that neither did she, and yet she hadn't chosen to so blatantly abandon Matt in his time of need. Her dad isolated himself instead of trying to support his son, and that angered her beyond belief. How could he turn his back so easily, after fighting in court to get custody over her brother, only to treat him like he didn't exist? Did the man not realize how much this hurt? If it affected her in such a way, Charlie couldn't imagine the pain her brother was going through. To not have the support of the single adult in your life. She wouldn't be surprised if Matt grew a resentment towards her father, because she was certainly starting to develop one, as much as she loved and revered the man.

She wasn't sure if her brother even acknowledged that it had happened at all, and perhaps that was for the best. In her mind, it would've been better for Matthew to not realize the man that had taken him under his care was just so… unfair.

She wouldn't- couldn't let this go. She would demand her father explain his actions and apologize for acting so irresponsible. The fact that she, at the age of eight, could understand how bad he had been said a lot she'd have rather not learned about the kind of man her dad really was. Charlie wasn't blind to it, no matter how much she adored her father. What he had done was wrong, and he owed the boy an apology at minimum.

"…We did this once, you know." Matthew interrupted her thoughts. She and the Puppet both perked up, their attention on the boy. "Before, I mean. Um, I was pretty bad at the time and uh, we went to get- t- to see a therapist. I- I guess it wasn't just for me though. Uh, you know, my folks uh, well, they weren't really the best of uh… friends? Yeah, they fought a lot, so… we went there as this sort of family therapy thing." Charlie nodded, encouraging him to continue. Matthew leaned into Mari's embrace further. "It… I didn't really like it. The things that lady made us do were like, stupid, with um, saying what stuff we've accomplished in the past month and things like that, but… my parents just… they couldn't keep from fighting. Even when we went there the lady would ask them crap and they'd start fighting right in front of her `cause their opinions were different or whatever. Dad didn't like what mom thought and she was tired of hearing him saying he was always right… We stopped going after about four months because it proved to be just a massive waste of time. They couldn't go for three minutes without shouting... Nothing we did really improved anything."

"Matt… I'm sorry." there wasn't much she could say. Charlie couldn't assure him that his situation would get better because his parents were gone. She wanted to be able to say the right things to make it better, to have all the answers… but she didn't. All she could offer was her pity.

"Thank you." he sighed, closing his eyes. "…I think t- that if it wasn't for me they would've split… So anyway, that was how it was. But I loved them, `cause despite the fact that not two days passed without hearing them argue over the pettiest things and ruining everyone's moods they still tried to make it work. And they did love me. They weren't like, negligent, just kind of immersed in their own little worlds where they were the center, you know?... But they just pretended that it was all fine. They liked acting like they didn't argue, all smiles and jokes and whatever, and they'd treat me like I couldn't hear them yelling from upstairs. But I could see it on their faces, even though they were good actors… and I was so tired of waking up feeling okay only to become bitter and feeling like shit thanks to them, not having the energy to get out of bed, or my room. It was even worse when that anger was directed at me, `cause they really had a way with words… When I found something I liked doing they found a way to- to- to tear it apart and make me lose interest…" Mari let out a soft chime, and the girl could feel her eyes beginning to water.

"S- So, when I heard that they wanted to go to a therapist I- I was happy, because I thought we were finally going to get better, and we could stop pretending that we were fine. But it didn't work out and I…" Matt thickly swallowed what he was going to say. His voice was getting more strained as he kept speaking. She was about to tell him to stop as she had heard enough and was proud of him for mustering the courage to open up to her when he cut her off. "I was excited to start this thing, you know, `cause I thought this time it would be different, that since it'd just be about me, I could say what I wanted and how I felt without the baggage from others, but I guess I went too far. Flew too close to the sun or whatever… It is my fault that she refused any more sessions, but that's what happens when you open up to people. They're so focused on hiding themselves that- when others speak what they really feel inside they can't handle it, because it's the truth…" tears were dropping down his cheeks little by little, but he didn't react to them. She reached up to wipe them away, her lips trembling, and the Puppet did the same for her since she too was crying by this point.

"Maybe I should've just lied. At least then I might've gotten some uh- invested advice from her and she wouldn't have refused more sessions." Matthew faltered, but looked at her after everything, a gesture that showed just how strong he was, to be able to face her after this kind of confession. Charlie couldn't be prouder of the boy. "I'm tired, Charlie. Tired of pretending I'm fine, and I'm so, so sorry for putting you through this. You didn't ask to deal with my problems, and you don't deserve this when all you've done is be the best sister I could've ever hoped for. I mean, you- you just keep restoring my faith in humanity, you know. That's how I feel…" it was too much to take anymore, and the girl merely pulled him into a hug, holding the back of his head and letting him cry.

"You don't have to pretend, Matt, or suffer alone. Please don't feel bad about it. And don't apologize. It wasn't fair what happened to you today, or back then, but you can always come to me and I promise I'll be there. I won't ever turn you away. Please, don't suffer in silence, Matt. I'm here, and I'm not leaving." she felt him nod feebly.

"S- See. This is what I mean. Y- You're so decent… and good, and what do I- I put you through in return? I just made you cry… For what? `Cause I feel bad? `Cause a little sorry, no can do by some lady made me sad? I'm a whiny idiot who's not worth the effort. The f- fact that you haven't go- gotten tired o- of me is"

"-Stop lying. You're my brother, Matthew Emily, who I love and cherish and wish the best for, understand?" she said it with such conviction, like it was a final statement, an indisputable truth that he couldn't deny. Matt froze for a moment, and then relaxed. "And who honestly cares? It's healthy to cry. I'm not letting you do it on your own, Matt. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not, because without you I wouldn't have a reason to… smile every day… Sometimes you gotta stop holding it all in and just let go. So just cry as long as you want, I'm not going anywhere until you're feeling better. And don't say shit like that, you're more worth it than you can ever imagine." she whispered, earning a chuckle out of him.

"Look how bad of an influence I am on you." he said meekly.

"Please, I learned how to swear when I first met Michael. He wouldn't stop cussing every few minutes, so don't you go blaming yourself for it. Or anything for that matter. You've got stuff that you have to deal with that you can't be blamed for. It's not your fault, and you're more than allowed to feel sorry for it." he went to respond but she continued before he had the chance. "You're not a burden, Matthew." there was a pause, and the boy seemed like he had given up on his argument by the way he was now holding her. She had, and would tell him this as many times as it took for him to start believing it.

"…That's kind of you, but… I- I feel that if- f I let go of the lid for even a second I'd do thin- things I'd later regret, y- you know." he coughed. "Really, really bad things… that I'd rather not think about…"

"Then you just won't. You're gonna be fine. I know how hard it is to believe that, it is, but I'm gonna be with you every step of the way, alright?" the boy pulled back, his eyes puffy, looking as if he was about to reply, but then he changed his mind and hugged her again.

She cried with him, and they didn't stop for about an hour until they ran out of tears, and instead sobbed themselves to sleep. The dam that kept in the suppressed emotions for months now had at long last cracked, and she was glad that it finally did so. Both of them needed this. It was better to unload and let the emotions flow later than never, so they let them, and by the end of it they were okay, just as she had promised. Mari carried them to their respective rooms, kissing their foreheads and wishing them goodnight.

The Puppet protectively embraced its little ones. They were both so full of life yet so small in its arms. So young and already going through enough suffering. Mari almost cried with them, but stopped itself. It didn't want to further add to their hurt by appearing weak. It held the two tight, letting the children cry their shared pain into its fabric. It didn't mind, because the two angels in its arms both needed a strong pillar of support, since their dear father could not be bothered to be there for them. The idiot. A coward, choosing to hide away instead of doing what a father should. These two deserved so much better than him. Someone that was this cold and detached did not deserve children, and most definitely did not deserve them.

The Puppet's mask frowned deeply at the door that led to the house's basement. The green of its optics shined brighter, and Mari swore it would make the man that had given it life pay.

o0o

She wasn't feeling well. For two weeks now. It wasn't that she was sick, but since waking up that morning she had felt… incomplete. It was as if a pressure on her chest was preventing her from breathing correctly, this sort of weight that she couldn't lift. She didn't really remember what she had dreamed the night before Friday, except for the golden rabbit stabbing her, but Cassidy didn't know how it had come to that, or where the distorted version of her friend had been during the whole time. All she remembered was the stab, falling to the floor and fading away. If she tried to recall anything else her mind came up empty. Like a large chunk of her memory had been taken out. She almost thought she was imagining it, but she wasn't the type to do that. No, Cassidy knew something was missing from her mind. It felt like a very important piece of information, one that would define her very being if she had access to it.

But she didn't, and the fact that what had happened had been deleted from her memory had been bugging her nonstop. It was almost all she had been thinking about for the past two weeks. That, and the faint but still visible scar on her abdomen. Thankfully, her parents hadn't noticed it, because if they did, she'd be locked in the house, forbidden from going outside ever again. She loved them greatly, but they were real pieces of work.

It didn't hurt, and it looked as if discolored tissue had simply been painted over her skin instead of being actual scar tissue. A line that was meant to validate what had happened in her dream. Cassidy was alright physically, which made the fact that the scar had showed up and was stuck to her skin like a watermark even more out of the ordinary. This didn't just happen without a logical explanation, but the girl was having no luck finding what that explanation was. Whenever she stared at the small scar in the mirror, she'd be reminded of the first day of school, when Matthew had had his breakdown and had been unable to see, because apparently in his nightmare his eye had been gouged out by a golden rabbit, the same one that stabbed her. On Thursday she'd told the dummy about her dreams, and the next day a scar had manifested itself on her body, just like Matthew had come to school with a red eye that day.

As reasonable as she would've liked to be, this was unnatural, too freakish to be oblivious to. What Matt had said, about the two of them likely being haunted was starting to seem truer and truer. She hadn't particularly pegged him as the type to be superstitious, what with his affinity for tech and other geek stuff, but she guessed that just because he was a guy of "science" that didn't automatically make him rejecting of the supernatural. At this point she was inclined to agree with him, even though she hadn't asked for clarification on what that signified. Since being his friend for many months now she'd learned that if he ever had a sort of prediction about how things would go then he would more often than not be spot on with it- notwithstanding him claiming to see into the future. Cassidy had learned to trust his opinion on a bunch of subjects because of said quality, since, as clueless as he looked, Matt knew a lot of things about a lot of stuff, and if that was his conclusion on what was happening to them then he was probably right, as absurd and insane as it was.

It irked her that she just didn't know exactly what was going on. Perhaps it was the need for control that she inherited from her parents, but the idea that some entity had invaded her mind and meddled with her memories made the girl want to strangle whoever was responsible. It was made worse by the fact that the following dreams had been what she'd come to know as regular, with Matthew doing his usual weird crap and acting eerie before she could awake. Not much for her to do in that regard.

Given how she enjoyed wearing baggy clothes she had an easy time concealing her scar. Cassidy didn't want to imagine what her parents would do if they found out about it, and just how paranoid they'd be. Well, it wasn't like this was the first time she was hiding something from them, so she wasn't worried they'd notice it. They didn't really notice anything ever being wrong with her, being so absorbed in the flawless image that they liked to pretend their family was.

At least they didn't make her wear dresses while in public, but she was oh so tired of the princess spiel. They acted like they were doing it for her own sake when they were the ones who benefited from their daughter acting like a "proper young lady should". She despised all of the wealthy gatherings she was forced to attend where she couldn't let loose like everybody should at a party because she had to be around the other loaded kids, those that were ideal for her to socialize with, in her mother's words. It was a miracle that she didn't go to a private school. She would've killed someone if that were the case. But what sucked most was that she was expected to be friends with who her parents wanted her to be. The way they would coo and tease her when some rich kid took an interest in her made her blood boil, and hearing them say things like "those two would make the perfect couple" just made Cassidy want to search for the nearest sharp object and impale them all with it.

She'd never be allowed to have a sleepover or anything of the sort with Matt for example, because he wasn't up to her folk's standards. Although, Cassidy wouldn't really want the two of them to spend time at her place anyhow because even if that were possible her best friend would be made uncomfortable by her father when he started asking questions about what Matthew's dad's income was, like that was a totally okay thing to ask, or by her mother when she would go on a rant about how her little girl was so much higher in status and importance than him, and how he should be grateful Cassidy even looked his way. And she couldn't go to his place because mommy always needed to know where her baby girl was, what she'd do there, with who, and for how long.

Yeah, her parents were petty assholes, and while what she was describing hadn't actually ever happened, she knew those would be their exact reactions. It was safe to say that Cassidy had a ton of pent-up aggression because of them. Aggression that, when combined with her frustration with her dreams, caused her to lash out more easily. The girl already had a short fuse, so she could stand other people's nonsense even less now, and with Matt's idiot classmate thinking it was fun to bother her after their last encounter she felt as though she'd soon snap.

Cassidy wasn't certain it would help, but she'd make it a point to tell Matthew about the scar today. Besides the fact that he was the only one she could confide in… there was no one she trusted as much as she did the boy. Maybe that was the result of never having close connections with kids her age until now, but she found most people to be fakes, so the authenticity of her friend added to the trust she had for him. He didn't have something to prove, and despite the unforeseen popularity he had gotten he didn't mean to stand out. He was a guy trying to do his own thing, and that elevated him in her eyes more than any high status could.

The girl wholly detested those that put up a front for people to idolize when inside they were just as miserable as the rest, and it was difficult to find those that didn't belong to that well of toxicity and were genuine, even if they weren't perfect or even close to being good. She respected the honest kinds of people, and she would be there for her friend just as she knew he would for her. Cassidy could count on Matthew.

Shaking her head, she made to open the car door to step outside only to be stopped by her dad's overly sweet voice.

"Have a nice day, honey. Make sure to not get into trouble, okay?" she rolled her eyes, not facing the man so he wouldn't see her annoyed features.

"Yes, father, have a nice day as well." the girl kept her tone even, not wanting to sound irritated lest she'd be subjected to a lengthy lecture before the whole school.

While the main car her dad drove, one of five, was fancy and eye-catching, at least it wasn't a limo. She would die from shame if she had to come to school in that. God forbid, because a limo would be the last push she'd need to run away from home and never come back, fallout be damned.

Cassidy got out, closing the door and refusing to turn around to wave back at her old man, making her way to the school's entrance.

As she entered the courtyard after a long, painful hour of math, she spotted the one person that could lift her mood sitting on a bench next to a girl. Cassidy tuned in to what they were saying as she approached from behind.

"-Oh, and you love to pretend that no one has caught your eye." in response he took a bite out of his apple.

"I'm not pretending, Charlie, because no one has." he said through a mouthful of fruit.

"Right… you know, I would've bought that story had I not known just how much time you spend with her."

"Just `cause we spend time together doesn't mean the rumors are true. We're friends." Emily rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Mhm, and I'm head over heels for Carlton. Really, Matt, there's nothing wrong with having a crush." her friend sighed, holding his chin in his hands while resting his elbows on his knees.

"You like being a tease, don't you? And now, since you brought this up, if I try to deny it, it'll look as if what you're saying is true, when it is not. You've like, put me in the position where I can neither deny nor confirm- I'm not confirming- because whatever I choose it'll make me look just as bad."

"You were the one to start talking about that, you can't blame me for being curious as to what's going on between you two." Charlotte gave him a smile full of snark.

"There is nothing"

"-She giving you trouble, dummy?" Cassidy leaned on the bench between them, interrupting Matthew.

"Hey, uh- yeah, kinda. See, she believes all of those rumors that are going around. Ugh." he munched some more on his apple.

"They're very juicy. Frankly, I'm not sure which to believe, they're all equally crazy." the girl defended, unbothered by the other's presence.

"People like to tell a whole bunch of stories, Emily. You should know most of them aren't true." Cassidy opted to give her two cents, half trying to provoke her.

"That would imply that some are."

"Cass, meet my sister. This is who I've gotta deal with every day. Isn't she lovely?"

"An absolute delight." she agreed sarcastically. "It's a pleasure to meet you a second time, Charlotte." she stuck out her hand. The other girl took it, gripping with strength that matched Cassidy's.

"You do not want to go there." she warned, all smiles and sunshine, to which her brother winced with a hiss.

"Yup, beware the nickname that ends with 'lotte', Cass. She bites."

"I think I might have traumatized him at some point." Charlotte shrugged, still smiling. Cassidy decided she liked her.

"Is he this much of a punching bag at home too?"

"Eh, kind of. I think he's a little more outgoing in public, but he still hides in his room all day." that earned a giggle out of her.

"He's totally hopeless. I have to save his dumbass every time someone starts a fight with him." dissing Matthew was starting to become a fun game.

"Well, he does need to be looked after. Thank you for that by the way."

"Gee, ladies, don't get into a catfight. Please, no pushing yourselves, this is only episode sixty-nine of Matthew Slander. Damn, way to make me feel like a neckbeard." he'd explained that term to her a while back and, well, with that new piece of knowledge Cassidy had to agree with his sister. All he was missing was the beard and the three hundred pounds.

"Aw, don't take it to heart, Matt. I'm sure she doesn't mean it. In fact, how about I leave you two alone to solve your issues on your own? Some quality time together will serve both of you well. I don't think you guys need a third wheel." the two girls finally let go of each other's hands, with Charlotte backing away while waving.

"Yeah, no, go ahead. Carlton's waiting for you right by that corner. There he is. Look, he's grinning at you. Say hi to him for me, will ya?" she stuck her tongue out at him then left. Cassidy watched her go with something close to respect. The girl sat down next to her friend, taking a moment to snigger at the interaction. "Welp, uh, I hope you've found your amusement and are not planning to tease me like that ever again."

"Don't get upset, it was in good fun." she slapped his shoulder, startling him.

"That's not it- I mean, look around us. You know, breaktime, people walking, uh, they can overhear? Like, keep your voice down next time you wanna bash me. Unless you want to further fuel those rumors about us." she snorted.

"Literally nobody cares. Everybody's just doing their own thing." and she was right. No one was batting an eye to them.

"Nu uh, I don't think we live on the same planet then. Trust me, I've met some people that have their life goals as just searching for gossip to badmouth others. People are just acting like they're not dropping in to what we're talking about. I mean, first day was what started this whole thing, remember? And now we're like, in the same position as we were then."

"Except we're not holding hands."

"We didn't."

"I know, I'm just messing with you." Matthew gave her a long look in which he slowly chewed on his apple before breathing in, thoroughly done with her. "You need to learn how to take a joke, dude." he muttered a yeah, scratching his forehead.

"…So, what's up?" he posed the million-dollar question. It was almost scary, how he saw through to her.

"Well, uh, I've been fine, except uh… something pretty bad happened." the girl began, her confidence evaporated.

"You alright?"

"Eh, sort of?... So, two weeks ago, when I told you about the dreams I've been having, I think I had a really bad nightmare the next day." Matt stared at her quizzically.

"…What was it about? Did the dream version of me do weird stuff or…?" she guessed so, but to her dismay she didn't have the means to verify it.

"I think so, but I'm not sure. Point is, I dreamt about the golden rabbit you always say shows up in your dreams." that made the boy pause, dropping his apple. He looked around then got up and with no warning, grabbed her wrist, leading her away from the courtyard and back into the school. Had he known her for a few months he would've found out how easily his teeth could come out, but instead she let him take her inside without protest. They entered a hallway, where he made sure there weren't any people in their immediate vicinity, and only then did he proceed to let go of her.

"Okay. Here we can talk. Please continue."

"Yeah, fine, so, I can only really remember the rabbit and uh, how he stabbed me… I actually felt the stab, it's um- yeah, that was pretty bad- so, I kinda died in the dream and that was it. I- It's just that I think I'm missing a lot of what happened. A large portion of that dream I just can't remember for some reason. It almost feels like… I don't know how to describe it. Like I'm missing a part of myself? It's like something that was very important to me just got deleted from my memory but I can still feel that it was supposed to be there, if that makes sense?" Matthew's eyes darted aimlessly to the side, indicating that he was in deep thought and was considering all of the information Cassidy had just dumped on his lap. A tick of his she was very used to by this point.

"Shit… I- I'm sorry, you shouldn't have gone through that- but uh, this just goes to confirm that um, yeah, we are haunted by some entity or whatever. And with that me in your dreams… I'm thinking you should probably keep an eye on him when you can `cause uh, he's definitely involved in this, but I don't know how or why. I don't get why it has to look like me either but… there's nothing we can do about it."

"That's not even the weirdest part of it all." she said grimly.

"No?"

"No. So, you know how I said on the first day how you had a red eye, and you said it was gouged out? Something like that happened to me too." she pointed to her abdomen. "I can't pull up my overalls to show you but there's a scar right here where I got stabbed."

"Does-"

"-It doesn't hurt or anything but it's there. I can't even feel it, it's more like I put on some makeup, you know? But it's weird that it's still here `cause it's been weeks. I mean, your eye was fine the next day but this hasn't shown any signs of going away." the boy raised his shoulders, not sure himself.

"With these kinds of things uh, you can't say how long they'll last or how they'll affect you, but if my eye was fine, I don't think you'll have to worry. It ought to go away pretty soon. Give it some time."

"Just hope my parents won't notice it. That'd be an absolute hell to try and explain. I don't think I'd be able to lie to them." Matt looked remorseful as he stared at her, like he was wishing he could do more for the girl, so Cassidy gave him a heartfelt smile. "Don't feel too sad about me, this is nothing, okay? I'm fine, so don't kick yourself over the head too hard for this, it's none of your fault."

"I can't help thinking that it is… This all started after I had my nightmare that day, and I've been having nightmares for a while, like, if you hadn't met me… you wouldn't have to go through this… It's like what I've been enduring has shifted over to you, and I feel as though I'm responsible for that, you know?"

"Hey, if I hadn't met you, I would've been angrier and way more irritable all the time. I don't regret us meeting, dummy. At all. You're uh… you're pretty great, Matt, despite what you may think." she looked down for a second, her cheeks heating up. "So please- stop blaming yourself; you couldn't have foreseen it, you couldn't have stopped it and it's not your fault that this is happening, just as it's not your fault that you're having constant nightmares because a spirit or some crap decided to have fun with you." the boy bit his lower lip, trying not to grin, but he eventually gave up and flashed her a small smile.

"Heh… thanks, Cass… Well, uh, in the meantime I've learned what it is that's causing our nightmares. Um, you know Elizabeth Afton, my classmate?"

"I do, she's another princess, what's up with her? How does she tie into all this?" the girl's last name was familiar to Cassidy, but she wasn't sure where she'd heard it, besides the other kids at school. Afton. It held a greater meaning, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She cursed internally, mad at the fact that this was yet another thing that felt important but was absent from her memories.

"She has a younger brother, Evan, you might've heard of him. Uh, so he once said that he saw this shadow creature lead him away from home. It somehow got him all the way to Hurricane from his house, and he lives like, a dozen miles outside the city. It tried to get him killed by making him stand in front of incoming cars. Now that wouldn't be so weird, if not for Mari- uh, you know, the puppet robot Charlie's dad made that I've told you about- having seen that same thing hanging around my house. Mari says that's what's been causing my nightmares and I think he's right. The shadow is this uh- it feeds off of negative emotion. Agony, fear, anger, stuff like that- and now it's trying to make us scared or put us through painful stuff to be more powerful? Something kinda like that anyway, so if you ever see a big, purple humanoid made out of darkness that has a top hat it's best not to trust it."

She struggled finding the right words to reply. At least now she knew what the thing responsible for their predicament looked like, if he wasn't bullshiting her, which… he most likely wasn't, but that was just…

"…Um, how the hell do you know all of this?" she trusted him, but how does an eight-year-old kid learn of emotion eating monsters? Her question took him off guard, but it was a sensible one. He shouldn't have a problem answering her, unless he was lying.

"Oh, uh…" a battle was waging behind her friend's eyes, and she couldn't tell if she was about to be lied to or receive the truth. "Would you believe me if I said I… died and went on to possess a robot?"

"What?!"

"Yeah… I got killed and then my uh, well, my spirit, which was just me but all ghost and stuff, like, latched on to the nearest object, which happened to be a robot."

"…" Matt put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head, keeping his mouth in a line. "Are you kidding me?!" she shouted, making him reel back.

"Whoa, keep it down, we're not alone here!" he shushed her.

"What do you mean you died? Who killed you!?" Cassidy whisper-yelled. She was pissed, but not even she knew if at Matthew or not.

"Look, I'd rather not talk about it, ok? I died, I spent God knows how long stuck in a metal body and then, I have no idea how but some crazy shit happened that made me- I don't know- come back in time before I died? And now I'm here, and I now stuff, and I'm trying to not get myself or others killed, alright? That's how I know some things are gonna happen, it's `cause I saw them taking place in uh… my old timeline or something."

She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again, inhaled a deep breath, and smiled.

"…That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard." the girl's tone was dead as she looked him straight in the eye. She could accept paranormal, Lovecraftian horrors invading her dreams, but this about time travel and what not? Yeah, no. She was not buying it.

"I don't know what to tell you, Cass," he raised his arms in defense, sounding exasperated. "-but that's the only explanation I've got for all of this. You can believe what you want, but even if you deny it, nothing about this mess we're in will change... So, I say, instead of remaining close minded and arguing with me, broaden your horizons, think outside the box and just move the fuck on. This is the reality we live in; we didn't ask for it, but we can't act like it's not there."

Cassidy stayed silent after he finished, watching him settle down with a smirk. She was officially impressed. No one had ever stood up to her like that. Even if he was being a liar, it took balls to talk back to her that way. So, either he was the best liar she'd ever seen, and she could say she'd seen a lot, what with the lifestyle her parents crafted for her, or she'd cornered him enough to where he was forced to come clean. That hadn't been her intention, obviously, but it made her curious. What more was he hiding?

"So you're telling me that ghosts and possession and stuff you see in horror movies is all real? Is that it? You don't have any more secrets…? I don't think you needed to tell me all of this, you know."

"Yeah? What was I supposed to do? You pushed me to the end of my rope and practically made me say all of this. I hope you're happy."

"Did you think I wouldn't ask how come you knew about all of this? Really, dummy?"

"I- Honestly, no, I… you know what? Forget it. I'm just digging myself a bigger grave." she leaned on the wall to her left, sighing.

"Fine, okay, I believe you," she didn't. "-but this still doesn't explain what's up with that shadow thing. How do you know about that if you were possessing a robot?" the girl air quoted.

"Well, when you're a spirit it's not all fun and games. The shadow liked to feed on the pain- mine and… other's- that's how I know about it. It's like a constant or something, no matter what like, year or time it is, it's there… Look, Cass, no one knows about this, I didn't tell Charlie, or her dad or anybody else. And I wouldn't have told you either but you forced my hand. I didn't want this, but now nobody else can know besides us. I could've fed you lies but I didn't, because I trust you. I know how you must feel right now, and I promise to give you all the answers I can, but you need to keep an open mind and not say anything to anyone."

"I have a million questions."

"That's understandable. I'll-" the bell cut him off. She swore out loud. "-ah, damn." Matthew sighed, covering his face. He angled his head to face the ceiling, composing himself before looking back at her. "I would've loved to answer them, but I gotta get to class." he was not ready for this kind of talk. But neither was she. "You're gonna have to stay patient, but it's better this way. You'll have a while to get used to what you've just learned and sort out what you wanna know, I dunno. We'll finish this some other time. Take a breather, try to… process everything and we'll talk later, I promise you, but right now I gotta go." he began hurrying off.

"I'll… do that. You do owe me an explanation."

"Who wanted to know what?" he asked as he was about to cross into another hall.

"Get lost already." she joked, but the gravity of what had happened was only now beginning to weigh on her. She… didn't know what to believe. Matt didn't have tangible evidence for his claims, but then her scar and the dreams were proof for something, and his story at least, was an explanation for them, even if it was the only one available.

That escalated quickly. She hadn't expected for things to take a turn for the worst out of nowhere but… now she had her answers. Some of them at least. Since meeting him her life had gotten more interesting to be sure, and while she was on the verge of being overwhelmed, Cassidy agreed with the boy. Why deny any of it? It wouldn't change the dreams they were having; it would only make her like most of the people she knew, and she did not want to be a pretender.

Another person would've had a crazier reaction, but to Cassidy… this did not feel knew to her, as if she had always known these things, and was purely not aware she did until someone brought them up. A sense of Déjà Vu had hit her while she'd been listening to Matthew. He mentioned time travel, didn't he? Maybe that was why she was getting the feeling of "been there, done that". Maybe her dream had unlocked something within her…

There was no use in pondering this on her own, was there? She'd have to wait for him to offer his answers. In the meantime, she could reflect on the fact that her best friend had apparently died.

The girl played with her hair anxiously. How her entire world had been turned upside down in the span of a morning. Well, there was always tomorrow. She could figure it out tomorrow.

That sounded pretty good to her. For now though, she should make her way to class too. The last thing she needed was to get berated by her homeroom teacher after this debacle.

o0o

She'd been blind to it for long enough. Why did she even think that her baby brother would stop? He never listened, always doing what he wanted because a few tears gave him the right to disobey his parents. She had tried to be a good sister and keep quiet in hopes that he would better himself on his own, but that had been a mistake. She hadn't covered for him, but the girl felt as if she had. The guilt of lying to her dad was there even though she hadn't technically lied to him. Well, no more. Her dad needed to know, and as much as she wanted to feel sorry for Ev, the boy had to understand that he couldn't get away with acting like a brat. Lizzie had almost forgotten about her sibling's little talks until chasing after Snuggles into his room, where she'd barged in on a conversation with his imaginary friend. She'd refrained from chastising Evan so as to not ruin her disposition, but the look she'd given her brother let the boy know that he'd messed up and would get punished for it.

Daddy had been in his workshop for hours now, and while she hated to interrupt him, when he'd come out, he'd be too exhausted to really listen to her. Plus, she had a set bedtime, so even if she were to stay up late to wait for him, he'd usually leave the workshop around midnight, and Lizzie would surely be scolded for staying up until twelve, no matter what her reasoning might've been. She could handle being reprimanded for interruption if Ev would be lectured better than she could if she'd have gone against a set rule.

She looked up at the door and slapped her cheeks to pump herself up before giving it a knock, then took a step back, holding her hands behind her back. There was a pause followed by the sound of heavy objects being pushed around, after which the door was unlocked. Her father peeked out, looking ahead for who had knocked before he spotted her down there and smiled. The man opened the door completely and knelt down, patting her head.

"Ah, Elizabeth, you look so cute waiting for me like that. What is it, sweetie?" she grinned at the praise then cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you, daddy, but Evan has been talking to thin air again. I know you told him to stop it but he's not listening."

"And you came to tell me like the good daughter that you are. Thank you, Elizabeth." the man picked her up, kissing the side of her head, receiving a hug in return. "Well, I believe I have to go explain to your brother why he needs to cease pretending he has made-up friends." he set her down, straightening his shirt.

"Can I come with you, dad?"

"You cannot, Lizzie. Your father has to talk with your younger sibling on his own. You're welcomed to listen in however, but you have to remain outside of the room otherwise your brother will not say anything." the girl nodded solemnly, offering her hand. Her dad took it and began leading her upstairs, humming a little dejectedly from what she could make out. "You know, I often wonder if Evan has taken after his grandfather."

"How's that?" grandpa Richard or grandpa Edward weren't anywhere near Ev in terms of behavior, so she wasn't sure what her dad meant.

"Your granddad, my father, suffered from a little condition called Schizophrenia. He used to see and hear things that were not there and had to take medication and undergo therapy for the symptoms to subside. It's an illness that cannot be cured entirely, as all one can do is attempt to mitigate its effects."

Lizzie was surprised to learn that about her grandfather, but her surprise swiftly turned to sadness when she thought about her baby brother being ill. He might've been a whining wimp, but that did not mean she wanted him to suffer, only for him to be a better sibling. Liz was starting to have second thoughts about this.

"So… Evan is sick then? He's not just imagining?"

"We don't know for sure. Perhaps it would be beneficial to get him evaluated. If he is diagnosed, we could get him the help he needs, but he still is at the age where such occurrences could be a result of his creative mind. He might just as well be pretending."

"I didn't think I was speaking to nothing when I was six though."

"No, you didn't, and neither did Michael, but Evan is different from you two. It is not his fault if he is indeed schizophrenic. People can't control how or when these illnesses manifest, but that does not make them any less human." her dad's expression softened as his eyes trailed forward. It looked out of place on his features if she was being honest, because she hadn't seen that sort of kindness on his face before. "You can't let it keep you down. In this family we do not run from things, Elizabeth. We dust our shoulders off and keep on moving."

That ideal resonated with Lizzie, and she found her admiration for her father growing exponentially. The man paused, gazed at her with a look she couldn't quite read, then continued.

"But we'll see. For now, we have to get through this first." daddy didn't appear all that concerned with Ev being sick, besides the sudden gentle attitude, but maybe he was used to it if he said grandpa Edward had also suffered from such a condition. They reached her brother's room soon after. "Alright, you can wait here until I'm done. Don't make a sound." he whispered to her while grasping the handle. Elizabeth gave him a thumbs up. With that, her parent entered the room, leaving the door open wide enough so that she could see them through the gap.

"Hello, Evan"

"O- Oh, hi father. Did you want something?" her sibling had scattered his Legos across the carpet and was trying to build a robot from what she could tell. Her dad picked him up, earning a squeal out of the boy, and sat him on the bed's edge before sitting next to him.

"I've heard you've been talking again to things that are not there." Elizabeth's brother sagged his shoulders, dangling his legs. His fingers sunk into the checkered quilt as he scrunched his mouth shut. "I'm not here to punish you for it. I want to know what you see and hear, Evan. It is… unusual to imagine such things when you are of your age. I'm not saying it's inherently wrong, but you are old enough to be going to kindergarten. I don't believe any of the kids there see what you do, now do they?" father's tone was calm, even alluring. He was contradicting himself, Lizzie noted, but she couldn't tell if he was being genuine or not.

"…No one there ever sees anything... Why- why do you want to know, dad? You don't believe me when I tell you. I- I don't want you to be mad at me… please…"

"I know how I've been… and I'm sorry for it." the apologizing shocked both siblings. "I won't be mad at you, but as your father, I need to know what it is that's bothering you, so I can help you. I know I've been rather harsh, but all that I've ever said to you, even the things that hurt, I've said because I want what is best for you, Evan. And as my son, I wish for you to stop being afraid all the time. I want you to go out there and have the courage to prove what you can do to the world. That is why I've been pushing you so, why I have disapproved of this, and why Michael has taken the role of guiding you- so to speak. For all his faults, he's older and thus more experienced at interacting with others. I do not want you to remain trapped in this shell for the rest of your life. You are very young and this might be a lot to understand, but all that I want is for you to grow as a person, and not stay as you are for eternity, because once it is too late you cannot change back."

From the way Ev's face morphed, Elizabeth noticed that their father's words had struck a chord within him, though if that was a good sign or not remained to be seen. She hadn't expected this outcome, but in a way, she was glad this was how her father had chosen to approach the situation, despite the fact that she initially wished for her crybaby brother to be taught a lesson. Now it was up to Evan to accept that mercy.

With a little sweat forming on his brow, the boy gulped.

"…Okay. Um, what I've been seeing is uh, the shadow I saw when I… ran. It's big and looks like a bear standing on two feet, and it has some uh, extras?" he struggled, preferring to watch the pile of Legos instead of his parent. "He has a hat and a bowtie… I don't see him all the time. Uh, w- when he shows up, he talks for a few minutes and then leaves- but he doesn't say bad things!" he shook his head, trying to convince their dad. "He"

"-What does he say?" the man asked, his eyes narrowing.

"U- Uh, it's um, you know- he actually tells me I should listen to you and mom- mostly you- and uh… tomorrow is another day? He says that a lot. Every time he leaves, I think. He's very friendly. Um… that- that's it, father. I swear." Evan closed his eyes, awaiting to be scolded, only for it to never come. When he looked at his father, he saw the man smiling warmly at him.

"I believe you, son. Was that so hard? I'm very proud of you, Evan. I think you deserve something in return for this. How about being able to come into my and your mother's room at night every day for a while?"

Even Liz's eyes widened at the suggestion. Ev would be a dum-dum not to take it. She did feel a little jealous of her brother, but if he had made father proud, then there was nothing for her to complain about.

"You- I can? You promise?! Can I come tonight?!" Elizabeth flinched at the distress in his voice, having to stop herself from laughing and giving away her position.

"Uh- yes, I promise. You could come tonight if you wish, but it'll only be your mother. I will be gone by then and I cannot say when I shall return, but yes. Feel free to come sleep in our room when you have nightmares or just want some company, alright?" the man patted his son's back, who was so baffled that he didn't think to question their dad, and he really should not even dare entertain the idea. He should be grateful for the generosity.

Little Evan was making the face where he was trying to hold in his crying, which amused their father to no end.

"Oh, come now, don't cry. You have to be stronger than that, Evan. You" his son clasped his sides in a hug, unable to fully wrap his arms around the man but still holding onto him very tightly. "-hmm… There, there, son." he returned the gesture.

Instead of the hug lasting for some time, Evan pulled back fairly quickly to both her and her daddy's surprise. The boy wiped his eyes and attempted a shy smile while sniffling. He looked at one of the plushies on the floor then back at their parent.

"Um… I uh, with what I saw… I think Matt could also see it. The- The bear, I mean. When he found me that day."

"Matthew? Uncle Henry's boy?" Ev nodded curtly. "Are you positive that he saw it too?"

"Mhm. He acted really strange when I uh…" the boy glance to the side. "-told him what I was doing in the city- uh, that I saw the shadow monster. Because I did… before I ran. When I wanted to get away… I told Matt about it and … he seemed like he already knew that I'd seen it. I don't know, but I don't think I'm the only one who can see him. I uh, I think he's real, dad…" Evan had been half lying, and he was terrible at it, but father didn't appear to mind it, and so Lizzie did not get angry with her brother.

"Huh." was the man's single response. "In any case, if you see that thing again, I want you to inform me of it, ok? When you see it and everything that it tells you. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, father. I promise." and he sounded like he meant it. Good.

"Atta boy. Keep this up, sport, and uh… we'll be golden." the man winked then rose off the bed. Elizabeth stepped away from the door, watching as the two members of her family shared a wave before her father left the room. He closed the door, smiling at her.

"That went better than I expected. You did a nice job informing me, darling." he spoke lowly, stroking her hair. "Would you like some ice cream?" her eyes lit up like stars, and she had to contain her excitement. Nodding fiercely, she was the one to take his hand and lead him downstairs. "It goes without saying, but do not tell your brothers or your mother. She'd kill me if she knew I let you have desert before dinner."

"Duh, how would I get ice cream if mommy kills you?"

"I had to make sure. You never know what others might be planning."

"This'll be our secret! Don't worry, dad! You can trust me!"

"Oh, I know I can Elizabeth, I know I can…"

o0o

The Puppet was sitting on his bed resting against the wall, a sketchbook in its lap. There was a box of crayons next to it that it used to color whatever it was that it was drawing. Matthew had been at his desk for about an hour, and was about to finish his homework. Between bouts of energy and moments where he was distracted or was feeling too lazy to continue, it had taken him longer than he would've liked to finish his assignments. If he had trouble not falling asleep in class then at home it was even worse. He sometimes drooled on his notebook and had to rip out the pages due to them being wet. His boredom coupled with the relaxing music that Mari sung and he was bound to let dreamland take him. Luckily, he was almost done.

The boy enjoyed the feeling of security the Puppet's presence brought. While in the past he would've preferred to be left alone, after making a friend out of the Marionette, he could no longer bring himself to feel that way. There was a pleasant feeling of understanding and comfort knowing you had someone watching your back. As long as they were by each other's sides he would be alright, because the Puppet wouldn't let anything happen to him. In an environment that, for all intents and purposes, was still strange to him, it meant a lot to know that he'd be safe and protected.

Matthew did wonder however why his friend spent so much time with him. Sure, it was protective of him, but so it was for his sister, and yet, most of the day when he was in his room Mari would remain there with him until he decided to get out, and only then would it also spend time with Charlie. He hadn't brought it up, and didn't plan to, because that sort of conversation he could only imagine going wrong. The boy wouldn't want the Puppet to misinterpret his curiosity for the desire for it to leave, and even if he were to make that clear it would still feel awkward. At least Charlie didn't have any problems with him receiving more attention from their animatronic friend, maybe because she got more attention from her father.

Perhaps the Puppet, besides being protective, was also clingy, and that was the reason behind its behavior. He didn't mind, if that was the case, because even though it was around him at all times Mari wasn't intrusive nor annoying. It knew to give him space and quiet when he needed it, and when he was in a more vigorous mood it would become playful and teasing. If he looked past the mountains of angst and hurt, he could say that life was easier with the Marionette around.

It had definitely helped him sorting through stuff, and working out some of the more complex feelings he had, feelings that he could only hope to keep under wraps for so long before they broke their bonds and caused unnecessary damage, emotional or not. But that was how he dealt with things. He hadn't had a way to vent back home, so he'd grown up stockpiling what he felt and put on a mask to cover the ugly. Matthew well…

He didn't always have the healthiest of thoughts, whether because of insecurity or fear, he often imagined how it would feel like to let go of that self-control and say what was on his mind or do what he dreamt of doing. Those types of episodes however, only happened when he was feeling especially angry with somebody. It was not like a constant, always wanting to paint his surrounding in red, but more of an embarrassing memory that popped up every now and again, reminding him of that one time.

He supposed all people dealt with these thoughts, it obviously wasn't just a "he" thing, but they, others- from what he'd seen anyway-, had more control over themselves than he did, because while he might be a withdrawn person he was always on the edge, always so close to crossing the line and spouting off what came to mind first. And he feared crossing that line, because once he began, he wouldn't stop until every single little frustration would be voiced, and by then he might as well kill whoever he'd be screaming to.

He could thank his folks for the flammable attitude. He was pretty sure at least one of them suffered from explosive personality disorder, that was characterized by outbursts of rage at the smallest of things- which also tended to be the case for him, though Matt got more irritated than angry- although, since they were never diagnosed, he couldn't say whether or not that was the case. The boy was really just thinking, he didn't know too much about those things.

Thanks to Mari though, those thoughts were less recurrent, and he was generally more at peace with himself, as much as he could be. The Puppet was soothing by nature, he guessed, which would explain why it had such an effect on him.

They… they hadn't addressed the therapy thing, and frankly, he didn't want to. Mari must've known he didn't since it hadn't asked about it after that day. He knew he probably should've kept more info to himself than he did, besides changing the names in his story- but why did he go to therapy if not to be open about what he was going through? What was the point of lying when he currently was eight years of age and could pretend it was all a made-up version of reality? There wasn't, and still he had been rejected.

Perhaps he was overreacting, but in this instance, when he'd gone to ask for help from someone that was supposed to help only to get turned down `cause he was "too much to handle" … yeah, that stung. And he didn't want to hear any more about therapy. Twice now it had failed him, and he'd gone in with an open mind both times. It clearly wasn't for him, or he wasn't for it, same thing. He could survive with just the support from his family.

…Which was going to become more difficult pretty soon. Fredbear's was all but ready to go. It was scheduled to open in January, having been rebuilt, redecorated and the animatronics being complete. Henry and William were handling the promotional materials, including hanging "Coming Soon" posters around town, as well as Help Wanted ads in the local newspaper.

The first event, on opening day, would be Fredbear's Singing Show, which funnily enough featured Fredbear on the cover staring at the record player instead of Freddy, as seen in Security Breach. Matt had found a unique charm in seeing these bits of the lore unfolding before his very eyes, and watching as some posters he'd seen in the franchise's latest game by the time of his departure become reality was an experience so cool he couldn't put it into words as an avid fan of FNaF.

But while all of that was great, it meant that Mari, his go-to person for support that got him through his nightmares and helped him live, was going to leave to spend its days in the restaurant. As its friend he was happy for the Puppet, and saw how it got progressively more excited as the launch date grew closer, but he would miss Mari dearly, because if it spent its time in the diner, he wouldn't expect it to come home afterwards.

Henry, for some reason, encouraged the Marionette to remain there, saying things like "It'll be like a new home for you" or "You'll love it so much you won't want to leave.". The boy might've been reading into this when he shouldn't, but he got the impression that Henry, despite appearing like he didn't have anything against the Puppet living with them, wanted the Puppet to stay in the restaurant and not in his house. The man had had no intention of acknowledging Mari's free will despite "treating" it like a person. He'd speak to it, and give it orders, but never ask for its opinion. Similar to how someone would talk to a pet. Henry would talk to Mari, but not with it.

And Matthew was… he wished to stop it. He didn't want Mari to go. Because Mari was sentient, and so shouldn't be forced to become an entertainer like Fred and Bonnie when those two were not like it. Mari should get to choose if it wanted to live a life different from the one it was originally created for, because it had autonomy, and a conscience, and its own feelings. The problem was that it had already chosen that it'd be happy to stay in the diner. To Matt that seemed like a boring existence, to just hand gifts all day and sit in a box with the occasional performance, but then he hadn't been born a robot with a set purpose that later gained the ability to think.

Maybe to Mari those activities would be satisfying and fulfilling. Maybe it would get a sense of accomplishment out of them since it'd be doing exactly what Henry intended it to do. He couldn't take that away from his friend, despite how much he'd like for the Puppet to stay. It was the selfish part of him speaking that was so desperate. In the end he was the one that was clingy, because Mari was his anchor, and he was terrified of losing the one thing that had kept him sane for so long now…

Matthew chuckled to himself. He had a predisposition to make everything more dramatic than it needed to be, but if he didn't, it felt as if his feelings were not real, like he was lying to himself. Maybe he was. He closed the notebook and set it down, held onto the pen, then went to reach under his bed for the Lore Journal. Mari stopped drawing to look at him then gave the bed a pat, inviting him on, to which he complied, jumping next to the Puppet who put an arm around him and continued its sketch. He studied it briefly, admiring how accurate the Puppet was able to draw the main gang of Freddy's. Mari really only needed one reference to be able to replicate something on paper due to its robotic memory, which it had described as viewing a movie, whereas humans could conjure up images in their minds that would lose details and complexity over time.

Mari continued staying silent as it drew, leaving him to open the journal to refresh his memory. Not many things had changed since learning the Puppet could talk, fly and move things around telekinetically, and he was fine with that. Communication between them having improved was awesome, and the other abilities were sure to come in handy at the right time, for now however they had to play the waiting game to use them.

He went over to the timeline page, where he had taken the liberty to add a few notes to further support his predictions as well as space for more information he might learn. Not much had changed on it.

Fredbear's would open in 82 and rapidly grow in popularity. During this year Miss Afton would either leave the family or would be close to do so and that was pretty much it. Then, however, came 83. In early 1983 William is going to open Circus Baby's where Elizabeth would die, and then in May, presumably, he'd kill Charlie on her birthday as revenge out of jealousy against Henry. Evan would develop his fear of animatronics after seeing Baby kill Lizzie and would start running away from home more often, getting punished with nightmares as a result. Then either Freddy's would open or it would not, but at least the cartoon of Fredbear and Friends would be made. He still wasn't sure when the MCI would be, but if a Freddy's would get built at any point, he would know to look out during June for Willy dressing up as Springbonnie, so it wasn't that big of a concern.

If there would be no MCI in 83 then they could finally get rid of Afton after saving Evan, as that would be the last major event in said year. There was no reason to wait until 85 to kill William and endanger more people as a result. Once these events were crossed out the man behind the slaughter would go bye-bye. They would however, have to do it in a remote area, so he wouldn't have the possibility to possess anything. Well, Utah was a big, rocky desert. It wouldn't be too hard to find an empty spot to kill the man.

Another thing that would happen in 83 would be the Aftons moving into Hurricane near Fredbear's, either before or after the MCI but not until Charlie's murder. And that was kind of it. His plans were made, all that was left was not give himself away in the meantime. Might be easier said than done, however. Matthew prayed this was in fact it, and that he wouldn't get surprised by unexpected stuff, like Afton committing his murders outside the restaurant. That would be one worst case scenario, there were plenty of other ways things could go bad, but for the time being at least he would remain optimistic. The boy couldn't afford to get himself down when none of those tragedies were even close to happening.

Matt hid the journal and once again leaned against the Puppet, humming while his friend colored the characters that did not yet exist.

"What song is that? I've never heard it before." Mari's ethereal voice graced his ears without notice, full of interest.

"Oh, um, it's called Not Here All Night. It was in one of my visions, but I don't know who made it. It's pretty catchy, I guess."

"Not Here All Night…" the Puppet mused, tapping a pencil to its chin. "Do you know the lyrics also?" it asked, looking down at him.

"Uh… yeah? They're kinda weird though. I don't think they'd make sense if I were to tell them to you." Mari's chest tinkled lightly.

"Still, I would like to hear them, if it's not too much of a bother for you." the boy bit his lips, uncertain if he should show them to Mari or not. He had them noted, but they were… Mari would figure out that they were very connected to the overall story of what was to come.

The Puppet's mask softened when he did not respond.

"It is alright if you do not wish to share. I was merely curious, little one." it assured, giving him a minor squeeze to show that it was not upset. The boy still remained quiet, appearing almost apologetic. Mari's smile slowly turned sour as it kept staring at him, the glow of its eyes becoming dimmer as it picked up on the fact that its child was clearly disturbed by something. "Matthew…" it began, using a low tone that was meant to invoke its empathy. "What's wrong?"

"…" Mari rubbed his back, waiting for him to respond. The boy played with the comforter, not really focused on answering its question. Normally it would've given up if it saw him so reluctant, but he had not outright denied its inquiry and… while it didn't want to pressure him into talking, they hadn't had a heart-to-heart in some time. This was as good of a moment as any for Matthew to talk and get some things off his chest, and so the Puppet chose to extend an olive branch. It would listen whenever its child needed it to.

"…Well, fine, I- there is something that's been kind of irking me."

"Have I saddened you somehow?"

"No, no- God no, it wasn't anything you did, but it does concern you in a way." the Puppet nodded, letting him know to go on. "So, uh, you know how Fredbear's will open soon, and you're going to go there to perform?" Mari chimed once, tilting its head. "Uh, this is pretty silly, but… I- I was afraid- I am- that you won't come back once you're there, you know. I uh, I've been thinking that I don't know what to do to like… I'm gonna miss you, is what I'm trying to say. We're not going to be around each other as much once the restaurant opens and that's been on my mind for a while."

The Marionette had to pause to digest his worries, but once it did it brought both of its arms to hold the child's face, tracing its fingers across his cheeks. To think that he was concerned about that… Oh, how adorable he could be. Children were still children, no matter how clever or pure they were. It held itself from trilling, but offered the boy a cheering smile. Mari bumped their foreheads before it leaned back. The confusion was evident on the boy's features but before he could voice it the Puppet spoke.

"I see. Yes, it is true that we will no longer be by each other's sides quite as often, but… that does not mean we won't see one another period. No, be certain that you will still see me every day even if you do not come to the restaurant, my little one."

"But, uh, how?"

"I can fly, can't I? The working hours will be between ten AM and six PM from Monday to Saturday, so once they'll be done, I promise I will fly home. Even if the diner were to be closed, I will not be hindered, so do not worry about it, or about me being spotted. Hiding in plain sight will not be a problem either. While we will not spend as much time together as we are used to, I shall make the effort to visit every day and remain for the night. I will only leave in the morning after Mr. Emily takes you and your sister to school. Is this acceptable?"

"I- you'd do that? Um, and what if Henry finds you? Like, he's absolutely gonna question why you're not at Fredbear's. Couldn't you ask him to take you to the diner and back? He'll quit his job once Fredbear opens so that's where he'll be coming home from. He could just take you with him." Matthew proposed, as having Mari fly back and forth would only increase the risk of unwanted attention. Hurricane did not need to have reports of a cryptid flying around at night.

"My creator, while he has been accommodating to my presence, does not wish for me to remain here for much longer. He pretends he is fine with it, but the way in which he tells me that I'll enjoy it at Fredbear's makes it clear that he wants me gone." and weirdly that did not surprise the Puppet, it seemed. "He might be a master of engineering and so on, but he has great difficulty in masking his intentions. He would not approve of such an arrangement. I believe my unpredicted awareness has left him stumped, and so he is seeking for an excuse to have me gone." Mari practically snarled at the last part. "But he cannot keep me from you, as much as he wants to." it stared out the window, the perpetual frown having deepened. The way it said that cut off what it was that he had planned to respond with. It left his mouth open; his words stuck in his throat and even stopped him from breathing. All of his brainpower went to focus on and analyze the statement, but before he could fully commit to it the Puppet faced him once again, folding its hands together and resting them in-between the two of them on the bed, its scowl having settled into a much friendlier expression. "So, are you comfortable with my proposal, or do you wish to change it? It is fine with me either way." Matthew blinked a couple of times then shook his head.

"Yeah, no, it makes sense. Uh, just, you know, you'll have to be really careful not to be seen. Wouldn't want the cops to knock on our front door asking if we're hiding a dazzling, dark and gangly jester in our backyard."

"At most they'll mistake me for a bird."

"Oh, that image is not getting out of my mind anytime soon." he giggled as he pictured it. "Mari the Bird... Nah, I'm drawing that, you're gonna have to live with that forever once I'm done. I think I'll hang it around here somewhere." his friend put a hand to its chest, insulted.

"You do realize that me and Charlotte still have the picture of her kissing you? It'd be a real shame if it were to appear on one of your classmate's desks, Matthew. Wouldn't you agree?"

"…You wouldn't dare." the Puppet chuckled ominously.

"Are you certain you want to test me, my dear?" it slanted in close, narrowing its eyes at him. They kept their gazes locked until Matt's lips started curving upwards into a smile. He burst out laughing not soon after, burying his head in Mari's chest. It chimed along with him while wrapping its arms around his torso, holding the boy close.

"Hey, Stripes?" he said after calming down. The Puppet did not react to the nickname unfortunately.

"What is it, dear?" why did he want to be called that term of endearment more frequently? He felt funny upon hearing the noun, but that made it even more enjoyable. He… wouldn't be opposed to hearing Mari use it every now and then.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it." he felt its three long fingers run through his hair. It bent to rest its chin on the top of his head. There was a sizzling sound akin to a sigh, and then his friend went quiet.

Matthew yawned. He broke the hug to rub the sleep out of his eyes, smiling cheekily at the animatronic, who did the same. The boy fell onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. With a final pat on the shoulder Mari went back to its drawing of Freddy and Co., intent on finishing it before dinner.

It wouldn't be so bad. He trusted his friend to keep its word. There was no doubt in his mind that it would abide by what it had said, and yet…

The fact that they would be separated still bugged him the wrong way. Tiny strings pulled at his heart, urging him to fight the separation. That they were not supposed to be apart.

He shoved those feelings back in their place at the bottom before they could really leak into his soul. Although, he had an inkling that the seed had already been planted.

Matt shrugged it off. He was just making it up.

o0o

William puffed his last smoke before throwing his cigar out the window. He got out of the car, inspecting the parking lot, noting how there were more vehicles than usual. He shoved his hands in his trench coat as he made his way to the bar's entrance. However, before going in, his nose caught a particular smell, stopping the man in his tracks. Curiously, he followed it around the bar, where he spotted a homeless man resting against the wall. A piece of cardboard served as his cushion, and a thin blanket provided him with some amount of protection from the cold night air of winter. His clothes were as filthy as he was, ripped in places and looking like he had taken a shower in literal mud. He wore a beanie, some fingerless gloves, a construction worker's jacket, pants that were much too small for his size and boots that William could see his socks through. Disgusting… and yet, William wanted to know his… well, story, for lack of a better term. Afton approached the man, prompting him to turn in his direction.

"Hello." he greeted simply.

"H- Hello, kind stranger, would you be willing to- to lend me some money? Please, I- I only need a little to get some food." William nodded, seeing how the man was looking up at him yet off to the side, not making direct eye contact.

"Do you think Jerry would let you inside, looking like this?"

"I'm s- sorry. W- Who?" the man stuttered, shivering.

"Jerry, you know, the man that owns this place. Do you really think he'll let you inside?"

"I- I o- only need some cash, sir. I haven't eaten in days. Please." he begged, holding his hands up as if he was praying.

Deflecting.

"Right, my bad. I'm William by the way, what's your name?" the homeless man mumbled something, but the wind made it so Afton didn't hear. "Louder if you would, I can't hear you." the man repeated himself, but William still didn't hear. "What was that?"

"Jon- Jonathan, sir." he finally shouted, earning a smile out of Will.

"Okay, Jonathan, last name most likely Doe," he knelt down before the man. "- now why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, hmm?"

"S- Sir, it's r- really cold out here. Please, I need your help."

"No, that's not how it works, Jonathan. You need to do something to earn my help. I want you to tell me exactly how you got here."

"W- What?"

"You heard me, I want to know how you ended up here, in the middle of nowhere, miles away from civilization looking like that. I mean, excuse my bluntness, but you look like you're about to drop- I can't imagine you making it more than two miles outside of town before falling on the sidewalk, so please, enlighten me." the man paused, still not meeting his silver eyes, and bit his lips.

"I come here often, s- sir." he answered after a while.

"Uh huh. Well, I come here often as well, almost every night you could say, and yet not once in the past week have I seen you here."

"Sir, I don't understand, this is"

"-Fine, so if you don't want to tell me that, then at least explain it to me how you've got in this uh, situation of yours. You ever had a job in your whole life?"

"I- I did, but… I lost it." the man stared at William's knees, fumbling with his sleeves.

"Alright, why did you lose it, Jonathan?"

"I… they thought I stole- but I didn't, sir." the man spoke faster, no longer stumbling over his words, as if he had recited this before. "Someone framed me, and then after that I lost my home because I couldn't pay rent and then everything went"

"-Okay, I'm gonna stop you there because I don't want to hear any more of it. I get the general idea. This mysterious someone framed you and now you're down on your luck on the streets. Heard it before. So, you're homeless, jobless and probably sick, am I correct- you are still not looking me in the eyes even though we've been speaking for like a minute now."

"Y- You are right, sir, I suffer from a- a"

"-I don't care what your illness is, Jonathan. What I want to know, is what that smell is." William pointed at the man, grinning. "Don't get me wrong, you do smell like shit and piss, but there's something else besides that, isn't there? A little something that could land you in jail for possessing, don't you think?" the man almost nodded, having trouble keeping his grin, like he wanted to agree with Afton no matter what he said.

"All I have is what you see, kind sir. Please, spare me some money, and I will make sure to pray to our Lord and Savior for you." William rolled his eyes, staring back towards his car, though not at the religious comment. He didn't hold any grudges for the man upstairs. Well, he knew what was up, but if the guy wanted to play it this way, then so be it. He was feeling more… altruistic than he normally did, so whatever. What were a couple of bucks? Tsking, he pulled out his wallet.

"Hm, well, you win, since you were pretty entertaining. Here." he handed the man two one-hundred-dollar bills. The guy exclaimed in surprise when the money reached his fingers.

"Thank you! Oh, thank you so much sir! I will forever remember this act of kindness. May the Lord gaze upon you in your time of hardship. Thank you!" the man grabbed Afton's hand, shaking it profusely.

In that moment, William's mask of sanity fell. Insects crawled up his spine as his smile disappeared into a frown, and his eyes had lost their tinge of life behind them. He drew in a slow breath, upping his posture a little, his gaze piercing the poor man's soul. The guy stopped what he was doing, reeling back slightly; his attitude having completely changed in the span of a second. For a while Afton remained frozen, the only sound between the men being the gritting of teeth. William maintained his gaze with a raised brow. The wind seemed to follow the rhythm of his breathing, and he applied more pressure on the man's hand. So close to snapping, the tension hung in the air, and a fire seemed to be raging behind Afton's visage, debating whether it was worth it or not. William heard rumbling in the back of his head that grew louder the longer he scrutinized the other man. He was beginning to feel bone cracking under his fingers too.

He let go once the guy started crying out in pain and rose to his feet, brushing himself off, and taking out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. He threw it at the man's feet when he was done, considering it stained.

"You're a sad piece of human excrement, you know that? I mean how the fuck do you live with yourself, Jonathan…?" William raised his shoulders, an empathetic grimace adorning his lips. "All of that negativity and self-loathing, the feeling of hopelessness, it's what's putting you down, you know. And turning you into a loser. Eh, but so am I at the end of the day." William paced before the man, thinking. He was suddenly wishing he had another smoke. "No one will really miss us if we were to die. I suppose we are quite similar in that aspect... But what can I really say that'll make it better? The change has to start with you, not with merciful people who walk by you on the street. You're the sole reason you're here, mate..." he sounded like a disappointed parent who'd found their child had gotten the lowest score possible in a test. "Well, make sure you get yourself something nice with that, will you? You didn't earn it, but I'm feeling charitable so don't waste it on nothings, hmm." when he didn't get a response, he turned his head from side to side, bored, looking at each end of the building. "Have a good night then... And take a shower from time to time, for fuck's sake."

With that last bit of critique Afton walked away. Before he rounded the corner however, he took a moment to pull out his perfume and spray himself in hopes of getting rid of that dreadful smell. He wouldn't want to develop a reputation for doing… Ugh, he shouldn't be thinking about this anymore. That idiot was history. He'd die soon enough from starvation or hypothermia and William's words, money and time would mean nothing.

Useless. Chooses to be so. Deserves to be walked right over.

William shook himself, refreshing his image and walked in. Smoke spread through the establishment. The tables were full with regulars, but he also spotted people he hadn't seen before, and he knew everyone who frequented the place. Laughter and chatter filled his ears, along with the country song played by the band on stage. Waiters and waitresses were collecting beer mugs and shot glasses while others were bringing in more for the career drinkers, along with food. There were five of them in total, all Jerry's kids. They'd been helping the man since he opened this place a couple of years ago, all well within their twenties, yet content to remain in their birth town and lend their father a hand. The man himself was a widower, having lost his wife a decade ago. Opening a restaurant together had been their dream, and Jerry had finally managed to honor it after so long, a fact that merited William's respect.

While seemingly coarse, the atmosphere made the bar one of the only places where William felt at home and could unwind. Henry too had been enamored with the location after he had been introduced to it. It was hard to find pubs so authentic around Hurricane, part of the reason why the two partners had chosen a restaurant as their business venture. Speaking of his friend, he spotted Henry in his usual seat on a stool, talking with Jerry behind the counter, who was also the bartender for the pub. The shelves behind the man were filled to the brim with alcoholic beverages of all prices and origins. Some were drinks every living adult could recognize while others he hadn't heard of. It went to show how dedicated the owner was to his collection, restaurant and the enjoyment of his patrons.

His fellow drinking buddies waved and greeted William happily, to which he responded as he always did, waving back and nodding with a grin. A few invited him to take a seat, a couple of older gentlemen around their late forties, so they could have some fun and tell stories, but he declined, informing them that he was already on a date, to which they all laughed. Afton sat down next to his friend near the counter, patting the man on the back.

"Hey there, sport."

"Will, hey, nice to see you. You're a little late than usual, everything alright?" he puffed in response, dismissing the concern.

"Oh, you know, Elizabeth found something interesting and she had to let me know about it, Michael threw a temper tantrum, Evan had to be put to bed, yada yada... I swear, sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating in that house." Henry snickered, playing with his glass of wine. White Zinfandel, his favorite. He rubbed his temples, clearly distraught.

"Yeah, tell me about it. Man, this week was…" his partner trailed off, his eyes wandering over the television set above them. Reagan was holding a speech on the reduction of nuclear arms.

"Everything alright with you, Henry?" the man's whole aura turned somber at the question.

"I… no. You know how I told you we were going to go see a therapist?" William nodded, interested. "We went there and um… it was- it was- the lady told me some things that…" Henry shook his head, not wanting to face Afton.

"What did she tell you?" it took him a minute, but his friend regained his composure and spoke.

"She said that Matthew was just short of needing to be institutionalized. That the only reason he wasn't was because he was not a danger to himself or others, and she… she just gave up, Will. She said that she'd never seen anyone that bad before, and that there was no real hope to treat him... And I just… I didn't do anything, Will. We got home and I just… left. Went down to the basement and did nothing." the news did leave William astounded to an extent, but his shock soon turned to inquisitiveness. He sensed guilt in Henry's voice.

"That's… horrible. Did you try to contact anyone? Surely, she can't just turn away a child in need, can she? There must be some form of repercussions for such an action." he asked, outwardly unconcerned with Emily's mistreatment of his children.

"I looked into it and there aren't. Apparently, it's fine to do it if you believe you can't help that person, if your schedule is full, or- and this is the really outrageous part-, if you don't feel like it. And she said that she doesn't think anyone can help him- that all I can do is try my darndest to make him fit in." William processed the words in silence. He wasn't familiar with these types of professions and what exactly they entailed, he'd never been involved with them, but to him that sounded like a lawyer refusing to defend a litigant, or a surgeon not wanting to operate on a patient. The concept baffled him, and so he raised both of his brows, scoffing.

"Well then, she, and all of her coworkers are incompetent. Christ, who would've thought? And you can't sue their arses either, huh… How is Matthew feeling about all of this?" the support Henry had taken the boy to receive had been denied, and in this instance, it wasn't his friend's fault. It would be a tragedy for the child to lose himself when he had so much potential that not even his legal guardian realized.

"I… that's the- that's where I made a big mistake. Because I didn't check on him. I left him alone after that even knowing he heard that whole conversation. I- I just didn't know what to do, I mean, I'm not cut out for this kind of stuff. E- Even with Charlie I've no idea what to say to make her happy when she's feeling down, and I can't for the life of me figure out how I should approach him. What does make it comfortable for him mean? Do I give him space, do I look over his shoulder constantly, what am I supposed to say to make it better- I don't know. And I feel like I've failed him."

You have.

"Well, um, leaving him on his own is not the right idea. I think you should take the time to talk to him instead, even if he doesn't want to. He'll realize you're doing it for his sake, but hiding from the issue won't make it go away, old sport. He needs to- no, you need to face your fears and just talk. This is how I've been trying to get Evan to become more assertive, to not hold it all in, and for the most part, we're making progress. It's slow, but you can't afford to not be patient, Henry. As much as you can't stand to see him like that, Matthew first has to feel sad to later feel better, and you need to be there at all times and not try to ignore it thinking it'll stop. It won't. You have to take the initiative, because despite how resilient he might be, he's still only a child."

While the advice might've been harsh sounding, Henry had to understand that for the boy to live his life free of internal turmoil he had to be cured of the weaknesses that plagued him in these trying times he was forced to experience, and to be cured, Henry had to be present.

"Heh, yeah… yeah, that makes sense. You're the one with three kids anyway. You're right, William. Thank you. I'll uh, I'll do my best. I uh, I had to hear it…" his business partner relaxed once he told himself that. Sometimes that was all it took. A small nudge in the right direction, a few sweetened words, a smile, and you had yourself a puppet willing to do your bidding for as long as you so pleased. It would appear that Afton had to compensate for his friend's inefficiency, but on this distinct subject he didn't mind. The "gift of God", the golden mine could not be allowed to perish, so some indirect aid to keep it on track was in order.

"You're welcome. How is Charlotte doing?"

"She's fine as far as I can tell. Honestly Will, she's doing a better job than I could hope to do with him. They're inseparable, like actual, true siblings. It always warms my heart to see it. When they're together, they're just two bundles of joy."

And doesn't that upset you? For your daughter to be above you in her capabilities as a caretaker.

"That's good. I'm glad she's found a friend in him. She's a precious girl, Henry. You have no idea how lucky you are to have her in your life. Both of them." the other man smiled in a humble manner, nodding his head.

"Yeah, they uh, they make it worth it, to push forward and try to be the best version of yourself. I'm grateful for them both."

You would die without your Charlotte. It's so tempting to try and find out for how long you would last without her. You might be able to lie to others, and to yourself, but you cannot lie to me, old sport. She is the only one you truly care for. You did not adopt the boy out of the kindness of your heart, you adopted him to feel like you did something good. Because you would've felt sorry if you didn't, if you left him to his fate in the rain. You did it to save yourself the blame, not to save him.

"Yes, children do in fact bring out the best in us all." William affirmed, his mask not cracking. "Are they on their own?"

"Um, I left them with Mari, he's uh, he's great at taking care of them. They'll be fine for a few hours." Henry caught a glimpse of his stare and looked away swiftly. "He'll put them to sleep when it's time..." right, the first of Emily's creations that had been of any success, if one defined success by what Henry thought was sentience. William's hair rose on the back of his nape at the thought of seeing that mime ever again. He remembered the rabbit, and how it had resembled that white, ceramic face he so hated, and how the animal's eyes had shined just like Charlotte's under his grip. How the life had faded from them…

Sometimes I want to rip your daughter's tongue out and crush her windpipe with my fingers. The joy she radiates seems so fake, Henry, like you… I wonder how much you would hurt. The only redeeming qualities about you are the intelligence and the passion you put into things. The joy of creation you are able to conjure into your work, my friend, it's why you claim your mime has sentience… if you did not have it, you would've been identical to the rest. There's a thin line separating you from the herd, and you are very close to crossing it…

"Ah, I'm sorry, Will. I didn't intend to come here to complain- this was supposed to be a night to celebrate." William laughed in response, grabbing the drink Jerry had brought him while they had been talking.

"No, don't worry, we're in this together, and I'm here for you. We're still hitting bumps on the road but that's how it is, things are looking up for us so don't get discouraged. Fredbear's opening is right around the corner, my friend. We've passed all of the major roadblocks and soon, everybody from here to the East Coast will know our names, you'll see. We shall make history!" if there was one thing William Afton was passionate about, it would be the future. He'd go as far as to describe himself as a futurist, that's how ambitious his dreams and ideas were. Fredbear's would be the launching pad off of which he'd be propelled into the wider world.

"It's nice to see you're so excited." Henry held his glass. "Want to make a toast?" Will smiled, this time a sincere one. Sometimes his friend could have splendid ideas.

"Certainly." he cleared his throat. William got up from the stool and clasped his hands, turning around. "Gentlemen, if I could have your attention for a moment?" he said in a commanding yet casual tone. The room soon fell silent as all gazes were directed at him. "Since we are only one month short of new year, I'd like to take this opportunity to make a toast. I'm sure everyone in this establishment can agree that 1981 has been a challenging year for us all and I would like to congratulate you, my friends, for making it through relatively unscathed." all of the men nodded, especially the older folk. "These are trying times we live in, and they will only continue to get harder, but all we can do, as respectable, hardworking individuals is to keep moving forward and never give up. To fight to make our dreams into a reality despite the trials we will most definitely face." William did not look at Henry, but he knew the man was attempting to make himself as small as possible in his seat. Afton almost laughed out loud at the embarrassment his partner was having. He'd asked for this however, so he would have to sit through William's improvised speech. "Let us overcome anything that stands in our way and reject the notion of I can't, and accept the fact that we are, indeed capable, of doing whatever we put our minds to. Let us welcome this new year with open arms and stand together to fight for a better world." he raised his glass in the air, exclaiming proudly. "To a bright new future full of prosperity, riches beyond our wildest dreams and obtaining the unobtainable!" and just like that the bar erupted into cheering. Already drunk men had been captivated by his- in all truth- terrible speech, and were now downing all of their drinks in one go. He'd just made them want to order even more alcohol.

Jerry owed him a large cut of his profits for this stunt.

He clashed his glass against Henry's and downed his shot of B52, Jerry coming to pour him another, and let his friend pull him back down.

"My God, Will. That's not what I meant. You've just made a fool of yourself." said Henry after a few seconds of silence, his face covered by his palms.

"I didn't come here to mope, Emily. I came here to celebrate the near completion of our business. Learn to have a little fun once in a while. Come on, finish that, and let's get drunk." he brought his arm around his business partner, shaking the man.

"And how will I get home drunk, Will?"

"I'll order you a cab, don't stress over nothing."

"Here? At the ends of the earth, you'll find a cab?"

"Or ask Jerry to find one for you, you know he has to get his patrons home somehow after they've passed out." Emily regarded him for a while before finally giving in, raising his hands in defeat.

"Alright, I'll bite."

"That's what I like to hear. Jerry, give us the toughest drink you have- I can't remember what they're called uh- you know which ones I'm referring to- get us some of those, will you?"

"If I have to carry you out a third time, you're not setting foot in this place again, Bill. Understood?" the barman threatened, though a playful smile was present on his lips. The man's uniform consisted of a green t-shirt with a nametag stuck to his chest and another, gray shirt underneath. He leaned more on the chubbier side, but was by some unknown means taller than William himself, who was taller than most men. His carefree attitude and inviting grin would lead one to take him for a moron, but Jerry was anything but. He couldn't afford being an imbecile when he had a bar to run that was a hotspot for grumpier, tougher fellows. Vets especially liked this place, and the man that owned it, and William could see why. He might've looked like a weakling, but if he said no then there wasn't room for argument. As long as you were in his establishment you either followed his rules or you were kicked out by him, the whole staff and the clientele. He did quite envy the community this supposedly unremarkable man had managed to form, but it was earnest, so all he could do was hold onto his pride and appreciate it for what it was. This was what he wanted for Fredbear's, if he were to admit it.

Afton nodded, not particularly caring for the warning despite the underlying seriousness. His house was in walking distance anyway, he'd make it home on foot if he had to, even while wasted. And he would get back into this place if he were to be banned. As he watched the man go, he tuned in to the telly, listening to what the president had to say to pass the time.

"-Addressing the United Nations twenty years ago, another American president described the goal that we still pursue today. He said if we all can persevere, if we can look beyond our shores and ambitions, then surely the age will dawn in which the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved. He didn't live to see that goal achieved. I invite all nations to join with America today, in the quest for such a world. Thank you." the man stepped off his podium, bowing his head as the audience clapped. The similarity was not lost on Afton. All that he hated; the superficiality, the false image of good nature, the holier-than-thou attitude, the confident idea that any of it was possible- it had all been encapsulated into that little speech.

He had to prove it wrong. Somehow, he needed to find a way to show how glaringly false- misleading it was. He didn't need anyone to witness it, but he would go mad before he bowed down to those morals. He had to prove it to himself, because no, this was not a coincidence, and that stirred the itch beneath his flesh.

The glint in William's eyes was lost as they became impartial, his smile reset into a neutral line, and the wrinkles in his skin smoothed out. His breathing turned so slow that it looked like he wasn't even doing it, the rising of his ribcage almost imperceivable. His posture straightened, and he set his hands calmly on the counter, interlocking them. He leaned forward, a faint glare visible on his face that was otherwise devoid of emotion, with his gaze fixated on the television screen. All sounds were drowned out in favor of the rumbling he heard. The lights around him flickered with darkness, or at least they seemed like they did, but no one paid them any heed. Somewhere he heard laughter. Quiet, distant, guttural, but there. He knew it. It flowed through his veins like venom, poisoning all that it touched, but he did not shy from it. He welcomed the sensation.

The so-called second skin known as "William Afton" was put to rest, and the entity it protected emerged for the first time in full view. Visually, there were no significant changes, but the air around it had become asphyxiating.

The bartender froze when he laid his eyes upon the man in purple, dropping the drinks he had been carrying, attracting the attention of everyone inside the pub. It leaned back, slowly facing its toy, bearing an unreadable expression. Henry had his mouth slightly agape, and was also petrified in place. He wanted to look away, but invisible chains had been tied around his limbs, forcing him to see the true nature of the thing in front of him. He just couldn't look away.

So, he bravingly stared into the abyss that were those empty, silver eyes. And when the void stared back, he blinked.

A perfect silence was created for a few seconds, in which it got up and walked out the door without a word, leaving behind a multitude of confused customers. It went around the building to check on the homeless man only to find his spot empty. No trace of him. The cardboard had been taken as well, and the smell was gone. Had he even been there?

Getting the feeling it was being watched, it turned to look into the woods. From between them, it thought it spotted two dots glowing in the darkness, but they vanished the instance they made contact with its eyes. It looked back where the worm had been sitting, pleading to be pitied, and clenched its hands until it drew blood. Down in the droplets of red that had formed at its feet, it saw itself in the reflection. Like a mirror, the liquid showed the unadulterated truth… And it liked what it saw.

The truth was condoling. If only it could share it… if only the beggar had stayed here...

He would've learned that there was no man in the sky, no common flag to fall under, and that the only thing anyone could truly hope for was the fair, unbiased end.

---

The beginning of the third act is here after an extended wait, for which I apologize. But, after 16 chapters we are finally getting close to the opening of Fredbear's! Thank you for sticking around so far, you guys are awesome ∩_∩! I seem to be on a streak of making longer chapters with each entry but I'm having so much fun I can't stop.

In all seriousness though, 18k words is probably gonna be the limit for chapters as writing anything longer would take too much time and I don't want to keep you guys waiting.

A bunch of things happened in this one to thicken the plot that I hope you've found enjoyable😊. I wish you a nice day and I'll catch you all later! Peace👋!

Chapter title from "Five Nights at Freddy's Rap: Shadow Bonnie Remix" by DHeusta.