Look, there, that famous factory! The home of joy and love and endless playtime, endless childhood. The candy-cane exterior demonstrates just how honey-sweet everything is. But this lovely place is more than just a home for the world's favourite toys; 'I am incredibly proud to introduce Playtime Co.'s very own adoption program! These children will never be lonely again, as they are given care, love, and most importantly play, from our specialist team of caregivers. Playtime Co. pride ourselves on our high-quality teaching simulators, combining playtime and learning. Our children especially love playing with our specially-made Playtime toys (sold in stores near you), be it the delicious Candy Cat, little Daisy, and of course the loveable Huggy Wuggy. If you would like to adopt one of these specially-reared children, come down to the Playtime Co. factory today! (further qualifying information will be required of any applicants). Tours of these facilities will be open to the public very soon to witness our state-of-the-art process of child-rearing. We hope to see you soon! 'What time is it?' 'Playtime!'...
End of tape.
We really had no idea, did we?
And now this is what we get.
Lost to time.
…
On the wall it goes. I should probably connect it to Ludwig and BBI as well. Let's see what else we have here…'Playcare Announcement'. Likely…1993. I'll set it aside for now, there. Wait…'BLL'?, 'Daisy'?. That's the main link. But I need to find a clearer link. Interviews in newspaper clippings? Perhaps I should look elsewhere.
TO DO:
-Ludwig Office
-Look thru newspaper records
-Piece together shredder material
-Investigate laptop owner
-Find Mothy
…
*click* 913.81370.61776.7.
'Hi Scott, it's me again. Just wanted to let you know how my project is going. I've definitely FOUND things, but… honestlyI don't know if this is enough. It's so hard to find indisputable evidence in this place. I know I'm lucky to have found anything, what with these Resource Extraction people, but I can't help thinking that I'm missing something in plain sight. Maybe I'm paranoid. It would be VERY helpful if I could open this laptop, but it's completely busted. Even if I could open it, there would be so many barriers it would just be a dead end.
I feel like everything I'm doing is a dead end now. I'm starting to think he was right about me.
-Anyway, I'm going to hang up now before I fill your answering machine. Bye'.
….
'I regret to inform you Marcus that your employment has been terminated. Please pack your things and come with me'.
'B-but Sir!-'
'Secrets are a promise, Marcus, and you have grossly violated the rules by exposing official company secrets to a malicious ex-employee. Any further contact with Playtime Co. employees or malicious conspiracy theorists will result in further action. I must say, you are very lucky that we are not pressing charges against you. As of yet, of course'.
'Mr Pierre-'
'Nothing you say now can possibly help you, Marcus. Now, let's go'.
'...I know the way to the exit Sir'.
'I don't doubt that. The company just needs to check a few things with you before you go. It won't take long'.
…
'Rogue experiment! It's gone rogue!
'Tranquilise it, quickly!'
'Get the children away, now!'
'Hold it down!'
Shatter. Crunch. Scream. Clamber. Shriek. Thump.
…
'...This doesn't look good'.
…
*Pop* The eye goes. Molten liquid streams down the muzzle and tears the fur. Flames scorch the underbelly, bones and metal fall from their melding. But there are no screams. Hell is on Earth.
*Pop*
…
'The uhhh… 'nightlight' design got mixed feedback, I'd say. Kids were confused about the design, a bit too skinny I think. Umm…they liked the glowing antlers, but were frightened by how the face looked in the dark'
'This is direct feedback from the kids, not just what YOU think, is it Mr. Wayson?'
'No, sir, these are the notes I took down when the kids were-'
'Let me take a look… quite a realistic-looking fella huh? Yes, I see what you mean. Tone down the realism, make the face and proportions more cartoony, shorter and rounder, you know what I mean? And less detail too, a child should be able to easily draw it. And those antlers need to be revamped too, those sharp spikes could poke a child's eye out'.
'...Perhaps we should use the owl design instead?'
'I don't know right now Wayson, we've put a lot of resources into this deer design… say, what was its name again?'
'...Right now, we only have a title for him. 'Your Deer Friend'.'
'Haha…no, no, I like that, we're keeping him. We'll make it work. Give him more amiable elements and he should be good to go'.
'We'll plan it right away Sir'.
…
Alarms had been sounding for hours, penetrating the brains of those still inside, stuck, unable to leave. The Swap-i-mals could rip their ears out of their heads to numb the sound, others could only press them down. Others still were happy to ignore the ringing, running throughout the factory, screeching in rage, hunting down anyone they could find. But there was no one there. The sound finally stops.
…
Needles and wheelchairs, shrieks of pain and sharp snarls, became a blur to them all as they slipped in and out of consciousness, numbing the sounds, sights, smells, before finally awakening into a permanent nightmare, the person before lost forever.
…
He stared at the wall. It was all hopeless. There is nothing in this. The defunct clock remained motionless. In the distance, a crash of bricks echoed in relief, finally released by the peeling wall plaster.