"Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…"

A young girl sat on a blue sofa in the living room of her once lively and joyous house, quietly humming the beloved song. It was Christmas; after all, she should've been happy, should've been enjoying herself and the celebration. People all over Hurricane would leave their houses and walk around the town, spending time at parties and Christmas dinners, visiting family members, and going to travel…They were happy, and Elizabeth wanted to feel happy like them, too. She looked at the Christmas tree Daddy set up and continued to quietly hum, wondering if there was any point at all. Christmas was the time when, despite the cold outside, everyone should've felt warm and happy and should've shared those feelings with each other. But what was there left to be happy about? Mike wasn't here to crack jokes and bicker with Daddy before making up and professing their love for each other, Chris wasn't here to tell stories he thought of and share Elizabeth's excitement of opening Christmas presents, Mommy wasn't here to prepare the tastiest dinner ever and make sure everyone gets their share. Elizabeth felt happiest when they were happy, too…And now she sat alone, waiting for Daddy to return. It was the first Christmas they would spend together without her brothers.

Mommy and Chris couldn't be here, but she wished Mike would come back at least for one day…Though maybe it would only make things worse for Daddy. Elizabeth feared for him. It had been a while since he showed up. The last time she saw him was when he begged her to lie to Daddy about him coming home and taking the keycard, which she did. It was the right thing to do, no matter how hurtful it was. She just wished to see him again, to know he was alright…Daddy rushed off to his workplace but never mentioned what he found there.

Finally, she heard the door opening. Elizabeth took a deep breath and prepared to greet the symbol of her joy, the man who was supposed to be it, who was it once.

"Ho-ho-ho!" A loud, exaggerated laugh echoed from the door as Elizabeth heard hasty steps approaching the living room. She saw a tall man dressed in red clothing and with a red hat on his head. He had an artificial beard and carried a green bag of presents behind him, looking at Elizabeth with warmth in his eyes. For the first time, she felt like smiling today…She wasn't alone yet, even if it felt like this sometimes. "I heard there was a girl living around here who behaved really well…And I decided she deserves to get her presents from me personally!"

"Hello, Mr. Santa Claus." The girl smiled shyly and looked at her father with a faint smile. It was strange playing those imaginative games without Chris. He was usually the one who came up with the best and funniest ideas. Daddy could be very creative, too; it's just that he didn't have much time. He said it would get better a long time ago, back when Mommy was still alive. It didn't get better in two years, and Lizzy began to lose all hope. "I hope you…Had a nice journey."

"Oh, my journeys are always impeccable; you needn't worry. Now, why are you looking so sad? You really shouldn't; you deserve this day and all it brings!" He tried to sound upbeat, but it didn't come off genuine, and Elizabeth saw that. Funny how pretending to be Kitty, Chica, or Circus Baby was much easier than pretending to be happy when she was not.

"Daddy…You've done well, really, but…Can we just do it together? I like Santa Claus, but…I want to see you." Elizabeth looked up and pled, making her daddy stop for a few moments as he looked down in awkward silence. Eventually, he sighed and took off his beard and hat.

"Fine…That was a bad idea from the start."

"Oh, no, it's not bad, it's just…Maybe later?" Elizabeth tried to comfort him.

"Maybe." William put the elements of his costume on the table and sat on the sofa beside Elizabeth. "Sorry, I came so late. I didn't have the time to get you any presents until now and…"

"It's alright." The girl smiled and held his hand. "You need some time to relax, too. Can I…"

"The presents? Oh, yes, of course." Daddy took the green bag and put it in between them. It pained Lizzy to see just how tired and drained he was. The stains under his eyes were a common sight for a long while now. And yet, despite all of this, he still desperately tried to make some time for her, to make her happy and joyous as much as he could. He still smiled as he looked at her, opening the bag. "I hope you like those." Elizabeth looked inside, noticing a drawing kit and a new doll for her, which came with a unique set of dresses. "The doll is to add to your collection and the kit…Well, I know you like to draw sometimes; now you can do it in different ways, not just with pencils."

"They're…They're great!" The girl exclaimed giddily. "I love those so much. Thank you, Daddy! I'll draw something for you so you can put it in your office."

"I…Thanks, but I'd rather you draw something for yourself." Daddy said with a warm smile. "I work all over the place, anyway…Worked before, at least." He sighed with disappointment, probably thinking of what happened with Funtime animatronics. They suddenly disappeared, and Mr. Bairren announced that the restaurant was closing for a very long time due to something unforeseen. "And our house needs some lightening up, don't you think?"

"Yeah, maybe…" Elizabeth looked away. It became a sad, lonely place, and she wasn't sure if anything could lighten it up again. Anything except…The girl felt tears swelling up her eyes. "I…I miss them, Daddy…I miss them." She sobbed as she felt her father's warm embrace around her. "I want them to return, I…"

"I miss them, too," Daddy said quietly as Elizabeth saw him tearing up, as well. "Let's hope that Mike is having a better time right now…" He said with a fainting hope in his voice, completely stripped of hatred and disdain that he felt after Mike killed Chris. He didn't know the truth…He hoped that Mike was okay even after all he did, and Elizabeth lied to him about it. She lied to her daddy, who did everything, even the most unspeakable evil, for the sake of protecting her…She felt sick to her stomach. She didn't deserve all those presents for good behavior when she lied, it was wrong! Lizzy couldn't hold it in herself any longer.

"Daddy…Can I tell you something? The girl said in a weak voice before looking up at him.

"Of course, my dear, what is it."

"Just, please…" She wiped away her tears but more appeared almost immediately. "Please don't be mad with me…"

"What's wrong?" William asked cautiously and with anticipation.

"You know when…When someone broke in and stole your keycard?" Elizabeth braced herself and spoke up. He won't react kindly to it, and that was exactly what she deserved. How could she think about lying to Daddy? It was horrible and unthinkable… "I didn't tell you everything."

"What do you mean?"

"I…Didn't sleep that night." After those words, Elizabeth noticed William raising an eyebrow with caution, replacing his warmth and unquestioned acceptance. "I saw him break in, he saw me…"

"What…What are you talking about? Saw who?" He was getting all the more agitated. Elizabeth wasn't sure if she was ready for this.

"M…Mike." She took a deep breath and let out before looking down in shame.

"What?!" Daddy's horrified voice pierced her ears, making Elizabeth shake in fear. "It was…Mike? He took the keycard?"

"Y…Yes."

"And you didn't tell me?" His voice grew louder; Elizabeth could see in his eyes that Daddy still couldn't let go of his shock.

"He…He asked me to do this. Said that it was very important that you don't know so you can't find him, or else…I don't know, he, he…I didn't want to betray him, and I didn't tell you anything, but now I…" She couldn't stop crying, all while her daddy looked at her with eyes filled with broken grief and shattered hopes.

…

William wished this was not real.

Every word Elizabeth spoke pierced him like a sharp blade that cut him and made his blood clot uncontrollably. She lied in his face, all of those tears, all the pain…She knew the truth all this time, making William shake in agony and anger. She could've tried to stop him, and now…Now William knew that Mike was the one who descended to the bunker. He was the one that tampered with the animatronics and the remains they have found…

William didn't want it to make such perfect sense, but it did. Mike was never content with leaving matters half-finished, always so inquisitive and persistent…He and Alison still pieced the puzzle together, with the latter being devastated because of losing all Funtime animatronics in one night, while William hoped that whoever descended to the bunker was not someone he'd not want to lose. But the answer was painful…

"Why…Elizabeth?" William took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

"I just wanted to…"

"WHY?!" He shouted at her with eyes full of emerging anger and fury. Out of all the people surrounding him every day, the one soul William believed he could trust was his daughter, the most loyal and loving person he ever knew. Yet even she would hide secrets from him for so long…

"Because he…" Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Because he told me you were a murderer!" The girl shouted unexpectedly, making William freeze in shock and stare at her in silence. "He said he wanted to help and to find out what you were doing there, you and your people from the company…" She sniffed and looked into William's eyes. "Daddy, is it true? Are you…A murderer?"

William felt those words etching on the depths of his soul; never did he feel so weak, powerless, so outright disarmed as he did now. His own daughter, the person he swore to protect, perhaps the only one William still had left, asked him the question to which he couldn't answer. Not in a way that would not put her in grave danger or be an outright, obvious lie…Assuming she wasn't in danger already.

"Daddy, why aren't you talking? I…I don't want to believe it! There is some reason for this, right? Please…" Her lips quivered in desperation. "Make it make sense!"

"Elizabeth…Go to your room, now."

"But…"

"Now."

The girl looked to the floor meekly and left, leaving William alone. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as he walked upstairs, as he realized that just when he thought the worst was behind them, Mike was removed from danger and that Elizabeth could remain safe in blissful ignorance, but of course, all those hopes had to be ruined during the moment he was supposed to stay joyous. So much pain, so, so much, again and again…

When William returned to his room, he screamed. What did he do to deserve this? To be so powerless and watch his family fall apart, to knowingly sell his soul for nothing? There was a hope of Mike's soul still surviving in one of the broken animatronics, or whatever took his skin, but even if that was true, he would never become the same again. Perhaps he should've been furious at Michael; perhaps he should've hated his recklessness, but the only person he could spite now was himself. Still sliding into the abyss along with his family, the company, this entire town…

He took out the photo from a few years ago, the one they took during Elizabeth's birthday. Clara, Chris, Mike, Lynda, Gron…All smiled at the camera; they enjoyed this beautiful moment, and William knew exactly how it felt. He was there, too. How much more would each of them have found this moment unforgettable? How much more joy would they try to suck out of it if they knew that those happy times were almost over? It seemed like everything would only get better from there, but fate had something else in store. Or perhaps they could easily avoid it if only they saw through Alison's lies? Did you not go through that hidden door?

Something else caught Will's eye, even though it shouldn't have. Another photo from the end of his university years is of him standing along with Gron and other graduates. For some reason, something clicked in his mind, making William's mind immediately go to a young man who stood far away from him and Gron. The one with short brown hair and a proud smile, always so confident and talented…He never paid attention to him when he looked at this photo before; why did he do it now? It was a fleeting memory of Henry Emily that distracted William from his uncontrolled rage as pieces of the puzzle started to come together. He thought of Henry's voice, realizing that he had heard it much more recently than he should've…And inside the walls of Fazbear Inc., no less.

Jeremy Fitzgerald.

…

Some time earlier

There was no way back for him, not after what he did. Chris knew that.

There was no one to see him killing his brother, ripping his flesh and organs away, mutilating his body in the most grotesque way possible before turning him into a puppet…Yet he wanted to do it. He wanted to punish Mike and teach him a lesson, even if he would never actually get the chance to learn from his mistakes. Now they were even…And Chris finally got free.

He got out of the bunker through one of the vents and left before people realized what was going on. Father must have arrived and seen the mess Chris made in the bunker…But he did not care. There were no cameras left to capture the truth either way. His revenge was not yet over. However, everyone deserved to pay. Mike's three friends were with him; a single one protesting against such cruelty would've been enough to save Chris's life, but they all went all with it; they all were complicit. The boy felt no remorse.

The time for that would come once he finds them, and for now, all Chris could do was to wander…The skin cover was enough. Make him look human from a distance, but he couldn't allow anyone to come close, or else they would suspect there was something odd about him, likely even creepy. He didn't need company anyway, not until he's done…But it was lonely at times, eventually making Chris realize that he wanted to see his family.

And so he did.

He came to them during Christmas Eve, emerging from the woods and wandering around the Afton household like a waning phantom, still desperately yearning to return to his now unreachable past. Chris wasn't sure if the place became darker and gloomier with time or if it was simply the way he saw things after all he'd been through. After all this time, he was finally able to see his home…

He looked out the window at one point and saw them. William and Elizabeth, his family. They sat on the sofa with his sister unpacking a green bag and witnessing her presents…He wondered if they were genuinely happy or just pretended to be. Did they think about him or Mike? Did they miss them? Chris knew he did…It has been a long time since they all were together, all trusting each other with their secrets without shame and regret. He wanted to walk in and show himself, wanted to tell Dad and Lizzy the truth…But they didn't deserve this horror. Didn't deserve to see him like this on a day that was supposed to be happy. Perhaps never at all.

He did not wait long before vanishing deep into the void of the dark forest before him. Their family was broken and could not be put back together.

Only vengeance remained.