When the time finally came to meet Chris's new friend, William realized how much he needed this opportunity for a reprieve. Writing down meticulous details about him and Gron descending into the facility, trying to recapture the screams of the prisoner in his mind, was draining, especially after spending his days working on a new batch of animatronics that could be used for this exact purpose. It was quite a conundrum he found himself amidst, with everything being done towards two contradictory goals, both fueling the machine of Fazbear Inc and trying to take it down from the inside. As he was caught in this cycle, the moments that reminded him of normalcy grew rarer and rarer. At times he even wondered if he should have opened the door that night; perhaps pretending it didn't exist would've been better for everyone…
But this evening, he could take a break from this gravity he felt and spend some time getting to know Chris's friend. It was a remarkable moment for his son, the one who would usually not talk to anyone but his toys and a few imaginary friends. William tried not to have too many preconceptions about this Lily, but if Chris opened up to someone in such a way, there must have been more that they shared beyond hobbies.
Shortly after, Clara called him, saying that she would bring Lily to their house on the way to her theatre and then pick her up later in the evening. The girl had no parents to take her to her friends, unfortunately, but Clara was kind enough to provide that lift for her, hoping that William would do a good job as a host. He was resolved to live up to this expectation, even though now the engineer felt incredibly tired and overwhelmed. Elizabeth and Chris knew that he wasn't having his best days, and hopefully, they would entertain their guest themselves.
When William walked down the stairs, preparing to meet Lily, he immediately heard a familiar voice echoing from the TV.
"I'm good with the guitar, you know? Well, at least other bunnies said that I am a natural…" A shy voice of a junior guitarist in the band, the one who was to become a loyal friend as he and his friends would be taken on a myriad of adventures.
"We should take him in, Freddy! I really like how well he's playing."
"Yes, that's a talent to be cherished, alright…Can you play it again, Bonnie? I loved your tune."
They were rewatching one of the first episodes, and William could feel his own steps pause as he heard those voices. The iconic moment of the trio finding each other, setting up a foundation for some wondrous friendship when William watched it the first time, he remembered feeling faint, almost childlike warmth that this show reawakened. Now he just wanted to look away and not think about it. This was a creation of Alison's. All the money he received from it would go into the torture that ensued in the underground facility.
"Can we watch the one near the end?" Chris suggested. "You know, with the ships…"
"But I really like this one; it's so cute!" Elizabeth responded defensively. "We should finish it, at least!"
"Ok, fine, but then we should watch the other one…"
"Chris, Liza." William's voice echoed from the stairs, just loud enough to reach his children and make them turn around.
"Oh, hi, daddy!" Elizabeth waved. "Do you want to join us?"
"A bit later. Mother called and said that she's bringing Lily over really soon, and I'll pick her up from here."
"Oh, really?" Chris smiled with anticipation. "I want to meet her too!"
"And I! I'm sure she's a lovely friend," Elizabeth said supportively.
"You'll get your chance soon," William reassured them before glancing at the window. "Are, here they are…" He witnessed Clara's car, colored bright pink, emerge from behind the trees. "Anyone wants to meet them?"
"Yes, I do." Chris jumped up from his sofa and rushed towards his father.
"I'll prepare some cookies! "Elizabeth went to the kitchen, leaving William and Chris alone as the two walked to the door, eager to meet a new friend.
"How is it going, Chris?" William asked out of the blue, surprising his son.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, the school and all."
"You haven't asked about it in days…"
"Yes, I know, it's been an incredibly busy week. But hey, better late than never."
"It's good, really. Lily and I helped each other a few times, but it's not too difficult…"
"I'm happy for you."
"What do you mean?"
"That you found a friend, finally," William reassured him. "I have to say, mother and I were starting to worry."
"Hey, I'm not too lonely…" Chris sighed defensively, trying to carefully pick his next words. "I just know how to look for friends."
Soon the two walked outside, reaching Clara's car. The woman already stood outside with a young girl with long black hair and brown eyes by her side. They didn't notice William and Chris straight away, talking between themselves for a while.
"Do you think they'll like me, Mrs. Afton?" Lily spoke up with some doubt, only for Clara to smile and nod.
"I don't doubt it. I'm sure Chris would love to see it, and my husband will take good care of…Oh, here they are!" Clara waved to William and Chris as they approached them. "God, Will, you look tired. However, did they even convince you to come down?" She said playfully, though William knew that his exhaustion had not gone past her.
"It took some effort." He responded before looking at the girl in front of him. "And you're Lily, I assume?"
"Hello, sir…"
"Hey there!" Chris exclaimed in a surprisingly upbeat tone for him and ran toward Lily. "How was your journey?"
"Really good, thank you…I brought a new toy you wanted to see." She smiled before showing Chris a pink-colored plush, a feline character that William could vaguely remember from the show.
"Is this the new one?" Chris wondered. "I never saw anyone have this one yet. Didn't you say you won it?"
"Yes, I won at Fredbear's when I had the chance to play a game. It's been fun!" She was about to tell the story in detail, but Clara paused her.
"I'm sure you have a lot to discuss, and I think there's much more fun to be had at home."
"She's right," William added. "Elizabeth is dying of impatience, probably, wouldn't want to disappoint her. Anyway, I'm Will, Clara's husband and Chris's father; I imagine they told you about me."
"Oh, yes, they did." Lily smiled with pride. "They said you're one of the most talented…Robotic technicians in the town. Sorry, I'm not sure what that means, but it must be important." She spoke with renowned confidence as William allowed himself yet another smile.
"Mike!" Clara looked towards the car and called out. "Wake up; we're home already."
A tired sigh echoed from the car as William saw his oldest son get out of there with a look that could rival William's in its exhaustion. "I picked up Mike from school as well. He finished early today." Clara explained before giving William a playful look.
"Now, I know what you're going to say…"
"Well, it is four whole children for you alone, after all." Clara chuckled. "Sure you'll manage?"
"I'm not a child." Mike corrected her eagerly as he passed by Clara's side. "Not the same as others, at least."
"Sorry, but with how immature you're behaving, sometimes I can't call you an adult just yet," Clara admitted, making Mike clenched his teeth for a moment before going home in silence.
"What happened now?" William inquired, realizing that he hadn't spoken to Mike in days of how busy he was.
"He still doesn't want to apologize to anyone and admit that he was wrong, also still insists on keeping the same company even after they found drugs. I understand that he's protective of his friends, but he is far too stubborn."
"I'll talk with him."
"Thank you. Just don't go hard on him, he's tired as well." Clara warned him before walking back towards the car, gracing William with a last smile of encouragement. "Sorry, I would've stayed, but there's another rehearsal today. I have to be there. Have fun, and don't get too tired!" Clara wished William good luck as she got into the car and drove off after her husband wished farewell, too.
"Now, now, let's show our guest the house." He tried to sound upbeat as he looked toward Chris and Lily, leading the two of them to the house. "Oh, and don't be put off by it being quite remote; Clara and I enjoyed the view and solitude it brought."
"I really like it." Lily smiled as she looked around the place, gazing over the trees and listening to the distant birdsong. "It seems quiet and remote, it's usually very loud where I live, and it's easy to grow tired…" Her voice grew fainter as she spoke of the orphanage, and William understood her dissatisfaction. A place like this would have many heartbroken kids in a single place, many of them loud and active. It could be overwhelming, especially for someone who is introverted and reserved. "Chris must like it here."
"I do…Well, during the day." The boy spoke shyly. "At night, it can get a little scary, but it's still alright."
"I see…But why would you get scared in here?"
"Well, you know how I told you about dreams…"
"Yes, but…You have your dad to protect you. And your brother is very strong too; Mrs. Afton said he's quite a fighter."
"I think he'd get annoyed if I bother him…And dad is too busy."
"For now," William added as they entered the house. Lily was impressed as she witnessed it. "Welcome to the Afton family's residence; feel at home."
"It's really neat…"
"Hey there!" Elizabeth's voice rang out as the girl rushed from the kitchen, carrying a plate of chocolate biscuits in her hands. Lily looked at her awkwardly, slightly recoiling at the sight of such a warm and excited welcome. "You're Lily, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Hooray, welcome, welcome! I brought some biscuits for you; if you're hungry, take some."
"Eh, are you sure…"
"Of course! I try to have them for all our guests, though they don't come too often."
"Don't be shy." Chris encouraged Lily. "This is my sister, Liz; she's…Very friendly."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lily." She eased herself and grabbed a biscuit, watching Elizabeth's excited smile.
"You like them?"
"Yes… They're nice!"
"And is that…" Elizabeth looked at the plush that Lily held in her hand. "Is that Kitty Fazcat?"
"Yes, she's my favorite."
"I know, she's so funny."
"Fazcat?" William intervened, feeling the sudden urge to point out an observation. "Is that just a coincidence that she has a similar name to Freddy or…"
"Oh, they were once in the same band together before he met Chica and Bonnie," Lily explained. "And they had the same name for the stage…Also, Chris, where are you, Fredbear? Kitty would like to meet him; you know she likes the legend a lot."
"He's in my room. I'll go get him." Chris responded before running to his room. Meanwhile, William escorted Elizabeth and Lily to the living room; their guest immediately noticed a familiar show that was portrayed on the screen and gave a warm smile.
"This is such a cute moment…I like how nice they are to Bonnie. Have you seen it, Mr. Afton?"
"Some of it, Chris and Liz really wanted me to watch it, but hey, I don't regret it." That was only partially true.
"And daddy promised to watch more," Elizabeth added. "Do you want to join us? We were about to watch later episodes, if Lily is fine with it, of course."
"I am; they're really fun." She said with reassurance. William might have agreed, but he also noticed Mike sitting at the table in solitude as he drank some tea, avoiding eye contact with any of the others. "I'll have a look from the table. I think me taking part in your games will only make it unnecessarily convoluted."
"Alright, we'll watch it a bit later, then," Elizabeth said, making William let out a quiet sigh. He couldn't refuse, didn't want to refuse, because he won't be able to explain his reasons for it; he just didn't want to spend any more time than necessary with those characters, robots, or animation. Soon, Chris returned from his room, carrying a golden bear plush, beckoning for Elizabeth and Lily to follow him further into the living room. William, meanwhile, made his way toward Michael, hoping that he would be met with something else rather than sulking.
"Mike." William poured a cup of green tea for himself and took a spot by his son's side. "Are you alright?"
"Hah…" He chuckled. "Took you long enough."
"No need for this empty posturing. I'm serious. "William said firmly while maintaining warmth, he did not want to antagonize Mike, but he won't allow him to talk to his parents like this.
"I know; just a bit surprised that you finally remembered we exist after the last few days," Mike said sarcastically.
"I've told you this before, my job is demanding, and I have to devote much time to it."
"Mom's job is demanding, too, and she doesn't forget we exist, somehow." Mike retorted, once again putting William in a situation he so despised. He didn't want to dance around the truth, trying to cover it up and lie, but he could not know, had to be fed this lie.
"Well, I don't see much point in debating this," William said moments before hearing a childish laugh echoing from the living room. The three kids were engrossed in playing with their plushies, role-playing and telling each other stories, running around, and laughing with each other. He hoped that Elizabeth would not overwhelm their guest, but William was confident that living with Chris taught her to be more reserved and considerate. "So, let's get back to my question."
"I'm alright, really…" Mike reassured him. "Though I guess mom already complained about me."
"A little bit."
"Though so." The boy shrugged. "I don't need another talk, dad; I know what I'm doing."
"Michael, I need you to drop this attitude," William responded sternly. "I know that you're continuing to be proud of yourself and refusing to offer any condolences. What are you proving?"
"Nothing, just saying it like it is. You want me to lie or something?"
"I know you're not cruel and know right from wrong very well. It was getting worse since you've been spending more time with those friends of yours, and it seems they're getting you in trouble."
"Oh, are they?" Michael looked at William with growing anger in his eyes. "Well, you don't know shit about my friends, so don't badmouth them like that!"
"I know that one of them was caught with drugs, and you had to bear the brunt."
"He didn't force me to do anything; I chose that. If you're going to call them bastards or something, then I'm one, too."
"I didn't say that."
"Well, sounds like that's exactly what you meant." Michael scoffed before taking a deep breath. "Doesn't matter…Sorry, I'm just really tired."
"Take your time," William reassured his son as he saw him standing up and leaving for his room. "But we will have to make amends, and soon. Clara nor I am intent on just letting it slide."
"Whatever…" Mike shrugged it off and left. He needed both love and a firm hand with how rebellious he got at times, and William wishes that he could have more time to spend with him, and with his current state of his job, it became nigh impossible.
"Is Kitty your favorite?" William heard Elizabeth's voice coming from the sofa.
"One of them. I really like Chica as well," Lily responded. Both seemed happy enough while Chris was off, perhaps to get a few more plushies from his room. "It's hard to choose; I love everyone from the main band. They are so different and yet so close, like a family… It's sweet." Her voice grew quieter as she got into what must have been a touchy subject for her.
"Oh…" Elizabeth paused as if she suddenly remembered something she had forgotten before. "I'm really sorry for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you live without a family…" Elizabeth spoke kindly and warmly, yet in a manner far too direct and blunt for their first meeting. "Does it get lonely in the orphanage? I heard stories about it and…"
"I…"
"Elizabeth, it's rude." William's commanding voice interrupted them, immediately making the two girls turn toward him. "Last I checked, you're here to play and have fun; there is no need for this discussion."
"Sorry, daddy, I just was really curious…" Elizabeth sighed and looked down with shame in her eyes.
"It's alright, but there is a time and place. And it's certainly not now."
"It's alright, I don't mind…" Lily was quick to reassure, but Elizabeth shook her head.
"He's right. I shouldn't have asked. I've been thinking…I have a few dolls in my room, do you want to play dress-up? We can teach Chris, too!"
"I'd love to!"
With those words, they rushed off to call Chris and continue playing in another room, allowing William another moment of silence. They were so happy, so excited, and all of them wanted him to be there for them, to be able to enjoy the time spent together and offer the support they needed…And he still had no time. Perhaps he should've retired to his work.
The sooner he gets it over with, the sooner they will be free.
…
DESTROY THEM FROM THE INSIDE, OR BE DESTROYED
Those were the words with which Gron continued to live, with a choice that laid before him being so simple and yet so impossible to make at the very same time, and yet there was some allure in the Twisted one's constant whispers…What point was there in constantly hiding and submitting to an authority that hardly cared for him and saw him as a simple tool of entertainment? The tool that can be toyed with, manipulated, and mocked however Alison and his lackeys see fit, just because he had people he loved and didn't want to be hurt…
YOU CAN PROLONG THE INEVITABLE, BUT IF YOU DO NOT DO ANYTHING, THEY WILL SUFFER
Gron couldn't force himself to do anything to stand up against Fazbear Inc…After all, Alison was right. There was little he could do against an entire company.
ALISON DOES NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF; I DO
Perhaps Gron should've talked to William about this, so they could try and come up with a plan.
WILLIAM WILL STALL BECAUSE OF HIS FEAR, AND YOU KNOW THAT
BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
Those cryptic words continued to echo in Gron's mind as he could not think of any response to them, unable to decrypt them and realize what it was that the demon wanted. Deep down, however, there was another feeling, a feeling that Gron tried to bury with more vigor than even the Twisted one himself. The feeling hinted that, perhaps, he knew what the demon wanted him to do. He was just too fearful of admitting it.
Today was another day of desperately fighting those impulses as Gron continued to entertain in the Fredbear suit. Still having to put on this smile, to put up an excited and jolly voice that will make all the children around him smile with happiness. He needed to make everyone happy, everyone but himself. His happiness did not matter as long as he was doing his job; such was the decree of Fazbear Inc. Each new day grew more tiring and draining, the children's laugh grew louder and more joyful, more and more would come and have their fun, poke at the amusing bear that roamed around the pizzeria, ask him questions about other characters, and then move on. There was some strange comfort in being in a spring lock suit when one got used to it. No one could see Gron's face. No one could see his shame and fear. And even if the accident happened, he would at least die knowing that he would become a stain on Fazbear Inc's reputation.
A SINGLE STAIN WILL NOT BE ENOUGH
BUT IF THERE ARE MANY OF THEM, IT MAY YET WORK
Gron didn't know what he was suggesting, nor did he want to know. All he had to do now was to entertain and do his job. As the jester walked near the stage, he searched for the kids that seemed a little lonely or bored, perfect targets for him. In his guidelines, Gron was told to always keep the overall engagement level as high as possible, and this meant leaving no child unchecked. His eyes noticed a familiar face not far from him, a red-haired boy he had seen some time ago…He was among the group that wanted to hear about the fountain of youth, the 'sailors.' The boy noticed him as well, turning towards Fredbear as a smile emerged on his face.
HERE IS ONE…
"Hello there, my youthful sailor!" Gron exclaimed as he noticed the child sitting alone, watching other children gather around Spring Bonnie. He didn't join them, being content with drawing something on a sheet of paper, Gron couldn't get a clear glimpse of that, but it seemed like a map.
"Oh, look who it is…" The child spoke with a slight chuckle. "The magician returns!"
"You seem a little lonely. Where is all your crew?"
"They're too busy in school, so I decided to come alone…Well, my parents are over there, of course." Jack pointed to one of the further tables where a couple was engrossed in their discussion, not paying much attention to their own child.
THEY CAN NOT SEE
Gron ignored the twisted one and looked at the boy in front of him, trying to pick a suitable topic for conversation. He certainly seemed like he could use some fun.
"And what is it you're drawing, my friend?" Gron wondered, trying his best to feign intrigue and excitement, yet even so, he could hear his own voice break. Maybe Jack noticed it too. He must've; otherwise, there was little explanation for him looking up with a rather cautious loo,
"It's a map for when others come back…I think we're in for a great journey, honestly!" A mind of a child has ever been a fascinating place; his fantasy ran wild as he created an entire scenario in his head, all of which could be unveiled inside the walls of a simple pizzeria. Gron envied him, envied the fact that his fantasies were so pure and unscathed that he was able to control them and use them to his own joy. Gron knew this feeling, too, once, a way to escape the bleakness of one's existence was through the head, through distractions and imagination…But what could one do when his fantasies were overtaken by nightmares and darkness? When the choice was between the confines of reality and the confines of his own mind?
YOU BREAK THEM
"I'm sure they will be more than excited…" Gron spoke faintly, breaking his character due to the persisting whispers in his head. "Still trying to seek out the fountain of youth, are you not?" The jester quickly switched his voice to sound more upbeat and encouraging.
"Yes, I think I know where we're gonna find it!" Jack responded playfully. "Gabriel would love it…You know, I watched the last episodes again and thought about what you said, Mr. Fredbear…And I would still drink from it even with all the warnings."
"Truly?"
"Yeah, I think it's worth the risk! I get why Freddy and others wouldn't do it, though if I were Foxy, I'd definitely try!" He continued to grow even more excited, eager to tell Gron everything on his mind. Did he truly see him as a manifestation of Fredbear, or did he know that this was just a worker in a costume and was so willing to play along with the pretense? Gron couldn't understand, but he had to admit that he was intrigued.
"Well, I am not going to stop you. My job is to simply forewarn…."
"Can you tell me more about how this changed you? I've always wanted to know more about how Fredbear feels, being immortal and so cool…You must have seen so much!"
"I…" Gron stuttered, realizing that there are parts of Fredbear's backstory that were never fleshed out in the series, thus pushing him towards improvisation. He stopped for a moment, trying to seek out the right words, right until the moment of hearing the voice yet again.
END THIS POSTURING
What did he want Gron to do?
ARE YOU A FOOL WHO STILL DOES NOT UNDERSTAND?
Gron felt his entire body shaking, but he could not allow himself to breathe too heavily just yet. He couldn't be suggesting…
THIS CHILD IS THE STAIN
No…
YES
It all broke down once again as Gron felt the world around him getting twisted and the illusions overtaking his mind. The boy continued to peer at the jester, but his appearance slowly began to change as the pizzeria around him got colored crimson.
"What's wrong? WHY ARE YOU NOT HAVING FUN?" The boy's voice echoed in Gron's ears, getting broken and torn apart in his mind by the demon that took over him. He didn't know who it was that was speaking, it was an amalgamation of both voices, yet they poisoned his entire mind by continuing to sound like a dreaded echo. It was agonizing to hear, to see the child before he transformed. A smile emerges on his face, the eyes becoming empty, colored in pitch black…It happened so many times already, and yet each time, it hurt Gron again and again. His conscience told him that this was not real, yet his mind and eyes said otherwise.
"N…No…"
"No?" Jack sounded confused, making Gron realize that he is once again shaking.
"Ah, forgive me, child…I must…See you later."
With those frantic words, Gron turned around and rushed into the corridor as quickly as he could while bound by the confines of a spring lock suit. He knew that the guidelines told him to not run or otherwise make any rash movements in the suit, but he was willing to risk it to avoid the shame.
IS IT SO EASY TO BREAK YOU? PATHETIC!
Don't listen to him, don't listen to him, don't listen to him, this is just a voice of madness, it can have no control…Gron desperately needed a breather and some solitude, but where could he get it? Not restroom, that's for certain…Ah, of course. The jester noticed a door at the opposite side of the corridor, the back room. Without hesitation, he walked towards it, hoping that no one else would see him or feels any suspicion. When he finally opened the door and found himself amidst the emptied hallway, Gron felt like he could breathe freely. Even the knowledge that the door to hell was hidden behind those walls wasn't enough to make this place unsettling compared to the rest of the pizzeria.
There was nothing here except the newly created Foxy animatronic that William made. Alison requested all of the new inventions be kept in the back room before he found a more suitable place to store them. His breaths were getting too heavy; Gron could feel them pushing the spring locks aside while drops of sweat formed on his body. No need to panic. He just needed to be careful…He could not take the costume off by himself, not quickly enough, only the head. Gron slowly unlocked the springs that connected Fredbear's head to the rest of the suit before taking it off and holding it in his hands. Finally, an opportunity to breathe…Gron closed his eyes for a moment.
"Come on… It's alright, you can just go out there and…"
CAN YOU?
Gron opened his eyes and recoiled in horror as he witnessed the horrific silhouette before him. The golden animatronic with his bloodied, rotten eyes overshadowed the fearful jester yet again, staring at him without mercy.
"You're a monster…" Gron's voice shook; he did not even realize he was speaking out loud. "You can't just…You can't suggest that we kill to bring them down…Do you fucking understand how insane it is?!"
IS IT? THE CHILDREN ARE THE TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS PLACE, AND BEHIND THEM STAND THE PARENTS…
WHAT WILL THEY SAY IF THERE ARE DEAD CHILDREN FOUND IN HERE?! ALISON MIGHT EXPECT DISOBEDIENCE FROM YOU, BUT HE DOES NOT EXPECT THIS!
"No…NO!"
"Whoah!" A boy's excited voice echoed from behind Gron, immediately making the jester shake so hard that he could feel the spring locks shaking slightly. "It's Foxy!"
Gron turned around, just realizing the horrific mistake he had committed. In his rush to claim the solitude he longed for so much, Gron forgot to lock the door behind him, and now Jack, who must have followed him from the main hall, was in the safe room. A customer, a child entering a safe room, something that was categorically against the rules…Gron could feel his eyes getting wet from shame. The boy was so enthralled by the sight of an animatronic that he did not even notice Gron standing there, but when his eyes finally caught the jester, he paused and looked to his side. "Oh, you're here too…" It sounded incredibly awkward as if Jack was pulled away from a fever dream that the sight of the newly created animatronic put him into. It must have felt strange for him to see Gron without the Fredbear mask on. In such a stupid rush, he ruined the entire illusion.
YOU DID NOT RUIN ANYTHING
YOU DID EVERYTHING RIGHT
NOW DO IT
OR I WILL FORCE YOU TO
Gron could not allow himself to show any signs of fear, though no doubt the child was already witnessing them. He took a deep breath before looking at the child. He didn't leave the door open wide, just a small fissure through which hopefully none would see or hear them.
"You shouldn't be here; please go back to the hall…" Gron attempted to sound stern, but all he could force out of himself was a faint plea, which a boisterous child like Jack would not heed.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it… It's Foxy! The best character and you already have him here? Why don't you tell anyone? He has so many fans!" Jack walked around the pirate, trying to get a perfect glimpse at every single detail.
"He is not ready to perform yet."
"I don't know, looks ready to me!" Jack exclaimed as he put his finger on Foxy's hook. "Ooh, it's sharp!"
"Don't touch it!" Gron undercut the boy and approached him carefully, fending him away from the animatronic while still clutching Fredbear's head to his chest. "Please, just return to the hall. I'll be there to entertain you soon; I just need a moment…" Why did he have to make this so difficult? Gron felt the desire to clench his fist from annoyance.
YES, EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED
"Aight…But I'm telling others that you have Foxy!"
"What?!" Gron froze and panicked as he saw a smug and playful smile on Jack's face. "No, no…You can't!"
"You can't just have our favorite characters hidden away and pretend like you never even created them. That's just unfair! Everyone wants to see them!"
"Listen, if anyone knows, I will get into trouble with my boss, big trouble…They keep them secret for a reason!"
"And what's the reason, then, huh?" Jack shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm not going to lie to anyone, so…"
YOU'RE LOSING YOUR CHANCE, FOOL!
"No…"
VERY WELL, THEN
I SEE YOU STILL DON'T REALIZE HOW LITTLE CONTROL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE
LET ME SHOW YOU
After those words, the world around Gron was consumed by hellfire. In a single instant, the walls of the pizzeria around him lost any color, became full of rust, and any light was dimmed, becoming pure darkness. The tiles around Gron began to morph, slowly becoming darker and darker as pale white eyes shimmered from the other side. There were dozens of them, slowly emerging on each and every part of the wall. The door that once led away from the back room was extinguished and replaced by a wall; there was no way out.
"No…No…" Gron's voice echoed as he felt the springs in his costume shivering as if they were thousands of insects crawling on his skin. He couldn't see them, they were buried beneath the skeleton of the suit, but he could feel them itching. The Twisted one remained behind Gron, and the animatronic grew taller with every moment, getting too high even for a machine. His eyes were drenched in blood as his hands grew longer. Grabbing Gron's shoulder, he could hear the heavy breathing behind him, but he didn't dare to turn.
I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY
THEY ARE
And then he saw what was once the boy in front of him, a creature that Gron could not call a child or human anymore. It was a faceless being; its mouth and nose were erased as if someone had sown them together, and the eyes were morphed into one that stared at Gron. One of its arms grew longer than another, and its legs became thin, almost bone-like. There were sharp claws on every limb, and the creature continued to cough, letting out an animalistic wail from its throat. It was a being so disturbing that Gron could feel his stomach churning. He could puke at any moment.
And then the creature ran towards him.
Gron did not spend too much time thinking. The moment he realized this disfigured monster was getting closer, he launched the animatronic head into it. The moment it hit the monster, the world around Gron stopped once again.
The demons were gone, the eyes closed, and the looming figure of the Twisted one became reminiscent of an animatronic once more; Gron's gaze was cleared, only to wake up to reality just as mortifying as his vision. There was no monster, just a child who did not even think of running toward Gron but rather to the door. The child he threw a heavy animatronic head at, hitting the mark perfectly…
YES, FINALLY
Jack was lying on the floor near Fredbear's head. His head had blood flowing out from it as his expression was frozen in a state that was stuck in a perpetual limbo between joy and shock. Gron realized that the door was still open, rushing towards it and closing the gateway immediately, leaving him and the wounded child alone.
"Oh, god, oh god, oh god…" His hands were shaking at the realization of what he had just done. "Fuck, fuck…"
YOU CHOSE NOT TO DO IT YOURSELF
YOU NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF WHO IS IN CONTROL
"No…"
The boy couldn't talk and likely couldn't even understand what was going on. Wearing Fredbear's headpiece felt heavy enough, but having this thing drop on someone's head would be enough to cause permanent brain damage and crack open one's skull. And yet, he was still alive…He still flinched and attempted to breathe mindlessly. Gron needed to help him, needed to call someone, yet for some reason, he continued to stand there in silence and watch.
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO
"No…"
OH, BUT YOU DO. HE IS DEAD ALREADY; ALL YOU CAN DO IS EASE IT
"I…"
OR SHOULD I MAKE YOU DO IT ONCE AGAIN
Those words were enough for Gron to stop. He walked forward, noticing Jack's eyes frantically switching towards him as Gron could swear he witnessed him pleading in any way he could. No screams, no words, he couldn't move his mouth, but the tears that formed in his eyes said it all. He didn't have to suffer anymore.
Gron put his foot on the boy's neck, squeezing it tightly until he heard a crunching snap. Jack's last sound was a broken wail as he desperately attempted to grasp for air. And then, he was completely silent.
YES, YES, FINALLY
The Twisted one's voice sounded ever more horrific than before. The sheer glee Gron could hear in his laugh was what finally made him awaken. He stared at the corpse before him, his neck and skull broken and tears falling down from his eyes, mixed in with blood on the floor.
The child was dead, and Gron murdered him.
"No…" He could not stand anymore; the jester fell on his knees as he felt his body shaking once again. He just murdered a small child, killed him in cold blood, and broke his neck when he was still alive. All because the prospect of seeing this nightmare again made him so weak, so terrified…
YOU DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS NECESSARY
AND NOW
YOU CANNOT GO BACK
Fighting back emerging tears was a desperate task, as each of them could fall on a spring lock and make it break, but Gron still had to try nonetheless. Otherwise, there will be more than one corpse to be found here. Someone could come in at any moment and see this. The jester panicked as he struggled to think of ideas to fix this mess. There were no cameras, but someone could've heard the screams, someone could've seen something, they would know…
THEN LET THEM
"Shut up, shut up…" Gron clenched his teeth as the laugh continued to echo in his head. And then another realization struck his mind as Gron's eyes noticed the blood almost reaching the new animatronic near one of the walls.
YOU KNOW HOW TO OPEN THEM UP
YOU SAW WILLIAM DO IT
YOU PUT THE SUIT ON YOURSELF
LET HIM ROT UNTIL THEY FIND HIM; MAKE THIS A STAIN THAT WILL LAST
YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO