Evan knelt down to get a better view of his older brother. Michael was silently crying. Out of regret? Fear? Or was he simply letting his tears flow, as Evan used to do when he was still alive. He couldn't know for sure and maintained that expression devoid of joy or sadness. One thing was certain, Michael was so desperate that he was crying at Evan's feet. Evan remembered the days when he, too, had felt desperate. It was precisely in the few days before his death.
5 days until the party.
SLAM!
"He locked you in your room again."
Evan shot a glare at Mike, still able to hear his knock on his own bedroom door. Michael had left him behind to spend time with his friends when he was supposed to be looking after him. But hadn't he, too, locked his brother in a restaurant that terrified him?
4 days until the party.
"You know he's still hiding."
ROAAAR!
The boy shuddered as he recalled Michael's roar, a sound that still frightened him to this day... He hated his voice. But now... Mike seemed different. He would never roar like that again, and he had even reduced his mask to ashes. Right?
3 days until the party.
"He left without you."
You have to stay strong!
His little brother could still remember the shadow of Fredbear... there was someone inside. It was that day he realized that these animatronics were bloodthirsty monsters... Mikey had left him with his worst nightmares. But hadn't he done the same, with his friends, and in a thousand times worse way? A strange emotion gripped his heart. It wasn't rage or joy, not even fear... It wasn't exactly sadness. Was this really what we call guilt? Mikey has been a lot guilty lately.
2 days until the party.
"Be careful."
Mikey isn't hiding behind the TV or the couch. He's not hiding in... in Elizabeth's room (he hadn't gone there since she disappeared). Hasn't he come home yet? Dad would be very angry if that's the case. Only my room remains, there shouldn't be Michael there. Right? He must surely be...
ROOOAAAR!
...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Evan startled at his own memory, recalling how Michael would surprise him when he least expected it. His older brother was cunning and cruel. Just like Foxy... like Fritz. The younger brother had asked the spirit of the fox pirate to frighten Mikey in the office to the point that he piss himself. The boy's expression softened as he began to realize what he had put Michael through during that sixth night. Was he becoming like past-Michael?
1 day until the party.
"Michael doesn't love you. He locked you in with these monsters... He wants to see you get killed. He hates you."
Please! Let me out! Let me... let...
Evan could still feel his voice weaken as his tears choked him. Behind him were heads, skeletons, jaws, and animatronic teeth. They were just waiting for the right moment to get him. This prank oddly resembled the one Evan had pulled on him when he locked him in with Golden Freddy, accompanied by a simple message: "RUN." Even though it didn't beat anymore, his heart tightened with sorrow. He wasn't any better than his brother, after all.
0 day until the party.
"What's wrong, birthday boy ? Are you scared of the big bear?"
"Maybe you need a glass of water? Crying all day must give you a headache, especially for big boys, you're eight now, haha,"
"I don't know, maybe the crybaby wants to get all close and personal with Fredbear. What do you think, Michael?"
That day, his older brother had agreed to play that little prank. It had ended in an accidental murder. Evan slowly realized that history was repeating itself... Of course, he wanted revenge and to make Mikey pay back. But the last thing he wanted to see was his brother's bitten skull. The expression on the boy's face softened, and Michael looked at him with a confused and even... concerned look. As if he felt sorry for his future killer.
"Ev? Are you okay? If you want, you can talk to me, you know that?" he said with a smile.
Evan didn't want to say anything. Mike's smile faded when he saw that his little brother seemed sad. The ghost didn't take his eyes off the adult in uniform standing in front of him. Gradually, Evan could trace his tears on the night of his death, the dark circles in the years after the tragedy, his fear against the nightmares sent by Evan. Poor Michael... He closed his eyes and tried to make a decision.
"So, Evan? Did you hear your big brother? He wants to get up close and personal with Fredbear!" reasoned Jeremy's voice.
The ghost shivered. He felt like he was surrounded by the masked bullies, but they were his friends. They wanted to play this prank on Mikey... But Evan didn't respond. He could almost see his older brother's relieved face.
He heard Fritz laugh.
"Looks like our friend is SOOOOOO impatient to give Mikey his lil gift, that he's lost the ability to talk. I'll take that as a yes?"
Evan simply kept his head down; he couldn't move anymore, as if panic had taken hold of his invisible body. He felt like he was reliving the same fear he had felt facing Fredbear. Only this time, it wasn't him who was in danger. The nightmarish animatronics impatiently awaited his response... They looked at him as if he were petrified. Finally, Freddy shrugged.
"We'll take that as a yes, I suppose," Gabriel announced hesitantly.
His brother's smile seemed to fade; he observed the bullies with a clearly terrified expression. Evan heard Mike stepping back, shouting for help, begging his brother to do something... to at least say a word. He wanted to know if his brother was okay with going through with this prank. The little boy never took his eyes off his older brother.
Bonnie and Foxy grabbed each of his arms. He remembered this moment from '83 and how it would end.
"My brother didn't say anything! Let him decide! panicked Michael, squirming in all directions.
"Stop squirming around, you're not a kid anymore, and besides... you could hurt yourself. Claws hurt, you know," Susie chuckled cruelly.
They were taking who they thought was William Afton toward Fredbear's mouth.
"Please! Let me go... My brother doesn't agree... I saw it in his eyes... murmured Mike.
Evan felt all the eyes turn toward him. He simply nodded. The animatronics shifted from doubt to cruel delight, while his brother's hope extinguished in an instant.
"So, did you see, Afton? Your brother really wants you to give Fredbear a big kiss."
"I... I know... admitted Mike, no longer struggling.
They were leading Michael toward that killing machine.
"Let's give the big man a lift."
Mikey believed his brother was okay with all this madness. His head approached the mouth of the nightmarish Fredbear. They were going to kill his older brother.
...
...
Evan made a decision.
Michael Afton had never really been afraid of animatronics like his younger brother had been before the bite of '83. Of course, he was disgusted by them after the tragedy, but these machines didn't horrify him that much. Then his friend Jeremy Fitzgerald started working night shifts at the old pizzeria. Mike thought he was hallucinating when Jeremy said the machines were trying to reach his office to... well...
They were just machines, after all. Right?
The bite of '87 shattered all his fantasies of an ideal universe where animatronics weren't bloodthirsty monsters. As the five nights at Freddy's went by, he had a growing feeling that the robots truly wanted to make him suffer. They weren't just programmed killing machines... they seemed to be haunted by an uncontrollable rage every time they saw him. Then he had a life-sized representation of his little brother's creations...
Mike had never been so terrified in his life.
Since he had seen those horrors, he had one desire: to leave this pizzeria. But as he got closer to that jaw, his hope died more and more. Michael looked at each of the animatronics one last time... they reminded him of his bullie friends. So this was how it was going to end? At least his brother will get his payback. He finally closed his eyes and prayed to whatever god might exist, even if he doubted it.
"Please... Let me wake up from this nightmare," Mike murmured.
When he opened his eyes, Michael wondered if he was hallucinating... or maybe if he had stopped hallucinating. It wasn't rows of teeth in front of him, but rather the usually square teeth of Golden Freddy. He furrowed his brows and placed his hands on the animatronic's jaw. It had reverted to its original form, no longer nightmarish.
"What? What's happening? Evan! What did you do?" Gabriel panicked, realizing he had turned back into Freddy Fazbear, the one meant to perform for children.
Michael smiled when he noticed that everything had returned to normal. Or at least... that's what he thought.
"This can't be happening! I loved my metal tongue..." Foxy complained.
"Wait, where's Evan?" Chica asked.
They all turned around. The little boy had disappeared.
"Oh well, he'll miss the show," Bonnie cruelly relativized.
Mike noticed too late that the rabbit and the fox nodded before shoving his head in Golden Freddy's mouth.
"There's your big kiss, haha!"
His hope was shattered in an instant. He imagined the springlocks fail, the animatronic's jaws closing, his skull cracking, fracturing, exploding. And then the blood... a lot of it.
...
...
...
He didn't feel the bite. Just metal hands grabbing his shoulders and pushing him away. Michael fell to the ground with a surprised cry. Had Fredbear just pushed him out of its jaw? Everyone frowned at Golden Freddy's sudden behavior.
"But... what are you doing? What about the plan?" Gabriel asked.
Golden Freddy gave Freddy a smug smile.
"I guess I've turned vegetarian," Evan's voice reasoned.
It took them a few seconds to realize what was happening. Then Michael smiled. He was the only one smiling, along with the animatronic controlled by his little brother. Bonnie crossed his arms.
"So, you decided to betray us at the last moment? Why am I not surprised?" he said.
"You disappoint me, Evan, really," Chica admitted.
No one paid attention to Foxy's growl until the animatronic brandished his hook.
"You don't want to stick to the plan? Fine. Let us handle it," the fox announced, turning to the night guard.
Golden Freddy appeared right in front of the human. The four animatronics flinched at the unexpected movement.
"The plan? What was it, this plan? Just put my brother's head in an animatronic and then leaving him alone... Wasn't that what we agreed on? You didn't want to murder him either, did you?" Evan asked, his fists clenched.
"Don't listen to him, kill William!" another voice reasoned from within the golden animatronic.
"Didn't I ask you to shut the hell up, Cass? You had control over Golden Freddy long enough, now it's my turn!" Evan asserted.
The animatronics formed a circle around the Afton brothers. Golden Freddy leaned towards Mike.
"I've unlocked the door. When there is an opportunity, get out of here as fast as you can," he whispered.
Michael nodded, but he was deeply troubled by one of the voices. Did they really think he was William? He felt almost offended. Michael didn't have the best relationship with his father, but then... why did these... child-like souls want to kill Mr. Afton? Was it because he owned the restaurant, and they couldn't leave it? That would also mean they hated Henry if that was the only reason. Did his father have something to do with their deaths? He was interrupted by Foxy, who was raising his hook.
"You're gonna pay for my eye, Afton!" the fox roared, lunging at the young man.
Fredbear grabbed the animatronic's wrist just in time.
"He hasn't done anything to you, Fritz," Evan hissed.
"NOTHING?! What about the knife plunged into my eye and then my heart, does that count for nothing?" Foxy asked angerly.
Michael gave Foxy a puzzled look.
"Wait... My father killed you? Is that why you possess the animatronics? To... to seek revenge?" Michael asked.
The fox broke free from Golden Freddy's grip and leaned down towards the human, looking him straight in the eyes.
"That won't work anymore. We believed you once when we followed you in that Springbonnie suit, but remember, this was the first and last time," Foxy growled.
"But... I'm Michael Afton! His eldest son..." Michael protested.
Fritz pulled a strand of hair with his hook. Mike stared into the pirate's yellow pupil.
"You ARE William. I see it in your cold eyes, mate."
The fox crashed with a metallic thud as he received a punch from Golden Freddy to the jaw.
"What did I say about touching my brother?" Golden Freddy snapped.
Foxy tested his dislocated jaw, giving Evan a dark look.
"I'm sick of this bullshit. Catch his father and kill him," he ordered.
Bonnie didn't waste any time. He jumped on Golden Freddy to drag him to the ground. Evan had a few seconds to change the physical appearance of his animatronic into an illusion. He thought he succeeded, but was surprised when he found himself on the ground. The rabbit grabbed his wrists.
"Get out of here, Jeremy!" Evan ordered.
"Guys, take care of Afton! I've got the traitor!" Bonnie commanded.
Horror filled Michael's eyes as he saw Fredbear on the ground and sprinted towards the exit, but Chica jumpscared him.
"Don't move, darling!" Chica ordered, gripping his throat with both hands.
Michael tried to scream, but his breath was blocked. Tears welled up in his eyes as the silver eyes of his killer cast a chilling look at him. Despite the near-absent emotion of the animatronics, he could sense the rage in her eyes. Mike couldn't breathe anymore... he couldn't breathe... he couldn't...
"Susie!" Evan's voice resonated.
The animatronic gave him a dark look.
"Don't talk to me, Afton!" she growled.
"You told me how you died, didn't you? He slit your throat with his sharp knife, didn't he? There must have been a lot of blood, right?"
Michael felt his assailant's grip weaken.
"W-What?"
Evan smiled. He knew Susie hated the memories of her death.
"Evan! What the hell are you doing?" his brother exclaimed.
"Free yourself, you idiot!" Golden Freddy smiled.
Michael pushed with all his force against the animatronic that seemed as fragile as a leaf, then fell to the ground. His younger brother really knew how to destabilize his friends. Bonnie gave him a furious look.
"I swear you'll regret it, and..."
Golden Freddy had what he wanted. Jeremy had made the mistake of lowering his head. He received a headbutt right in the nose.
"Maybe next time, Jeremy," Evan chuckled before getting up.
From the corner of his eye, Mike saw Freddy leaping towards him. He didn't waste any time and took cover under the tablecloths. The bear slid across the surface, sweeping away plates, balloons, and birthday hats.
"Where are you, William, so we can finish this?" Gabriel asked, knocking over the table with his metal foot. There was no one there.
Foxy fixed his broken jaw, Chica wiped away tears she thought she had, Bonnie got back on his feet. Just like from the first night of Mike's shift, the four of them rushed to search for the night guard so they could... kill him.
Evan watched the vengeful souls of his friends doing everything they could to find his "father" and end him, and he truly wanted to run to help him... really. But his legs wouldn't obey. He felt Cassidy's presence at the back of his metallic skull.
"So, Evan, do you want to come to the aid of your poor daddy?" she asked cruelly.
"What did I tell you about shutting the fuck up, Cass? Do you really want to experience my nightmares?"
The little girl chuckled.
"Oh... but my dear Evan, your thirst for vengeance is fading... Your power too. Haven't you noticed, when Jeremy jumped on you? You're weakening, my friend. And us... We're getting power"
Evan tried to move his legs, close his fists, his elbows, or even his neck, but he couldn't. He only controlled his head now.
"Let me protect my brother, I beg you!"
"And you, stop lying," she replied darkly.
From a distance, Evan saw his brother discreetly emerge from under the tables and head towards the exit. Cassidy did too. She was furious.
"Watch out! William is escaping!" her voice echoed.
Michael heard it and unlocked the door, but Foxy seemed to jam his hook right into the middle of his hand. The young man screamed in pain and Evan thought he could see the droplets of blood. The other animatronics were getting closer... they were going to kill him... he couldn't let that happen... think Evan... FIND SOMETHING!
"So, how does it feel, your defeat?" Cassidy sneered.
"Maybe I can't control my legs... But Golden Freddy doesn't need them to attack!"
Fredbear's head detached from the rest of its body and, as if by magic, levitated in the air at full speed towards Foxy's frontal lobe.
...
ROOOAAAR!
Michael didn't hesitate. When he felt Foxy's hook leave his bloodied hand, he dashed outside and collapsed on the ground in front of the pizzeria. The animatronics couldn't leave the pizzeria, right? The breathless young man looked panickedly at the inside of the restaurant. He saw three pairs of silver eyes fixated on him, yet they didn't take a step outside Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Three, because Foxy had lost his head, bitten violently by Fredbear. Mike got up and slowly backed away from the lifeless animatronics staring at him. Their eyes went dim, and now, in front of the restaurant, stood five ghost children.
"Is... is it you? Gabriel, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, and C... Cassidy?"
A girl with pigtails stepped forward.
"Yes. You recognize us, don't you? We are your victims."
"I am not my father!"
Cassidy giggled.
"You escaped us, William, and know that we will never miss a chance to make you disappear. For now, we have someone else to focuse on."
The children grinned cruelly and parted to reveal to Mike the soul of his younger brother, standing far behind them with his head lowered. The boy raised it slightly and gave his older brother a faint smile.
"Enjoy your freedom, Mikey."
Tears welled up in the night guard's eyes... It had been an eternity since he had heard his brother use that nickname. But he would be forever trapped with these souls who would hate him eternally.
"Leave my brother alone!" he ordered.
The children's souls wasted no time; they slowly headed toward Evan. Only Cassidy kept that hateful gaze towards the one she believed to be her killer.
"Oh... You want to save your son, Afton? How sweet... I thought you hated children enough to MURDER them! Come on in, let yourself be killed. Maybe we won't subject your little Evan to his worst nightmares."
"Don't do this, Michael!"
Jeremy's soul slapped him.
"You don't have the right to speak anymore, you bastard!"
Mike glanced at the parking lot behind him. There was his car... his freedom. He had survived the sixth night. If he wanted to, he could get in the driver's seat, start the engine, and head home, leaving behind anything associated with Freddy Fazbear's and restart his life. But he couldn't leave behind Evan. Not after all of this.
"So, Evan? Living out your nightmares eternally with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and especially Fredbear? What do you say?"
Michael shivered hearing the horrible fate that awaited his little brother. Evan didn't object, but Michael turned his gaze to the restaurant doors. If they really wanted William Afton, well, they were going to get him.
"I can bring you my father at night, if you want!" he suggested.
The souls immediately turned their attention towards him.
"What would we do with Evan's grandfather?" Fritz asked.
Michael chuckled, the boy had quite the sense of humor. Too bad his father had taken his life.
"It's Mr. Afton you want to see dead, right?"
Gabriel shrugged.
"Yeah, but you're here."
"Well, I'll bring him to you, you'll see."
Cassidy scratched her chin and finally nodded.
"We'll give you three nights, Michael Afton, to bring back your supposed father. Otherwise, Evan will take a little trip into the depths of horror."
Michael nodded.
"Deal," he said simply, his throat constricted with regret.
The restaurant doors closed slowly, and the two Afton brothers exchanged a final smile before parting ways.
2 days later...
Cassidy waited patiently for Michael to fulfill his promise. Just as she began to doubt the night guard's word, a purple car pulled into the parking lot. It looked rather old. A man in a purple suit who bore a striking resemblance to Mike, except for some gray hair, stepped out. She immediately recognized his cold expression. William had the same one, covered in blood. She turned to her friends.
"Free Evan, now. We have a slightly more... important task," she muttered with a chilling smile.
"Oh really?" Jeremy asked.
"Michael brought him to us... he's all alone," she announced.
The children grinned widely.
When William entered, he saw the animatronics waiting for him. They stared at him with those silver eyes. He remembered that he had hidden an axe somewhere in the restaurant, just in case.
...
The animatronics had been destroyed by William, but the souls emerged from the metal bodies. They wanted to make him live his worst nightmares. Their killer rushed to hide in the safe room. But his victims wouldn't let go of their prey so easily. The killer needed to protect himself from the vengeful souls, but how? Maybe he could use a suit of armor to prevent them from reaching him... Armor couldn't hurt him, right? William donned Springbonnie and began to chuckle. The souls just stared.
"You're pathetic! So much that I remember all of your little faces before you bled out. The five missing children... I read about that in an old article from '87. Gabriel, Jeremy, Susie, Fritz, and of course..."
Springbonnie's smile twisted into a gruesome expression towards the girl.
"… Cassidy. The one I shouldn't have killed," he mocked.
A sixth soul made its way among the others. Upon seeing him, William's eyes widened, his insolent expression vanished.
"But... who are you?"
The young boy gave an innocent smile.
"Look, dad. It's me."
"E... Ev... Evan?"
William knew you should NEVER cry inside a springlock suit. Otherwise...
...
...
SNAP!
GOOD ENDING