"Catch me, Daddy! Catch me!" A little girl cried as she ran around the flowered field.
Shoulder-length raven hair fell against suntanned skin and blue overalls as her little mud-caked red sneakers pounded against the coarse floral ground. Chocolate eyes scanned the area as she sought any sign of her pursuer; however, she saw no one. Confused, she halted her movement and looked around for her father. "Daddy?" she called out.
Suddenly two large hands grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her into the air. A surprised and slightly gleeful scream escaped her lips. The person lifted high above the ground and pressed her to their chest before hugging her. "I found you!" A male voice teased happily as the child continued to laugh.
"No fair!" She yelled. "You cheated!" squirming against her father's grasp resulting in a tighter hug.
"I think not, Iza!" Her father raised her higher and turned her around. "I have found my prey, and now I will feast!" He grinned as he playfully pretended to eat her.
"No!" Iza squealed. She lightly fought against her father's hug. Ramping up the dramatics, he pretended to hold her then released her gently. "A bear never gives up!"
"See!" She pumped her arms into the air confidently. "A bear never gives in because a bear fears nothing!"
"We will see about that," her father chuckled. He crouched down low before slowly moving towards her; he pretended to stalk her as if she was his next meal.
Iza sprinted down the flowered slope; however, halfway down, something caught her foot and toppled her to the ground, where her face planted hard into the dirt.
Seeing his daughter face down in the mud, Iza's father quickly sprang from his position and rushed to her side. He pulled her up off the ground and faced her towards him. "Iza, are you alright?"
Their matching eyes met before tears welled in Iza's, a sob tore from her throat as water ran across her cheeks. Her father scanned her body for injury; her baby blue overalls were stained by grass and mud while scrapes and dirt littered her tiny arms. Then, shifting his gaze, he noticed the long gash running along her cheek.
"What happened?"
Without a word and still crying, Iza pointed at her shoe; the long shoelace had come untied and gotten stuck under her other foot.
"Oh, honey." Her father picked her up and carried her down the hill towards a pink picnic blanket with a backpack resting on top. Her father gingerly placed the child on the ground before lowering himself before rummaging through the pack and pulled out a small towel and bottle.
"Hold still, honey. This may sting a little," he said as he poured the liquid into the fabric. "May I have your arm?"
Iza placed her arm into his hand as he pressed the wetted towel to her skin. Iza cried as the wet fabric stung her skin, only increasing as her father worked his way up her arms clearing away mud and slight blood.
After finishing her arms, her father moved to the lengthy cut. He cleaned the wound then placed a bandaid over the gash. "See, all done." He smiled lovingly.
Iza raised her hand, grazing her fingers against the fresh bandage and tear-stained face. More tears began to well up as she spoke. "Daddy?"
Her father faced her as he placed the supplies back in his bag. "Yes, honey?"
"Am I brave?"
"What?"
"Am I brave?"
Her father stared in shock. "Of course, you are brave, Iza." He pulled her into his lap. "Why wouldn't you be brave?"
"Because I cried." Iza looked down. Her voice quivered as hiccups started to disrupt her speech. "I-I cried. B-bears d-don't cry."
Unsure of what to say, he pulled her into a hug. They sat there as Iza calmed; her cries became small whimpers. He drew small circles on her back as her father attempted to soothe her. "It's alright," he whispered.
"How?" she mumbled. "You always said that bears were fearless."
"Iza, I never said you had to be fearless to be brave." He gave her a quick squeeze. "Being brave means admitting your true feelings and being honest."
"Really?" She sniffed and wiped her nose.
"Of course." her father smiled. "In fact, you are one of the bravest people I have ever met."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Iza said as she jumped up and hugged her father.
He pulled her into a tight hug as laughter escaped their lips. "I love you, Daddy!" Iza exclaimed, face buried in her dad's shoulder.
Her father smiled at her words and stroked her hair. "I love you too, my little bear."
Beep
Beep
BEEP
Suddenly a girl shot awake and looked around frantically. Beads of cold sweat ran down her temple, and her breath hitched. Her eyes darted about before slowly calming. Looking around, she took in the familiar interior of her bedroom.
The young adult sighed as her head returned to the warm embrace of her sheets. She laid her head on her soft pillow as her mind drifted back to the dream. "Dad," she whispered.
Suddenly the door to her room slammed open, causing her to jump once more. "Time to get up, Iza!"
She shifted her gaze toward the floor and spied the tiny silver humanoid robot standing at the foot of her bed, barely three feet tall. Groaning, Iza sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Always at the worst timing," she grumbled.
"What?" the little robot asked, its fixed human face tilting in confusion. "Did you say something?"
Iza sighed, "sorry, Inox. The alarm just woke me up again."
"During a favorable dream, I reckon?"
Iza nodded before standing up to stretch. "Anywho, what's on the agenda for today?"
Inox watched as the human cracked her knuckles and headed for her closet. "Do not tell me you have already forgotten."
Iza stared back, "no, but just in case, what is happening?"
Inox let out a rasped sigh. "What am I going to do with you," he mumbled. "We are visiting the property your father left you in his will."
Iza snapped her fingers. "That's what it was." She smiled, then it fell. "Where is this place?"
Inox shrugged. "I was not even aware your father owned this property." He rubbed his chin. "Rather strange as I was his before you."
"Maybe we'll get some answers once we go," Iza responded, shuffling through her closet. "Can you make breakfast while I get ready?"
"Already done and waiting for you downstairs," Inox called as he exited the room. "I made an English breakfast."
"Yum!" Iza cheered before turning back to her closet. "Now, what should I wear?"
She fingered through her various shirts, dresses, and coats of many shades and colors before settling on a simple navy blue sweatshirt with black cuffs. She placed the sweatshirt on along with black leggings and white shoes. Iza closed her closet door and walked to the floor-length mirror hanging on her wall. Brushing her raven hair, Iza pulled back her hair into a braid and placed a pair of glasses atop her face. "Looking good," Iza jokingly flirted in the mirror.
Iza walked down the stairs towards the kitchen. The smell of fried eggs, baked beans, and fresh tea; her mouth watered as she stared at the breakfast hungrily. "Once again, the chef has outdone himself," Iza laughed, complimenting her robotic friend.
"The chef appreciates your satisfaction with the meal." Inox bowed as he spoke.
Iza ate the food as she and Inox conversed. "So where exactly did they say we needed to go?"
"According to the will, the property is located in Washington County in Utah."
Iza choked. "Utah?!" She grabbed her tea and chugged it. Then, dramatically she slammed the cup on the ground, "that is more than an eight-hour drive."
"Then I guess it is a good thing you have a self-driving car," Inox said smugly.
"Even if I don't have to drive, you know that I still don't like road trips."
Inox chuckled. "I know, speaking of which." Inox placed a bag on the table and pushed it towards Iza. "I was instructed to give these to you before we set off."
Dropping the attitude, Iza looked at the bag curiously. She unzipped the old gym bag and pulled out several items. The first was an old polaroid camera with faded blue and orange with what looked like a chipped top hat sitting on top. The second was a child's toy that resembled a 1950s sci-fi gun; it was faded silver with a red tip. The final object was a small orange watch that slightly looked like the camera and had a screen instead of a watch face. "Are these old fast food toys?" Iza deadpanned. "Why would Dad have these?"
"Another thing your father kept hidden," Inox sighed. "Then again, your father next really talked about his past before meeting your mother, so I don't know."
Iza hummed as she attempted to latch the watch around her wrist. She struggled for a second before snuggly hooking the band around the final latch. "Definitely meant for a child."
"Anyway," Inox continued. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes," she said. "I packed and put my bag near the door yesterday." Iza picked up her plate and cleaned it off in the sink.
"Good, then let's go."
After eight hours of driving and dropping their luggage off at a nearby hotel, Iza and Inox appeared outside a crumbling metal fence with razor wire strung around. Inside the massive barrier was a run-down building the size of a mall; the building stood alone inside a desert with nothing but desert for a hundred yards in each direction. "So." Iza clapped her hands. "This is the place Dad kept hidden from you?"
Inox looked up at the girl, "like I told you before, he never mentioned anything to me."
Iza glanced around further before shaking her head, "won't find anything standing out here." Iza rummaged through her pocket and fished out an old metal key before putting it into the rusty old lock that held the barely standing gate shut. "Let's go."
Iza fumbled with the lock before a strained click was heard. She pushed open the door and flinched at the deafening creak. "That's pleasant."
"Definitely, like nails on a chalkboard," Inox agreed before following behind his companion.
The pair walked along the parking lot; trash and other debris covered the cracked and faded parking spots. "Dad really didn't keep this place up, did he?" Iza muttered. "Looks like no one has been here in years."
"Apart from the occasional graffiti artist." Inox pointed towards the building.
Moving closer, Iza and Inox spied dozens of graffiti markings covering the abandoned building. Getting a closer look, Iza saw every window either shattered or boarded up with rotting planks. "What is this place?" Inox spoke, his voice slightly cracking.
"Can't tell; time has taken its toll on the sign." Iza pointed towards a large sign at the entrance. Any words were now scratched out, and what looked to be peoples' silhouettes were long worn away.
Iza grumbled before a glint in her peripheral vision caught her eye. She turned and walked towards a faded flier stand; chipped paint and rust encased the metal object, but its original contents remained. Iza reached inside the shelf and pulled out a faded slip of paper.
"I am honestly still astonished that your father kept this hidden, especially from me." Inox scanned the mini-mall-sized structure. "Or at least I am just surprised he managed to keep the payments for it so hidden." He thought aloud.
"Well, it seems the mystery only deepens," Iza responded.
"Why's that?"
"Because this was an attraction for children, like a carnival."
"But why would Mr. F buy such a place?" Inox questioned.
"Dad never mentioned a lot of things," Iza said quietly. "But what I do know is that I now own this place, and if it had significance to him, then I am going to find out."
"Sounds like a plan," Inox quipped. "Although it would be nice to know the name of the place."
"Look no further because I have it right here." Iza waved the flier in front of him.
"So, what's the name?"
Iza read aloud. "Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex."
