"I think we should split up in Funtime Auditorium—"
"Nuh-uh, absolutely not! We're not doing that!" Charlie stated firmly, her arms crossed in a decisive X.
Michael held up his hand. "Just hear me out. I will finish Baby's maintenance, while you explore the private room. Funtime Foxy doesn't appear to be here. I'm guessing he was scooped like Ballora. I'll join you after I send her down to the scooping room, alright?"
Charlie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Mike…there's no way in hell I'm letting you leave by yourself. I have seen enough horror movies to know what will happen the moment we split up."
Michael rolled his eyes, "Charlie, please don't compare this to a horror movie…"
"Still a no."
Michael spread his arms, "Come on, It sounds safe!" Charlie raised her eyebrows, her eyes widening slightly. Giving him a look that said 'Really?' "Michael, I've seen you fall down a 4 metre wall and onto a thorn bush and come out laughing it off like it was no big deal." She poked his chest, flatly reminding him of the incident back when they were kids. "So your definition of safe isn't exactly accurate." "Oh come on, that was like, years ago!" He exclaimed. "Mike, do you realise that I had to drag you to your father by the ear because you refused to do anything about it?"
"Because I was feeling okay!" Charlie couldn't help but facepalm, "Oh my god…Mike, there were literal thorns littered around your body!"
…
Charlie sighed. "Look…I just…I just don't want a repeat of what happened last night." She began, her body tensing as she recalled the memory of Michael almost getting crushed. Mike's features softened and without a word, he pulled her into an embrace which she immediately accepted, burying her head into his shoulder.
As Michael felt her shoulders shake slightly and a small sniffle against his shoulder, he began running his fingers through her brown hair. His hand moved in a soothing manner as they held each other in a comforting silence.
"Everything is going to be okay. It will just be 30 minutes max, then I'll meet up with you, alright?" Michael whispered into ear.
Charlie held him closer, her fingers clutching the fabric of his coat against his back, murmuring onto his shoulder. "You promise?"
Michael broke out of the embrace, staring at her glossy brown eyes. "I promise. Now go before HandyUnit ducks our paycheck again." He finished, patting her back.
A smile formed on her face, and a soft giggle escaped her lips.
Just before she left, Michael grabbed her arm. "Wait!" He calls out, causing her to tilt her in head confusion.
She watched as Michael grabbed her hand and slipped off the headlamp from his head and pulled out the flash beacon from his belt, placing both items into his her hand before closing it into a fist, whispering. "Just in case."
Charlie's chin quivered, quickly pulling him into another, tighter embrace, clinging to him for a moment, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke into his chest. "Please, stay safe," she murmured before leaving.
…
Swiping the keycard Michael gave her, Charlie entered the security room. The first thing she realised were the two large open doorways that led to two different pitch-black hallways. She felt unsafe, like anything would pop up. The dim light and claustrophobic environment didn't help either.
She takes a deep breath. 'Okay Charlotte, let's do this…' She told herself.
But before she could do anything, HandyUnit's voice blared from the speaker, making her yelp and jump as his voice echoed through the small room.
"It seems like you've accidentally wandered into a restricted area. Due to the sensitive nature of the materials you may be exposed to, you'll not be allowed to leave until the clean-up crew arrives at 6 AM."
"Fuck…" Charlie gasped, her trembling hand instinctively found its way to her pounding heart, fingers pressing against her chest.
"So hang on tight! Rest assured that you'll be promptly rescued, fired, and sent home. Thank you for being an employee. We hope your experience hasn't been as regrettable as ours."
Charlie's expression turned into one of annoyance. She scoffed, flipping him off, "Fuck you too, asshole!"
She sighed. 'I wish I could've smashed him with a hammer.'
Charlie shifted her attention to the desk that held multiple things. There was a computer that displayed cameras around the underground storage.
"H-HEY, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" A familiar voice pleaded.
Realising who it is, Charlie grabbed a pipe and immediately threw herself towards one of the dark hallways, turning on the headlamp Michael gave her. She almost tripped over herself in the darkness, but she didn't care and kept moving. Michael was in danger .
Finally reaching Funtime Auditorium, she ran to the door that displayed the words 'SCOOPING ROOM'. Slamming her shoulder into the door, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her entire body, so strong that it burst open the door, causing a loud bang to echo through the Auditorium. Unable to catch herself, Charlie crashed onto the hard tiled floor.
A messy abomination of thick metallic wires, tubes and gears stood there, its purple eyes blinking at her through a clown mask. A clown mask she was familiar with seeing every night except this one. Wires from the creature running from its legs to underneath the door, leading the scooping room. Through the window, Michael was held up from his neck and hands, him trying to gain space from the machine pointed in front of him
"The scooper only hurts for a moment." Baby's voice coming from the creature, as a rhythmic beeping sound played and red light danced across the walls of the room.
Charlie's eyes widened, she only had a few seconds to react and convinced herself to move, pushing herself from the floor, gripping her pipe and leaped forward, slamming it into the creature's face.
The abomination of tubes hissed, trying to keep its grip on Michael's body. However, Charlie was planning this, slamming the pipe on the creature repeatedly, watching from the corner of her eyes as Michael swung from side to side, trying to gain some distance from the—
CLANG! SNAP!
...
The wires on Michael's neck and hands snapped under the force of the scooper, dragging him towards it and sending him crashing to the floor with a splat.
The creature stared at the results before fleeing.
Gripping the pipe, Charlie slammed the pipe on the window, adrenaline still coursing through her veins.
THUD
THUD
Finally, the window shattered, climbing inside, her shoes cracking from the glass beneath her.
Her eyes landed on the heavily wounded Michael, who was trying to stand, with one hand hovering over his wound, the other hovering further away in fear of the incoming pain that pressing on the chasm the scooper created will incur. However, his legs wobbled, no longer having any strength to bear his weight, and they began to give way beneath him.
Just in the nick of time, Charlie moved swiftly, her arms outstretched to catch him. Her eyes suddenly widened. 'He's light…' She noticed.
His body collapsed into her embrace, and she eased him down to the ground. The impact drew a whimper from his lips as the pain intensified. Charlie's own knees landed on the dark crimson puddle beneath her with a sharp, wet splash, the force leaving her certain they were now bruised.
Charlie's eyes landed on the crimson puddle underneath him, red staining his fingernails. She gasped.
Charlie's vision blurred as her hand instinctively moved to cover her mouth. Her gaze fixated on the substantial chunk missing from Michael's side. Her shoulders trembled, and a deep, gut-wrenching sob escaped from her lips, echoing through the room. It was as if a dam had burst, and a river of tears streamed down her cheeks, finding their way into her quivering, chapped lips
Michael's eyes slowly opened, his usual blue eyes that were usually full of life now looked exhausted and full of pain, his glossy eyes looking at her moist brown ones. His chest rising fast.
Charlie's hands shook, her breaths coming in uneven. She quickly shrugs off her technician jacket and bundles it into a smaller, thicker shape, shakingly pressing it on Michael's wound that was a waterfall of blood.
Her hands shook uncontrollably as she pressed the jacket against Michael's wound, her fingers slick with his warm, dark red blood. She gasped for air, her eyes glistened with tears. The panic and desperation in her eyes were palpable.
A loud blood-curdling scream erupted from him. It was as though the scooper itself also mutilated his vocal cords. The noise that left his agape mouth was horrifying, something straight from a nightmare. It went from gasps and then into heavy, chest-heaving sobs as he turned to his side in an attempt to pry Charlie hands away from him.
Charlie, tears streaming down her face, caught his hands with one of hers. With her trembling hand, she pushed him back to the floor, causing his screams to intensify. She bawls, her face a puffed rose-tint as she sniffles and speaks through her tears. "M-Mike, I-I'm trying to help! J-Just s-stop moving, please!"
Michael desperately shook his head, grinding his teeth together. "P-Please, s-stop—" Blood oozed from his lips, and Charlie, her arm trembling, used her sleeve to wipe his jaw clean.
"Shh…" Charlie hushes, like a mother comforting their child. She ignored her blood-drenched clothes, now sticking to her skin, or the metallic stench that filled her nose, a stark reminder of what was going on.
A gasp escaped her quivering lips, her face draining of colour, her heart seizing in her chest as she gazed upon the grisly sight. Michael's insides were exposed, his stomach torn apart and intestines mutilated. His ribs were ripped apart, shattered and hanging loosely from his chest. Charlie felt a wave of sickness wash over her, and bile rose in her throat, but she swallowed it back, her trembling fingers pressing against her lips.
How was he still alive?
Charlie mustered a smile, though it kept faltering, and she gently removed his grip from her wrist, feeling his strength fading. She interlocked her fingers with his, squeezing his pale, freezing hand. While her free hand, she stroked his hair gently, running her fingers through his hair, ignoring the blood on it.
"You're safe, Mike," she assured him, her voice soothing and comforting.
What a naive hope.
Tears regathered in her eyes as she watched his eyes slowly closing.
SLAP
The sharp sound echoed in the room as she slapped him, her face puffing up with a mixture of desperation and anger. She screamed at him, her voice quivering with fear and urgency. "MICHAEL! STAY WITH ME! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME NOW. PLEASE, PLEASE STAY AWAKE!"
As she spoke, her hands trembled as she clung onto his, fingers pressing into his hand, refusing to let go of the hope that he'll make it.
Michael mumbled something, and Charlie, her face puffy and her eyes red and moist with tears, leaned closer. As she got closer, her tears fell onto his forehead. "W-What did you say?"
He whispered, his voice weak, "Tell me a joke."
"Huh?"
"Please…" He whispered.
Charlie leaned back, using the back of her hands to wipe away her face, clearing away the tears that stained her cheeks.
"W-Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they m-make up everything."
A small smile made its way in Michael's lips. "You're such a dork…"
"Why did the bicycle fall over? B-Because it was two-tired."
Michael chuckled, weakly responding, "That was shit..."
Suddenly, Michael began choking, like something was stuck in his throat.
"Mike?" She asked.
Michael's coughing persisted, becoming more violent.
"MICHAEL!" She shouted, watching as he calmed down, blood oozing from his lips and sweat running down his brow. Charlie quickly, but carefully lifted his head into her lap, grasping his cheeks and pulled his head, helping him cough out the remaining blood. However, she let out a sob as she saw the dark blood staining his teeth and tongue.
"Mike…" Charlie whispered, running her fingers up his hair, pulling his hair away from his forehead, "Please…don't leave me…"
Silence
She blinked. "M-Mike...? Mikey?" Her voice quivered as she bawled, her face puffed up and rose-tinted from tears. She sniffled and spoke through her sobs, "Michael, please…"
Charlie's voice quivered as she called out to Michael, desperately hoping for a response. "M-Mike? Mike, this isn't funny!" Her tone shifted to a scream filled with anguish, "MIKE!" Each call grew more desperate as she tried to rouse him, shaking him but the silence that followed was haunting, echoing through the room.
She covered her mouth, letting out small gasps.
This person is not breathing
What is she going to tell Lizzie and Evan? Her and his father? This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let him go by himself.
Suddenly, something appeared in the room walking—slithering its way towards them. It was that abomination of tubes and wires again. The same thing that got him killed. Her heart raced.
Quickly, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling his cold body closer to her chest, shielding him from the threat.
IT stood over her now. Tears continued streaming down her face, eyes filled with fear and desperation. Her trembling body and choking sobs were a clear indication of that.
Suddenly, its wires reached down, wrapping themselves around Michael, pulling him towards them.
"N-No, l-let h-him go!"
The abomination grabbed and threw her across the room. However, that didn't stop her. Getting back to her feet, she grabbed the nearby pipe and ran towards it.
Her bravery was short-lived. The anomaly swiftly grabbed her wrist, its wires squeezing her skin, causing her to cry out loud and drop the pipe. Its sound echoing throughout the room.
In a horrifying twist, the anomaly forced her to the ground, its wires encircling her jaw, preventing her from speaking. Panic filled her eyes as her mouth was pried open, the wires violating her space, causing her to muffle screams, choke, and sob uncontrollably in absolute terror.
Charlie jolted up with a scream, her heart racing and her mouth agape, gasping for air. Trembling hands reaching out towards her neck. Her breaths came in rapid, shallow bursts. Her entire body, from her head down to her toes, were drenched in cold sweat, the clammy moisture clinging to her skin and her messy brown hair stuck to her forehead in icy locks. Her gaze darted around the room, confirming where she was.
She clutched her bed sheets tightly, her knuckles turning white, as a small sob escaped her lips, and she curled into herself, burying her face into her knees.
Small tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and in a hushed, weak voice, she murmured. "Mike…"
Quickly, she swung her legs across the bed, her feet making contact with the cold, hard wooden floor. A shiver ran down her spine as the chilly sensation tinged through the soles of her feet.
Now she knows why people wear slippers.
Hurrying, she bolted out of her room, her footsteps echoing throughout the house as she raced down the stairs, and ran to the kitchen, snatching the house phone from its cradle, her trembling fingers dialling Michael's house number.
RING…RING…
'Wait, what if Mike doesn't answer? How do I explain it to them?' She thought, but that was thrown out as a familiar voice spoke through the phone.
"Hello…?" A tired voice said.
Charlie smiled, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness…"
"...Charlie? Is that you? Why are you calling at 4 in the morning?!" Michael said, his voice groggy and annoyed
Suddenly, he heard a soft sniffle over the call.
"Wait, Charlie. Are you crying? Is everything okay?" Michael asked, his tone shifting to one of concern.
Charlie quickly wiped her face, "Y-Yeah, I…I just wanted to hear your voice, that's all."
"So…you called me at 4 is bloody morning, to just hear my voice?" Michael questioned, his tone full of scepticism.
"Y-Yep, that's all!" Charlie said a little too quickly.
"Then why does it sound like you were crying?" He inquired.
"Y-You must be hearing things!" Charlie stammered.
Charlie heard Michael sigh on the other end of the line. After a brief pause, the phone crackled softly, suggesting that he shifted. She pictured him sliding his back against the wall to the floor, with a thump. "Charlie, listen…. I know that you're lying. I've known you for long enough to know when you're lying. You're not even a good liar. You know you can talk to me. What's really going on?"
Silence hung in the air for a moment as Charlie bit her lip before answering. "It's… it's kind of embarrassing…so promise me that you won't laugh!"
"So…I…I…*sigh*. I had a nightmare…about you…" Charlie finally admitted, feeling the tears reforming.
"A nightmare about me?" Michael chuckled. "Do I scare you so much that you have nightmares about me?" He joked.
However, Charlie didn't laugh.
"You were in the Scooping room." Charlie added, feeling a tremor course through her body.
There was a long pause, and Michael finally spoke, his voice now softer and more reassuring. "Charlie, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. It was just a bad dream. I'm not going anywhere. Also, don't you remember what you told me? You said to me that there was no way you'd let me experience something like that."
Michael then heard Charlie letting out a small sob and sniffling. 'Crap…why do girls always cry when I'm around them?'
As Charlie continued to speak, her voice quivered, and tears welled up, blurring her words. "I-I was there this time, Mike." She sniffled softly. "I-It was so vivid. I tried saving you, but I failed." A pause, and her breath hitched. "I couldn't do anything but watch!" Her sobs grew more pronounced as she fought to maintain her composure. In a quieter tone, she continued. "I-I w-was b-begging yo-you not to le-leave me…bu-but y-you…" her voice broke with hiccups, and she raised her trembling hand to cover her mouth, stifling her sobs.
To say that Michael was shocked was an understatement. He was downright speechless. Charlie was usually calm and confident and knew how to get out of most situations.
"Charlie—"
She sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "T-Th-That's not all." She paused, her breathing increased, coming out in panic. "T-The thing ca-came back. I-It tried taking y-you, b-but I didn't a-allow it. I-I tried fi-fighting back b-but it overpowered me a-and it pushed me to the ground. I-Its wires wrapped around m-my jaw an-and—" she abruptly stopped, gasping for air, and then covered her quivering lips with her trembling hand, her voice reduced to loud sobs.
"Charl—"
"I-I don't know how you h-handled it all," Charlie's voice trembled as she spoke, her sobs punctuating her words. "I-It must've been h-horrifying. I'm so sorry, Michael, I'm so, s-so, sorry!" She continued to apologise between sobs, her voice quivering with guilt. She couldn't help but blame herself for not stopping his future version from going to that place. "This is all my fault!"
"Charlie!"
…
Michael took it as a sign that she's listening.
"This is not your fault. None of this is your fault. It's all mine. I wanted to keep going there. You couldn't have known. It must've been like what you told me. I just didn't tell any of you." Michael sighed, wishing he could be with her in person. "Listen, everything is going to be okay. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay here until you feel okay to go to bed, alright?" Michael assured her. "Remember that it was just a bad dream. I'm still alive and you're still alive."
They both sat there in silence until Charlie's hiccups and sobs gradually subsided, leaving only occasional sniffling. However, she could suddenly hear soft rustling, like someone moving around, on the other end.
"M-Mike, what are y-you d-doing?"
"I'm hugging the wall." Michael answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world
Charlie giggled. "W-Wow, You…you're such a dork, Mikey." She said, wiping her tear-stained cheeks.
Michael rolled his eyes "Pfft. Yeah, sure I am." He said, his voice filled with sarcasm. I'm pretty sure we all know you're the dorky one here, Charlie."
…
"T-Thank you, Mike," Charlie said, her voice calmer and a warm smile on her lips. "I feel much better because of you."
Michael shrugged his shoulders over the line. "Eh, what else are friends for?"
"Also, if this ever happens again, I won't hesitate to break into your house." He added.
Charlie chuckled. "Y-Yeah, but I don't think it would be a great idea to break into someone's house at this hour."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But, it isn't the first time I did that, you know?"
Charlie smiled fondly at the memory. "Yes, I still remember that."
"Well," Michael sighed, getting back to his feet. "I guess I should be going. Evan and Liz probably waited long enough."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are they with you?"
Michael ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah…they are. They've been having the same problems as you, but not as bad as you…"
…
"After we went to bed, Evan has been asking if he could sleep with me, saying that he's scared to sleep alone. It wasn't so bad at first, it was only supposed to be for one night, then two nights, then three nights. …You get the jest of it. If he keeps this up, he'll practically move into my room!"
Charlie giggled. "That sounds pretty rough. How about Lizzie, is it the same with her?"
"Well…she didn't at first. But last night she woke up screaming. My father and I went to check on her and she just clung onto me, refusing to let me go." He explained. "She doesn't always sleep with us though.
…
"Anyways, as I was saying before, we should probably head back to bed. It's nearly 5 in the morning. Plus, if my father caught me awake at this hour, then I'll be in hot water."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Although, I don't think my Dad's home; otherwise, he would've heard us by now."
Michael heard Charlie yawn over the line. "Charlie, get some shut-eye, and if this ever happens again, then you know what to do. I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Sweet dreams."
"Nighty, night…oh and…thanks…" She heard a faint, warm chuckle from Michael on the other end before she hung up, placing the telephone back into its cradle.
Charlie lifted herself off the floor, going back to her bedroom. Closing the door, she plopped back to her bed. Laying on her back and staring at the moving fan on her ceiling.
It's been a couple of weeks since they watched Michael die. She recalls waking up, remembering the dream vividly. Oddly enough, her father also had the same dream. Of course, it turns out that it wasn't a dream at all. She remembered seeing Michael in school. She clung to him, giving a bone-crushing hug, refusing to let go despite his complaints.
Their fathers announced that they've decided on shutting down Fredbear's some time this year, opting to retain Freddy's and perhaps other locations.
Charlie shifted in her bed, turning onto her side, with one hand tucked beneath her head as she closed her eyes. A soft smile graced her lips as the memory of the meeting they had held at Michael's house after witnessing Michael's future played in her mind.
—
Upon entering their home, William greeted them. Michael then asked them if they wanted tea.
"Tea?" A grin broke across Charlie's face as she watched him leave the room. "Wow, you really are British. What's next? Are you going to offer crumpets with the tea?" Charlie teased, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm.
She watched as he returned. "As a matter of fact," Michael said, slamming a tray of crumpets in front of her. "That's exactly what I'm going to do."
They stared at each other for a while before bursting out laughing. Their fathers, Elizabeth and Evan staring at them in confusion.
—
Charlie slowly drifted off to sleep. A smile playing on her lips.