Suddenly The screen flickered to life, but it remained dark, causing the group to turn their attention to it with a sense of anticipation and dread.
A mixture of sounds filled the room, creating a chaotic blend of crying, laughter, and music that caused an unsettling atmosphere.
Charlie wiped her tears and sniffled before speaking up, breaking the heavy silence that filled the room, "W-Why is the screen dark?" She asked, still recovering from the previous ordeal.
Mike, glanced at Charlie, while still hugging his siblings tightly, "I'm not sure." He answered in a low voice. "But the music does sound familiar." He continued his eyes narrowing in concentration.
Henry also realized this as well, "Now that you mention it, it sounds like the Diner." He said, wiping his small tears from his glasses.
As the group listened more closely, the sounds became more distinct. It sounded like a birthday party with children laughing, and the familiar music confirmed that it was indeed the Diner. However, they couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the laughter and music.
"Wow, your brother is kind of a baby, isn't he?" A voice sneered.
Evan pulled his head slightly away from Mike's embrace but still held onto him "H-He sounds familiar." He said, his voice still hoarse from crying, and his eyes were still puffy and red, evidence of that crying from earlier.
Mike looked down at his brother, "Yeah, he does." He said.
"It's hilarious. Why don't we help him get a closer look? He'll love it!" another voice suggested.
Charlie's eyes widened, "Wait, is that you Mike? Because it sounds like you." She asked.
Elizabeth also pulled her head from her older brother's embrace but still clung to him tightly, "Y-Yeah, you're right. It does sound like Mike," She said, her voice slightly hoarse and eyes puffy from crying.
A little voice started crying, begging to be left alone.
"No! Please!" A boy pleaded.
Mike's eyes widened, 'Is that Evan?' He thought to himself.
"H-Hey, doesn't he sound like Evan?" Elizabeth asked.
Charlie nodded, "Y-Yeah he does." She answered.
"Are we watching the past?" Evan asked.
"No, we're probably still watching the future, but… we're watching a moment where I was bullying Evan…." Mike said, his voice trailing off, filled with regret and shame.
The group gave a worried look at Mike, except William, who was still focused on the screen, listening with great intensity.
"Come on, guys, let's give this little man a lift. He wants to get up close and personal!" Michael goaded.
"Yeah it is Mike!" Charlie said.
The voices continued to tease and torment Evan, goading him to come closer. The sound of struggling and even louder crying could be heard, but it was drowned by the group's laughter.
The sounds of struggling and louder crying could be heard, but they were drowned out by the group's laughter.
"NO! I don't want to go!" the boy screamed in fear.
Michael teased him, "You heard the little man! He wants to get even closer! Ha ha ha!"
Mike, flinched, gritting his teeth in anger, feeling ashamed of his actions, "What's wrong with me…?" He muttered under his breath, filled with remorse.
Evan, hearing Mike, hugged him tighter in an attempt to comfort him.
The singing and music became louder as they approached the source, which was coming from Fredbear and
Springbonnie's stage.
"Hey, guys, I think the little man said he wants to give Fredbear a big kiss!" Michael taunted.
This caused the boy to weep uncontrollably.
"On three! One... two..." the group chanted.
The crying grew louder, but was suddenly muffled by something. The crying was drowned out by the laughter of the teens. The laughter continued until…
The boy's crying grew louder until it was suddenly muffled by something, and the teens erupted into laughter. The laughter continued until,
CRUNCH
A sickening crunching sound echoed through the room, causing the teen's laughter to cease. A palpable sense of horror filled the air as a dripping sound was heard, followed by screams of terror.
"E-Evan." Michael muttered, his voice dead.
The room was filled with silence, the group's eyes widened.
Elizabeth was the first to break the silence, "W-What did we just watch?" She asked, aghast at what she just listened to.
Mike's eyes glazed over as he stared off into space, the color drained from his face and his hands shook with a mixture of shock and guilt, as the reality of what happened sunk in. He struggled to find his voice, but eventually managed to whisper in a hoarse voice that everyone could hear.
"What have I done?" He whispered.
William was eying Mike suspiciously.
Henry noticed Mike's pained expression and tried to reassure him. "M-Mike, I'm pretty sure nothing happened with Evan." He said.
Evan hugged Mike tighter, snapping him from his trance.
….
Daddy, she can make balloons! Have you seen her make balloons? Daddy, let me go to her!
This surprised the group.
"We're still seeing this?" Elizabeth asked, clearly shocked by the unexpected turn of events.
Charlie's eyes widened with hope as she locked onto the screen, her voice quivering with emotion. "D-Does that mean Michael is okay?" she asked, her heart racing with anticipation.
The mere thought of Michael being safe brought a glimmer of joy to the group's eyes. For a moment, they all allowed themselves to believe that everything would be alright.
Michael forcibly opened his eyes, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead. He felt his chest constrict with fear. His heart pounded in his ears, and his breathing came out in short gasps. The remnants of his nightmare still lingered, causing his body to shake uncontrollably.
The group collectively let out a gasp of relief, their tense shoulders relaxing as they realized that Michael was alive. Tears of relief welled up in some of the group's eyes as they were unable to contain their emotions.
Charlie's face broke into a small smile as the weight of worry lifted off her chest. "I'm so glad that you're okay," she choked out, her voice with emotion.
Henry, her father, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, offering her comfort. Evan and Elizabeth were hugging Mike tightly, their relief palpable. Even William, who was usually stoic, seemed glad that Michael was alive, but he didn't show it..
"S-See, I-I told you that I was okay!" Mike exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of relief and embarrassment.
Mike's eyes widened with realization, and his smile faded. "W-Wait, does that mean the thing we were listening to before was just a dream?" he asked, sounding desperate.
Charlie quickly wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself. "I'm not sure… it could have been a memory…" she replied, her voice uncertain.
"I-It has t-to be a d-dream…" Mike said, his voice trembling.
…
As Michael's eyes opened, he realized that he was shrouded in darkness. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he felt a tight grip squeezing him from all directions, as though he was trapped. This triggered a sudden bout of panic that intensified with each passing second, as he realized that something had enclosed him completely. His breaths came out in short pants as he frantically tried to move, but stopped when he heard something from the inside. His heart thrummed wildly in his chest, drumming a desperate rhythm.
Henry narrowed his eyes, observing the thing Michael was inside. His confusion gave way to an epiphany, however, as realization dawned on him. "T-That's a Spring Lock suit!" he exclaimed.
Charlie, who heard about how hazardous Spring Lock suits could be from her father, as he always told her to not get too close to the Spring Lock Animatronics. She froze as she heard her father's words. She felt her stomach sink, as she had vague thoughts about what could happen to Michael which caused a wave of fear to sweep over her at the prospect of what could happen to Michael.
Evan furrowed his brows in confusion, "What's a Spring Lock suit?" he inquired, turning to his brother for an answer.
Mike shot his younger sibling a serious look, "They're used by Father and Uncle Henry for the Animatronics, but they're really dangerous," he replied in a hushed tone.
Mike noticed Evan's still confused look. "Evan, remember the one Dad told us to stay away from?" Mike added, causing Evan's eyes to widen in realization.
"The same ones?" He asked.
"Yeah, the same ones." He replied.
Elizabeth appeared perplexed, "But how did he end up inside the suit?" she voiced her doubts.
Charlie tentatively proposed her hypothesis, "Maybe Funtime Foxy stuffed him into the suit," she ventured.
The group was taken aback by Charlie's theory.
Elizabeth raised a quizzical eyebrow, "What on earth would possess Funtime Foxy to do that?" she asked incredulously.
Charlie's lips twisted with uncertainty, "It's just a theory," she murmured.
Suddenly, a soft voice shook the silence, causing the group to jump in surprise.
Baby: Shh! Be still and quiet. You've been sleeping for quite a while. I think they noticed that you never left the building last night. The cameras are searching for you. But they couldn't find you. I have you hidden too well.
The group exchanged quizzical looks as they mulled over Baby's words, unsure of how to react.
Baby: I kidnapped you…
The group felt shivers up their spine.
Charlie's skin crawled with unease as Baby confessed to kidnapping Michael.
Elizabeth swallowed nervously, "S-So it wasn't Funtime Foxy after all," she concluded, sounding relieved yet shaken.
Charlie looked crestfallen at her false theory. "It seems so," she sighed, her mind racing with questions and uncertainty.
Mike looked to be deep in thought, "How did she get in the Funtime Auditorium?" He asked.
The group were unsure what to say so they shifted their attention towards the screen.
Baby: Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. I am only going to keep you for a little while.
Mike looked puzzled, "Why does she want to keep me?" He asked.
Charlie turned towards Mike, "Maybe the Funtime Animatronics are still after you…?" She said, unsure.
Baby: Try not to wiggle, though. You're inside something that came from my old pizzeria. I don't think it was ever used - at least, not the way it was ever meant to be used.
William furrowed his eyebrows, "What is that supposed to mean?" He asked.
Henry turned over to William, "She's probably talking about the risk of a Spring Lock Failure." He suggested.
Baby: Too dangerous. It's just big enough for one person to fit inside. But just barely.
Baby: You're in the scooping room.
William's eyes went wide as he realized the dangerous room he was in.
Henry: Do you know why they call it 'the scooping room'? It's because, dummy, this is the room where they use the scooper.
Mike glanced down towards Elizabeth, "Lizzie, not only does she look like you, she also has your personality." He said in a defeated tone.
The group laughed, relieving some of the tension that was built in the room.
Elizabeth beamed, a smug smile forming on her lips.
Evan had a puzzled look on his face. "What's a scooper?" He asked.
William hesitated for a moment, considering how much information he should reveal to his youngest son, "Well… it's a machine that helps me with my animatronics," he said, glancing at Evan to meet his gaze. "It's a bit like a surgical tool, but instead of operating on people, it scoops out the endoskeleton of the robots." He continued.
Evan looked puzzled. "I don't understand," he said, tilting his head to one side.
William sighed, as he held up his hands and made a scooping motion in the air. "It's like this," he said, demonstrating with his fingers. "The scooper is a small, but sharp blade that can forcefully remove the insides of the robots, without damaging their outer shell." He explained.
As William finished explaining, the group couldn't help but feel a bit disturbed.
Evan's puzzled face shifted into fear as he tried to comprehend what his father was saying. "B-But… won't that hurt them?" He asked, his voice trembling.
William scoffed at his youngest son's words. "No." He said firmly. "They're just robots, so they won't be feeling anything. Also I would never hurt my creations. The scooper is just a tool, nothing more." He finished.
Baby: I thought that would be obvious. Isn't that a fun name for something? 'The scooper.' It sounds like something you would use for ice cream, or custard, or sprinkles.
Elizabeth's ears perked up in the mention of ice cream.
"Ooo, I love ice cream!" She exclaimed.
Mike rolled his eyes at his sister's antics, "Yeah, yeah we know." He said while shaking his head in amusement.
Baby: It sounds like something you would want at your birthday party, to ensure that you get a heaping portion of every good thing.
Mike raised an eyebrow, "That definitely sounds like something Lizzie would do." He said with a smile.
Elizabeth pouted before crossing her arms. "Oh, I do not!" She exclaimed.
This caused the group to giggle.
Baby: I wonder, though, if you were a freshly-opened pint of ice cream, how you would feel about something with that name. Thankfully, I don't think a freshly opened pint of ice cream feels anything at all.
Charlie looked a bit taken aback. "Why would she say that? Does she want Michael to be more scared?!" She exclaimed.
Michael looked a bit disturbed.
Suddenly, sounds could be heard.
Baby: Uh-oh. It sounds like someone else is in the building. Shh!
Michael froze as he held his breath.
The group froze and watched with great concentration.
Technician 1: Okay, bring her over. More, mooore... okay, stop. Set her down. Waaatch the step.
Henry raised an eyebrow, "Technicians?" He said.
"Seems like it." William said.
Charlie had a confused look on her face, "Why isn't Michael calling out for help?" She said in disbelief.
"I'm also not sure why. Maybe because I was scared and wasn't thinking right." He said.
Technician 2: What happened to it this time?
"Sounds like this is a common occurrence." Charlie said.
Technician 1: Just seems like these things can't go a day without breaking down. Who knows, it's always the same problem. Some kind of hardware malfunction.
Michael continued listening into their conversation.
Technician 2: Well, I have to be somewhere in, like, 15 minutes. This place gives me the creeps. Can we just get this over with? It's all automated, we don't have to be here for it. Just get it on the rollers and we can go.
Loud banging sounds are heard, as Ballora is being moved by the conveyor belt.
The loud sounds caused the group to cover their ears.
Baby: There's something very important that I've learned how to do over time.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, his face looked puzzled, "Is it me, or is Baby very aware." She said.
Mike started scratching the back of his head, "Yeah, I think that they're all aware, however I think that Baby is the most aware." He suggested.
Baby: That is, how to pretend.
This caused the group to feel uneasy. A sentient robot pretending to be stupid, but it is in fact alive and aware? That thought caused shiveres to go down their spine.
Baby: Do you ever play make-believe?
Elizabeth's ears perked up once again, "Oh, I love playing pretend!" She exclaimed.
Mike rolled his eyes at his little sister's antics, "Lizzie, now's not the time." He said.
Baby: Pretend to be one way, when you are really the other? It's very important. Ballora never learns. But I do.
Henry's eyes widened, "So they're all aware!" He exclaimed in shock.
He looked towards William, "William, what have you done?" He said.
William raised his hands in a defensive manner, "I'm as lost as you." He said
Baby: They think there is something wrong on the inside. The only thing that matters is knowing how to pretend.
….
Suddenly, sirens started playing, as Ballora started getting scooped.
Evan covered his mouth in shock.
As the machine finishes scooping Ballora, all that is left of her is a glowing eye that's staring directly at Michael, which causes him to feel uneasy.
Baby: I'll open the face plates for you. That way, they can find you on the cameras.
As the face plates opened, Michael could feel light hit his face.
Charlie gritted her teeth in frustration, "Why didn't he just call for help?!"
Baby: Now, all you have to do is wait. I'd recommend that you keep the springlocks wound up.
Michael's eyes widened in terror as he realized that he was inside a Springlock suit. He knew that he had to keep the Spring Locks wound up, or the suit would snap shut and hurt him.
Henry and William froze, as they both forgot that Michael was still inside a Springlock suit.
Charlie felt her heartbeat beat at a faster rate.
Baby: Your breathing and your heartbeat are causing them to come loose. You don't want them to get too loose. TRUST ME.
Elizabeth turned over to look towards her father, William, "Daddy, what does she mean? What happens if they come loose?" She asked, her eyes widening with concern.
William hesitated, unsure of how to explain the situation to his young daughter. "Well…, the Spring Locks are what holds the suit together, and if they come loose, the suit can snap shut and... hurt the person inside," he finally replied.
Elizabeth's face paled as she tried to picture her older brother trapped inside a deadly suit. "I-Is Mike going to be okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Mike, sensing his younger sister's worry, put his arm around her, trying to calm her down. "It's okay, Lizzie. I'm sure I'll be okay." He said, his voice filled with reassurance.
Mike turned around and noticed that his little brother Evan, staring at with concern. He sighed before embracing both of them, pulling them into a comforting hug, to which they immediately accepted and wrapped their arms around him.
"Hey, don't worry guys," Mike said softly, "I promise you that everything is going to be okay. Also remember that we're watching the future and so this hasn't happened yet."
As Mike said that, he couldn't help but shake the uneasy feeling creeping up on him. The thought of his family and friends watching his future self suffer made his skin crawl. He knew that he had to stay strong for their sake, but he couldn't help but feel confused and frustrated on why his future self still works here.
'Why was I still working here? Was I that desperate for the money? Are there no other options for employment? Or is it because I'm just way too curious?' Mike thought.
He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on his friends and family. He needed to be strong for them, to give them comfort and reassurance, even if he didn't fully believe it himself.
Mike's thoughts were interrupted by his younger brother's voice.
"Mikey? Are you okay?" Evan's innocent voice asked.
Mike looked into his little brother's eyes and felt a pang of regret, 'How could he ever been so mean to such a pure and innocent soul?' He thought. Mike then started to remember the 'Dream' his future self had, but he was pulled out of trance after Evan said his again.
Mike continued to stare at Evan, feeling a deep sense of shame wash over him. But then he gathered himself and gave his little brother a warm smile.
"I'm okay, Evan. I was just thinking," he finally said, his voice gentle.
Evan couldn't help but feel weirded out of his older brother's voice, 'What was he thinking?' Evan thought.
Charlie chimed in, "You looked pretty deep in thought, Mike. Everything alright?" She asked, concerned.
Mike looked around and saw that everyone was staring at him, waiting for his answer.
"Y-Yeah I'm fine," he said, but his voice sounded hollow even to his own ears. "I was just thinking about something."
This seemed to have satisfied the group enough, as their gaze shifted back to the screen, Elizabeth leaned into Mike and whispered, "Thanks."
Mike felt a small smile playing on his lips. "No problem," he whispered back.
As Mike's gaze returned to the screen, he couldn't help but remember about what he was thinking about before. 'Why was he still working at this place? Why didn't I tell Father? Did he not care? …That wouldn't really surprise me. But was it really worth putting himself in danger? But he quickly shook those thoughts from his head and focused on the screen. He would deal with those questions later.
Michael quickly started wounding up the Spring Locks, which were coming loose from all directions.
As time passed, Michael began to feel a growing sense of unease. The Spring Locks were starting to loosen faster than before, and he struggled to keep them wound up. Just as he thought he gained some control, he heard faint sounds of childish laughter coming from the outside of his suit.
This caused the group's worry to intensify even further.
"W-What's that sound?" Evan asked, terrified.
"I-I'm not sure, but it sounds like a child." Henry said.
As Michael peered down, his heart leaped into his throat. His eyes widened in terror as he saw small wooden 'things' crawling up his suit.
"W-What are those?" Charlie asked.
"I… I believe that they're the Minireenas." William answered.
Charlie turned towards William, her eyebrow shot up, giving him a look that was mixed with confusion and disbelief. "Why did you create those?! I thought this place was supposed to be a children's attraction, not a Horror attraction!" She exclaimed.
"They're supposed to be Ballora's little helpers." William said.
Michael's heart began to pound in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out across his skin. The puppets had grotesque, mask-like faces with eerie black eyes that seemed to bore into his very soul, and their twisted smiles were filled with wicked glee.
"W-Why do they look so creepy?" Elizabeth asked.
….
As they approached closer, he could see that their small, ballerina-like bodies were covered in delicate skirts that fluttered in the breeze, adding to the surreal and unnerving sight. Michael's mind raced with fear and confusion as he struggled to understand what they were trying to do to him.
Charlie's eyes widened as she thought of something, "Y-You don't think that they're trying to cause a Spring Lock failure?" She theorized.
The group turned their gaze towards the screen, giving it their full attention.
Michael: 'Are they trying to cause a Spring Lock failure?' He thought.
Charlie's eyes widened, as both of them were thinking of the same thing.
Michael's hands shook as he tried to shake the Minirennas off, his mind going in a frenzy. He couldn't let them get him, or else he would die. But as he fought, he heard something inside his suit get louder. He realized that the more he moved, the looser the Spring Locks became.
As Henry and William watched the screen, they felt their hearts race as they saw the Spring Locks of the suit loosen at an alarming rate. Their expressions of concern deepened with each passing moment, knowing that if Michael doesn't act quickly, then their worst fears could become a reality.
As William watched his son from this future struggle with the Spring Locks, a sinister thought crept into his mind like a venomous serpent. 'I wonder what a Spring Lock failure would look like live.' He thought to himself. As quickly as those thoughts appeared, he shook his head in disbelief, horrified at himself for even considering such an inhumane thought. To make matters worse, this was son, his flesh and blood, not some guinea pig for his twisted experiments. William shuddered at the mere thought and pushed it out of his mind, silently praying that his son would make it out alive.
Panic set in, and Michael knew that he was wasting time and it was just a matter of time before the Spring Locks would close onto him.
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone held their breath, watching Michael struggle to keep the Spring Locks wound up.
As Michael was wounding up the Spring Locks, his hands still trembling, he saw a Minireena crawl inside his suit. This caused his heart to pound rapidly as he felt a wave of panic rush through his body. He tried to gather his thoughts and regain his composure, but suddenly he felt a sharp and icy-cold sensation against his skin. Part of the endoskeleton's blade made contact with his arm, trying to pierce through his flesh.
Charlie covered her mouth in shock. William and Henry were silently praying for anyone to help Michael.
Mike, noticing his siblings distress, quickly grabbed their hands, hoping to calm them down. They stared at him, worry and concern in their eyes. Mike squeezed their hands reassuringly, but deep inside he knew he was in grave danger.
Michael took deep breaths, but not too close to the Spring Locks, attempting to calm himself down. Trying to remember what he was doing down here in the first place.
Michael: 'Remember why you're down here. You're trying to find her...He said that she's down here.' He whispered to himself.
The group felt puzzled at Michael's thoughts.
Mike raised an eyebrow, 'Who's her? And who's he?' He thought.
As Michael tried wounding up the Spring Lock that was almost loose, but he felt more sharp pieces touching his skin. The sight of more Minireenas crawling into his suit made him realize that the Spring Locks were coming loose faster than he could wind them up.
Charlie's eyes widened, "Oh, so the Minireenas are causing the Spring Locks to loosen faster?" She said, still worried.
"It looks like it." Henry said.
Mike scratched the back of his head, unsure on what to say, "So… how are they making the Spring Locks loosen faster?" He asked.
Charlie was about to say something, but nothing came out of her mouth.
Michael wiggled in an attempt to shake them off, but this only caused one of the sharp pieces to scrape against his skin.
The group gasped at this.
Evan's mind raced with horrifying images of his older brother being torn apart by the suit. Tears welled up in his eyes as he clung into Mike for comfort, desperately hoping that he would make it out alive. He had his FredBear plushie with him to ease his fears.
Elizabeth seemed to have had the same thoughts, as she watched the screen in horror as she saw the Minireenas crawling inside Michael's suit. She couldn't bear watching her older brother, the one who usually took care of her and Evan while her father wasn't home or busy. The one who showed them love when their father couldn't. She couldn't watch him get hurt, or worse… die, especially in such a gruesome way. She clung onto his arm, hoping to provide some sort of comfort or protection.
Charlie was also deeply concerned for Michael's safety. She knew her father and William had created these animatronics, and that they were capable of causing serious harm for those who are not careful. She tried to remain calm, but her heart was pounding with fear as she watched her friend from the future, Michael, fighting for his life. Oh how she wished that she was sitting next to Mike, so she would be able to provide some support.
Mike was horrified as he watched the events unfold before him. He of course knew how dangerous those Spring Lock suits could be from his Father's warnings, but seeing his future self in that position and his friends and family watching this, made his heart ache.
He watched as his siblings clung onto him, and realized that he needed to be strong for them. He gently pulled them both into another hug and whispered soothing words to them. He felt their small bodies tremble against him. 'Oh why did they have to watch this? They were still kids, for crying out loud!'
He felt a sense of protectiveness wash over him. He knew that he needed to be there for them, no matter what. He held them for a while longer, letting them cry and process their emotions, as he continued watching the screen.
Mike knew that he had to be there for his siblings and keep them safe no matter what. He finally pulled away and looked at them with a gentle smile, still holding onto their hands, as they turned their gaze towards the screen.
He took a deep breath and prepared himself to watch the rest of the horrifying scene unfold, silently praying nothing bad happens.
Michael, now determined, solely focused on winding the Spring Locks. Using reflexes that he didn't know he had. He would occasionally wiggle, shaking the Minireenas off. But with each wiggle, the Spring Locks became even more loose, bringing him closer to his demise.
William's face twisted in horror as he watched his son from the future struggle with the Spring Locks and the Minireenas inside the suit. He felt a deep sense of regret for ever creating those suits and putting his own son in danger. Not only that, it would seem that there is something seriously wrong with his creations, as they had a mind of their own, he knew what needed to be done after this is over.
Meanwhile, Henry's eyes were wide with fear and concern as he watched the situation unfold. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Michael, as Michael was like family to him. He felt responsible for putting him in harm's way.
The two inventors exchanged a look of mutual understanding and guilt. They both knew they were partly responsible for what was happening, as they both created the Spring Lock suits and they know how dangerous they are and still they chose to use them. They watched helplessly as Michael struggled with the Spring Locks and tried their best to offer comfort and support to the rest of the group.
Michael was still inside the suit, struggling for god knows how long. His breathing became more labored and his body trembled with fear, which caused the Spring Locks to loosen faster. He felt mentally and physically exhausted and could feel more parts of the cold metal endoskeleton piercing his skin, and the panic within him was overwhelming, still he continued fighting, as his Flight or Fight was still on.
The group continued to watch Michael's struggle in horror as they could see the Spring Locks becoming much looser than before.
Elizabeth and Evan were the most shocked, as they had never seen Mike like this ever. They both covered their eyes, unable to watch the gruesome scene. Mike, seeing this, pulled them into his shoulder.
Charlie held onto her father's arm tightly, feeling sick to her stomach.
William could only watch in silence, his heart racing as he feared the worst for his son.
Michael grit his teeth. Suddenly the door of the scooping room burst open, and a man in a security guard uniform rushed inside.
The group's eyes were lit with hope.
The man quickly assessed the situation and spotted the button on the sides and back of the suit. He quickly but carefully pressed them, releasing Michael from the suit and sending him to the floor. His body was drenched in sweat, he had several minor cuts and scrapes from the blades.
As Michael left the suit, he heard a loud snap. He slowly looked behind him, watching as the suit's Spring Locks snapped shut completely. He realized that he barely escaped his demise.
The relief that washed over the group was palpable as they realized that Michael had narrowly escaped with his life.
Despite the exhaustion that consumed him, Michael mustered all the strength he had left to get back on his feet and stumbled towards the door, his cuts stinging with every step. With the help of the security guard, Michael managed to escape the room, his heart pounding with fear and relief at the same time.
The group was shaken to their core as they watched Michael's near-death experience. Nonetheless, they were glad that he was saved. Mike let out a sigh of relief that they didn't get to watch his futureself die. They all left sincere thanks to the security guard that saved him.
Evan and Elizabeth were silently expressing their gratitude to the security guard who saved Michael. Tears of relief and happiness were shed by both Evan and Elizabeth, as they were both deeply worried about Michael's safety.
As Charlie watched Michael stumble towards the door, she felt her heart race in her chest. She didn't realize it at first, but she was holding her breath, afraid that she might witness a Spring Lock failure on Michael of all people! She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as Michael was saved. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling the weight of worry lift off her shoulders. As Mike looked up at her, smiling, Charlie couldn't help but return it, relieved that her friend made it out in one piece.
Henry and William had been on edge the entire time, watching as the situation unfolded. As they watched Michael stumbling out of the suit, the two let out a collective sigh of relief. However, William's relief was short-lived, as a strange thought crept back into his mind.
He couldn't shake the idea of seeing his son's mangled body after a Spring Lock failure. Would it hurt? Or would you remain alive during the entire ordeal until you bleed out? It was a morbid curiosity that he quickly pushed aside, feeling disgusted with himself for even entertaining such a thought.
Henry noticed the change in William's expression and gave him a smile that said, 'He's okay and that's what matters.'
William smiled back, feeling a sense of guilt wash over him for entertaining the thought for the second time.
The group watched as the screen went dark.
Dramatic music was heard through the screen as it was slowly lighting back up.
Announcer: As the moon rises, so also the tension between scorn lovers.
The screen lit, showing Michael relaxing on his chair, eating popcorn. He also had some bandages wrapped around his arms.
This caused the group's atmosphere to feel sour.
Mike's ears perked up, "Wait… didn't we miss last episode?" He said.
Mike placed his hands on his cheeks, "SHOOT! I hope that I didn't miss anything." He said.
Charlie felt one of her eyes twitch. "Is that what you care about? Mike, you almost got crushed!" She exclaimed in disbelief of Mike's audacity.
Mike scratched the back of his head, "Well… it didn't happen…" he said.
Charlie, face palmed, causing the group to snicker, lifting the atmosphere back.
Vlad: Clara, it's not my baby!
Elizabeth groaned, "Are they seriously still arguing about that? Can't he see that it's his baby!" She exclaimed.
Clara: Vlad, you suck.
'Wow' they thought.
Vlad: Wait, was that supposed to be a vampire joke? That was so lame Clara. Like I haven't heard that a million times.
Evan seemed to agree with this, "He's right."
Clara: Alright, well, how's this; I'm taking the car!
"What another bitchy move." William muttered to himself.
Vlad: Joke's on you, it's a rental.
This caused William to get out of his seat, "HA!" He shouted.
The group stared at William in confusion. This caused William to pat his clothes and sit back down.
Clara: Well, joke's on you! I set the thermostat to 90 before I left!
Charlie raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that like a fire hazard?" She asked.
Vlad: Good! I like it warm!
Clara: Good! Because I also set the house on fire!
The group's jaws dropped.
Charlie was the first to recover, "Well, I guess that settles it. She's officially crazy." She said.
William crossed his arms, "Reminds me of someone." He muttered.
Announcer: How will it all end? The passion - the tension - the intrigue! Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion.
Mike's jaw dropped, "W-What?! We're almost towards the end already?" He exclaimed.
"Tomorrow is also the last day of your first work week." Henry pointed out.
The TV screen in Michael's house turned to static, as the camera zoomed out, showing a now sleeping Michael.
Suddenly, someone entered the room they were in. They turned around and saw Old Man Consequences standing next to the door frame, holding what seemed like a fishing rod.
I think it's about time you guys took a break