The group returned to the living room after their break, feeling uneasy and uncertain about what's to come. As the group sat in their seats, the same spots they had occupied before, the atmosphere seemed to have changed. The air was thick with anticipation, as they waited for the screening to start.
Michael sat on the couch on the right side, sandwiched between his two siblings, Evan and Elizabeth. Elizabeth, being the middle child, stared at the screen in anticipation, silently hoping that nothing bad would happen to her older brother's future version, Michael. Evan, being the youngest child, seemed nervous as he replayed the previous night's ordeal in his mind. Henry sat on the couch in the middle, with his only child, Charlotte, or what she preferred being called, Charlie, sitting next to him. He always found it endearing on how she asserted her independence by choosing her own nickname. William sat all alone on the couch on the left, opposite to his children. As a father, he should have felt a sense of companionship being with his kids, but no. This was William Afton, he preferred being alone, rather than being in a crowd. But he did feel a tinge of jealousy from Henry. 'How come he had his child with him?' He thought, as he glanced at Henry and Charlie. But William knew deep down that if his children were with Michael, then there would be nothing to be worried about.
As they sat, an unfamiliar object caught their attention. Under each of their seats was a small garbage bin.
"Why are there bins under us?" Mike queried, breaking the silence.
Everyone looked around, bewildered as to how they didn't notice it before.
"It's probably just a new design choice," Charlie speculated, not giving it much thought.
Mike simply shrugged, a gesture of indifference.
As the group sat in the living room, waiting for the screening to begin, an air of apprehension hung over them like a heavy cloud. They exchanged worried glances, unsure of what's to come. The room was silent except for the occasional sound of the group's breathing.
Suddenly, the screen flickered to life, and elevator sounds echoed throughout the room, causing the group's focus to the screen.
A hush fell over the group as their eyes were fixed on the screen.
Daddy isn't watching.
The group felt themselves turn pale.
Mike stared at Elizabeth, eyes wide. "Lizzie… please don't tell me you went to see Baby…" he whispered.
Before Elizabeth had the chance to answer, she was cut off.
"Elizabeth…" A voice threatened.
Elizabeth stiffened at the tone her father used as he rarely ever used it.
"I thought I specifically told you NOT TO GO TO BABY!" He saw between his teeth, causing her and Evan to flinch.
Henry and Charlie watched the scene unfold, Henry being the most shocked as he never saw William ever use that tone.
Mike saw Elizabeth flinch and immediately started to defend her. "Well… Father this is the future we're watching so-"
"I wasn't speaking with you Michael." William spat, causing Mike to freeze stiff.
The room was engulfed with an awkward silence that caused everyone to freeze in place.
William's realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he let out a deep sigh. "Listen…" he said, his voice tinged with regret, "I'm sorry that I latched out like that… I was just… worried that something could've happened to you." He said.
Mike squeezed Elizabeth's hand, causing her to look at him. He motioned his head towards their father.
She turned to face her father's direction, "Daddy, it's fine…" she said.
This caused everyone to smile.
The screen lit showing Michael standing in the center of the elevator. Bandages still wrapped around his arms which served as a grim reminder of the events from the previous night.
The sight of Michael's injured arms caused the atmosphere to shift.
Charlie's right eye twitched and couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration, annoyance and concern as she watched her friend return to this dangerous place that hurt him and almost killed him.
"Mike… why are you still working here!? Did you forget what happened the last time you were here!?" She exclaimed, as she stared at Mike, her eyes filled with frustration.
Mike couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt in his chest as he struggled to find the right words to answer her question. He nervously shifted in his seat and avoided her gaze.
This caused Charlie's irritation to grow," Mike, you were so close to being seriously hurt! And not only that, you almost died, TWICE!" She exclaimed.
…
Charlie felt a wave of overwhelm wash over her at the mere thought of watching Mike, one of her closest friends, one of the first friends she ever made, the one who treated her like his little sister getting seriously hurt, or worse, the possibility of it happening again but on a much larger scale was too much for her to bear. The fear of losing someone she cared about was almost paralyzing and she couldn't hold it anymore.
Charlie covered her eyes with her sleeve, trying to hide the tears that were forming. "I-I just don't want to see you suffer again…" she said, her voice cracking with emotion. She felt a lump in her throat as she struggled to hold back her tears.
After hearing Charlie's voice break, Mike felt a huge pang of guilt in his chest. He looked around the room and found that everyone seemed to think the same thing.
He turned back to face Charlie to see her father, Henry, currently attempting to comfort her, telling her that Michael is going to be fine and we just have to watch and see for ourselves.
He took a deep breath before answering. "I-I'm not sure myself, however I believe it's because my futureself is looking for someone." He answered.
The group's face formed into confusion.
Charlie pulled away from her father's embrace, staring at Mike with puffy red eyes. "W-What do you mean?" She asked, her voice breaking due to her crying.
Mike's eyes darted nervously around the room as he nervously shifted in his seat. He could feel the weight of her concern and confusion pressing down on him just by her staring at him.
Mike cleared his throat before speaking up, "Well… when we were watching the previous night, my future self said that he's here to look for… her." He said.
Elizabeth chimed in, "Who's her?" She asked.
Mike turned to his little sister, Elizabeth, and shrugged. "That's what I'm trying to find out." He answered.
Charlie nodded, 'How didn't I hear that before? Maybe I was too worried for Michael's safety to notice.' She thought to herself.
"Okay… so you're working here… to look for someone…?" Charlie said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief that her father had.
Mike turned to face Charlie, "Yeah, that's what it sounded like." He answered.
With this in mind, their attention shifted back to the screen, hoping for any answers.
Handy Unit: Welcome back to your last day on the job.
The group's eyes widened. Does this mean Michael will finally leave this place?
Handy Unit: That is, the last day of your first week.
"Oh…" Evan mouthed, disappointed.
Handy Unit: Some of the most valued qualities that we like to see in new employees are determination, fearlessness, and genuine disregard for instinctive self-preservation.
"Yep… that sounds like Michael." Charlie said, sniffling while she wrapped her arms around her chest.
Mike rolled his eyes, "Do you really think I'm like that?" He asked.
Charlie gave Mike a look that said, 'Are you seriously asking me that question?'
Handy Unit: You've earned your one week bonus which will be given to you in a form of a delightful gift basket,
Charlie's eyes widened, "Wow… that's really nice of them." She said in genuine surprise.
Handy Unit: The cost of which will be taken out of your next paycheck.
Charlie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head. "Of course… how could they not…"
Michael's expression quickly turned to shock and betrayal at the mention of the last part. His smile faded, replaced with a look of disappointment and frustration.
The group laughed at Michael's reaction.
"I wonder how much I get paid." Mike thought out loud.
Evan turned to face his older brother, Mike. "Well… technicians get paid a lot, right?" He asked.
Henry turned over to Evan, "Well… it depends on what you're doing." He said.
Evan slowly nodded.
Handy Unit: We have gift baskets containing fruit, nuts, flowers, and of course, the ever-popular cash basket.
Michael's ears perked up at the mention of the cash basket.
Charlie and Elizabeth giggled at his reaction while Evan smiled.
Mike playfully elbowed Elizabeth, causing him to form a small smile, as he shot a mock glare at Charlie. Despite feeling annoyed, Mike was happy that Charlie was back to her usual self.
Just then, a keypad appeared in front of Michael, almost smacking him in the face.
Handy Unit: Using the keypad below, please enter the first few letters of the gift basket you would like to receive.
Mike sighed, knowing where this was going.
With a determined look on his face, Michael focused his eyes on the jittering letters on the keypad. As he was about to press a button-
Handy Unit: It seems you had some trouble with the keypad. I see what you were trying to type, and I will autocorrect for you. One moment.
The group watched the screen in anticipation, wondering what the autocorrect was going to be.
Handy Unit: Thank you for selecting, Exotic Butters!
Michael stood there, stunned, as the Handy Unit revealed the selected gift basket.
The group burst out laughing at the unexpected autocorrect. Charlie was in hysterics, her laughter filling the room and causing her to double over on the floor and clutch her stomach as she continued laughing at Michael's situation.
Mike couldn't couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of the situation.
As the laughter died down, Charlie turned to Mike with a teasing smirk. "Looks like you'll have to settle for some exotic butters," she teased, causing Mike to roll his eyes.
The group continued to banter and joke around, relieved to finally have a moment of levity in the midst of their stressful situation.
…
Evan looked up towards Mike, "Hey… what're Exotic Butters?" He asked.
Mike turned to face Evan, still smiling, "Well Evan, It's… Exotic… Butters…?" Mike said, unsure what to say.
This left Evan even more confused but he didn't pry anymore answers.
Michael stood there, still gobsmacked at the auto correction the HandyUnit gave. Suddenly, the elevator stopped as elevator music started playing, causing Michael to break out of his trance.
Charlie placed a hand on her mouth, "Poor Mike." She said, giggling, causing Mike to glare at her from his seat.
Michael crouched down and entered the vent that led to the Primary Control Module.
As Michael was crawling the narrow vent, the HandyUnit continued speaking.
Handy Unit: Please be aware that there are still two technicians on the site today. Try to avoid interfering with their work, if possible. Also, feel free to ask them why they're still here, and encourage them to go home.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, "Why're the technicians still here?" She asked.
This left the group puzzled.
As Michael crawled out of the narrow vent and stepped into the now cramped space of the Primary Control Module, which was just a crawl space between the two showrooms. As he stood there, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, like something was… missing…
Charlie, always perceptive, spoke up. "Wait a minute… are you guys also feeling that something is off? Like… something is missing?" She said, scanning the room Michael was in.
Her father, Henry, furrowed his brows and looked around the room. "Now that you mention it, something does seem different." He said.
The rest of the group followed suit, scanning the screen, trying to figure out what's wrong.
Michael was scanning the room, and his eyes landed on the wall above the duct that led to Circus Baby's Control Room. A strange mask was supposed to be mounted there, but it was conspicuously absent.
Michael: 'Wasn't there always a mask up there?' Michael thought.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh yeah!" She exclaimed. "I remember that mask! But why is it missing?" She asked.
Evan turned to face his older sister, "Maybe because it was too creepy…" he said.
The group all stared at the empty spot on the wall.
Michael continued staring at the empty spot on the wall, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of horrors laid ahead of this.
Charlie noticed Michael's preoccupied expression and decided to comment on it. "Mike, you look like you're thinking too much about it," she said.
Mike turned to face Charlie's direction, "Yeah, I guess my future self is giving it much more thought about than he should."
Suddenly, Handy Unit's voice snapped Michael out of his train of thought.
Handy Unit: Let's check on Ballora, and make sure she's on stage.
A memory crept into Michael's mind as he stared at the controls.
Michael: 'Wait, why am I checking if Ballora is on stage if she got scooped?' He thought, confusion taking hold of him.
The group froze as they watched the screen in anticipation.
Michael could feel his heart pounding in his chest, he took a deep breath and pressed the blue button. The memory of what he had seen before on Ballora's stage made him hesitate for a moment.
A soft whirring sound filled the air as the Ballora Gallery was illuminated by a bright light. The light revealed a ghastly sight that made Michael's blood run cold. Ballora wasn't on her stage, rather she wasn't in the gallery as a whole. Something more sinister had taken its place.
The group gasped in horror as they saw a figure hanging from a noose on the ceiling.
Mike, realizing what he had just witnessed, immediately covered Elizabeth and Evan's eyes with his hands, which of course came with some complaints.
Evan was the first to break the silence, "M-Mikey!" He said, surprised by his older brother's action
"Yeah, I can't see!" Elizabeth complained.
Charlie stared at the group. "D-Do you think that that was one of the-"
Mike cut Charlie off, "N-Nothing. It was nothing at all!" He quickly said in a serious tone.
As the lights turned off, Mike removed his hand from their eyes, letting them see.
Elizabeth and Evan stared at their older brother, worry in their eyes.
Michael could feel his heart pounding even more than before, and he could also feel the cold sweat beading from his forehead and palms. He started walking backwards, his back hitting the wall. His hands were shaking and could feel the icy grip of fear taking hold of him as he processed what he had just seen. His mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, and he felt like he was going to be sick. He had never felt so alone and this vulnerable ever since… that incident…
The group worriedly watched fear taking a hold of Michael and couldn't help but feel bad for him.
The image of the person hanging from the ceiling was burned into his mind, and he could feel the weight of it bearing down on him. A part of his mind wanted him to run, to get as far away from this place as possible, but he couldn't as he had a reason for being here.
Michael: "Remember the reason why you're here… you're looking for her." He whispered.
The group's eyes widened in realization as they finally understood the meaning of Mike's words from before.
Michael's breathing became less erratic, but he could still feel his chest tightening with every gasp of air. He tried to tell himself that there was a rational explanation for what he had just seen, but the fear was still too powerful.
Michael knew he had a job to do, and he couldn't let his fear control him. Taking a deep breath, Michael pushed himself off the wall and forced himself to walk towards the controls of Funtime Auditorium.
Michael pressed the blue button which luminated the Funtime Auditorium.
The group gasped once again, and Mike wasn't fast enough to cover Elizabeth and Evan's eyes. They watched in silence, their hearts pounding with terror, as they saw what was happening on the screen.
Charlie's hand flew to her mouth in shock, Evan and Elizabeth clutched onto Mike's arm tightly. All of them were terrified of what they had witnessed on the screen and were worried for Michael's safety. WIlliam and Henry exchanged worried glances, their eyes still wide from shock.
Michael: "Yep… those are the technicians…" He whispered, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to steady himself, and his eyes were wide with shock and fear.
The group sat there, frozen in terror, their hearts pounding in their chests as they watched the man's lifeless body sway in the dim light, causing an eerie shadow on the wall. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of their breathing and the sound of the lights.
Charlie was the first to break the silence, her voice trembling in fear. "W-Why… W-What happened?! Why are they hanging from the ceiling!?" She exclaimed, her darting eyes around the group.
Elizabeth and Evan gripped tighter onto Mike's arm, their hands trembling as they watched the hanged body sway around, their expressions contorted with fear and disbelief. Their older brother, Mike, could feel their fear radiating off them like a palpable energy, and his heart ached for them.
Evan's voice trembled as he spoke, his words barely above a whisper, "M-Mikey… nothing bad is going to happen to you… right?" He looked up at his older brother with wide, frightened eyes, his small hands gripping on Mike's arm even more.
Elizabeth flinched at Evan's words, her own grip on Mike's arm becoming even tighter. She couldn't bear the thought of watching her older brother get hurt… or worse….
Mike could feel his heart skip a beat at the intensity of their concern. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth spread through him at the sight of his siblings looking out for him.
"Don't worry guys," he whispered, placing a hand on top of their heads. "Nothing is going to happen to me, I'm sure of it."
Elizabeth looked up at Mike with a mix of fear and uncertainty in her eyes. "Promise?" She asked quietly.
Mike smiled reassuringly, "Pinky promise," he answered, his tone serious.
His siblings eyes widened at the mention of a pinky promise, causing Michael's smile to widen as he watched the shock in their eyes. He knew the power of a pinky promise, the unbreakable promise it created.
Michael continued to stare at the hanging body until the lights turned off for staying on too long.
"D-Do you think that the animatronics… did it?" Charlie asked, uncertainty in her tone.
All eyes turned to William, who looked just as shocked as the rest of them. "I-I'm not sure," he replied, shaking his head.
Charlie's frustration and worry boiled over as she turned to Mike, her eyes ablaze with anger, "Michael, why are you not running! You just saw two men hanging from the ceiling! I don't understand why you're so insistent on staying there!" Her voice rose with each word, causing Mike to flinch at the intensity of her tone.
Mike turned his head away from Charlie's glare, his mind whirling with thoughts. He wasn't sure why his future self was still working at the place after everything he had experienced. 'Just who am I looking for?' he wondered.
Charlie's frustration only grew, "Why are WE even letting you work there?! After what's been happening to you each night, there's no way we're letting you go back there!" She exclaimed, continuing to glare at Mike.
Henry stepped in, trying to calm his daughter down. "Charlie, I'm not sure why Mike keeps going back there, but he said that it's important for him."
Despite his own words, Henry was also deeply concerned and confused as to why Michael kept putting himself in danger by returning to the place.
"Just who is this person you're looking for?" Charlie demanded, her voice rising with each word. "And why are you not telling your father about it? This is his company!"
The group stared at Charlie, initially surprised by her outburst, but then also thought why Michael was endangering himself that much.
The group stared at Charlie, initially surprised by her outburst, but eventually mentally agreed with her. 'Just who is Michael searching for? And why is he constantly putting himself in danger?' They couldn't help but think.
Charlie took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She couldn't help but worry for Michael's safety as it was frustrating watching him putting himself in danger night after night, without knowing the reason behind it.
The group fell into a tense silence as they waited for Mike's response. Charlie's arms were folded tightly across her chest, her foot tapping impatiently on the floor. She knew she needed to apologize for her outburst, but that was for later as it was hard to shake off the worry.
Finally, Mike spoke up as he took a deep breath. His voice was calm and measured. "Listen Charlie, I understand that you're trying to find out why I constantly put myself in danger and I promise you, I'm doing the same. But you have to remember that this is the future we're watching, and I have absolutely no idea why my future self is putting himself in danger."
Suddenly, Charlie felt a pang of guilt and regret as Michael's words sunk in. She had been blaming himself for something that he had no control over, and wouldn't happen for another decade or so.
Charlie turned away, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "Yeah… sorry. I'm just worried, you know?" She mumbled.
Mike let out a resigned sigh. "I know, Charlie. I'm pretty sure we all are. But let's just keep watching for now. Maybe it will be explained later." He said.
Charlie nodded in agreement and turned back to the screen and so did everyone else. But Charlie's mind was still racing with questions. 'Just what could be so important that Michael was willing to risk his life for? He said that he's looking for someone?' She thought to herself.
Henry, who had been watching silently, placed a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder. Charlie turned to face her father and smiled.
Handy Unit: Great. It looks like everything is as it should be in Funtime Auditorium. Your task today will involve more maintenance work.
Mike rolled his eyes, "Great, just what I wanted." He said.
Handy Unit: Circus Baby had a rough day, and is in need of repair.
Elizabeth's ears perked up at the mention of Baby and couldn't help but feel excited "Oh! We're finally going to see her!" She said, her eyes filled with excitement.
Mike sighed at his little sister's antics.
Handy Unit: You will be required to reach the Parts & Service room by once again sneaking through Funtime Auditorium. As always, please proceed with caution.
William furrowed his eyebrows in concern.
The group couldn't help but feel worried about Michael as they remembered what happened last time Michael was there.
The vent door that led to Funtime Auditorium opened, causing Michael's eyes to land on it. He retrieved his Flash Beacon from his tool belt and took in a deep breath before proceeding inside.
Mike stiffened and felt a twinge of anxiety and fear as he watched his future self enter Funtime Auditorium. The memory of his previous encounter with Funtime Foxy and the near-death experience replayed in his mind, making his palms excrete cold sweat and his heart race.
This behavior wasn't unnoticed by his little siblings, Elizabeth and Evan, as they noticed his unease and reached out to hold his hands. Mike felt a warm sensation on the top of his hand as they placed theirs on top of his. Their innocent smiles and comforting presence caused him down.
As Mike faced them, giving them a small smile in return. He interlocked their fingers with his and gave them a reassuring squeeze.
The trio sat there for a moment in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and feelings. Mike couldn't help but feel grateful for his siblings' unwavering presence. Their simple gesture of clasping hands spoke volumes, telling him that everything is going to be okay.
They turned back to face the screen.
As Michael cautiously stepped into the pitch-black Auditorium, a knot formed in his stomach. He knew that anything could be lurking in the darkness, waiting to jump at him and do what god knows what.
Michael slowly crept forward, holding his Flash Beacon tightly in his hand. Each step he took echoed through the pitch-black Auditorium, creating an eerie soundscape that sent shivers down his spine.
The group held their breaths as they watched Michael inch closer to The Parts & Services door, which remained shrouded by the darkness.
FLASH
Suddenly, Michael's hand moved swiftly, and the entire room was flooded with a blinding light as he activated his Flash Beacon.
The group let out a sigh of relief as they saw the empty room illuminating before their eyes. However, their relief was short-lived as they noticed the ominous shadow of one of the hanged technicians on stage.
Elizabeth and Evan squeezed Mike's hand tighter.
Michael tried to avoid looking in that direction, focusing solely on reaching Parts & Service. He took another deep breath and pressed on, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he made his way through the darkness, Michael used his Flash Beacon again,
FLASH
Empty.
FLASH
Michael used his Flash Beacon again and again, each time revealing no one.
The group watched intently, their eyes glued to the screen, their nerves on edge. The tension was palpable as Funtime Foxy could appear at any moment.
"Where is Funtime Foxy?" Charlie finally broke the silence, her voice on edge.
Henry shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe he's hiding?" he suggested, unsure.
As Michael made his way closer to the Parts & Services door, he finally caught sight of it in the distance, his heart lifting with hope.
But just as he was about to reach his destination, a sudden movement caught his eye.
The group held their breath.
Michael's heart leaped into his throat as he flashed his Flash Beacon towards the source of the disturbance. However, to his relief, it was just a shadow cast by a piece of machinery.
They let out a sigh of relief.
Taking a deep breath, Michael pushed forward, his eyes fixed on the door in the distance.
Finally, he made a run for it, his heart pounding in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He reached the door, pulled it open, and stumbled inside, panting heavily with relief.
The group exhaled in unison, relieved to see that Michael had made it to safety.
Charlie placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart beating rapidly from the stress and worry of watching Michael's perilous journey through Funtime Auditorium. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"I-I can't even imagine what it must have been like for Michael," Charlie said, her voice shaking slightly. "It's like walking through a minefield but blindfolded."
Mike nodded in agreement, watching his future self enter Parts & Services. "It's a good thing they gave my future self a Flash Beacon. Otherwise it would have ended badly." He said. "I wonder what if it malfunctioned… What would I have done then?"
The group fell silent at the thought. The tension in the room was palpable.
"I don't want to know…" Charlie said after a moment. "But, I'm just glad you made it to Parts & Service in one piece."
The group let out a collective sigh of relief.
As Michael was catching his breath, he heard a weird sound from behind him, causing him to turn around. As he turned around, he realized that he was facing Circus Baby, the one who's been helping him all along. Also the room was incredibly dark.
Elizabeth stared at Circus Baby through the screen, excitement in her eyes.
Michael's eyes locked onto Circus Baby's figure. Even though she sat on the conveyor belt, she still towered over him at 218 cm (7.2 feet). Her appearance was striking, with red pigtails cascading down her neck, matching the vibrant red-white *dress* she wore. Michael couldn't help but notice the pins that appeared to be sticking out of her arms, legs and even her skirt.
In her left hand, Circus Baby held a microphone, similar to how Funtime Freddy always held his. Michael's eyes were drawn to the weird fan on her stomach, surrounded by an orange border. As his gaze traveled down to her ankles and feet, he noticed her jester shoes adorned with little golden bells.
Finally, he took a look at Circus Baby's face, noting her facial features were that of a clown, with a pale metallic face, long eyelashes, rosy cheeks matching her red nose, her sharp blue eyebrows, and her red lips stuck in a smile.
Even though her green plastic eyes were missing from her sockets, he couldn't help but feel that she was observing him. Michael felt a shiver run down his spine at the sight of her.
Upon closer inspection, he could see that her exoskeleton was visible through her empty sockets. He could spot a combination of robotic parts and thick, metal tube-like wires that acted like a layer of muscle tissue. Even though she was an animatronic, Circus Baby's appearance seemed almost lifelike, not to mention the creepy smile she had, which only added to the eerie feeling that Michael felt while in her presence.
The group couldn't help but adore her looks which caused William's ego to increase.
"She looks wonderful!" Elizabeth exclaimed, admiring Baby's appearance.
Mike rolled his eyes, a playful smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, yeah, I guess she does." Mike said.
William's ego swelled higher at the praise. "Indeed, she does," he said, basking in the attention.
Handy Unit: Great job reaching Parts & Service. Circus Baby has been deactivated for an unknown reason.
"What! What happened?!" Elizabeth asked, her worry evident.
Handy Unit: it's your job to make sure she's structurally stable and secured to the conveyor. Our technicians will take it from ther-
Baby: Can you hear me?
This caught everyone in the group off guard.
Baby: I'm pretending.
The group felt a chill go down their spine.
Baby: Remember how I said I could pretend? The cameras are watching. I must be careful not to move.
"Yeah, that's probably for the best." Charlie said, crossing her arms.
Baby: Something bad happened yesterday.
"Is that the reason why she's deactivated?" Elizabeth asked, her concern mounting.
Henry shook his head, "That can't be because she said that she's just pretending." He answered.
Baby: Something bad always happens. I don't want it to happen again.
The group couldn't help but feel a slight eeriness from her words.
"W-What happened?" Evan asked, curious despite the unease he felt.
Baby: There is something bad… inside of me!
Charlie's head shifted to the side, "Like a rat?" She asked, puzzled.
Baby: I'm broken. I can't be fixed. I'm going to be taken to the Scooping room soon, but it's not going to fix what's wrong with me.
The group paled as they heard the mention of the Scooping room. They already saw what happened to Ballora when she was in the Scooping room. She got her Exoskeleton scooped out.
Elizabeth seemed the most disturbed, being her favorite animatronic and all.
Baby: What is bad is always left behind…. Will you help me?
Michael: "Yes." He said immediately without any hesitation in his voice.
The group were shocked by Michael's almost immediate response. Even though Circus Baby is the reason why Michael is still alive, they still couldn't trust her as she's still… a robot… they didn't actually know but they felt very suspicious of her.
Elizabeth, once hearing Michael's response, threw her arms around her older brother, "Thank you!" She said, relieved and grateful to hear that her older brother would help Baby.
Mike stared at the screen, watching the scene unfold with a mix of surprise and suspicion. He knew that Circus Baby was the reason why his future self is still breathing and he's grateful for that, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye.
Baby: I want you to save what's good, so the rest can be destroyed and never recovered. But you must be careful. Ballora is here. In the room, with us.
Baby's words hung heavy in the air as the group took in her words. Suddenly, the tense silence was broken as they realized what she just said. Ballora was here in the room with Michael.
As they strained their eyes, trying to make out any movement in the dark room Michael and Baby were in. Suddenly, Charlie's keen eyesight caught something hiding in the shadows, behind Baby.
She stared intently at the screen, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. The fear in her voice was palpable as she asked the group, "Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?!"
Mike's brows furrowed in confusion, but he quickly caught sight of the movement behind Baby. His heart raced as he tried to identify what he was currently seeing. "What is that thing?!" He exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.
Charlie's father, Henry, who had been watching the scene unfold quietly, suddenly jolted as he also spotted 'Ballora'. He quickly took off his glasses, his hands trembling slightly as he wiped them using a handkerchief from his front-right pocket. He put them back on and gasped.
"Dear god, what is that?!" Henry exclaimed.
Finally, the rest of the group spotted the strange, thick, metallic wires that seemed to be stuck together and moving like tentacles behind Circus Baby.
'Dear god William, what have you created?!' Henry thought to himself.
As the group watched in stunned silence, the tentacles began to writhe and slither, as if controlled by an unseen force. They couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines at the sight of it.
Michael also seemed to have noticed it, his eyes widening in terror as he noticed the writhing mass of metallic-wire tentacles behind Baby. His heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled backwards, his back colliding with the door of Parts & Service with a slight thud. His mind raced with fear and confusion as he struggled to comprehend what he was currently looking at.
The group continued to watch hopelessly at Michael's struggle.
Baby: Ballora will not return to her stage.
…
Baby: Ballora will not return to her body.
Baby's words sent shivers down Michael's spine, and he could also feel cold sweat forming on his forehead. The gravity of the situation finally started sinking in.
The group also looked visibly shaken, and their expressions showed their concern for Michael's safety. Mike felt Elizabeth and Evan squeezing his hand, which caused a warm feeling to rise in his heart.
"You can do this, Mike." Charlie whispered to herself, her voice reassuring.
Baby: You must remain calm, and listen to my voice. There is a button on my cheek. You must find it and press it.
Baby's words snapped Michael out of his daze, and he nodded in determination. He took a deep breath and slowly and carefully made his way towards Baby, his eyes fixed on 'Ballora', or what's left of her. Eventually, Michael had to turn to face Baby, his eyes hesitantly landing on her cheek.
As he reached Baby, he hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over her cheek, his eyes scanning for a button. Finally, he found it on her right cheek, and with a firm press, the button clicked, causing a small keypad to appear.
This not only caused Michael to be surprised, but also the group.
Baby: There is a passcode that you must enter before you can retrieve me. Enter the code carefully
Michael focused on her instructions.
Baby: 1. 2. 3. 4. 7. 5. 8. 2. 3. 7.
Michael carefully pressed the buttons one by one, squinting his eyes as the keys were very small. His pinky could press 2 buttons at the same time and he didn't want to risk getting the code wrong. As Michael finished pressing the keys, a hatch opened on her arm, revealing her metallic wires and a glowing green card.
Baby: Good. A hatch should have opened. Take the card that you find inside.
"Is it me or does anyone find it weird how she memorized how to do it perfectly?" Charlie asked.
"Well… she must have experienced someone doing it a couple of times." Mike replied.
…
"Sooo… William, what's the card for?" Henry asked, curiously watching the glowing-green card.
William turned to face Henry and shrugged, "I have absolutely no idea." He said.
Henry gave William a dumbfounded expression, causing the group to giggle.
Michael picked up the card.
Baby: Now you must turn back. I will guide you through Funtime Auditorium so you can reach the scooping room. When you are there, I want you to destroy the body.
Charlie stared at the screen in confusion, processing what she just heard. "Why does she want Mike to go to the scooping room? I thought it was an automatic process." She said, suspicion in her voice.
The group couldn't help but agree with Charlie.
"Let's just continue watching and see where this is going." Henry suggested.
Baby: Put the card into your handheld device, and I can continue to speak to you.
Michael did just that, sticking it into his flashlight.
William raised an eyebrow, "So it's like a voice box, eh? But why does it look like that?" He said.
Baby: Now, press the green button to your left. This will send me to the scooping room.
Michael's eyes landed on the green button to his left and firmly pressed it, causing the conveyor belt to turn on and take Baby towards the scooping room, taking the metallic tentacles with it.
The group covered their ears as the sounds emanating from the screen were too loud.
Michael watched as Baby was taken to the scooping room and waited for her next instruction.
Baby: You must follow my instructions in Funtime Auditorium.
"Oh, I'm going back there again?" Mike asked no one in particular.
Baby: Ballora is going to follow you. She will try to catch you. I will help you avoid her.
The group felt the tension on their shoulders lessen at Baby's words.
Baby: She will not follow you to the scooping room; she is afraid. Go back now.
Michael turned around, opening the Parts & Services door and stepping into Funtime Auditorium once again. As he left, he heard the same weird gurgle he heard once he entered, but he didn't turn around.
Michael: 'That must be Ballora…' he thought.
The tension in the room returned as they watched Michael venture into Funtime Auditorium, but this time with Ballora following him, waiting for her moment to strike if Michael dared to run away.
Baby: Go forward…
Michael took a deep breath and started walking forward slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. The darkness in the Auditorium was thick and oppressive, surrounding him like a suffocating blanket. He held his flashlight tightly, causing his knuckles to turn white. The flashlight' beam was slicing through the darkness ahead, serving as his only light source.
The group silently watched, the tension in the room increasing.
With each step, Michael's footsteps echoed in the room, loud and sharp. The sound didn't only seem to bounce off the walls but also the roof and floor, creating an eerie echo that made Michael feel like he wasn't alone. Suddenly, he could hear the faint sound of shuffling behind him, like the rusting of plastic, mixed with the metallic clink of wires dragging across the floor.
Mike watched the screen with anticipation. 'That must be Ballora… or… what's left of her.' He thought.
Michael's hands trembled as he realized that the sound was coming from 'Ballora' following him. He tried to remain calm and composed, but his nerves were getting the best of him.
Michael continued walking for what seemed like an eternity, his flashlight casting an eerie shadow on the walls. The room seemed to stretch on forever, with no visible end in sight. The darkness was so thick that Michael felt like it was pressing down on him, suffocating him.
Baby: Stop.
Suddenly, Baby's voice crackled through his flashlight, commanding him to stop, but Michael instincts urged him to keep moving, he didn't know why but continued moving. He suddenly stopped once he realized what he just did.
As Michael stood there in the darkness for a few seconds, the Auditorium fell deathly silent.
The group watches in breathless anticipation, their eyes filled with worry and fixed on the screen, waiting for something to happen.
Charlie's voice trembled as she surged Michael to move. "Michael what are you doing?! Move!" She shouted, knowing he couldn't hear her.
Michael remained frozen until he heard something. The heavy, metallic dragging sound was back, but it was growing closer and closer with each passing second. Michael's heart thundered in his chest as his instincts told him to turn around. He shined his flashlight on the source of the noise.
Michael's eyes widened while the group gasped.
There it was - the abomination made of sharp thick wires, wearing a familiar mask. Michael barely had time to register the sight before it stood up and started charging towards him, its movements unnatural and menacing.
Without thinking, Michael bolted out, turning left. Michael didn't know where he was going but he knew he had to get out of here.
Mike could feel his siblings, Elizabeth and Evan tremble in fear and worry, causing him to give them a reassuring squeeze.
As Michael was running for his life, he suddenly collided with something. At first he thought it was a wall and that he's going to die, but it turned out to be a door. He quickly realized that the metallic door had no knob, causing him to panic. His panic inflated as he heard the thing getting closer and closer. Michael quickly spotted a keycard slider next to the door.
With trembling fingers, Michael fumbled through his pockets until he found what he was looking for. A keycard. He slid it into the card reader, hoping the door would open. His heart raced as he heard the thing getting closer. At this point Michael was desperate as he began banging at the door.
The group watched in horror as Michael struggled to open the door, the tension in the room so thick it felt almost tangible. Elizabeth and Evan, their eyes filled with fear and worry, squeezed on Mike's hands, causing his knuckles to turn white. Charlie, Henry and Willam stared at Mike, worry in their eyes. Even Mike was scared.
Access granted.
Suddenly, the door slid open with a whoosh, and Michael stumbled through it and the door closed behind him. The relief was palpable, and Michael, collapsed onto the floor, was currently gasping for air. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he just narrowly avoided death.
The group let out a collective sigh of relief, the tension dissipating as they watched Michael pick himself up off the ground. Little did they know… the danger was far from over.
End of Night 5 Part I
Sorry for the wait but here's Night 5 part I and sorry that it's in parts as Night 5 would take longer than I expected. Also sorry again, but part II(end of night 5) is going to be published at the end of may because that's when my exams are ending, so I hope you don't mind. Anyways, I hope you see where this is going. Basically they're going to see the fake ending then the real ending. Also after sister location, they're probably going to leave but come back later and watch FNAF 2 with some minigames and some of FNAF 4 here and there.
Bis Später!