A few days after Michael's visit to the Emily residence, Charlie was given permission to pay back a visit to the Aftons by her father.
"Okay Charlie, be safe and have fun. I should be back from my business meeting by the time you return home."
"Okay dad! See you!"
And so she set off on her way.
If I'm not mistaken, Michael's house is not too far from the pizzeria he works at, which makes sense, I suppose. I only have to walk to the right of it for like 20 minutes and I should find it. Not bad, even if I am walking in the hot summer sun.
Soon enough, the house matching Michael's description appeared within Charlie's vision. With excitement building up inside her, she jogged to the door and hurriedly knocked.
Wait! I need to calm down. I'm only gonna hang out at my friend's house and have fun! Nothing big!
On the other side of the door, Michael's ears picked up the sound of knocking, setting off alarms in his brain to get ready.
Okay, Mike. Take a breath and relax. It's just your friend/maybe-crush. You can do this. I just gotta get ready, look and smell nice. Here we go.
After readying himself, he walked up to the door and opened it, his eyes meeting those sparkly brown eyes he found beautiful. And it wasn't just the eyes either, it was everything. At least he wasn't the only one prioritizing looks here.
Michael was greeted with a big hug. "Mike!" He reciprocated.
It makes me feel all warm...I like it.
"Hey Charlie, I'm glad you were able to make it."
"Of course I would make it! Who would miss out on spending time with you?"
"So, this is your girlfriend, eh, big brother?"
The sudden interjection in their conversation made the two hugging teens look back, spotting a little orange-haired, green-eyed girl. Her arms were behind her back and her face was fixed into a teasing smirk.
Charlie immediately let go of Mike and ran over to the girl. "AWWW! You must be Liz, Mike's little sister! You're so cute!"
Elizabeth donned on a more polite smile. "Thank you! You're very cute yourself. I understand why my brother likes you."
"Liz! Don't say stuff like that!"
Charlie laughed at the siblings interacting. "I'm sorry Liz, it's not what you think. Your big brother needs to find someone who deserves him."
Huh? Do you...do you really think that low of yourself, Charlotte?
Michael wanted to ask this question out loud but it stayed in his mind.
"Oh my, I didn't even introduce myself yet! I'm Charlotte, Charlotte Emily but you can call me Charlie. I'm actually the daughter of a friend of your dad, the one who worked with him on the restaurants."
"Ohhh!" Elizabeth gasped in realization. "Yeah, he did mention him before. What a coincidence that you ran into my brother over here then."
"Actually Liz..." Michael started. "How we met each other is a bit complicated..."
"Well in that case, you can tell me later because I wouldn't want to delay your date any longer. I'll just be upstairs playing cute games about cute wolf girls, bunny girls and fox girls. Enjoy." And the little girl skedaddled upstairs.
Michael giggled nervously. "I'm sorry about her."
"Don't be. I like her. Maybe she can show me those games sometime. They sound endearing! So, what do you want to do first?"
"Oh! Well, I like to draw actually. Do you wanna do that?"
"Ohhhhh yes!"
"Then maybe play some video games." He pointed to a console underneath the TV.
"I like that. Let's go!"
Unbeknownst to the duo, outside the room, Elizabeth was catching every word.
"Hm. Your date is going well. Good luck, big brother." She mumbled.
While Michael was getting things ready for their not-date, Charlie flopped on the couch in excitement. "When we first met years ago, I didn't think I'd be sitting in your house with you!"
The boy chuckled in response. "Yeah, imagine going from saving you from being locked out by kids in the pizzeria to this. It's insane how life twists and turns."
Wait...what?
Did...did Elizabeth hear that correctly?
"No way...So that's what happened."
...
"I have to tell Daddy...I have to make him proud."
The little girl sneaked away, grabbed the phone and dialed up a number.
A few hours later...
I had called it a business meeting, but it couldn't be further from the truth.
Back then, life was great. We just started a new business and it succeeded with flying colors.
But life could change suddenly like the weather. It shifts and moves on.
It's not like it always stays sunny, and it's not like it ever rains endlessly.
And… whenever happiness is destroyed, there's always… the smell of blood.
The place was abandoned, a few miles away from our area. But I just know it.
I just knowhewas here. All my research pointed to it.
Before I can take another step forward, I heard him.
"I didn't think you were going to show up."
He was still soft-spoken, even after his actions became anything but soft.
"I didn't think I'd find you here. You were always a coward, always one to hide and run away." I shot back. I had to stand my ground and maintain my composure.
The man before me had the audacity to laugh at my venomous remark, only fueling my anger at his incapacity to feel any remorse or empathy. "What can I say? A talented hawk hides his claws. But enough about me, we have business to discuss, old friend. Follow me, I have something to show you."
Normally I would've refused without hesitation, but I have to know what is going on inside that twisted mind. I know what he's done, I just can't prove it.
I need to uncover what he wants. And I have my own knife, just in case.
He led me to a room further in the back of the warehouse, opened it without a word and walked in. "Here."
I didn't walk in, I simply observed from outside. The room was barely lit, but I can make out something against the wall.
The Puppet, the animatronic I built myself.
I was taken aback. "What?! What is this about? Why is it here, and why is it wrecked like that?!"
"Haha, oh Henry. You poor naive man. It's all very simple. Remember why you built this one."
"What do you want with my daughter?" I questioned with seething anger. There was no point in beating around the bush, we both know exactly why this one exists.
He mockingly cleared his throat and began explaining. "Well, I have received very important information earlier today. Your daughter, Charlotte, isn't it? She was present at the pizzeria years ago some time before the infamous Missing Children incident, was she not? Let's just say that, she was supposed to be the only one who went missing that day." His voice was still normal, in dissonance with the topic.
The implication of these words drove me further into rage. With emotions taking hold of my movements, I grabbed him by the collar. "You scum, you were targeting my daughter? The only precious thing I have left in this world, and using kids to make it happen as well?!"
"We all die someday, Henry. That's just life. You are aware that I lost my wife too, are you not? Two old friends with the same losses and pain."
I shoved him away. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one behind that incident as well."
He chuckled again. "We may never know. But enough about that. Let me cut to the chase: I want us to be completely alike. I lost something precious to me before, so why not you as well?"
He's talking about the incident that led to the decommission of the animatronics in the very first establishment. Ever since that day, William's never been the same.
"We swore to never speak of that again. You know very well that what happened that day was an accident. No one was near him when it happened."
The faux affable demeanor he had disappeared and was replaced with a glare only a serial killer could muster. "No. I know it was some kids who did that. Kids always ruin everything. This is why they must be removed."
"I will never, ever give up Charlie. And I will make sure you burn to death. You have my word on that."
His creepy smile returned. "Very well. Then I have a proposition for you: I have not you the full story yet. Charlie neglected to mention a very important detail about her meeting with my son."
"He was the one that pulled her out of my grasp."
I froze right there and then. I hate to admit that he's right, but he is. Charlie never told me exactly how she knew Michael, but it all makes sense now. It explains why they seem so close even if they didn't know each other that long.
"Surprised you, didn't I?" He wore an irritating smirk. "So this is my proposition: If you don't give up Charlie, then give up my son. That should make it a whole lot easier."
"No...no. I could never do that either. I don't know Michael much but I can tell he's a good kid! Better than you could ever be. And he means so much to my daughter, it would break her heart."
"Tsk tsk tsk, Henry." He wagged his finger at me. "Those are your only options, so you better start thinking with your brain instead of your heart." Then he patted my shoulder and headed into the darkness. "Oh and Henry, keep this in mind, even if I do always hide like you said..."
He turned to me with a smirk.
"Ialwayscome back."
Then he was gone. And so was most of my clearheadedness.
What am I going to do?
...
Back at the Afton residence, Michael and Charlie were now going through the video game Michael suggested earlier.
"Wow, this game really is weird and all over the place like you said." Charlie commented. "I do like our main character though, the Batter is very nonsense and it's very hilarious."
"Yeah, I agree. I personally prefer the Judge and his very expanded vocabulary." Mike replied.
"And I'm even impressed you could draw these strange looking things perfectly. It's unreal!"
While the two were chatting, Elizabeth interjected once again. "Are you two having fun?" She smiled politely at them. The duo nodded in sync.
"I'm glad." Just then, the three kids heard honking outside. Liz walked over to the front door and opened it. "Charlie, I think your dad is here to take you home."
"Oh! This is unexpected." Charlie went over to check and it was indeed Henry. He was waving her over with a smile. Mike stood up and joined the two girls, waving at the man in the car. "I guess it is getting kinda late. We completely lost track of time, heh."
"Oh that's fine, we can hang out another time. I better get going before my dad starts honking any louder." Before Charlie could leave however, Mike stopped her. "Hold on, before you go, I have one thing I want to give to you. I made it earlier today." He handed her a folded piece of paper.
"Oh thank you! Okay, I'll go now! Bye Liz! Bye Mike!" And off she went.
"What was in the paper, big brother?"
He sighed happily. "Everything I can't into words to her."
Meanwhile in the car, Charlie greeted her dad as they drove off. "I didn't expect you to come by."
"Well, I was later than I thought I would be so I figured I should swing by to pick you up. Much safer that way." Henry then noticed the folded paper in her hand. "What's that?"
"Oh, Mike gave me this." She unfolded the paper.
To Charlie's surprise, it was a drawing of her with a background of flowers, along with a big heart drawn to the side of her.
"Wow...Mike really is good at drawing. It's very cute..."
Henry too saw it and couldn't help but smile. "You picked right. He really does care about you."
"Yeah...As do I."