The news was always swift to spread.
Spread all across the town of Hurricane, a small enough place that everyone would hear sooner or later. So many people discussing the cruelty of this incident, so many 'sympathetic' outcries. That's how everyone reacted when they heard another story of some child tragically dying.
But those were the same people that actively denied the path he paved towards truth and their freedom, even denied his existence. But he was real, lurking among the ruins of abandoned warehouses. Were he truly just a distant legend, those people wouldn't fear to wander around those forsaken places. Lockjaw was always awake; even now, he wandered the ebon halls and plotted his revenge. A plan which never ceased to grow, and yet even so, Gron had to take a moment to mourn Chris's death.
Most emotions became alien to him after becoming an animatronic, yet hearing of his friend's child's cruel death awakened something in him, something that made Gron remember who he was. It made him stop thinking about his schemes for a moment and look at the ground in complete silence. Not only did Chris have to die at such a young age on his birthday, his own brother was the one who killed him, even if inadvertently. Even hearing about it was disgusting; Gron couldn't imagine how it would feel to stand there and see it unfold. To look into Mike's eyes, the boy he considered a close friend…Gron wasn't the one to blame him for mistakes; he was far more grievous.
However, in another cruel twist of fate, Chris's death would further Lockjaw's plan. While his demise was not incriminating for Fazbear Inc, as it was nothing more than an accident, it was enough of a stain to tarnish its reputation. In a single day, Mike accidentally achieved something that Gron couldn't two years ago. Carnage, blood, and shame for all people to witness. A perfect prelude for the next step in Lockjaw's plan.
A plan that will succeed thanks to his loyal advisor, Henry Emily. The animatronic thought to himself about the moment they first met, stranded in darkness and surrounded by abandoned ruins. This could've been the end for Henry if Lockjaw had decided on this, but he had another fate in mind. He thought back to the words they spoke to each other as they stood in the darkness. Henry sought him out for answers and perhaps for vengeance, but Lockjaw turned his search towards something else.
"S…Stay back!"
"Calm yourself; I don't seek to harm you…Yet."
"Then answer my questions!"
"How bold of you, impressive. You are able to fight your fear…Most would've run or begged for mercy already."
"I…I have no reason to run. My only purpose in life, my only goal is to find out the truth, to find you…"
"I feel pain in your voice…You have your own reasons for coming here."
"I…I heard about you. Lockjaw, the phantom that roams Hurricane and has his own personal vendetta."
"The stories are true."
"Are you human?"
"Does it really matter? I am not constrained by limitations of a body of flesh, but I have others…You are a lucky man; few are able to see me in person. Fewer still left alive."
"And will you let me go?"
"Perhaps. I want you to answer my questions first. What is your name?"
"Henry."
"Full name."
"Henry Jason Emily."
"Better. And now tell me why you seek me out. Most of those who try are simple-minded ghost-hunters; I do not care for them. But you do not seem like one…"
"I…I heard you were connected to Fazbear Inc somehow."
"That is getting interesting…"
"I want you to tell their secrets if you know them."
"And why would you think they have secrets?"
"My…My son went missing in that restaurant."
"Truly?"
"Yes, Liam…He liked the franchise and the characters, and I didn't watch him closely enough…And I paid for that! Still paying for that…Fazbear Inc covered it up; the investigation is dead. Even though four children went missing, there is something they must know…And people also said you look like one of their animatronics…I can see some resemblance."
"So, you have a genuine reason to seek me out…I am impressed."
"Then tell me the truth."
"I know the truth about Fazbear Inc and its many secrets. I know of the underground facility where they conduct inhumane experiments, attempting to achieve the fusion of human and animatronic."
"What?!"
And I also know what they did to your son and the other children. I was one of their prisoners when they brought them in."
"Are they…"
"Dead. I am sorry, Henry."
"Liam…Gods, no, no, no…"
"Fazbear Inc is responsible for his death, especially its monstrous director, Alison Bairren! He was the one who subjected Liam and all of those people to endless suffering, all for the sake of some twisted purpose! He was the one who created me…But I broke away from his control."
"I knew deep down, but I still hoped…Oh, Liam…"
"We can still avenge him together. Join me, Henry; I need allies to enact my revenge. If that is truly your only purpose in life…Then help me bring down Fazbear Inc. Together, we will avenge all of us!"
He lied on that day shamelessly and pragmatically. Lockjaw wondered what outcome would be more desirable for him to still have enough dignity to speak the truth or become shameless enough to not feel any regret lying. Alas, he never got the privilege of feeling confident on his path. What little remained of Gron would still emerge as a nagging voice that pleaded for him to abandon this path…The unity of voices was short-lived, but at least now he had control. Gron or Lockjaw, their heart's desire was one and the same. In time, he will tell Henry the truth, tell him about how he murdered Liam and stuffed his body in the Bonnie animatronic…But this day was not today. For the sake of his family, the Aftons, and all others, they had to work together. They had to destroy the monster that was Alison, completely obliterating him.
Henry will infiltrate it on his behalf and open the way for Lockjaw…Yes, there's much Henry would do.
Or perhaps he should say, Jeremy?
…
"Is that all, Dr. Stein?" Alison spoke in a crude, dismissive voice, not even looking at the short man in a white coat that stood behind him. As always, the Doctor was anxious to tell about all the newest developments when it came to animatronic research. On any other day, Alison would be just as excited to hear them, but recent developments soured his mood so much that all he wanted was to be left alone with his 'family.'
"Well, almost…" Stein responded. "You seem very nervous today, sir. Are you alright?"
"You know exactly why I am nervous; skip the bravado and finish your report."
"Yes, of course, sorry…I was wondering if you could give me one of the Funtime animatronics for testing new properties of Viridium that I discovered."
"They are on duty."
"Maybe after the next maintenance and Viridium shard replacement?"
"I'll think about it," Alison responded quickly and snappily, hoping that the Doctor would finally get the hint that he wasn't in the mood to talk.
"As for the properties themselves, they are quite extraordinary…" Stein began before pausing and taking a deep breath. "But perhaps it would be better for you to read them a bit later yourself… It's quite a while after the next maintenance anyway."
"Yes, that would be for the better." Alison sighed. "All done now?"
"Yes."
"Good, now return to your duties; I need some time alone."
Stein nodded quietly and left, leaving the businessman alone. Alison didn't stay. However, he yearned to get some solitude from the underground sanctum…From the machine itself. He opened the door and stepped onto the dark staircase, still thinking of the tragedy of that stroke Fazbear Inc four months ago. Chris Afton's death…
This idiot, Michael took a prank too far, he could've done it any other place or not done it at all, but alas, he chose the worst possible place and time…Though Alison couldn't deny that it was his idea to force the Aftons to Fredbear's on Chris's birthday, who could've known it would end in such a gruesome way?
The restaurant lost all of its reputation, and Alison had to do as much as possible to save Fazbear Inc's reputation. For a time, people believed this to be the end of their company; slander and spite were common among the public, the same people who would praise it and the restaurants a few days before. Public opinion was easily swayed, and Alison used it to his advantage. With his contacts in the government, he did as much as possible to clear the name of "Circus Baby's Pizza World" and "Freddy Fazbear's Pizza," but Fredbear's, the very first restaurant that he opened, had to be shut down and turned into a simple storage room…All because four teenagers decided to be idiots.
Not to mention William's potential being squandered for some time. As Alison thought, losing his own flesh and blood hit even harder than losing Clara. He was distraught and devastated, and even after coming back to work, he had issues…His drinking habit is one of them. And with all of that, he couldn't even claim Chris's soul for experiments as he died away from the animatronic in the hospital. An all-around failure. But Lockjaw must have enjoyed this…
He must have been gloating after hearing the news of the closure. A major step towards the destruction of Fazbear Inc's reputation and the company itself. He was watching from the shadows, taking pleasure in each time Alison made a misstep, each time he fell and was disgraced…Alison despised Gron for being so arrogant, for daring to steal his most treasured possession and using it to spread rumors and 'lies' against Alison and Fazbear Inc. Alison wanted to make him suffer, to tear him apart and burn his disgusting remains, to subject his soul to eternal torture. Even thinking about Lockjaw made Alison inadvertently clench his fist.
But he knew how to soothe himself and calm down; this was far from the first time he tried, after all. For this, Alison descended into the sanctum, the heart of his Empire, the hope for his future…The endless conveyor, which Alison loved to watch, like some people loved watching rivers flow or the sunrise, was meditative for him. Especially with the latest embellishments…
Alison stared at the belt as new torture devices came out of it, soldiers ready to fight in their battles that were the experiments he conducted, but they weren't the main sight to behold. That honor went to the few endoskeletons which the extended mechanisms would cover with carcasses that gave them shape and form…A hybrid between an animatronic and torture device, something Alison wanted to create even though none of his subordinates understood why. Even he didn't quite understand why; it was just…So soothing and fulfilling.
"You're doing great, Mother. As always…" Alison looked at the machine with a smile on his face. "But there is still much to create. So, so much…"
His stream of thoughts was interrupted by a sudden ringing of the phone. Alison debated whether he should pick it up or not, but in the end, he decided to do it in case he missed something important.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Alison Bairren?"
"Yes…And who is calling?"
"Jeremy Fitzgerald."