"Another one?"
"Jesus, do you want us to spend the night somewhere in the alley?"
"Come on, Aiden, we didn't have an opportunity like this for fucking months!"
"Fine…Have it your way."
"Now we're talking."
Fritz poured some more beer into Aiden's mug. Who would've thought two old-time employees of Fazbear Inc. would get enough free time to drink together and reminisce on the old days. It became a common occurrence after the recent rather horrible rumors and news about the pizzeria, and Fritz was more than happy to spend time with his good friend. Not hurrying off to do their job, not doing one assignment from their bosses after another, it was bliss.
"You know, I never realized how overworked we were before this," Fritz said before taking a sip. "Do you get that feeling, too?"
"Yeah, I do…" The younger man before him nodded. "To be honest, even disregarding all the insane stuff that's been happening, I thought about changing jobs."
"Anything in mind?"
"Definitely something that involves me moving to a company which doesn't have all the baggage of this one." Aiden chuckled nervously. "Sometimes enough is enough, you know?"
"Yeah, I get what you mean…Probably should take your chance now while our boss and supervisor are both missing and the company is dealing with the mess." Fritz suggested.
"What do you think happened to them?" Aiden wondered, making his friend shrug.
"I don't know and don't want to know, to be honest. As long as they aren't pressuring us anymore, I'm good."
"Do you think they might be dead?"
"What, why?" Fritz raised an eyebrow.
"That thing…Ennard might have gotten to them." Aiden spoke with a quiet, fearful voice.
"You still afraid of it?"
"And you aren't? The media is still trying to explain that thing, and they can't…I heard the bishop say that a demon came into Hurricane."
"It didn't appear again since what it did in the restaurant, right? Someone probably caught it. I think it might be some of the government experiments running free…Either way, it's not our business."
"Listen, I've been there, that freak…It's ruthless. It won't be easy to catch!"
"Listen, just relax," Fritz reassured him. "Someone has taken care of it, I'm sure. And Alison isn't dead; pretty sure Johnny saw him. Said he looks like one pitiful motherfucker, though…Word has it he lost an eye and now wears a patch."
"And…Does anyone know why?"
"No, he isn't very talkative, if you didn't notice," Fritz said with a sly tone of sarcasm.
"Something must have happened, something he's hiding from us." Aiden shook his head.
"In all honesty, I cannot be bothered by this point."
"It will affect us all, though! They're letting workers go, completely restructuring how they work; I even heard they were going to move to New Harmony and open a restaurant there…So you know, I'd say you should change your job, too."
"Stop being so dramatic, for God's sake. Alison is alive, and he'll find a way to organize the company. He's been quite good at that. Maybe Afton as well…Speaking of Afton, I don't think any of my friends have seen him, actually." Fritz pondered.
"There are talks…People say the police found a note in his house. Apparently, he decided to kill himself…" Adrian said in a whisper.
"What!?" Fritz held his eyes wide open and stared at his friend in disbelief. Fritz worked with William ever since the latter joined Fazbear Inc., saw him rise in his own career…But somehow, he wasn't surprised. "You sure?"
"Just saying what I heard, but you know, no one's seen him in a while…"
"Poor fellow." Fritz sighed. "You know what happened in Fredbear's with his son…Wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. And didn't the CPS take his daughter away from him into an orphanage? I'd be a little distraught after that, too."
"Jesus…He must have been too traumatized. Ennard almost killed him on that day…" It was true; the signs were there. William Afton grew quieter and more aggressive with each month. He was suffering in silence, and everyone in the company knew it, but no one tried to help him. And now they discussed the tragic consequence of his struggles as if it was some rumor to simply mull over a mug of beer and not a tragedy.
"No need to talk about depressing things, is there?" Fritz sighed and took another sip.
Why would anyone want to ruin an evening like that?
…
"To anyone unfortunate enough to read this:
My name is William Afton, and today, April 27th, 1988, I am taking my own life. You may search for my body if you wish, but rest assured, I don't intend to traumatize anyone by leaving the possibility of anyone finding my corpse easily. Those who knew me might be surprised, perhaps might consider it a tragedy, perhaps they might think that it is what I deserved. But no matter what the fact of the matter is, I hope that they know better than to think of me at all.
It wasn't more than two and a half years ago when I had everything a man could ask for. An income, a house, a loving wife, and three children who were always my blessing. I loved them all with all my heart, and I never thought how quickly a single mistake, a single tragedy, could change anything and destroy even the happiest life. And here I am, left without family, dignity, and hope. There is no point to continue, not for me.
I suppose this is the final message I want to send to those who live in joy and think that they have everything they ever wanted from life. Treasure those moments because you never know when life will rob you of your joy. In my final prayer, before I go, I pray that no family ever has to live through what mine went through.
William Afton."
This was the note discovered by the police investigators in the now abandoned Afton household and served as evidence to notify police authorities about a case of suicide. However, it did not stay among other evidence for long, for a lone, purposeless phantom stole it away. It was the one people called Ennard, a name that still kept many terrified, not allowing them to go out at night and feel safe. The one who learned to remain unnoticed, moving like a shadow from one sewer to another, learned to silently watch. This was all he could do, a child without a purpose, stuck in a mechanical limbo all alone.
Chris wanted to continue his revenge. There were still Blake and Jim who needed to get their punishment, but something prevented the boy from pursuing them just yet. Now he knew the whole truth about Fazbear Inc and what his father saw on that day. It all started to make sense, as horrifying as it was. All of this was him trying to protect Chris and his siblings, even if it was to the detriment of his own being. Chris felt like he should've forgiven his father, but every time he had the thought, a single image returned to his mind.
Lily's short-lived scream.
He killed her, and his reasons didn't matter. He killed his best friend, and she was still suffering deep underground. Maybe this was the thought that didn't allow Chris to carry on, the ever-living shame he felt, the shame of choosing not to follow Mike and Gron. He wanted to save Lily; he wanted to bring her back to the world beyond that horrifying torture facility. But he couldn't bear the thought of having to see those halls again, seeing Alison and Stein forcing him into submission and electrocuting him over and over until he could not resist any longer. At least he had hope that Lockjaw would free her, but then he and Mike disappeared without a trace.
And now this letter…
Chris couldn't cry anymore, yet somehow, he still felt phantom tears dance in his eyes. Perhaps he should've opened that door back on the snowy eve and embraced his family, and now it was too late. He heard about Lizzy being taken away from Dad and sent to an orphanage, but something about this wasn't quite right. Chris couldn't believe Father would leave her alone in this world with Fazbear Inc. still out there, slowly restoring their influence. He did everything to protect them and was even ready to kill; he would not give up now. Chris just knew it in his soul, felt that his father wasn't yet dead. That he simply wanted to retreat to the shadows and continue his battle for freedom.
And wherever Father was hiding, Chris would find him.
…
"Everyone, welcome our newcomer, Elizabeth! She'll be joining us from this day on. Say hello to her."
It didn't feel real; it shouldn't have been real. And yet Elizabeth stepped through the gates of the orphanage, following people she never knew, complete strangers to her, the ones who said that they were doing their best for her. They said her father was too dangerous and that he wasn't good for her, and who was she to object? She was just a child. They didn't care for what she thought.
She was always the one to spark talks and receive joy from meeting new people. From making new friends. Not this time, though. Even though the other kids offered her a good enough welcome, she was still not supposed to be there. She wanted to be home with her daddy; even after all that he had done, she still wanted to be with him. Those who took her would just call it an unhealthy attachment, the love of a deluded child…But it was genuine.
She was surrounded by more people than ever before, yet she had never felt so alone. A quiet ghost standing among the loud children going about their daily routine, playing, studying, talking. They were used to a life without parents, but she wasn't. There was only thought that allowed her to sleep calmly, the fleeting memories of the last time they allowed her to talk with Daddy in private before separating them. Sweet, sweet memories…Of how many tears both of them shed when seeing each other, knowing that they will never be able to be together again. A gruesome, inevitable fate. What did they do to deserve this? She still wasn't sure.
"D…Daddy!"
"Elizabeth!"
"I was worried you'd never come to me…"
"How could I not, my dear? Come here… God, finally."
"When can I go with you? I mean…Can I go at all?"
"I…I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but now."
"What do you mean?"
"I swear I tried…I tried everything to convince them to allow you to go back, but they were adamant about me being dangerous and unfit to be a parent…And maybe they're right."
"What…No! You never hurt me. I know you were busy, but…Do they think you've hit me, Daddy? That you made those scars?"
"Maybe, maybe not. But either way, I want you to understand…I don't deserve such loyalty from you. I never hurt you, yes, but I've neglected you and left you alone, which made you feel…The way you do. I also should've never hit Mike, especially with you seeing it. It's not something any parent should do, ever."
"But I still want to go back…I want to go home."
"I know, I know…"
"Why don't you tell them the truth, daddy?"
"W…What truth?"
"You…Aren't doing all of this because you want to, right? For Mr. Bairren and others, I mean."
"I…It is too dangerous. He has eyes everywhere."
"Can you…At least tell me?"
"No, my dear, I cannot, but I want to."
"But why? Don't you trust me?"
"I do, but this will make you a target. I can't allow that, especially now that I won't be able to remain close."
"What are you talking about?"
"I need to tell you something important…I wasn't sure if I should, but I decided that you must know. I just need you to promise that no matter what happens, no matter who asks, you will not mention this to anyone, ever."
"Of course…You can trust me."
"Alright, I…I will have to leave Hurricane for a while. Not just leave, probably disappear entirely."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that most people around here will think I am dead…That I killed myself because of grief."
"But you'd never do that, right?"
"No, no, of course not, but I want it to be convincing enough. I don't want the remaining…Agents to follow me."
"And will anyone come for me?"
"Unlikely. You've separated from me now, and as far as they know, I never told you anything at all; you should resend that this is the case. Even if they suspect that I am alive, they won't touch you…You're the only person whose life still binds me to them. When I'm out of the public's view, I will follow the traces I have and destroy Fazbear Inc. I'm not sure how yet, but they are crumbling; all I need is to finish the job others started. Some resistance has been long overdue."
"But wouldn't it be dangerous?"
"Of course, it will…But it is worth it. I know my promises don't mean much anymore, but I will ask you to give me one last chance. Once I am done, I won't have to hide anything anymore. I'll uncover the evidence and bring the truth to light, then…I will have nothing to hide. We won't be in danger anymore, and I will get you out of here whether they allow me to do it or not. I swear…Everything I am doing, I am doing for you. Now and always."
"Alright…Are you sure you can do it?"
"I'm not, but I have to try."
"I'll pray for you…And when will you be back?"
"I'll try to be quick, but it will take time. Maybe up to a year just to have enough…"
"But that's so long!"
"I know, I know…But I need you to wait."
"Can you come a little faster, just a little?"
"Maybe…Ten months should be enough."
"Nine."
"I'm not sure if I can be that quick."
"Please, Daddy! I don't want to be alone here…"
"You can try and make some new friends while I'm away. It will make it easier."
"But I want you."
"Fine…Nine months."
"Thank you!"
"I'll return in nine months after I've finished those…Bastards off. And then it will be alright again…I promise."