So, I have some news.
First of all, due to being too busy in real life, I changed my schedule to Sunday. You can check my Profile for the update information. This also ties in with the next part of the news, which is which story am I going to update the following week. Due to a lack of inspiration and time, tiredness and other stuff, my Update Schedule will be a bit unpredictable. In short, I might decide mid-week to update a different story from the one I decided earlier, which means that you should drop from time to time to see if the next story being updated is still the same one I had announced.
Also, since I'm sticking to weekly Sunday updates, the story that will be updated will have a * (star) next to it instead of a date. I hope that you won't be too confused when I suddenly start changing my mind depending on when the wave of inspiration hits me.
Another thing, I'm still waiting for Security Breach to come out. Enjoy the chapter and see ya!
Night 5
Can You Hear Me?
''Can you hear me? I-I've been following you. You wear a mask, but I know what you've been hiding. I wanna give it all but I don't wanna know. I follow you but I don't really wanna go. I heard you loud and clear, and there ain't no miscommunication. Father of children without a home, creator of vessels without a soul; I'll stay the course, I will follow you – show me the way, I'll be there soon!''
– Stay The Course by NateWantsToBattle ft. CG5
xXxXxXx
''Can you hear me?''
Sam stared at the bunny in pure shock as his voice echoed in her head, loud and clear. He sounded like a grown man trying to do a mascot's voice in an attempt to appeal to a child… or rather, to her. While Sam assumed that this might've been just a part of the game, as she hadn't come this far in her previous playthrough, her experiences with anything related to the Fazbear franchise made her feel paranoid. It didn't help that the bunny reminded her of another bunny she was quite familiar with, both in voice and appearance.
Seconds passed, with the bunny she had named Glitchtrap still waving at her, not doing anything after asking her whether she could hear him. She wondered if he would jumpscare her, but that didn't appear to be the case. Instead, he just waited for her response. Sam knew that she could easily turn the game off and never have to deal with the strange glitchy bunny again or try to figure out what exactly was going on.
There was a strange tingling spreading through her body as she contemplated her choice. Should she answer and learn more about this entity or walk away? After all, she told herself that she was done with anything related to the lore and Glitchtrap looked as if he was going to be part of it, some kind of reference for those who were aware of the now forgotten animatronic known as Spring Bonnie… as well as the man behind the mask.
On the other hand… I did say that I would finally confront the past and the nightmares that had been haunting me. But, would it really be worth it if I end up having new nightmares? Do I really want to risk my sanity for this? Sure, it still looks like a harmless game, but this is Five Nights at Freddy's! There is nothing harmless about this franchise!
Sam took a deep breath and looked up at Glitchtrap, who was still waving at her, still having that wide smile on his face. She narrowed her eyes, wondering if her paranoia was getting the better of her, despite being well aware that she should trust her gut feeling. Should I answer or not? Do I want to make this move? Her internal conflict was driving her crazy.
''Hello? Can you hear me?''
Sam froze as she heard Glitchtrap asking her again. Part of her was screaming in blind panic to take off the VR headset and uninstall the game, that it was too dangerous to be around this bunny, even if she had no idea why. However, the other side of her was telling her calmly to take the risk, to investigate what the game and this entity had to show her. This was also the side that told her to help Springtrap out after he had threatened to murder her.
Sam took a sharp breath, wondering if she could play the game while ignoring Glitchtrap. It was possible, but the thought of having him constantly loom over her gave her goosebumps. She knew that she wouldn't be able to pretend that he doesn't exist for too long and returned back to weighting her first two options – one carrying a lot of risk and the other having none at all, but would leave her without any solution to her plight.
She bit her lip, wishing that the VR headset was wireless, as she felt like pacing through her room in order to clear her thoughts. Perhaps being back in a familiar room would help her with making her decision. She cast a glance at Glitchtrap and then took of the VR headset, shaking her head as she placed it on the desk. She had a small headache, although that was probably because of the video game rather than her encounter with Glitchtrap.
She started pacing through her room, contemplating her options. How much would this decision affect her? Would she be able to walk away from it in one piece, with her sanity still intact? Was it really worth it?
She gazed through the window, staring at the cloudy sky outside. She wanted someone to tell her that this isn't something she had to go through, that this was a decision she would regret. Hell, even having Emma yelling at her that she was being reckless once again would help her with her decision. However, the voice that was screaming for her to stay away from the game was growing more and more quiet.
She looked back at the VR headset, feeling her sense of curiosity rising once again inside her. It was that very curiosity that got her involved with a dark secret and the person responsible for its existence. She eventually started to regret the decisions she made in the past, but there was a part of her that actually looked back fondly on the happier memories. She hated to admit it, but those happy memories hurt more than the bad ones.
William… You're a monster for more reasons than you think.
Sam sighed as she placed her hands on the table, still staring at the VR headset. Her lips curved upwards as she realized what she was about to do and she wished that someone would just smack her upside the head for it. She made so many stupid decisions in the past, so would another one really be make things worse? Sam shook her head. I hate myself. I wanted to stay away from this… and I couldn't. I guess I'm too deep in this mess to get out. Her eyes narrowed as she placed the VR headset back on her head, looking determined. So, let's see what Fazbear Entertainment is hiding… God, I'm so going to regret this, won't I?
Sam took a deep breath, trying to psych herself up. She focused on the excitement she felt whenever she would uncover a new secret, on the adrenaline rush that kept her going. As much as she tried to deny it, she knew that she wanted this. She needed to know, she needed to do something that would give her the necessary answers. She wanted to get back into action.
Okay, Glitchtrap, let's hear what you want to tell me.
As she returned back to the main area, she could see Glitchtrap waving at her again. She could feel her heart race as she heard him again, his voice echoing in her head.
''Hello? Can you hear me?''
''Yeah, I can,'' Sam replied, holding her breath as she waited for Glitchtrap to respond. Seconds passed as she stared at the glitch-like mascot and for a moment, she felt as if there was a strange gleam in his eyes, but there was no response. He just continued to wave at her, still having that wide smile on his expression.
''Hello? Can you hear me?''
Sam rose an eyebrow, feeling both relieved and disappointed that there was no answer. However, the headache and sense of anxiety she was feeling over the past days did fade a little.
''I did say I can hear you, I don't have to repeat myself,'' she told Glitchtrap sarcastically, shaking her head. ''Maybe it's just a game feature. God, this was really anti-climactic.''
She turned back to the monitor, noting to herself that at least she had gotten some kind of answer and that she should focus again on finding all of the tapes, as Tape Girl was obviously the new Phone Guy and if she wanted to learn more about the lore of this game, she needed to play through it and analyze every detail she found. Of course, this was just the beta version of the game, and she still had the official version to go through, but something told her that Fazbear Entertainment might attempt to remove anything that was giving out too much sensitive information.
She took a deep breath, going through the information she had just learned, only for her eyes to widen. ''Fazbear Entertainment wanted to create an authentic VR experience, including re-using Phone Guy's calls and original performance routines when it comes to the mini-games.'' Her gut feeling was telling her that there was a lot more to that seemingly random fact than she thought, but she simply couldn't figure out why it was so important. It felt as if she had a weird case of déjà vu.
''Okay, try to focus on something else,'' Sam sighed. ''I'll figure this out later.'' Sam looked at the monitor, wondering whether she should continue with Five Nights at Freddy's or try the other mini-games. ''I should just finish what I had started and see whether there's anything else to uncover in the mini-game.''
She returned back to the mini-game, shaking her head, with shivers going down her spine as she gazed back at Glitchtrap. Even if he was just part of the game, he was still giving her a strange feeling, creeping her out. She hated having her back exposed to him like this.
What Sam didn't notice was the slow head nod Glitchtrap did, vanishing from the main area as she re-entered the game.
xXx
''Seems like someone was able to sleep well tonight,'' Matt said as he saw Sam leaned against the building that was known as Ricky's Wonder Shack. It was Sunday afternoon and he had been called by Sam to meet up at Ricky's. The moment he saw her, he could sense a sudden change in her attitude. She didn't look any different, but he knew that she was fighting against whatever had been suffocating her during the past weeks. Still, he could sense something dark looming over her.
''First night without any nightmares or sleepwalking,'' Sam told him, her arms crossed. ''Mum was astonished when she didn't have to wake up in the middle of the night and drag me back into my room.''
''What did you do?'' Matt asked her.
''I bought myself the ice-cream,'' Sam said, smiling slyly. Matt snorted in response, remembering their conversation.
''I'm glad that you did. It seems like it really helped you,'' he said, then glanced at the empty building. ''So, why have you called me here? I thought you said that there's nothing to investigate at Ricky's Wonder Shack.''
''Actually, I think there is something that could be investigated, albeit not from the outside,'' Sam told him, walking over to the side door, with Matt following her. ''Also, I wanted to talk to you about that ice-cream metaphor… and about Help Wanted.''
''I see,'' Matt said, curious about what she was up to. ''So, you want to go inside? How are we going to do that?'' Sam lifted up a pair of keys, with Matt rising an eyebrow. ''Where did you get that?''
''I found them… and made copy of them,'' Sam said casually, throwing the keys and catching them. Matt gave her a questioning look, with Sam waving him off. ''Don't worry, I've been in this business for much longer than you think. I know this isn't really legal, but let's be honest, who is going to care? This place is abandoned and there are no security guards, we confirmed that a while ago.''
''If you say so,'' Matt said, shrugging. Admittedly, he was a little excited to explore this place properly, especially after what he had witnessed when he was there last time. Sam walked over to the door, unlocking it.
''Something I've been thinking about was that there are a lot of things I needed to deal with if I want some peace in my life. This is just the start,'' she said as they entered the hallway. She bit her lip, cracking a small smile. ''I haven't been at Ricky's for a while now. Aside from the dust, it doesn't feel like much has changed.''
''So, you want to say that Ricky's had always this dark, heavy aura surrounding it,'' Matt said, crossing his arms as they walked into the main area. There was a stale and musty smell in the air, with dust covering most surfaces.
''Not always,'' Sam said. ''I still remember when this place had opened. There were a lot of excited kids, as well as parents who thought that this was a good alternative to a daycare.''
''Then, the murders started to happen,'' Matt added as he looked around the main area. ''The air is heavy and cold here. I can still breathe, but this is not a place one should be at. It's awful.''
He stared at the back of the restaurant, feeling something constricting his chest. Even though it had been cleaned up, he could still see the blood on the floor, vivid as it was on the day he had lost his younger brother, Devon. It wasn't just an image in his mind, but a memory of this place, left open for those who wanted to investigate the tragedy that had occurred here. He glanced at Sam, who had followed his gaze, staring at the same spot. He hadn't told her about what he had witnessed.
Still, she probably knows what had happened.
''Should I give you a tour of the place?'' Sam asked him, with Matt nodding. Sam then shrugged casually. ''There isn't really much to say about this place, though. I know that you just moved here a few months ago, but you did tell me that you were here before. Therefore, you should be familiar with the mascots.''
''Yeah, Max the Swashbuckling Cat, Dahlia the Swan, Quentin the Hedgehog, Virgil the Owl and the main mascot, Ricky Wolfrun,'' Matt said. ''I wonder what had happened to them. I heard that they just disappeared, but I guess that they might've been scrapped, especially after what had happened.''
''They had been burned to ashes,'' Sam said bluntly, with Matt giving her a curious look, following her when she walked over to the stage. ''There was also another mascot, one the Wolfrun Corporation had never revealed. His name was Raven and he was a blackbird animatronic.''
''How do you know that?'' Matt asked.
''I know that because I found him,'' Sam replied, opening the door next to the stage that led to the back room. It was small, with only a table in the corner, but Sam ignored it in favour for the mirror across it. She removed it, with Matt helping her, wondering what she was searching for. It was obvious that she already knew what she was searching for. Sam then pressed a panel on the wall, opening the hidden door. ''He was right here, in this room.''
She took out her smartphone, turning the flashlight on and illuminating the dark room. There were only a few spare metal parts inside, but otherwise, it was empty.
''He was burned alongside the others,'' Sam added, sighing. ''I wish he didn't leave, though. He was a really nice animatronic.''
''What do you mean?'' Matt asked. Sam was silent for a moment, leaving the room.
''Raven was more than just a robot,'' she said, walking back into the main area. ''He was a person of his own, with a horrible past and honestly, I wish I could've helped him somehow.''
Matt was silent for a moment, then asked, ''What about the other animatronics?''
''None of them had a soul in the same manner as Raven,'' Sam replied. ''The only exception was Ricky, but that was a different story.''
''I don't believe we're thinking about the same Ricky,'' Matt said, crossing his arms. ''At least not the one who had murdered two children in front of other people.''
''No, we don't,'' Sam said. She had indeed heard about what had happened, but at that time, she had been busy with other stuff. She did notice a shadow covering Matt's face, especially when he started stalking about the incident. She hadn't spotted any lingering spirits at Ricky's, but she did agree with the place giving her an ominous feeling. ''This guy was known as Connor Davis and was an employee at Ricky's. He was responsible for the animatronics.''
''He's dead, isn't he,'' Matt said bluntly. Sam nodded. ''I assume he was the kind of person who deserved death.''
''You're right,'' Sam replied. ''He was an insane man obsessed with the concept of death and he sent the animatronics to murder people. In the end, he was burned to ashes alongside his own creations.''
Matt leaned against the dust-covered table, smiling, ''That sounds familiar.''
''You're not asking me why I know this?'' Sam asked.
''You had the keys to this building,'' Matt noted out, with Sam admitting that he had a point. ''I don't tend to pry into people's secrets unless they decide to divulge them on their own. You trust me enough to tell me stuff like that, even though it's something very sensitive, something you would never tell anyone else.''
''I guess I just had the need to unload my problems on someone,'' Sam said casually. ''I felt lonely and it's a bit easier for me to think when I'm talking out loud. You were the only person I knew who wouldn't call me a freak if I told you all of this.'' She then shrugged, sighing. ''Admittedly, I could've talked to my mother about this, but I don't want to burden her with this.''
''But, you're willing to burden me with your problems?'' Matt said.
''That's up to you,'' Sam told him. ''You can walk out now and we'll pretend this has never happen.''
''Sam, you were dangling a carrot in front of me the entire time and now that I'm hooked, you're telling me I can walk away,'' Matt said sarcastically. He snorted. ''Not a chance.''
''Fine,'' Sam said, leaning against a chair. ''Don't say I didn't warn you.''
''Don't worry about me,'' Matt told her in an assuring tone. ''Talking about morbid stuff like death doesn't really faze me. I'd be more terrified of the idea that there isn't anything after death and that we all live our lives only to learn it was all for nothing.''
''Then you'll be happy to know that the afterlife does exist,'' Sam said, with Matt smiling. She then added in a heavy tone, ''Unfortunately, some people fear death and what comes afterwards. Or rather, they want to use death for their own gain.''
''I knew that this story sounded familiar,'' Matt said in an intriguing tone. Sam sighed.
''Yeah, yeah, it's Five Nights at Freddy's all over again,'' she said sarcastically. ''The only issue is that this is my own experience, something I had been dealing with for weeks. Hell, I still feel the consequences of the outcome.''
''So, let me recap. You had been investigating a guy who was responsible for the deaths of several people, as well as the downfall of Ricky's, and this guy died in a fire alongside his creations,'' Matt said, with Sam nodding. ''I can go with that, but it feels like a lot of information is still missing.''
''That's because I haven't told you everything, only the stuff I was comfortable telling you,'' Sam explained, taking another look at her surroundings. ''It's not something I wanted to remember.''
''I understand,'' Matt replied. ''You don't seem to be choked up about it, but you it's still unpleasant to have to be reminded of what happened.''
''Yeah, it is… Still, I decided to go ahead with it,'' Sam said, rubbing her temple. ''Speaking of which, I did play Five Nights at Freddy's VR: Help Wanted. So far, the mini-games are only better versions of those Five Nights at Freddy's games we had been playing.''
''You mean the ones made by that supposed lunatic developer? Why would they copy his games?'' Matt asked her.
''Probably to make fun of them,'' Sam said.
''Honestly, it feels more like a publicity stunt to me,'' Matt told her. ''They hire a guy to make games about the FNaF lore, then discredit him and call him insane so they wouldn't have to answer for what had happened in the past. It's the same thing as if Jack The Ripper hired someone to write a book about his murders, with his real name inside it and then called the writer a hack who just wanted to profit of a tragedy. Someone else gets blamed, they get away scot-free and people get interested in the product. It's a win-win for them.''
''I absolutely agree,'' Sam replied. ''Still, it feels like that's not everything. You see, I had found a bunch of glitchy tapes in the game that explain the story behind it. A woman, Tape Girl, hid away some key information for the beta tester from the core gameplay files and what I found out so far was rather interesting.''
''Wait a sec, if that information was for the beta tester, how come that you got them?'' Matt asked.
''My Dad was one of the people who worked on the game and told me that a co-worker gave it to him after he told them about my fascination with the game and the lore,'' Sam explained. ''In any case, Tape Girl says that there is some kind of malicious code inside the game that they couldn't fully contain nor understand for that matter.''
''Do you have an idea what that code is?'' Matt asked. Sam's eyes narrowed as she remembered the glitchy bunny mascot waving at her. She shuddered.
''Unfortunately, I do,'' she said. ''Tape Girl saw it too. It is some kind of mascot bunny character which would glitch out from time to time. It is nothing like any of the other in-game characters.''
''Sounds like this mascot is going to give you a lot of trouble,'' Matt noted.
''Admittedly, so far, nothing had happened, but maybe that's because I'm not that far into the game,'' Sam explained. ''I had only completed the Five Nights at Freddy's level.'' She frowned. ''Still, there was more information I had found. Tape Girl talked about a lawsuit which got the project in trouble, and about some guy named Jeremy. She also mentioned a guillotine paper slicer and how Jeremy knows where it is.''
''Is that all?'' Matt asked. Sam nodded.
''Yeah, for now. There are more Tapes, but I need to find them fi-'' Sam suddenly cut herself off as she remembered the hidden message she had found in the image. Don't listen to them. We let something inside. It was an accident. Remember Jeremy. She started pacing across the room. ''I think something happened to Jeremy. If this isn't part of the game, there might've as well been another accident at Fazbear Entertainment and they're trying to cover it up. Not to mention, they let something inside the game – Glitchtrap.''
''Glitchtrap?'' Matt gave her a confused look.
''It's what I named the mascot,'' Sam replied. ''It sounds better than just calling him glitchy mascot bunny, doesn't it?''
''I guess it does,'' Matt said. ''So, what's your plan?''
''Find more information about Glitchtrap and why he is here,'' Sam told him, then gazed back at the restaurant. ''As for this place, that chapter is closed.''
''It's good to see that you're finally putting things behind you,'' Matt said, with Sam nodding. ''Also, about the keys…''
''I think I'm gonna keep them, just in case,'' Sam said, twirling the keychain around her finger. ''I think that once this place is torn down or at least the door is replaced, I can finally breathe in relief.''
''You don't want to leave nothing unfinished, do you?'' Matt said, getting up and dusting himself off.
''Well, you never know what might happen,'' Sam shrugged. ''I think we should go, though. I know Ricky's is abandoned, but someone still might see us. Also, I'm starting to crave strawberry milkshake.''
Matt snorted as he followed Sam outside. He did cast one last, thoughtful glance at the place, at the spot which had been tainted with his brother's blood. He and his brother weren't really close, but he did mourn his death. Still, he knew that a part of him would remain by his side, no matter how small.
Besides, the world doesn't stop spinning just because of one death. It is one of the harsh truths of life, but not many are willing to accept it.
xXx
''Hello? Can you hear me?'' The golden bunny dressed in a purple vest and bowtie chuckled. ''Hello? Can you hear me?'' His laughter grew louder as he danced in the darkness. ''Hello? Can you hear me?''
He was overjoyed when he realized that he had managed to break through and establish contact with the one person who wasn't only alive, but was also familiar with the necessary information, had the skills needed for his plans as well as the ability to see spirits of the deceased and interact with them. Not to mention, thanks to his other subordinate, he had managed to establish a two-way connection between the realm of the living and the dead. All that she needed to do was to follow his orders.
Even though he knew that it still wasn't the time to celebrate, he couldn't help it but relish in the feeling of success. He needed to be patient, as not all puzzle pieces were in their places, but a little victory dance wasn't going to cause any harm. He was now in full control of everything. No one, not the spirits of the deceased nor living would get into his way. The monster they feared was close to breaking out of its cage. He stopped dancing, taking a bow as if standing on a stage in front of an invisible audience. He placed a finger on his lips, as if shushing someone, grinning widely and winked.
''You cannot escape from this haunted reality, so let's set the trapped spirit free. Let the tragedy repeat and the shadows envelop those who fight back. The only one who will remain is myself, reborn in this new body.'' He chuckled in amusement and then waved with his finger. ''Although, first, we need a little sacrifice before we can say 'Welcome back!'. Nothing too elaborate, but still necessary for the plan. Trust me, it'll be a big party, with cake, pizza, familiar faces and of course our guest of honour. So please, let us relive the tragedy.'' He stared at the void, letting out a maniacal laughter. ''Nobody will be able to stop me, do you hear me?! NO ONE WILL STOP ME! NO ONE CAN STOP ME! HAHAHAH!''
His laughter died down, his eyes glowing purple as he gave the invisible audience a confident grin.
''I ALWAYS COME BACK!''
xXx
''Charlie, please stay where you are,'' Sam muttered as she turned the crank on the music box up, keeping the Puppet inside the box. After having played through Five Nights at Freddy's, including Hard Mode, she turned her attention to Five Nights at Freddy's 2, reaching Hard Mode in no time. While she had managed to find three Faz Tokens, one spawning as she was about to die at Puppet's hands, there weren't any Tapes, though, no matter how much she searched. She felt disappointed, but she still took on the challenge.
So far, the Hard Mode versions of the games had been quite intriguing. In Five Nights at Freddy's, her environment experienced a drastic change, the most noticeable part being the grayscale aesthetic. All four animatronics were still active, but were now black a white, and acted a lot more aggressive. Her doors would randomly glitch out, with the risk of an animatronic getting in being high. The nightmare cupcake was a nice touch though.
As for Five Nights at Freddy's 2, there was also a drastic environmental change, most notably being the darker lighting and a dark purple palette displayed. The animatronics were also more aggressive, with Sam even wondering whether she could beat the night. She did die a few times, mostly to Withered Foxy, Mangle and Puppet after not paying attention to the main hallway and being crowded by the Toy and Withered Animatronics, unable to take off the mask in time and wind up the music box.
Still, she was confident that she would complete the night and move on to the next game. It was 5 AM and it was getting closer to 6 AM. One more hour, and she was done with this madness. As for Phone Guy's calls, they were the same as in Five Nights at Freddy's 2, meaning that she would indeed have to rely on the Tapes to learn more about the history behind this game.
What time is it anyways? I have school tomorrow, so I should finish this as fast as possible… YES!
Sam breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the bells chiming and children cheering for her, with the scene changing to a gift box. After getting a pack of Disappointment Chips, she returned to the main area. Gazing behind her, she saw Glitchtrap waving at her, now more solid than she saw him before. She had to wonder whether her progress through the game was what made him look like this.
She took the VR headset off, shaking her head and rubbing her eyes, glancing at the clock on her smartphone. It was 11:03 PM and she knew she should've been in her bed, fast asleep. Sure, her mother didn't mind if she stayed up late as long as she was able to function in the morning, but Sam knew that she'd need the sleep. However, she didn't want to stop playing yet.
It's quite ironic. Before, I wouldn't even touch the game, but now, I'm combing through every detail I can find, she thought as she placed the VR headset on. One more night, then I'm done. I need to find at least one more Tape.
As she re-entered the main area, she switched over to the next mini-game – Five Nights at Freddy's 3. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the menu screen, feeling a little hesitant to open it. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to confront the man who had destroyed so many lives.
''Hello? Can you hear me?''
Sam felt chills when she heard Glitchtrap calling out for her, turning towards him. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the bunny, who was jolly as ever.
''Who are you?'' she asked. Glitchtrap didn't answer, keeping waving at her instead. Sam then sighed, turning back to the monitor. Instead, she took one more glance at the monitor, before entering the game with a determined look on her expression, leaving the bunny behind.
Glitchtrap's grin widened as he watched her enter the game. This is where the real fun begins.