" You've got to be kidding me, Lily..."
The smile of heartfelt excitement had quickly fled Jessica's face, leaving behind trails of genuine disbelief and even disappointment. Where just half a minute ago a joyful glow had filled her eyes there were now dozens of questions in every blink, aching to be asked all at once if possible, but for now she chose to restrain herself.
" THAT'S where you've been working at for the past few months?? "
" That would be the place, yes... " Lily replied with a tinge of sobering in her voice, a subtle shrug to her shoulders.
" Sorry if I shattered your illusion, Jess. Though I too was hoping that you'd be a little happier for me. Especially since I've been looking for a job around this godforsaken city forever. You know how much I've been struggling... "
" Well... I mean... Yeah, I get that, but... You know, it's... You know-- "
" No, I don't know... But feel free to enlighten me. "
" It's just that, ever since you moved to Hurricane and started taking these super expensive singing lessons and visited like a thousand astronomy courses, I was convinced you'd eventually end up at the Broadway or at NASA... Not the local pizzeria. "
A cold autumn breeze struck Jessica's face, causing her long blond mane to engage in a wild dance around her pretty features, and she had to use both hands to keep her hair in place.
" A pizzeria for children of all things. I mean, you don't even like children! "
" People of all ages come there to eat, not just children. It's a place for the whole family. "
" Even worse. Annoying moms and these modern anti-authoritarian dads, their noisy little brats running all over the place, touching grabbing everything with their sticky cheese fingers and screaming until your ears bleed. Sounds like a keeper of a job... "
Jessica eyed her friend with a slightly tilted head, scepticism written all over her face.
" Come on. Even you have to admit that this doesn't sound appealing at all. And certainly not to someone with your peculiar interests. You are almost 32. You should go for a job that truly fulfills you ~ ".
Lily leaned back into her seat with a sigh, averting her eyes from her friend of two years to gaze out the window of her car; they were still in the parking lot of Jessica's university, waiting for the heavy rain to stop. The gentle pitter-patter had transmogrified into thunderous drumming, the rain drops crushing into the car roof like bullets. No matter where she looked, the horizons showed no sign of improvement, the curtain of black and grey hanging ominously low in front of the stage of the world. Oh, how she missed the seasons of her home country...
" I'm no one special, Jess, nor do I possess any noteworthy skills. "
" Besides your gorgeous voice, your award-winning writing abilities and beautiful photography. Nice try though, Lil ~ "
" I mean skills that are in any way relevant in this modern day age. As far as earning money goes these skills haven't really gotten me very far... " She pulled a small mirror from her purse and flipped it open, analyzing the pale face with thin beige lips and for this casual day almost a tad dramatic smokey eyes that stared back at her with expectation, part of her mind already occupied with mentally preparing for the next couple hours. " This job will help me get some distraction, keep my cozy little apartment and - most importantly - me from having to move back to Norway... "
" Right, " Jessica rested her arms against the steering wheel, " yet another part of the story I simply can't wrap my head around. I mean, why leave a country that you loved so much in the first place? Where you had everything, including your own house and ... what was it again... three cats? "
" We've been through this before, " Lily replied without looking up from her reflection, her eyes darkening slightly,
" I had my reasons for leaving. Sadly... "
" Yeah... Sorry for bringing it up again. "
An awkward silence followed, one that lasted until Lily tossed her mirror back into her purse and returned her attention to her friend, her expression a rather remorseful one.
" But... if you don't mind me asking... why didn't you tell me sooner? You've been working there for three full months now, right? How come today is the day you're sharing the good news with me? "
" Because nothing was carved in stone. Not until today... The past three months were basically training months. A trial run to test my abilities as a team player, give me some time to adapt and familiarize myself with the workplace. Today I will officially sign my contract at Freddy Fazbear's... and meet their owner for a final interview. "
Jessica lifted her gaze, somewhat puzzled.
" William Afton? "
All Lily did was nod.
" That's the one. At least the one that's still around since that other guy disappeared a year ago... "
" Yeah, I remember, " her friend responded, seemingly intrigued, " it was all over the news last summer; people in town wouldn't talk about anything else for literal months. Henry Emily was his name, no? Vanished without a single trace... Creepy. And if I remember correctly, they suspected Afton behind his disappearance. Which is why Freddy's had to shut down for at least half a year... "
" I talked to several of my co-workers about it, but they don't know much more about that case than most other people here in town. They got their job positions long after the incident... " A shudder ran through Lily's body, shaking her visibly, and upon peering down at her arms she noticed a subtle layer of goosebumps covering every inch of her skin. It wasn't even that cold in these parts of the State yet...
" And you still choose to waltz in there like the mysterious Scandinavian beauty that you are and sign the contract that Hurricane's number one suspect hands you. You're a wild one, Lil ~ "
The palm of Jessica's hand landed on her back for an audible slap, startling her so much that she flinched in the passenger seat.
" I shall write songs, praising your courage! "
" Charmingly hilarious, " was Lily's response, highlighted by a slow eye roll,
" but if you care to know, Afton's alibi is - and I shall quote Clay Burke here, chief of Hurricane's police department, word for word - 'solid unshakable as his new position as the head of Freddy Fazbear Entertainment Afton Robotics'. Nothing supports that theory besides their entirely business-related relationship and people's obtrusive need to cause unnecessary drama in a place where nothing interesting ever seems to happen. "
" I see, I see. Someone's on team Afton here." Jessica chuckled as she gifted her a suggestive wink.
" Don't get your hopes up though. Afton's an old man. Turned 50 or so, I think. Not exactly the kind of guy you wanna go for ~ "
" Don't be ridiculous. I'm only interested in this job. That, the opportunity to stay here long enough for my VISA to get another update. Hopefully sooner rather than later... "
" Hey. Don't worry, it'll be alright, " said Jessica whose demeanour changed within literal seconds, her expression now far more serious yet gentle, much like the smile that had sprouted under her nose. " You are talented, ambitious and brave beyond words. This job will be yours the moment you set foot in that old dude's office.
He'll love you. "
Lily sighed, her shoulders dropping instantly; she had been all tensed up the entire time and not even noticed it.
" I don't need him to love me. I just need him to respect me... But thank you for the sweet words, Jess. I'll call you once I get back home and tell you how it went, okay? "
She was about to grab her purse and open the car door when her friend grabbed her wrist, laughing wholeheartedly at Lily's puzzled look.
" Where do you think you're going, lady? You wanna take a shower out there in the rain? Sit down, silly, I'll drive you to Freddy's! "
The skies were no longer weeping when Lily stood before the gates of Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, eager to just storm in be the most confident she'd ever been in her life, to leave the best possible - and undoubtedly most crucial - impression, yet something kept her feet glued to the sidewalk. Whether it was her gradually growing anxiety or the settling realization that her future was from here on forward entirely in the hands of today's outcome she couldn't tell, but she had a feeling she would receive an answer to that question soon enough.
Her trembling chest expanded as she drew a deep breath; inhaling new courage, exhaling all doubt and misgiving.
There is no room for fear. Not here, not today.
At last, Lily's legs gave way to her will, carrying her towards the massive entrance doors above which Fazbear Entertainment's most beloved icon Freddy, the animatronic bear, flashed it's blithely neon smile down at her, a raised paw waving her welcome.
Another chill ran down her spine, this time caused by an incoming gust of freezing nature that danced around the buildings and at this hour fairly abandoned streets. She crossed her arms, nearly hugging herself and pulling down the sleeves of her dress as though covering her wrists would keep her warmer.
It was Monday and the restaurant was closed, however Mr. Afton had insisted on meeting her in his new office at Freddy's for this particular interview, and who was she to question his decision? He had hardly been around the restaurant at all within her three months as a trainee, two times in total to be more specific, and she hadn't been in town on either of those days. A real shame to be truly honest; meeting one of the masterminds behind those uniquely crafted and captivating animatronics Freddy Fazbear's Afton Robotics were so well known for had been a dream of hers ever since she moved to Hurricane. Now here she was, closer to that dream than ever before, and even more than that ~
Her fingers reached for the restaurant's doorbell, barely grazing the door that gave way to her subtle touch in an instant and slid open with a gentle squeak, deafening silence greeting her on the other side.
Did he leave that open for me or did my colleagues forget to lock it?
" Like it matters," she muttered to herself as she pushed the door all the way open and slipped inside, granting her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dimly lit restaurant; all the curtains were closed, the lights off except for the dark orange night light bulbs decorating the top of the snack bar as well as the wall above the entrance door. It was oddly cold inside Freddy's, almost colder than the outside, and from somewhere within the building Lily could feel an icy draft. Had someone left a window open?
Her eyes wandered up the wall at the very end of the hallway leading toward the dining area where a large digital clock was embedded in the old brick stone. Five minutes left until 6 o'clock. She was right on time. Five minutes to walk down the hallway, cross the main dining area and reach Afton's office. Surely knocking on his door right when the clock struck 6 would leave a good impression, wouldn't it?
A second breeze blew across the restaurant, demanding a shiver of her. She shrugged shook it off, much like the slight sense of dread that was slowly but surely beginning to manifest itself into existence, and all of a sudden she was filled with doubts again, wondering why this particular interview was necessary in the first place. Would it not have been easier to simply send her the work papers and set up that meeting with her new boss later? Did they perhaps still have reservations and had invited her here today for one final interview, for one last test, before actually making a decision? If such was the case, her enthusiasm had been premature, and all options were still wide open - including the less desirable ones...
If you don't ask, you'll never know.
By the time she felt new doubts arise Lily was already halfway down the hallway, accompanied by the faint cone of orange light from behind her that threw ominous, distorted shadows against the walls to her sides, creating the illusion of a gradually stretching tunnel. Her walking pace quickened and moments later the hallway spit her out, straight into Fazbear's dining area. Even here the illumination was rather scarce, most of the old-fashioned orange light bulbs scattered poorly around the walls so that their feeble light was barely able to reach the center of the room. The by far most illuminated area of the restaurant outside the usual opening hours was the large stage in the back, tightly wrapped in the arms of two massive velvety, blood-red curtains. Lily stopped dead in her tracks and allowed her eyes to drift away from her previous destination towards the cloaked stage with a deeply pondering look, like something that only she could see had suddenly grabbed her attention. Of course, one would have to be aware of what was behind that curtain to understand why she was now filled with so much curiosity and a well-nigh overwhelming desire to pull it aside.
I don't think I've ever seen them not in motion...
She stood there for a few more long seconds before said curiosity eventually took the upper hand and dragged her off her path, in the direction of the stage. Her nearly hypnotic fixation on the curtains and what lingered behind them caused her to walk straight into a table, the upside-down chairs that had been stacked on top of it after the daily shift rocking suspiciously and inching closer to the edge of the table, but they didn't fall. Lily rolled her eyes and sighed, baffled by her own stupidity, gracefully prancing around the remaining tables with nervous grace. She climbed the four steps leading up the side of the stage without further accidents and stopped a hand's width away from the crimson curtain that tenderly swayed upon her arrival, like a shudder was running through the fabric. The young woman hesitated yet again, although unable to make sense of it; it was just a few animatronics behind a curtain. What was there to be nervous about?
It's not like they're alive... Only sleeping... Until I wake them...
" Right on time, Miss Aalefjær! We're off to a good start indeed. "
A male, somewhat gravelly yet soothing voice traveled across the dining area the moment her fingertips grazed the surface of the curtain, bouncing off the walls in the shape of a vibrant echo; Lily flinched so hard, she backed away as though she had touched an electric current and almost fell off the stage. A throaty chuckle ensued shortly after, followed by the even sound of slowly approaching footsteps.
" I apologize, that was uncalled for. Although I ought to inform you: that is not where my office is! "
She turned her head once she had gathered herself, locking eyes with a tall, slender man as he proceeded to close the gap between him and the stage. He had short taupe hair that highlighted his slim face and prominent cheekbones, vintage glasses and - given his age - a rather flattering amount of facial hair. His dress code screamed regular, well-groomed yet simple office guy, and under his nose rested an unwavering, gentle smile. Embarrassed to the depths of her core Lily straightened her posture and answered with a smile of her own, adjusting her dress as she made her way back down the stairs.
" I'm sorry, Sir. I couldn't resist... This is the first time I've seen them like this. Completely still. I can't explain why, but it's fascinating to me ~ "
" Believe me, I understand you very well. In fact more than anyone else ever will, " he came to a stop right in front of the stage and extended a hand, offering it to her with a swift, graceful motion.
" Just a precaution... So we don't have another accident, hm? "
Lily wouldn't move at all for a solid moment, taken aback by both his response and the gesture, and when she finally reached out to place her hand in his she did it with such lenity as though his fingers were made of glass.
Off to an awkward start is what I'd say...
He helped her down the stairs before giving a quick nod of approval, holding her hand just a little longer before pulling away.
Lily looked up to meet his eyes, two small ponds of azure greeting her from behind thin glass; he was, without an ounce of doubt, a fairly good-looking man for his age.
" Mr. Afton, I presume? "
That question couldn't have been more rhetorical...
" In the flesh, " he said, not taking his eyes off her for even a second.
" And you must be the young lady with a few too many names ~ "
" Well, my family was quite the creative bunch... a tad indecisive I'm afraid. "
" Let's see if I got them all right: Lilyora Aslaug... Liv-Mårit... Fay Aalefjær?? ", he arched a brow and angled his head in a questioning manner. Lily couldn't help but grin, replying with a nod of affirmation.
" All of that is correct. And on the first try? Not many people manage that ~ "
Afton gave a throaty chuckle, his eyes drifting away from the young woman for the first time since she he entered the room and over to the door leading to his office.
" I like a challenge... And as you can see, I have way too much time! "
His arm extended once again, this time the other way, all of his fingers pointing towards his office in the back.
" Coffee? "