*This is ported by Wattpad, feel free to come by as I've focused on making stories there rather here*
Let's talk about good ol' Five Nights At Freddy's... I used to be an ex-fan of this franchise, until I left couple years ago... And it's usually me being overly tired of this franchise, not that I claim its bad, cause I already don't wanna deal with their rabid fanboys.
I left because it's padding too much, the horror is a lot less scary in recent additions... Then came the official FNAF film where fans PRAISED it.
As an ex-fan I was interested, and gave it a watch. It was mediocre. The story felt slow, lack of animatronics, and horror... How can a horror film, lacks horror? But enough talking about the FNAF film negativity, I still enjoyed the film itself to be hyped for the sequel (ahem prequel), and the story of the film gave me interest to write this story you're reading right now... (Aka the story is inspired by the film and games)
With that said... Enjoy the story...
1987...
The kids are screaming in...
...Joy.
It was a happy day at the large room of fun. The floor is partially covered with glitter, young kids running around in joy, some holding balloons while the rest float above. Eating pizza, having drinks, parents watching with smiles.
There on the stage, three tall colorful humanoid figure robots with animal themes... First is a light blue bunny, then a yellow chicken, and a light brown bear. They move and pose, some are holding instruments.
Then there is a young girl and boy, the girl who is slightly taller than him, both have silver eyes and dark hair. They are smiling, holding hands together. The girl giggles as the boy joins in. This is fun.
Then, silence... The boy stood in the now suddenly empty room. He looked around, opening his mouth to scream but no sound came out... He looks around... Only to see a figure... A yellow rabbit costume, taking the girl whose expression is empty, her hand is held by the figure as they walk away into a dark room.
He reaches his hand, tries to run, but he's not moving... He keeps screaming for her name...
Silence.
Eyes opened, gasping for breath, and immediately raising up from bed. Small sweats occur from his head, his silver eyes gazing around rapidly through the room. The clock is ringing, he looks at the time; 6:00am. He slowly reaches the clock, shutting it off, then looks at the closet drawer desk, showing medicine cases. He silently scoffed at them, to think they'd help him... It did nothing...
He leaves the bed, going to his closet drawer, grabbing some clothes and getting dressed for his recent job. But before that...
A door slowly opens, he looks carefully inside... Another small bedroom, filled with childish colorful drawings... He goes in, checking upon a certain someone, missing in bed. He widened his eyes, but then noticed from the corner he didn't see a makeshift tent. He goes there, opening the curtain a bit, showing a young girl with brown hair sleeping, cuddling a plushie doll of a dog.
He sighed in relief, but he is confused why this happened. He goes close to the tent, kneels, and gently nudges her, as she slowly wakes up. "Mhm...!?" She opens her blue eyes and is instantly surprised to see him.
"So..." He pointed and gestured to the makeshift tent. "What happened?" He asked.
"I... I couldn't sleep in bed..." She explained.
"You could've told me about it." He said with worry.
"N-no, Dad..." She shook her head. "I'm okay..." She downcast. "I can take it down after school..."
"It's okay." He assured but her expression winced very much from his response. He notices it, "I... Well, get dressed, Uncle Zander will take you to school." He changes the topic with a small quip about a certain someone as she slowly nodded. He gets up and goes through the door as the girl stares at her plushie, her looks gets a bit worse when he's gone...
He goes to the living room, he notices the coffee pot still contains some coffee. He goes to the kitchen where it's there and pours onto another cup. There he speaks up, "About Abby... Going to school..."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it already." Another male voice responded back. He is wearing a police uniform, having brown hair and bronze eyes. This is Zander, as he is drinking from a cup of coffee he got from the coffee pot. "And how is Abby?" He asked.
"She seemed... Not okay with me..." He replied, sadly.
"Well, can't blame her, you've been way too close to her." Zander stated. "First, you were watching her from school. I had to come and bail you out that you aren't a stalker..."
"I grew worried for her as any parent would." He reasoned.
"Not that kind of parent, Xavier." He revealed his name. "5 weeks past man... You can't put her on a leash." Zander pointed out. "She's getting awkward from you, especially making friends in school."
"Is that why you hired me for this job?" Xavier questioned him.
"Partially, it's more like you need some actual job payment if you wanna take care of her, all the time, the stuff you bought comes from my money." Zander mentioned sternly, "And be goddamn lucky I can offer this much."
"I'd find a way to repay you..." Xavier replied.
"No thanks, I felt that'll bite me in the ass." Zander sighed. "Just go to your job and try to live a normal life. I'll take care of Abby fine."
Xavier stares at him, he wanted to add caution to his response, but now is not the time... He goes off.
It was a typical day at the mall. Xavier is just standing there, he wears the hat labeled 'Security' along with the uniform and all that included. He is staring at the people, every individual doing something.
Watching... Gazing... If someone is in trouble... He'll...
"Hey?" A tap on the shoulder, instantly startled him. Xavier turns to see another man wearing the security uniform. "You good man?" He asked.
"...I'm fine." He replied.
"You sure man? Cause damn you are acting like a paranoid guy on all of these peeps." He explained.
Xavier self-realized what he meant. "...Look, I was just doing my job." He explained.
"Nah, bro, it's okay. Just... You need a break after all of this waiting, right?" His worker suggested.
Xavier remained quiet, then he gazed at something, a cardboard cutout advertisement of a Bear humanoid animatronic... His eyes widen a bit, sweat starts to increase... The level of stress builds up, he cannot muster words, but in his mind... Why is it still here?
"You okay?" His worker interrupted his thoughts, as he gasped. Then he looks at what Xavier is looking at. "You're looking at Freddy aren't you?" He asked, a silence in response, but the look clearly tells. "Ah, you went there as a kid? Can't believe they are still open for this long..." His voice is muffled from Xavier himself... He can't take it anymore...
"You're right I need a break..." He muttered aloud as he walked past, bumping the worker. He was perked by the sudden action, but he won't refute, after all he did suggest it... He just took his position...
Xavier is walking through, he goes to the bathroom. He goes to the sink, turning the knob as cold water rushes out. He carries it and splashes on his face, he is breathing heavily. Why... He thinks inside, angered... Scared...
His clenched fists grabbed onto the sink as his teeth gritted... The heavy breathing continues on, and on... No... Calming down, now... His breathing is low and soft, he takes slow attempts, he gazes at the mirror, showing his wet face.
This is... Fine... He should be fine...
Later, he leaves the bathroom, he is thinking about getting a drink... Then he looks to see a child, a boy, standing alone in the middle of the mall... He is instantly focused on him. What is he doing here alone? Where are his parents? Why is he alone?!
Then an adult came grabbing his hand and heads off in a rush... NO! Xavier forgets his current position, and runs at the adult and child. Passing the other passengers, he soon sees them near the fountain, he yells from his mouth and gains the attention of the two. Then suddenly, he rams straight into him, as the two fall onto the fountain water. Xavier being the rammer, he got up, not before punching the man in the face, many... Many times...
Then all he can hear is people screaming... And... A child screaming... "Daddy!"
Few hours pass, Xavier is cuffed within a cell...
Alone sitting on the seat, he remains quiet. No resistance... Then the cell door opens, revealing Zander is outside, arms crossed and unhappy with this situation...
"I thought you had taken your medicine..." Zander stated as he is now driving in his police cruiser, with Xavier, uncuffed at the back. His expression however is mellow compared to Zander's frustration.
"They clearly don't work..." Xavier replied.
"No shit..." Zander rebuked. "What were you thinking?! You beat up a child's father, whose injuries lead up to potential concussion, be lucky that I am here for your ass!"
"I know..." Xavier muttered.
"Oh really?!" Zander blurted out. "It seems like you didn't learn your lesson! I thought you'd be better for Abby!"
"I am-" Xavier murmured.
Zander interrupted, "NO." He raised his tone. "This is your many chances, you aren't a good father, I have no idea why you decided to adopt her. You failed your jobs as well!"
"..." Silence remains for Xavier.
Zander is quiet, but his anger softens as he sighs, "You still can't get over with it... Don't you?" He asked.
"...Yes." Xavier lamented, clenching his fists. "I... Can't get over it, supposedly the fact that the case is left unsolved for you guys..." He glared at Zander.
"Ugh, great..." Zander muttered. "Look, cases like that aren't easy to solve, or else crime will be over already." He explained. "You need to stop lingering in the past, and care for what's in the present."
"I... CAN'T!" Xavier yelled, silencing Zander. His voice lowered, "I can't... My sister didn't just have an accident, nor did she just disappear! She. Was. MURDERED!" Shouted at the last word "...I'll just stay in the house... You pick up Abby this time..." He muttered in demand.
Zander remains quiet, as he mentally sighs. This is the man who is supposed to care for her, yet he can't get over the past...
At the near end of school, the bell rang as kids left, Abby being the last one, alone. She looks around to see if her dad is here... But there she saw Zander, giving a small wave.
"Huh, her Dad is gone..." Some kids whispered, but she could hear them. "He's so creepy..." More whispers occur, making her winced, holding her backpack tight, she makes a run at the car...
At the front, she sat next to him. Zander drives off, and goes home. Silence occurs, but Zander decides to start comfort, "So, how was school?" He asked, no response. "Right... Make some friends on this day?"
"No." Abby responded. Zander slowly nodded, solemnly. "...Where's Dad?..." She asked.
"Well... Your Dad has some issues with his job..." Zander explained, as he doesn't want to go full detail...
"He got fired, did he?..." Abby asked, surprising Zander, she's supposed to be 10 years old... "I... Look it up..." She shifts uncomfortably. "Sorry..."
"I... I see..." Zander replied softly. "It's okay..."
"Is he okay?" She asked.
"He's... At home, waiting for you..." Zander stated. "You still care for him, don't you...?"
She nodded slowly, "Mom and Dad..." She paused as she did not want to say that word... "I don't wanna go... Dad..." She mentions Xavier. "Dad helped me, I want to help... Him..."
"Abby... Your Dad will be fine, he just needed some other help..." Zander assured.
"I hate it... Why can't I do anything?!" She exclaimed.
"Abby, please..." Zander tries to reason with her as he makes a turn on the road. "You do not understand..."
"I want to!" She stated. "Will Dad not be with us anymore?"
"...It depends." Zander replied. "If not, we might have to take yo back-"
"NO!" Abby screamed. "Please!" She begged, "Please help Dad!" Tears suddenly came, Zander slightly gasped. She really does think of him as a father, but with the trouble, how could she love him?...
Xavier is sitting on the couch, he is waiting for Zander and Abby to return. His foot is tapping, he needs to make sure Abby is well... He must not lose her, not after, what she lost, her parents are gone... Then her mother's sister wants to take the guardian parent, but he knew this is just because she wanted month checks for the government because having a child like her, makes it... Cheaper...
It disgusts him... Then a doorbell rings, he looks there and goes up, opening the door, but it was not them. It was a woman, a very familiar one... Dull blonde hair, slightly wrinkled skin, blue eyes...
"Mr. Riese." She spoke with a kind smile, but he knew this was just a mere fake one. Then he noticed beside him is a man wearing some suit, a lawyer, he can tell though he looks nervous... The first woman spoke. "I have come to speak about for the custody of-"
"No." He interrupted, her smile slightly twitched when instantly denied.
"How rude!" She exclaimed angrily. "But what do I know from a man who punches innocents out of nowhere..."
"Don't act like you can't just barge in. I have done no actual harm to Abby, your lawyer knows that." Xavier remarked.
"Y-yeah..." The lawyer nodded, but he was hushed when the woman glared at him.
"That just means, you do not have the order to take custody over her." Xavier stated.
"And yet, you are losing support for her." The woman refuted. Xavier remains his glare on her as she crosses her arms. "How long can you keep her? With no job along fourth time you got fired, and relying on some officer to manipulate your-"
"He does not manipulate." Xavier retorted.
"Still does not matter, soon you won't have anyone to protect you. And you'll blame yourself for all of it." She stated. A moment passed, "Fine, I'll take my leave, I can simply wait, as everything will fall apart." She huffs and walks off, as the nervous lawyer nodded and followed her.
Once afar, he sighed deeply, despite that evil woman... She's right, he kept screwing it up, but he can't let go, not until there are many unsolved questions... Then he noticed something, Zander and Abby are from a distance...
They must have heard it, given they are just standing there...
Once, Zander returned Abby home, he said that he has office work at the station and drives off. Abby hugs Xavier deeply, scared of being left behind... Xavier remains quiet, wondering...
What can he do?
Zander sits on his chair at his office, he sighed annoyingly.
"Someone's in a bad mood?" A female voice spoke up, he turned to see a woman with green eyes and blonde hair.
"Hey, Vanessa..." Zander muttered. "And yep, having a bad time..."
"How so?" She asked. "Was it that recent incident you had to arrest that man for attacking a father?"
"Yeah, if you didn't know, he is my 'roommate'." He whispered to her.
"Really?!" She exclaimed but Zander hushed her, as she quickly quieted her voice. "Really?..."
"Yep." He nodded. "And now, he lost his fourth job..." He sighed as he sipped his coffee mug. "I wanna do something for him, and the child he adopted." Vanessa perked up that he had an adopted child.
"And the child?" She asked.
"Well, she has an aunt who tries to get her back, but he ain't letting her." Zander explained sadly. "But... With that job recently fired, he can't seem to find any way to provide her support... And I can't do anything for him..."
Vanessa looked at him with sympathy, but then she smiled, having an idea. She goes off for a while, confusing Zander. Only to come back with a paper, as she gives him. "Then perhaps this may be the best opportunity." She said, Zander slowly accepts the paper, gives it a read, his eyes widened in surprise. This is...
"Ridiculous." Xavier angrily stated as he read the same paper. He showed the paper to Zander as they are at home, while Abby is watching TV. The paper has the message: 'HELP WANTED: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Family pizzeria looking for a security guard to work the nightshift. 12am - 6am'.
"Look, I know you have an issue with this place..." Zander assured.
"Issue!?" Xavier ranted. "You expect me to go to that cursed place that should've shut down years ago! I hated that place, and you're supposed to be smarter than this!"
He had enough... "Well, what can I do?!" Zander retorted. "Because that is the only best job opening, I can provide for you!" Xavier is a bit hesitant when mentioned. He calms down and tries to explain, "Look, Abby's aunt is right, you are losing support, without support, what's the point of keeping her?"
"..." Xavier is quiet. He looks so nervous and uncomfortable. He doesn't wanna go to that place, but...
"Xavier..." Zander places his hand on his shoulder, rubbing to comfort him. "For Abby's wellbeing, I know you still care..." He added. "You have to face your past and embrace it. And in exchange... I'll help with the case that was unsolved years ago..."
"...You really do that?" Xavier asked.
"I'll try. And that's more than nothing." Zander assured.
"..." Xavier is waiting to speak, then he makes his choice. "Alright... Show me the address."
At the waiting room, he seemed kinda alone, with bare people remaining. He is wearing his formal suit, waiting for the interview. "Mr. Riese." A female voice calls out, as he stands up and goes to the office...
In the office, a man turned away, slightly taller than him, with taupe hair, blue eyes, and a beard. He also wears eyeglasses, a yellow long-sleeved dress shirt with blue stripes, and a purple tie... He is looking at his resume, with his desk having his nametag...
Steve Raglan.
Xavier is waiting, watches as he is humming while reading, spinning his chair towards in front of him while remaining seated. "Hm..." Steve hummed as he looked at Xavier, "You're an interesting case, Xavier. Your past work experience seems barely less than a month on four job occasions. All ended with a similar incident... Tell me... Do you seem to have some headcase?"
"...No." Xavier replied, feeling this is awkward...
"No?" Steve replied. "The recent incident report as it said... How you did... Is no security guard feature within the instruction."
"It was a mistake, I misunderstood the situation-" Xavier attempted to explain.
"Yet, you are given this many chances but make those mistakes on four occasions." Steve mentioned. "It's like, you're not even trying, Xavier, and here you are doing it again, on this job." Xavier sighed deeply at that, "Hm... I apologize for my speaking, but I am merely trying to figure you out, Mister Xavier... Riese?" He paused to read his surname, he perked up looking at him, while Xavier looked weird by how he was staring at him...
"Yes...?" Xavier replied, thinking he was saying the name correctly.
Then Steve remains quiet, then he smiles, "Well, Xavier... Despite your limitations, I think this gig is enough for you." He stated.
"You think so?" Xavier perked up.
"I know so..." Steve smirked and nodded. He takes out a card and hands it to Xavier which he takes looking at some address, "This is the location of the Pizzeria." He explained. "Though, I will tell you, this job ain't easy... The pay isn't that great..."
"It's okay, sir. I am fine with anything, and will do my best." Xavier stated, which Steve smiled even more.
"That's great." He said. "But the good part is, you'll only need a security uniform, there are instruction records made by the previous guard, so you won't feel lost. And you'd be your own boss, well, sorta. Only one thing I need to worry about is keeping people out. And... You know, keep the place tidy."
"...Aren't those two things?" Xavier wondered, while Steve just straight stares at him, he quickly apologizes. "S-sorry." He gives a small quick nod. "I uh... Thank you for granting me this job, Mr. Reglan."
Steve smiled again, "I'm sure you won't disappoint on this one... I hope you'll survive the first night." With that, Xavier thanks him again and leaves as Steve watches him go, with intrigue on his face...
At midnight, a car is already parked. There, Xavier is outside, wearing a purple security uniform that is exclusive to this place... He looks at the building, none other as the Pizzeria.
He takes a deep breath before walking in... His first shift... Begins...
Word Count - 3390
This is the end of the first chapter, next chapter be the First Night (already)!
Thoughts on this XZJQ version? Notice some inspiration elements from the games and the movie? Well, enjoy these new fresh batch of characters and lore.
If wondering what games I am using, only the first 3 games, the rest will ignored unless I am planning to write more... (God I hope not...)