Cassidy:
The day went by slowly, yet I can hardly remember it through the pain. What should have been a day of joy and memories I should have treasured forever, turned into a living nightmare. I haven't been able to play, everytime I try...I just can't.
The only way I am able to go through the process of getting ready for bed is through muscle memory. As I finish brushing my teeth, daddy picks me up and tucks me into bed. Mommy turns on my night light as she closes the door. After this they would usually read me a bedtime story before leaving the room. But I am not in a mood for a bedtime story, and neither are my parents. Instead of leaving they both pull up a chair and sit down next to my bed.
"Sweetie, mommy and daddy will be here for you." I can tell that they're doing this more than to just calm me down. They haven't left my side since we left the pizzaria. They keep looking everywhere as if something might come out of the shadows to take me away. They're afraid of losing me, and I couldn't be more grateful to have them be by my bedside.
A few hours go by, and I still haven't fallen asleep. I just keep remembering that room, and the joy in William's eyes as he brought out the knife. Mommy and Daddy haven't been able to sleep either. Both of them have just been watching me, growing concerned as they see that I am still awake.
"Sweetie, mommy and daddy are here. There is nothing that can harm you here." Daddy's smile is forced, as he gently strokes my hair. I still find myself terrified as I jump at any sound I hear throughout the night. As the minutes tick by I feel myself growing more tired by the second.
I turn my head to look at my parents, but I scream as I jump back. Sitting in the chair is the familiar bright yellow of the custom William wore. But there's blood leaking out of the suit... dripping on me! I hear a metallic laugh as William goes to touch me, but I jump back before he can.
"Awwww... What's wrong, birthday girl? I thought you liked Freddy and his friends?!" As I turn to run to my bedroom door, I feel my heart sink. Instead of the dark brown wooden door that I am used to, standing there ominously is the metal door to the pizzeria's backroom. On it there are words written in red, I can tell by the smell that it is blood.
No way out
I turn around to see William getting closer. I scream as he reaches towards me. I feel someone shaking me, and I open my eyes. But instead of seeing William, I see my parents looking at me worried sick.
"Sweetie, it's ok. It was only a bad dream." Eventually my parents stop me from hyperventilating, and I fall asleep again. I know the night is not going to be getting any easier.
Susie Pov:
Today has been a long day. Before we headed home mommy and daddy made sure aunt Sarah picked up Samantha first. When Samantha heard what almost happened, she started crying and we hugged. I feel so much better seeing her, while I act completely different from my sister, we are still besties.
When we got home, mommy and daddy kept us in their sights at all times. Samantha and I tried to play but we weren't able to have fun. Whether it was playing with blocks or playing tag, we just couldn't get in the mood for the game. Instead, we just spend the day talking. The subjects we talked about had no real meaning; it was all just a time killer.
"Susie." I look over at Samantha. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying, just like mine.
"I'm sorry I got upset with you for standing up for me. I know you wanted to help." She smiles while holding my hand. I smile back, thinking about that day in school. The kids were picking on Samantha for being more interested in education than play. I tried to stand up for her, but she got upset saying she could handle herself.
"It's ok, I just want what's best for you."
"I want the same for you. I'm sorry for not being there..." I can see the guilt in her eyes as she fully breaks down in tears.
"It's ok, you didn't know what was going to happen. I'm just happy you didn't see what I saw." I shudder at the thought as I remember everything. Daddy sits down next to us; he tries to play with us as a distraction. It still doesn't make me forget what happened.
"Girls, I'm sorry about how things have been lately. I promise me and mommy will be here for both of you. Things will get better." I look at daddy unsure. First bear and now what happened today, things feel like they will never be the same. Daddy can see we are upset, he is about to say something, but the chime of the clock stops him.
Mommy tells us it's time for bed. After brushing are teeth and getting into are pajamas, Daddy picks up Samantha while mommy picks up me. They carry us to our bedroom, as they kiss us goodnight. They looked hesitant as they left the room.
Samantha's bed is on the other side of the room, parallel to mine. I can tell she is still awake. Her eyes are wide open as we both stare at each other. I hear her get up as she walks towards my head climbing in with me. We always did this when one of us had a bad dream, a bonus of having a sister. When one of us is scared or sad, we are always here to comfort each other.
We lay in the bed, as the seconds tick by. Holding each other, afraid that letting go, that the other would disappear we close our eyes.
Gabriel:
"I don't want to go to bed mommy!" After we got home mommy tried to get us to all play a board game together. We always have fun playing games together as a family, but there was tension in the room. I can't even remember who won, I just can't get my mind off what happened. I can tell everyone else was feeling the same, yet they kept acting happy as if nothing happened. Mommy, daddy, and Katelyn always act that way around me when something bad happens. They don't want me to think about it.
Now it is finally nighttime. But I don't want to sleep, I feel terror at what nightmares I might have. Mommy sighs as she smiles at me tiredly.
"I know baby, but you need your sleep. It would not be healthy for you to stay up late." She goes to pick me up, but I run just as she is about to grab me. Mommy gasps as she begins running after me. I feel my legs burning from exhaust and the tears flowing down my face as I desperately run for all my life.
"Gabriel, come back! You need your sleep!" I feel pain at not listening to mommy's pleading voice, but I'm too afraid to sleep. I need to hide! I ran into the kitchen almost bumping into Katelyn. The confusion and concern are evidence in her eyes, but I have no time. I quickly apologize as I run past her. But mommy is close on my trail.
I ran around the corner right into the arms of my dad. He looks at me with love and worry. Mommy is out of breath as she smiles gratefully at daddy, who gives her a knowing nod.
"What's wrong baby bear? Whatever it is, we are here for you."
"I told him it was time for bed. He ran away from me; I think he is scared to go to sleep." Daddy looks at me sympathetically as he pats my back gently.
"Don't worry buddy. Mommy and daddy can be by your side until you fall asleep. And if you have any nightmares you can come to us."
"I can help too. I can stay with him, as well." Everyone turns to look at Katelyn. Mommy and daddy glance at each other before looking back at her.
"Sweetie, you need your sleep too. We can handle Gabriel."
"But mom, he's my baby brother. I have a responsibility to be here for him just as much as you do. Plus, I'm 17, I can handle it." Mommy and daddy look proud of Katelyn and agree. They take me up to my bedroom and tuck me in. Even though I am still scared, I feel warmth from the care of my family.
Jeremy:
Even on weekends mommy would continue to work. She would take the occasional break to play with me, but other than that here weekends would be filled up with paperwork. But after we got home, mommy has been only focusing on taking care of me.
The moment I got home I put my sun glass on my bedroom nightstand. As I went to leave the room, I noticed the Bunny poster hanging next to my bed. Every morning, I would wake up at it and be filled with joy by the sight of it. But now it feels like its eyes are peering into my soul, waiting for a moment to strike. I march over to my bedside, tearing it down from the wall. After I put it in my dresser drawer, I noticed my mom standing in the doorway.
Usually, mommy would look energized and calculated, ready to start a day of work. But now her body instead of having her usual confident posture is drooping. Her once determined eyes are instead filled with concern and worry. She came over and picked me up, carrying me over to the living room where she sits down with me on her lap.
"Mommy's here my little superstar. Mommy's here." Mommy gently rubs my back as I close my eyes. Why did mommy sound sad when she said that?
Without even meaning to we both fall asleep. But despite mommy comforting me I still have a nightmare. I look around and I am back in the pizzeria. But everything looks old and distorted. The once pristine walls now cracked and coming apart, with the colorful kid's drawings once adorning the walls now scattered around the floor. The smell of rotten pizza and... Blood fills the area.
The worst part is the animatronics. They are all looking at me from the main stage, but they don't look like themselves. They all look withered and cracked. Bonnie's missing his face and left arm, showing his exposed wiring. He looks at me and steps down from the stage. My heart races as I run to the door, but it's locked. Outside it looks dark, and mommy is standing there!
"Mommy! Save me, please!" But she is not looking at me. She's crying as she is talking to a police officer.
Bonnie is getting closer now. He is just about to touch me, when I jolt awake. Mommy is looking at me concerned as she rubs my back.
"Don't worry baby, it's only a bad dream." She looks at the clock and notices that it is passed my bedtime. After brushing my teeth, she tucks me into bed. But I know that I am only going to relive the same nightmare over.
Fritz:
I can hear the beeping of the heart monitor next to my bed. Daddy says I have to stay at the hospital for the night. My eyes have been bandaged and disinfected. The doctor said I would... never see again. When I heard the news, I was crying the whole day, I'm still crying now. Daddy says that I am going to get a doggie to help me move around. He tried to sound happy and optimistic, but his voice was shaky, and I could tell he was crying.
Daddy is staying with me by my bedside. He said that he wasn't going to leave me in the hospital alone. Tomorrow I am going to be attending physical therapy, to help me learn how to do stuff like reading and walking around.
It's nighttime now and as I sit in the hospital bed, I find it hard to fall asleep. Daddy holds my hand and hums a song. It takes hours but eventually I fall asleep.
I look around and see that I am back home, I can see again. I look at myself in the mirror in the bathroom, and I gasp at the sight. My eyes are slashed, and bleeding all over me. My shirt and hands are drenched with blood.
I freeze as I hear humming coming from my bedroom. I can recognize that humming anywhere. Slowly I step out of the bathroom, and I try to leave through the front door. But it's locked, the backdoor even though it's made of glass has been boarded up. There's no way out!
Suddenly I see something coming out of my bedroom. I can't make out any details from the pitch blackness of the hallway. But I can see glowing red eyes staring into my soul.
"Please, don't..." I start stepping back from the hallway. But I hear the metallic footsteps getting closer. Eventually the figure comes close enough for me to see that it's Foxy. His hook is dripping red with blood, and more of it is pouring out of his eyes and mouth.
"Yaaar, come join me young pirate!" Foxy raises his hook and runs out at lightning-fast speed. I scream as I close my eyes as he brings his hook down at my face. But I wake up and I can't see again.
"Fritz! Fritz it's okay, baby. It's only a bad dream." I feel my heart calming herring daddy's voice. But that dream... I don't know how I am going to fall back to sleep tonight.