A light squeal was heard, before you were lifted up in a tight embrace, getting a whiff of something nice and floral scent on her as she held you so close. "Oh thank you! Thank you!" Crafty said gleefully, as she twirled around with you in her arms before placing you back to the ground once more. You were a bit off balance, swaying from being handled that way.

Soon later, you can hear Bubba returning by the sound of his heavy footsteps. The elephant's vacant eyes seemed to shift between you and Crafty, who was beaming and swaying side to side.

"I seem to have found a way out for you," Bubba said before turning to you, "With the train being derailed, we could possibly find another way around it."

"That would not be necessary," said Crafty, as she hooked her long arm over your shoulder with a huge smile (seriously) on her face. "Angel here is going to help us!"

"No," Bubba growled, looking a bit unsettled.

"I am," you told him, with your head held up and shoulder back. "I came this far, no point turning back and not able to help you all."

"You would not be helping us!" Bubba towered over you, being startled back by his aggressive approach. "Your presence and your ignorance has already put us at risk! How can you not understand that you should leave?!"

"Even if they do leave," Crafty jumps in, stepping between you and Bubba in defense, "The Prototype would already be waiting on the other side to kill them! And you know that!"

There was a pause of silence.

You were confused by the interaction and what was said, but you got the gist of what they meant about this "prototype" being waiting for you either way; it sounded like.

"Who is the Prototype?" You asked, but Bubba quickly hushed you the moment you said its name.

"Don't say his name, both of you!" His hissed as he nervously looked around once more. "Not here. Not in the open," he said as he ushered the both of you to follow him. Which you did, alongside with Crafty.

All of you made your way up the terminal. It was extremely run down and even damaged at first glance. Things were smashed and broken scattered everywhere. There were even old bloodstains that had never been cleaned up for who-knows-how-long. Then again, that's how everything was when you arrived here in every corner. All this splatter blood but no bodies in sight besides toys. But no toys that small could produce this much blood, could it?

As you all made it through, there was a great, large two-way opening with yellow words hanging that read "SEE THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD ON ELLIOT'S EXPRESS" in bold. One of the S's was leaning off as you stepped under it.

"Who's the new fella?" asked a loud, yet obnoxious voice leaning in the corner hidden away that you didn't notice him standing there in the first place.

This toy was tall and lean, just like Crafty but a bit on a shorter level than the other two. He was all yellow fabric from the crown that's slick back down to his ankles. You can see three orange toe feet and a half-circle above his gaping smile that looks like a peak of some sort. But you notice something he was touching with a winged hand under his neck. A star pendant.

"KickinChicken, where have you been?" Bubba scolded the bird-like toy, which lightly scuffed and flipped its head back and gave an arrogant look.

"Chill, man," the chick said, even though he didn't sound too young at all. In fact, he sounded like a teenager or young adult. Either way, it was hard to tell, but he gave off a 'cool kid' vibe that drew you in. "I'm just checkin' the newbie out, that's all," he said as he approached you and leaned close to your face. A strong, sweet floral scent could be detected, giving you a strange yet uplifting feeling that you hadn't felt in a long time. It felt refreshing.

"What's ya name, kid?" KickinChicken asked as you were taken aback by him calling you a kid. Clearly, you were not a child in any way; from your perspective. But before you could even speak, Crafty placed her hooves on your shoulders and leaned over from behind to introduce you instead.

"This is Poppy's Angel!" She said happily, "They are here to help us!"

"Is that so?" KickinChicken took it all in amusement before drawing back and crossing his wing like arms over his zipper chest. "Well then, Angel. Welcome to the team. I'll be glad to take part and fight alongside ya."

"Wait… Fight?" You lightly muttered out, looking between the three plush toys surrounding you. Bubba seems to be the furthest from the rest, not looking even once pleased at the situation.

"This is what you're signing up for," Bubba told you, sounding annoyed and still aggressive with every word towards you. "You have the opportunity to turn back now, but once you step on this cart," he pointed at the trolley beside him, "you won't be able to turn back."

This gave you an unsettling feeling, and second thoughts. You were actually putting yourself in a position you didn't know much about from that point on. What should I do? You asked yourself. But you could feel Crafty still leaning over you on your back. Her soft floral scent was still potent and made you feel relaxed throughout this stressful decision.

"No," you shook your head, "I'm still going, no matter what you say. But first, may I ask, where does this lead me?"

Bubba sighed in defeat before his voice became more gentle yet still deep and burly. "You'll be heading to our once-called home, Playcare. For now, it belongs to CatNap. One of us, the Smiling Critters." He introduced before continuing on as he went to pull a lever on the right side. KickinChicken followed suit but went in the opposite direction to do the same. Opening the doors to the trolley before you. "I am Bubba Bubbaphant, I am the first one they created and there are eight of us in all. The one clinging to you is CraftyCorn and the one over there you know as KickinChicken. The others you would meet or hopefully find. Except for two, you should avoid them at all costs. For now, CatNap you need to be more concerned about. Playcare is his church. His hunting ground. Whatever he wants it to be."

There was a moment of silence as you could feel CraftyCorn holding you tightly, and you could tell that the three were worried and afraid.

"You all should go, now," Bubba said as he went to the controllers without looking at anyone. "You too Crafty, you should go with them."

"What? No!" Crafty cried as she pulled away from you and chased after Bubba. She took a hold of his stump arm and pulled it into her plush hooves. "Are you coming with us?"

Bubba shook his head. "No," he softly responded before turning to face her and lightly touched the corner of her face. Giving her a soft smile. "You should go with them and hide under the statue. You'll be safe down there while I keep an eye out from here. I'll be fine alone until you all finish your mission. Just promise me you'll stay strong and don't let CatNap get near you."

She nodded her head and leaned into Bubba's touch, tapping her silver horn on his broken trunk. "You stay safe too," Crafty tells him before pulling away and joining you once more.

You could see the sadness growing in the elephant's vacant eyes as he turned away, his back to you all.

"Don't worry, Bubba my friend," KickinChicken said, "I'll keep her safe," he said before joining your side as well.

"You better," Bubba said, before giving you and everyone a last glance before disappearing in another room.

Once Bubba was out of sight, each one of you stepped into the trolley. You saw some small book bags and papers scattered, as if those who were once in here had been rushed out and never retrieved their things for years.

Suddenly, the doors closed behind you. The doors shut with a crank before the cart moved. With a jolt, the cart moved forward in a tunnel ahead.

"Hello!" Boomed a voice from an intercom. "My name is Elliot Ludwig."

KickinChicken groaned, "This guy, don't mind it, it's just a recordin' and borin'," he said as he leaned against the walls with his wings crossed. Crafty stood on the other side, her vacant eyes looking directly where Bubba would be as they pulled away. He was nowhere in sight at this point and might be controlling the cart to operate. But Crafty looks sad and probably regretting her decision to come with them in silence. The voice on the intercom continued as they kept moving forward.

"When you look around at the world today, what one thing do you think it needs more of? I asked around, once. "Money, I never have enough.""

KickinChicken scuffed a laugh at that. "How about food?" He asked, "That's more important."

You turn your attention to KickinChicken, "There is food in the vending machine, I saw earlier," you mentioned.

You witnessed how his void mouth distoriated and deformed with disgust. "Are you crazy? Have you tried those things? They are disgusting! Blaaaa!" He gagged.

You quickly shut your mouth and turn away as your gaze looks out the window before you. You realize you are no longer in a tunnel but a cave of some sort. Wait a second, you realized, how deep is this factory? You looked around, but it was so hard to see with little light that was provided, but you can see something red glowing ahead, which the trolley was heading to. It was a giant, sphere metal dome-like you seen from Sci-fi movies or video games. It felt more eerie and more of heading to a prison than a happy place. It did not feel right, not even the voice from the intercom was helping with this situation.

"A smile is hope," it said, "A smile is love. A smile is understanding. And there is nothing more gratifying to my soul than being the reason for a child's smile. To be the spark that ignites all their hopes and dreams. For it is only through hopes and dreams that we may create a better world. One where our children need not to be afraid. One where they are protected. After all, this company and its toys are nothing without them. These children deserve to smile, they deserve to love, and they deserve a safe home!"

The trolley moved closer and closer to the red light that soon started to glow so bright, you had to shield your eyes and look for a moment before it fades.

"That is why it is with enormous pleasure that as the founder of Playtime Co., I announce…"

You heard the pauses and looked back up to witness a small area that looked almost like a town.

"PLAYCARE!" It announced, "Our very own on-site orphanage. But it's not only that. It's a school, a playhouse, a place to belong."

A prison, you thought to yourself as you looked around and could see the buildings it mentioned but it was small when you look down from above and can see the fake painted trees and distant skies in the background.

"Our very own ecosystem beneath the surface, dedicated in every inch and detail to ensure a child's smile."

You raised your brow at that, when you noticed fluffy clouds hanging from strings above the town. Everything looked fake. Even the trees and grass, for there was no actual life within it.

"May Playcare bring joy, inspiration, and smiles to all who enter those doors. For what gives life its meaning, if not a smile?" It ended right where the trolley came to a stop and the doors wide open where you were facing. Dust blew in as you cough and wiped your eyes from the debris.

KickinChicken steps forward and places a feather hand over your shoulder as he helps you guid out of the cart back into the platform. Once the air started to clear, you can see everything from a different angle, but it was still unsettling for there was a lot of blood splattered all over the place and some things looked damaged as if something crashed into things.

Suddenly, you jump when you hear a ringing sound, which also made KickinChicken yelp in surprise. Crafty was the only one who rushed over to answer it in the corner. "Hello, Bubba?" She answers it, but her horse ears draw back and she slouch before handing the phone to you. "It's for you," she said before hugging herself after you took the phone from her.

You placed the phone to your ear. "Hello?" You said as a familiar child tune rang out.

"Psssst. It's me again, Ollie. Cool place, right?" He asked.

"Eh… not really. I saw Disney did it better," you responded. But it seems this kid just brushed off your comment but you notice KickinChicken mouthing in a

whisper to Crafty, "Disney, what's that?" Who just shrugged her shoulders.

"The kids used to live here," Ollie said, "Now look at it. Anyway… do you see that statue in the middle of the room?"

You looked around before quickly noticing a giant rabbit in between a pig one and a… unicorn that looks like Crafty… They seem to be holding hands and right beside her statue was Bubba and others you can see from behind. One you can see his three crowned feathers that look similar to KickinChicken. They don't look tall and lean like the original ones. They were more short and stout. Maybe they were smaller then? You told yourself.

"Take the stairs that go under it," Ollie continued, "There's a really cool room in there that power's literally ALL of Playcare! I can give you a key down there." He said.

You nodded as you approached the thing, still in awe by the looks of it. The closer you got, you heard something jump right behind one of the statues and landed right behind you. You quickly turn around before feeling your breath being knocked out of you and being pushed back against a wall with a hard slam, then a voice rang out:

"I'm Hoppy Hopscotch! Wanna try hopping to the moon with me?"

Hey everyone, I want to say thank you to all the encouragement and following of this story! You all are amazing!

Now that is said, I like to inform you that this is going to get dark the further you read. I hope I got the characters down, so far, and please expect unsettling situations that are coming real soon.

Again, thank you all and please, give me your feedback on what you expect next. For I have already hinted some context between some sentences so far to the best of my ability.