Mable: Can you believe that Security Breach comes out tomorrow? Here's hoping the whole thing works out, because I need a map of that place stat. XD But in any case- Enjoy!
Going Home in a Box
Chapter Three
Scott was just waiting for that phone call. No matter what he was doing- work, taking meals, feeding the kittens- he was waiting for the phone to ring and very prepared to have his life torn apart once he answered it.
Fazbear Entertainment still had his number. They always did and they always called back.
Apparently Ennard must've picked up on it because he was sticking close by. He hung out in the office for a while, which was significantly more cramped because of it, but his presence was comforting. He kept his hands loyally on Scott's shoulders, occasionally squeezing comfortingly or patting like they were in a boxing movie, and he was riling him up for a fight. Eventually settling into resting his head on Scott's and watching him work on his computer.
It was nice. The security of his warm, wire laced arms kept Scott grounded even while his thoughts were trying harder and harder to float away.
As luck would have it, and he was on the phone on and off numerous times that day, it was while Ennard had stepped out of the room to check on Baby that he finally got a call. His breath hitched as his eyes snapped to the phone, and for a long moment he considered not even getting it, but he had to. He slowly reached over and then snatched it off the receiver and pressed it to his ear.
"Uh… Hello?"
His heart was already rising in his throat before he even heard the voice on the other side.
"Afternoon, Scott. May I speak with Ben?"
Scott exhaled in relief; it was just Michael. "Oh, uh, sure! No problem. He's right here." He turned his chair to face the door. He had heard the rapid footsteps when the phone started ringing and as expected, there was Ennard standing in the doorway. He was silently staring when Scott handed the phone to him. "It's Michael."
Ennard instantly perked up and excitedly took the phone and clattered it to his mask.
"Ha ha hey, Buddy! I was just wondering about you! Lemme just move out to the living room, Scott's on the clock," he chattered sociably. He then handed the phone back to Scott. As he went to take the phone, the amalgam swooped down and pressed the mouth of his mask against the top of his head in a would-be kiss. This brought a smile out of Scott and Ennard giggled as he pulled back with a little goodbye salute and slid out.
Scott was feeling a little better, maybe from the relief and maybe from Ennard's antics, and he scooted his chair back up to his desk. He was planning on hanging up his phone as soon as he heard Ennard speaking from the other line, but he hesitated when he heard what it was that the clown asked.
"So, what didja find on this new Freddy's?"
Against his better judgement, Scott paused and then tentatively lifted the phone closer. Just for a moment, just long enough to hear Michael's answer.
"So far, not much. This is nothing new. Freddy's used to be notoriously tight-lipped," Springtrap answered. There was a tapping noise on the other side, him typing with one hand. "I even checked maps to see if I could find anything. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing saying what it is... Not that I would doubt what Jeremy said was true."
"Hey, I ain't gonna risk my teeth to doubt him. He called that thing with "the Snake" weeks before screwy stuff started going around. He knows things."
"He knows a Fazbear Entertainment logo when he sees it, you mean."
"But see, here's the thing I don't get," Ennard said, lowering his voice. His tone took a much tighter edge, like he was hissing the words out. It was an amount of frustration Scott hadn't heard since Ennard's reaction yesterday. "How does Freddy's get away with opening an. entire. mall. The place just went from dead in the water and now they're building a whole mall?!"
"Which tells me that the new Fazbear Entertainment is significantly bigger than the old one. That can be problematic," Springtrap said cryptically. "…If Scott has any old contacts, he should start asking around now."
"Hang on, I'll ask." Scott expected to hear Ennard walking back to the office, so it was probably in his best interest to hang up the phone or set it aside, so they didn't hear-. "Hey Scott, you still got connections to Fazbear Entertainment, right?"
It wasn't the fact that Ennard noticed the lack of him hanging up and calling him out on it, it was the fact that Springtrap made no sound of confusion or surprise. Meaning that they both knew he had been listening the whole time. It made Scott's mouth dry out and his face go flush with embarrassment, knowing it was too late to hang up now.
"Uh… Well, sort of. I never really kept in contact with anyone except for- except for Mike and Fritz, obviously, but I probably have some numbers somewhere. So, yeah, I guess I could, you know, call around or email and see if someone knows something about whatever this is," Scott strung together in one long ramble. He could hear Ennard barely withhold a snicker while Springtrap was completely unaffected.
"If you could, yes. Just don't mention your connections to Foxy's or this warehouse. We don't need them to think we're all in this together or they might begin to look a little too deeply," he said.
"Right, right. So, I'll just… Go do that. Take care, it's going to get cold tonight," Scott fumbled out. He proceeded to hang up the phone and hang his head in his hands, rubbing his temples, thoroughly embarrassed.
On the line there was a few seconds of silence before Ennard broke it.
"I bet he's as red as my nose right now," Ennard said. Clearly holding back, a giggle and voice sounding like it should've come from a brilliant grin. "Shame I missed it!"
"You know he was listening to make sure you weren't going to hike over here," Springtrap said matter-of-factly. This ended up coaxing that stifled laugh out.
"Ha ha! I know, I know."
"Don't be giving him a hard time."
"I'm not! Who knows how many times I've listened in on his calls?"
Springtrap decided to remain pointedly silent at what almost sounded like pride in Ennard's voice. Of course, he would be proud of something that ridiculous. He rolled his eyes in his suit and readjusted the phone.
"I'm going to see what I can find, but like I said with Scott on the phone, it's looking like everything's clammed up… Which is not good for us."
"Well, I mean, the place isn't even BUILT yet," Ennard said, now having the concise tone as he leaned against the wall. "Once they got the walls up, they'll have to put something out. Like an ad or something."
"Don't you go over there."
"You sure? I've got a flying machine out in the garage and a helipad on the roof. I could be there lickety-split!" Ennard teased. He could hear the other groan on the other side. "Even if I wanted to go over there- which I really, really don't after last time- there's no way I'm getting over there without a ride. Unless Scott decides to drive me over there, I'm not hiking down the highway to see it."
"Good. We don't need to get dragged into that… Neither of us do."
Yet there was an edge in his tone that caught Ennard's attention. Oddly enough, not one of suspicion but instead of a solemn thoughtfulness. That tone Michael got when he was thinking of doing something and, considering that he had said absolutely nothing about his feelings for Freddy's, it could've been anything. It set off alarm bells in Ennard's head; it made him wonder if he was planning on doing something risky.
"Did you catch the show last night?"
And now he was trying to change the subject, clever.
"Oh, so you think you're gonna drop it that easily, huh? That I'm just going to 'lose the plot' the second you bring up something I like?... Well yes, I am, because I did see it and it was ha-ha-ands down the WORST episode ever," Ennard vented with a laugh. "What was even going on?! A baby beauty pageant? Their kid's been missing for, what, three episodes and they find him at a baby beauty pageant?!"
"And would you believe they spoiled it too? They revealed the twist- the "twist"- in a commercial that aired directly before the show came on. I've been watching this show for years and they've never blown it that bad."
It seemed like it worked well enough. The conversation about Freddy's wasn't going anywhere and even if it was, Springtrap was done thinking about it. So, instead, their day would go on as usual.
Unfortunately, the life of Michael Afton wasn't one where 'usual' was preferred. Especially in these winter months, where venturing too far away from the office was uncomfortable. Heating the warehouse was difficult with its size, so it was significantly easier to hole up in one room and ride it out. It wasn't like he had anywhere to go anyways.
At least he had gone ahead and agreed to get the office more presentable. Everyone was always offering it and while Springtrap didn't want unnecessary charity, he realized quickly that he wasn't stubborn enough to lay on the floor and stare at the ceiling twenty-four seven. Over the past few months, he had managed to secure an old couch, a television set, some posters and knick-knacks, and various things he scavenged from the warehouse. It reminded him of his old place.
It was evening now, and he was laying across the couch as the space heater blasted at one end and the office fan aimed at him from the desk. He was somewhere near sleep with a blanket thrown over his lower half. His old one from back at the house, which Marionette had managed to find and Mike had brought over for him. The TV was on something but turned down, so he didn't have to listen.
So, he heard when a banging came from somewhere in the warehouse.
He sat upwards immediately, fighting past his cumbersome suit, and shoving the blanket off his lower half. He cocked his head to listen and heard the resounding banging again. Almost sounded like someone knocking, but it was one in the morning and practically freezing outside and would've been impossible for anyone to hike over in this temperature.
He pushed off the couch and strode towards the office door, grabbing a flashlight on the way out. He didn't need it, but the beam of light was comfortable and normal, and perfect for blinding an unsuspecting burglar before making his move.
Though he was rather certain that he knew what was banging on the door.
"That better not be him," he said gravelly as he passed by Candy Cadet. The bot had been placed outside the office door to try and absorb any of the heat it could. It never showed any interest in coming into the office and instead seemed content to rest through the chill. He always seemed more aware than he let on, so he was probably aware that the office was terribly cramped.
Candy Cadet muttered something, briefly flickering to life before fading back into its hibernation. It hadn't even said anything cohesive and yet Springtrap felt like it was a confirmation.
He stopped beside the warehouse door and listened to the knocking. He knew who it was, but paranoia made him knock back and wait for a response. There was rapid- excited- knocking back. That was all he needed to unlock and swing the door open. As expected, there was Ennard, clothed in only an oversized raincoat.
"Get in here," Springtrap said wearily. Then yanked Ennard in by the shoulder and slid the heavy door shut.
Ennard staggered at the pull. Which wasn't usual, but his wires had stiffened up due to the cold. He gave a full-body shudder and a casual, "Catch ya at a bad time?"
"What are you doing walking around in this?" Springtrap asked with that same exasperation.
"What? It's a jacket! Helps keep the snow off."
"You know I mean this weather and no, that is not a jacket."
"It's got a soft lining. It's close enough."
Springtrap grumbled and led Ennard back to the office. He wished he could say he was surprised, but this was entirely in-character for him. Popping up randomly in the middle of the night was a common occurrence. What wasn't nearly as common was him willing to hike in such frigid temperatures. He knew better than to play around in heavy snowfall.
Ennard didn't shiver. His body wasn't made to do it. Instead, his wires would tighten up and twitch as they warmed back up. As he stepped into the office he began to twitch under his raincoat, flinching a little. A dead giveaway that he had gotten colder than he had let on. He looked over towards the couch and noticed the blanket haphazardly thrown aside.
"Aww, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you up," Ennard honestly apologized. He looked over the couch before added, "…Buddy, you gotta get a bed."
"And put it where, the ceiling?" Springtrap asked, shutting the door behind them.
"How about that giant basement that would probably heat a lot better and have a lot more rooms?" Ennard retorted matter-of-factly.
Springtrap scoffed. "I'm not yet desperate enough to go hide in the basement like a gremlin. If I wanted that, I would've taken up Fritz's offer to stay with him." He turned back to the clown with an inquisitive look, watching the clown crowd over the heater. "You usually call beforehand," he pointed out.
"I did," Ennard said matter-of-factly. He pointed towards the desk and Springtrap looked over and only then remembered that he had taken the phone off the hook. Considering what time it was, he didn't exactly regret this decision. "But this is better! You would've told me not to come."
"I'd take that as a sign," Springtrap scoffed. Ennard chuckled a little, but something felt off about all of this. "What's really going on?"
"Nothing! Can't a guy come visit his best bunny pal?" the amalgam asked. As though that wasn't dodgy enough, he suddenly snatched up the remote and started flipping through channels. Clicking through it suspiciously fast, like he was on a mission and knew exactly where he was going, especially when he glanced at the hanging clock. Then he suddenly stopped, teeth opening in a 'grin'. "Hey, look what's on!"
The Immortal and the Restless was on and only a few minutes in, and shockingly enough, it looked to be the awful episode from last night. It didn't take a genius to know this was exactly what he came for.
Ennard looked between Springtrap and the TV before snickering. "Okay, before you start thinking I'm some kind of speed demon, they were airing the episode before this, so I took a gamble and made my way over here."
"And if you were wrong and it wasn't coming on?"
"Then great! The episode sucks."
That was what finally dragged a chuckle out of Springtrap. Ennard perked, shirked off his raincoat, and dropped onto the couch before eagerly snatching up and cocooning the blanket around him. He was twitching even more; still recovering.
It always baffled Springtrap how Ennard could be so reckless, but he shouldn't have been surprised. This was one of those things he had brought over from his past life. The whole clown persona and Funtime Freddy voice didn't matter, Ben's mannerisms oozed out of everything he did. Just like back then, Springtrap gave into the madness pretty easily.
The next two hours flew by. Two, because after the newest episode an old one was aired, a relatively decent one, so Ennard stuck around to watch it. The whole time the conversation jumped in between the show itself and whatever else was on their mind. Freddy's only dropped in and stayed for a few seconds before both decided that they didn't want to give it more time than that.
Unfortunately, it couldn't last. Ennard was watching the tv closely as the second episode went off to see if another would come on, then groaned loudly when it turned into an infomercial.
"Have you ever wanted to capture the taste of finely seared meat even after the meal is over? Now introducing the "Sauce Separator!" With the Sauce Separator, now you can turn all of your juices and drippings into a delicious glaze."
"It's moments like this that make me thankful I don't have a stomach," Springtrap muttered as he started flipping through channels. He noticed Ennard's silence and glanced over. "…Please don't tell me you're considering it."
"Nah, not that… Well yeah, a little- heh- but no. I'm thinking about how I'm gonna get home. Trying to think of the quickest route back since the sewer's a no-go," Ennard said. His arms crossed and eyes tilted downward in thought.
"Still pretending like you're not staying over?" Springtrap asked nonchalantly. Wouldn't be the first time, and it wasn't like Scott would get upset. Scott had been very clear in the past that he prioritized Ennard's safety over whether he got home or not. He just didn't want to hear that he spent the night camped out in a ditch. Though he was taking the office chair or floor tonight, he just didn't know it.
Ennard chuckled and stood up, tossing the blanket off onto Springtrap, who caught it, and grabbing his raincoat. "Well, I'm off!" Springtrap rumbled and muted the tv.
"You can't think this is a good idea. It's only a few hours until morning. Just hold out here and Scott can come pick you up." His concern rung loud and clear, but the clown's mind had been made up before he left the house.
"Can't! Already told Baby I was gonna be back… an hour ago. She knows not to worry unless I'm a no-show, ha ha!"
As much as Springtrap wanted to argue his point, he decided not to. It wasn't too much more danger than the clown usually put himself in, so he initially decided to let it drop. "If you insist. Should I walk you out?"
"Nah, you're good! You stay all cozy in here and I'll lock the door on my way out into the frigid tundra," Ennard said with a wink. Springtrap rolled his eyes and said his goodbyes as Ennard shut the door and started to walk off.
It was at that moment that Springtrap suddenly had a gut feeling that this was a mistake. One that came when he noticed some kind of whitish noise in the room. Maybe he was just being paranoid, only now listening closely once he knew Ennard was on his way out, but he got up to turn off the fan and went to listen beside the door that headed directly outside, now blocked by a file cabinet.
Either that was constant wind or sleet. He wasn't sure which was worse, but he took out of the office immediately.
"Ben- Ennard," he called after him, catching him down by the end of the shelves.
"Did you just call me Bennard?" Ennard asked, a teasing glint on his eyes like he was about to pounce.
"No. Look, say I'm overreacting all you want, but you can't go out in this. You're nothing but exposed wiring and you're wearing nothing but raincoat. Lizzie will be fine. We can call Scott in the morning; it should be any minute now."
"Aww, are you worrying about me again? I told Scott you had a soft side!" Ennard teased. "Heh, but no can do. As much as I'd love to hang out here all night, watching late-night trash and shooting the breeze, I gotta get going."
But Springtrap was aware enough to know that this cheekiness was an attempt to rile him enough to be let out of the snare. Though it would be right out of the snare and into the ice box.
"Ben, I'm being dead serious. I don't know how you made it here like this," he admitted. He forced his voice to soften, trying to get through to him. "If you don't want to stay then we can call Scott now, but I don't want you going back out in this."
"Scott's already under enough stress with this whole Fazbear's Revenge thing. I'm not adding onto that by waking him up in the dead of night to drive over here and pick me up, or by not being there when he gets up. You can come with me if you want, but I've got to go."
"I wouldn't be caught dead out in this weather," Springtrap said flatly. He mimicked a sigh, crackling through whatever speaker was left deep in his chest, and raised his hands. "…Fine. I'll let you go, but you need to watch yourself. Keep an eye out for any static, fuzziness, or numbness. If you collapse and shut down not only is there a chance of permanent damage, but there is a very real risk of you getting caught."
"Yeah, I know…" Ennard's voice finally fell enough to betray some degree of unease. Though it seemed more like guilt than fear for his own wellbeing. He forced himself to perk up, "But I'll be quick! I know a shortcut that cuts off a couple of minutes, and it's pretty quiet out there so nobody's going to see me. I'll make it! And I'll call you when I get there."
"Please do," Springtrap muttered. He didn't want Ennard to go and he hated himself for not being able to go with him. He knew his body couldn't handle that much cold and moisture without risking a full suit failure, and he wasn't about to be found by the police locked up on the side of the road, since Ennard wouldn't be able to move him in this state.
Frustrated and reluctant, Springtrap kept his gaze turned away and his fists clenched tight. Ennard picked up on the posture quickly and this time took it seriously.
"You really think I'm gonna die out there, don't you? Michael, I'm gonna be fine! I've walked this same hike dozens of times!"
"In weather this bad?" Springtrap challenged.
"Well, yeah! Didja think it just got this bad?" Ennard replied. He patted the other on the back comfortingly. "I'm going to be quick, okay? Plus, I got the raincoat to keep off anything too wet. I'll make it."
"If you are certain," Springtrap stiltedly agreed. Though with all these warnings Ennard wasn't feeling nearly as confident. "Be quick, be safe, and call me."
The amalgam nodded and after a few more goodbyes was finally let off the hook enough to be let outside.
It was only once he was outside that he started to wonder if maybe Springtrap had a point.
It wasn't much colder when he came over earlier, but it was coming down harder. Not just snowflakes and frosty powder either, but something icy and wet that hung in the air. This wasn't great for his wires. They were mostly waterproof- well, in the places where they were properly covered- but that wasn't to say that something would get inside and start frying circuits. He knew he had a chance to turn back then, but instead he pressed on.
The good thing about this weather was that the roads were mostly dead. A lot of businesses were closed too. Though, that was sort of a given considering that it was the middle of the night. At least there weren't any cars on the road. He spotted one coming here and was seeing none in the beginning of his trek back. The snow had started to settle and crunched under his feet, but his weight helped keep him from slipping.
He knew he should've worn something heavier, but he was too afraid it would slow him down. Last time he prowled around dressed in his Freddy head mock-up he had actually had a car stop and stare at him, only to move on when he waved and gave a thumbs up, apparently convincing them that he was a totally normal human. Because normal humans walked around in bear costumes at night- though considering this town's history, that might've not been too unusual.
He just had to stay focused and keep ahead. The first quarter of the journey seemed to go alright. He was making okay time, but he felt the chill starting to sink into his wires. They burned a little, oddly enough, and he wrapped his arms tight around himself. He could feel the dregs of warmth collected by the space heater settling in the middle of his chest and rode that as long as he could.
Until about the halfway point, when he was feeling a little more confident, but a little less of anything else.
"Almost there! Just down the alley, around the Gas and Go, jump a couple fences, and home sweet home! Get all warmed up, get in bed once I'm not suspiciously icy, and- no, wait. Call Michael first. Do that while I'm warming up," Ennard said to himself. He readjusted in his raincoat and paused, then readjusted again, rubbing the soft interior against the wires of his chest. Noticing that he could hear it but couldn't really feel it.
"Oookay, that's not a great sign," he mumbled. He was more than a little uneased by it. He reached up and pressed into the wires around his neck and upper chest. He could feel through them, but he noticed, disturbingly, that his fingers were also completely numb. He wasn't oblivious, he knew that this was a sign that he was passing the point of too cold.
He stopped for a second to consider if he should head back. Even turned to start heading back only to stare at where he just came from and realizing he was pretty much at the halfway mark. No matter where he went it wouldn't be quick.
"…I just made a big mistake, didn't I?"
That thought was enough to send him into a brief panic mode. He turned around and continued onwards, striding a little faster, chatting up himself.
"It's fine! I mean, it's not great, but I'm almost there! Just- Just gotta keep moving! Ha, I'm gonna be so messed up once I get home…" Ennard tried to think of how embarrassing it would be to get home half frozen and stiffened up like a statue, so he didn't have to think about the possibility that he wouldn't make it home. He was overreacting, he kept telling himself. Just in case, he tried to run down the alley.
Only to stop and bow over once he realized how much of a mistake that was. Not only was the windchill enough to reach what few bits of him still felt enough to function, but it made all of his stiffening wires burn. He had to slow down and carefully plod down the road, trying to seek protection beside a tall wooden fence that only went to his shoulders. He pulled his arms in and tried to lace his fingers into his wires.
By time he reached the end of the alleyway, something was going terribly wrong. It took him a minute to notice it since his mind was primarily focused on keeping moving ahead. The panicked thoughts quieting down as he pressed on, slightly pressing his shoulder on the wooden fence, looking around occasionally but not as much as he should've- not that there was anyone there.
He came off the fence and prepared to walk across the gravel road between it and the Gas and Go. Then he would walk around the back of the gas station and continue on towards home. That was the plan and he intended to see it through.
Until he came off the fence and started walking only to not feel his own steps and stagger. He stopped a few steps into the road like a deer in headlights, staring dead ahead, trying to shift his legs. There was something lost in translation- he could move his legs, and they were actually moving, but he wasn't feeling any of the process up until his hips. His legs were entirely numb, and he couldn't figure out how this suddenly happened.
Unless it didn't suddenly happen. Unless it slowly happened and Ennard wasn't noticing it because his mind was wobbly. Like a plate of Jell-o slipping between panic and then smoothly sinking into vacantness as he pushed on ahead.
"This isn't good," that was the first cohesive thought he managed in the last few minutes. Like a lightbulb above his head, the realization that he just passed some sort of threshold. At least, he wasn't hopping fences in this state.
He looked around at his surroundings in silence, as though reverting to animal instincts as he watched for predators on the horizon. He needed to move, but he wasn't sure if he could. Not until he forced another step. It didn't feel right at all. It felt like his wires were about to unravel underneath him, even if they were solidly stuck in place. His mushy mind briefly awoke with the amusing thought that he was shuffling around like a zombie, wondering how bad it looked.
He got behind the Gas and Go but things were declining fast. So fast that he briefly considered if it was worth going inside the gas station, which was the only store he saw that was still open. For an instant his cold addled mind wondered if he could get spotted and run and just have it get blown off or be able to chat whoever was inside into helping him out. That was when he really realized that he wasn't thinking straight.
"I can't make it like this. I'm going to keel over in the streets," he though. He stiffly staggered behind the gas station looking for something to help him. Maybe even a cardboard box or a dumpster to huddle in, though at this point he didn't think either would be warm enough.
What would be though? The gas station bathroom, which he suddenly spotted at the back corner of the building. One of those ones with an outdoor entrance, thank goodness. He got a second wind as he made his way over and fumbled with the icy knob, which he couldn't feel on his hand and had to base off his rapidly narrowing vision. He went to turn it, expecting a nice, heated bathroom that he could warm up in before hurrying home.
Except, as should've been expected, the door was locked, and the knob didn't turn. Though Ennard wasn't sure if it was locked or if it was his hand because of how numb he was. He tried to grasp it with both and could hear the metal of his fingers sliding on the knob. Frustration and panic took over and he gave a shove.
Only to be rewarded with a loud snapping noise. He froze up, eyes wide and teeth clenched, and slowly looked down.
It was just the doorknob that broke off in his hand, not his wrist. He was only slightly relieved, but the panic returned as he realized he lost his way into the bathroom. Couldn't keep his strength in check and now, as he tried to claw in where the knob had been seated, knew it wasn't going to open. He kept fighting with it, not willing to go back to walking. He didn't know how much further he could get.
He was still grappling with the door when he heard something nearby. His hearing was unaffected, but his reaction times were delayed, turning his head and listening. Then suddenly recognizing the sound of footsteps coming around the gas station. Someone was coming. Running on instincts again, he looked around, spotted the dumpster, and threw himself behind it. He ended up slamming into it a little too hard and making an unintentional amount of noise.
"Hey! Is someone back here?" a voice called from the other corner of the building. Man's voice, somewhere in his twenties to thirties, probably not easily fooled and Ennard wasn't in a state to outrun him. He was getting closer too. He muttered something under his breath in confusion as he saw the bathroom door and missing doorknob. Something like, "What on God's green earth?"
That flashlight beam started to get a little too close to the dumpster and Ennard had to act fast.
"I'm sorry! I was just trying to get into the bathroom and the knob came off!" Ennard called back. Though he didn't use his voice. He purposefully mimicked the voice of an old man, a character he saw on one of his shows, just taking care to try and make it sound hushed and gravelly, fearful and sympathetic. "I'm really sorry! Pl-Please don't call the police!"
"What?... Uh, no, I wasn't going to. How did you even…?" The man sounded thoroughly confused. The voice slowed him down, but apparently didn't stop him as he started walking closer. "It's okay, sir. If you had some trouble with the bathroom door then we can fix it. No big deal… Where are you?"
"Over here, but don't come over." Ennard feigned a hack. "I'm sick."
If it wasn't for Ennard's head being so fuzzy, he might've realized that instead of setting up an innocent defense and dissuade, he was actually luring the man in closer. He was trying to not look like a criminal and instead came off as helpless.
"You're sick? Then why are you-… Do you want to come inside? Maybe I could call someone to come get you, you can come in and warm up a little."
The guy was really trying, Ennard realized, but that amount of willingness was scary in this kind of situation. He slid closer against the fence as he watched the light shifting around, pulling in tighter so his legs wouldn't be seen.
"Oh, that's awfully kind of you! I'll think about it. You go on inside. You'll catch your death out here!" To drive this home, Ennard mimicked a gross sounding cough. One that by the end sounded more like wire rejection than hacking. The man heard this and winced back, and Ennard lathered it on. "H-Heh. S-Sorry, Sonny. I might've had one too many- and now they're all coming up!"
The attendant's face scrunched up at that mental image and he turned partially like he was almost considering it. Then he stilled himself, took a deep- if exasperated- breath, and turned back towards the dumpster. He started to make his way over to it. "Let me just help you-."
"No! I-It's fine! I don't need your help! I may be old, but I'm not feeble!" Ennard called back. Except the man was getting closer and the light was too, and he couldn't crawl into the dumpster or behind it and everything was hazy and distorted. He had to think quick. "Urck! Hack! D-Don't bring that- Don't bring th-th-that li-i-ight overrrrrr- j-jusst stay b-b-ack! J-J-Jusssst stay ba-a-ack!"
Ennard flinched and clamped a hand over his mouth. That was definitely not the voice that was supposed to come out. It startled him almost as badly as the gas station attendant, who stopped in place and stared at the dumpster. The only sound being from wind in the distance.
After a long moment without anything being said, the man found his nerve to speak. "Uh… Sir? You… Are you okay?"
Ennard knew he wanted a response and forced himself to calm down, calculating what he wanted to say, and then called out.
"I'mmm f-f-fiii-innee!"
But he wasn't fine, and his voice was totally mangled. It was his horrifyingly butchered real voice pouring forth even when he tried to mimic anything else. It had to do with the fact that everything in his chest and neck was either numb or fuzzy, including his head. Things just weren't turning over and between that and the lack of focus he was slowly breaking down, dooming himself.
Oh right, and the guy was still there. Or he was there until Ennard suddenly heard rapid footsteps as the guy broke into a sprint away from the dumpster and back to the front of the gas station. Now he was probably going to call the police.
…Wait, call. A phone. There was a payphone on the side of the gas station.
All at once, Ennard had a possible out and he struggled to get himself up. His legs fumbled beneath him, but he managed to get upright and stagger in the direction of the payphone. He noticed the world was starting to tilt a little bit more. His sense of balance was shifting, and his vision was starting to get static around the edges. It was the strain on his servos, and a good indication that he didn't have much longer before he went into an emergency shutdown.
Though if he didn't, he was probably looking at severe damage. He briefly wondered if an animatronic could function after reaching such cold temperatures. If it would be like hibernating or if it would also burn out his core.
"Focus!" Ennard scolded himself, snapping out of his foggy thoughts so he could collapse against the payphone and fumble around with it. He snatched the receiver up and got it against his mask before raising his fingers to dial.
Wait, no, he couldn't. He needed change, two quarters to be exact. His hand lingered there as he stared at the fifty-cent sign- which he should've known was going to be there and yet totally forgot about it- and tried not to break down into complete panic as his last means of escape slipped through his fingers. After a long moment he lowered his hand and after a few misaims, activated the coin release out of desperation.
To his shock and reinvigorated hope, a single quarter dropped into the coin return. He scrambled to grab it, fingers unable to feel and grab properly. Eventually he had to catch it in his wired palm and hold it to his chest, making sure it didn't slip out. One down, one more to go. One quarter away from safety.
Ennard began to look around the ground beneath the payphone, catching himself to keep from teetering as he leaned down. Nothing, as to be expected. No spontaneously dropped quarters waiting in the crusty dregs of snow.
There were three options. He could give up now and either try to keep going or look for a place to hide and hunker down, he could keep crawling around hoping he found a quarter, or he could do something very risky.
Going into the gas station was outside the question. Even in his edging on deluded state, he knew he couldn't get spotted on camera. Getting seen or heard by one guy was nothing to the fallout of video evidence. If he could get that guy back out here, then maybe he could get a quarter from him. By any means possible. Which wouldn't be too hard if he was afraid.
Ennard slinked down the side of the gas station until he reached the windows. He lifted his fist over a section of window that was covered by a sale poster and gave a few firm bangs, just like he would've on the warehouse door. No response, so he began to bang harder, desperately, all but smacking his hand against the door and feeling nothing except the dull tug of his wires. They normally moved like muscles along his limbs, but not they were tight in place.
He vaguely wondered if he was damaging himself and couldn't feel it.
Finally, he spotted movement through the crack between the wall and the poster as the attendant hustled by. Ennard flung himself back, falling to the ground and hastily crawling on all fours back down the side of the building and around the corner. He then lay in weight as he heard the hasty footsteps making their way down.
"I'm not afraid of you! Get out of here or I'm calling the cops!" the attendant yelled threateningly. The cracking in his voice showed the bravado was only skin deep. At this point Ennard was too far gone to be concerned.
His teeth were clenched shut and he couldn't open his mouth, but that didn't stop him from speaking. He didn't even try to disguise it.
"Neeeed a quar-r-r-rter-r-rrr."
"…What?" The man sounded somewhere between horrified by it speaking and flabbergasted by the request. "A what? Did you say a quarter?"
"YES."
"You want a quarter," the man repeated. His flashlight was still shining down past the end of the gas station. "…Why?" he sounded suspicious.
"Ma-a-a-a-ake a c-c-alll," Ennard answered. There was a long moment of silence where that request hung in the air. He was starting to become impatient, and as weak as his body was coming his resolve was even weaker. He was going into survival mode, and if that meant rushing this man and stealing change directly from his pockets then it was going to have to happen, and it was going to have to happen soon.
Just when his better judgement was gone and Ennard started to stiltedly lean forward, the attendant finally answered.
"If I give you a quarter… will you get out of here? I take back what I said, I won't call anybody if you'll just leave. Please. What- Whatever you are."
Cover was entirely blown now it seemed, but Ennard could care less about that. The guy didn't see him so he could deal with the consequences later. He needed that quarter and he needed warmth before he did something foolish.
"YES."
The man took a deep breath. "Well, okay then." He reached in to get his wallet and scrambled with it without taking his eyes off of the space ahead. He fumbled to get out a quarter and then held it in his fingers. "…I'm going to throw it on the ground- don't come out! Just… Stay over there," he said. His heart was racing as he gently swung his arm to underhandedly toss the quarter. It ended up stopping a little past the payphone with a clink.
Ennard lifted his head at the sound. He didn't dare to look around the corner, but he knew exactly what it was. Hearing was pretty much the only sense not currently dulled.
"ThhhanK yo-ou, S-S-SooonnnNnny," he murmured. Then lowered his voice to its deepest pitch, it heavy with static and corruption. "Go… Back… In…"
The attendant didn't need to be told twice. He backed down the side of the gas station, slipping at least once on the way, and skirted inside the building. Probably locking the door and going straight to call the police, but Ennard was too busy clamoring around and grappling for the quarter to care. He managed to snare it and stood up.
The whole world went with him, and he fell into the brick wall so hard that his vision jolted. He was numb enough to pull himself up and lean back into the payphone where he popped the quarters in and slowly, carefully dialed Scott's number.
The phone rang, and rang, and rang.
"Please, please, please," Ennard inwardly begged. He slumped partially into the payphone to keep himself upright. "Come on, come on…"
And right when he was about to run out of rings, and lose both the quarters and his last chance-
"Hello?"
It was Baby. Against all odds she had answered the phone, even though she very seldom was the person to answer the phone unless expecting a call. In Ennard's eyes it was pretty much a miracle.
He tried to speak, and his voice still came out in a breathy, staticky crackle instead of forming words. He tried to pry open his mouth hoping it would help and was rewarded with a full body shudder. He couldn't get anything to work.
"Ennard?"
But of course, she would connect the sound of broken machinery gargling on the phone with him. He couldn't even muster up the feeling of being insulted when she was going to be the one to rescue him.
"B-B-B-B-Ba-Baaaaaabby, heh-heh-heh-heeeyyy," Ennard forced out. He couldn't even muster up embarrassment at his broken voice at this point. "G-G-Go ge-e-e-e-et Sc-Sc-Scrrt."
"What happened?" Baby asked. Her tone changed instantly from her typical flatness to real audible concern. He must've sounded worse than he thought because she sounded genuinely startled. "…I'm getting Scott. Where are you?"
"G-G-Ga-Gas- Gas aaaan-n-nd-d-d g-g-go-o."
Somehow, she was able to make sense of the stuttering enough that she didn't ask for clarification. Ennard could hear her moving around, sounding like she even picked up and moved the entire phone base with her to reach Scott's bedroom. Though at that point Ennard started to lose interest as he slid further against the wall. It wasn't until his vision was overlayed with soft fuzz that he realized he was actively shutting down.
"Stay awake. Alert. Up. Scott's almost here. Five minutes. Stay awake," he told himself. Even his thoughts were starting to lose sense. He managed to raise the phone to his ear again. "B-Baaa-by?"
Baby, who was saying something to Scott on the other end, who she had no doubt barged in on and woke out of a dead sleep, heard his voice, and lifted the phone again. "Hello?"
"Mmm goi-i-in-n-ng."
"…Going?" Baby's voice took an almost frightened edge. "Going… where?"
"Hiiiiiidde beshzzzzeeek hi-i-i-innnnd pl-ce so-c. So- c-cooold."
"You're cold? Is that what you said?"
"Freeezzzzeezzzziiiinng."
"What…?" There was a breathy panic on her voice. Ennard gave a scratchy wheezing groan. "…If this is a joke- I swear, Ennard, you better be dying- No. You better not be dying or so help me I will bring you back just so I can kill you myself."
This managed to connect the wires enough to get Ennard to laugh a little in a broken way before he hung up the phone. It wasn't until after he did that that he realized he hadn't wanted to do that. He couldn't take it back now though, and he wasn't in a state to dwell on it long. He was too numb to think on it too hard and instead started to make his way back behind the gas station.
For a brief moment he got his second wind where he regained his stagger and lurched behind the building. He lifted his head to look towards the dumpster.
That was what did it. That last bit of exertion. It wasn't even like he faded out; the world just snapped off like someone pressed a power button. He stood only a second longer, not of his own volition but of rigid limbs, and then teetered forward before collapsing into the alley with a loud crash. No movement, no thoughts, not asleep, entirely shut down.
And that was how Scott would find him.