The camera clicked still echoed in Mark's eyes minuets after it happened - normally he'd be happy to have a snapshot of joy immortalized in laughter, something he could look at forever, but as the exicted chatter of his friends surrounded him, that familiar sensation began to creep up on him again, like a whisper from the darkest corners of the restaurant, one that Mark wanting to end the party earlier, anything to get out of there in one piece. The golden Bonnie had vanished sure, yet the feeling of being watched still lingered against him, brushing it aside would no longer work. He was eventually going to have to come clean, eventually his friends or worse his parents would start noticing he was off. ''Okay, we should go back to the racing game!'' Charlotte shouted, her excitement palpable as she hugged the bright pink unicorn to her chest. '' I demand a rematch!''
''Yeah, but this time don't kick me off your team, with my help we'll win for sure!'' Chris added, laughing as he gave Charlotte a playful shove. Even though he was hesitant, Mark nodded, as he was eager to dive back into the exhilaration, but as they walked deeper back into the arcade, the flickering lights and vibrant sounds felt both creepy and terrifying, this time he didn't know if he could go back inside. Casting another cautious glance towards the corner where he'd last seen the golden Bonnie, his heart thumping in anticipation and anxiety. However there was nothing-just a sea of kids and swirling multi colors. ''Markie? Are you coming?'' Charlotte called, her voice pulling him back to the present. ''Um-I don't-'' he stammered, but before he could finish his thought, he felt Charlotte and Chris closing the distance between them, their gazes narrowing as they took in his disheveled state, the way his palms glistened with sweat, and the clear terror behind his voice. And despite their age, they could sense when something was wrong with their friend. ''Markie, tell me the truth, are you okay?'' Charlotte asked, concern etched on her face, as she stared into her friend with those baby blues. ''Yeah, totally, I'm fine...just a little tired,'' Mark lied, forcing a grin that felt more like a grimace to his face, as he tried to get past his friends, the last thing he needed was for the golden Bonnie to see he was telling others about him, not wanting to put his friends on his radar. Jumping a little as he felt a hand rest on his shoulder, the touch both reassuring and grounding as he found his friend's eyes. ''Markie, you don't look fine. You look...really scared.'' Forcing his eyes to break away from them, his gaze drifting back towards that same darkened corner of the arcade, as he bit his lip. ''I'm just-I don't want to tell you.''
''Markie? This isn't like you, we're two of your most trusting friends, we didn't judge you when you told us you still wet the bed sometimes, so why would anything be different now?'' Charlotte questioned, eyes brows raised as Mark swore for a moment, he saw little clear tears about to fall from her eyes. Mark felt heat prick at the corners of his eyes, his resolve threatening to crumble under the weight of their concern, as he knew deep down he wouldn't be able to just drop it now, he was much to far into it. And besides, he knew they meant well, he appreciated their loyalty, but the thought of revealing the truth to them about the golden Bonnie, twisted his stomach into knots. He didn't want them to break the weight of his fears. ''I just...there was this animatronic,'' he finally muttered, the words spilling out reluctantly. ''A golden Bonnie. I thought I saw it watching me...and it felt...alive.'' The moment between the three friends hung heavy In the air, as neither one knew what to say, bringing heavy silence over them, until Chris furrowed his brow, glancing towards the direction Mark's eyes had been pointing too. ''Dude, it's just an animatronic. You know they're supposed to be creepy and a little odd. They are robots after-all.'' At his friends response, Mark couldn't help but shake his head vehemently, tension and frustration pulsing through him as he said ''You don't get it! This was different! I felt like it was staring right at me, like it could see my very being through my body!''
''Markie, it's not real. Animatronics are just machines. If you're scared, all you have to do is tell us, and we won't go near them. Okay?'' Meeting her gaze, he searched for any sign of disbelief, but all he saw was unwavering support, even though it was true, as much as they were trying to support him, deep down inside he knew they thought he was just crazy. Probably thought he was just hallucinating from a sugar overload or something, which only brought his frustration higher. ''But what if it is? What if it's more than just a machine? What if it really knows?''
''Markie, what could it possibly know?'' Charlotte asked, as she placed both her hands on his shoulders, forcing her eyes to keep sight of his as she tried to warm a smile onto his face. ''We can't let some robot ruin our night, so let's just try to forget it, and have some fun. Wouldn't you like to try having a little something to eat? Maybe you're just hungry, and the hunger is somehow getting to you.'' Mark considered this, as for a second he felt his defenses wavering. ''I mean...I guess I have been playing games for a while.''
''Exactly! Let's grab some snacks, then we can come back. If that animatronic bothers you again, then we'll be together to deal with it,'' Chris added, giving Mark his own reassuring shove. ''All right.'' Mark said softly, though uncertainty still gnawed at him. However just like he'd done all those times before, he pushed aside the chilling thoughts of the golden Bonnie, as he tried to let his want for pizza become stronger than his fear of the animatronic. ''Let's eat.'' As they further and further away from the arcade, Mark's eyes instantly glued to the concession stand, as Charlotte and Chris came up beside him, animatedly talking about the various snacks they could get, their laughter easing the tightness in his chest-as he too found himself engaged in the conversation. The scent of the buttery popcorn wafted through the air, making Mark's mouth water as he thought about consuming everything he could get his little teeth on. His gaze instantly darted to the colorful display of treats laid out before them-candy coated in bright wrappers, gooey nachos splattered in heavy cheese, and the sizzling slices of cheese and pepperoni pizza. The vibrant colors and cheerful atmosphere were intoxicating, pulling him towards them like a moth to a flame.
''I'm definitely getting popcorn!'' Christ exclaimed, bouncing on his heels. ''We can share it while we play! Ooo, and I want those nachos too!''
''Don't forget about the pizza, chrisie!'' Charlotte said, her eyes wide with such joy, Mark was worried her eyes might explode from all the pretty colors and fresh aromas. ''We definitely need something hearty to keep us fueled for gaming. What's the point of playing, if we're just going to get tired in an hour?''
''Of course, didn't think about that,'' Mark chimed in, the friendly banter softening his frayed nerves. ''I could eat a whole pie myself, and I would still go back for a second!'' As they finally reached the stand, Mark felt his heart racing, but this time it was from anticipation rather than fear. They get themselves in the line, moving closer to the counter where a cheerful female employee then greeted them. With the colorful signs advertising various combos, tempting him further. He was ready to enjoy this moment, and the thought of the golden Bonnie had become a thing of the past. ''Okay, Markie, what do you want?'' Charlotte asked, breaking herself through his thoughts as she stared up at him with a look of curiosity, wondering what he was going to pick from all the amazing looking treats. ''Uh...defiantly the pizza,'' he replied, as he scanned the menu overhead. ''And maybe some candy...and popcorn...um maybe everything?''
''Sounds like a plan!'' Laughed Chris, as he elbowed his friend playfully. ''We'll get a feast, and then we'll be back at the arcade in no time.''
Moments later, the three kids had a small mountain of snacks, piled high on their table, they could barely see one another over the table, it was so high. As Mark dug into his pizza with gusto, he felt the weight of his earlier fears beginning to lift, as he buried himself into the gooey cheese and vibrant toppings of his special pizza. From time to time he found himself stealing glances around the broad area, scanning the arcade entrance with curiosity, but the atmosphere felt different now-lighter, more vibrant, less terrifying. ''Okay, who's going to challenge me to a race first?'' Chris asked, as he wiped tomato sauce away from his mouth with a napkin, taking in the sight of the mouth stain absorbed into the white material, as he flashed Charlotte with a warm smile. ''I've been practicing, and I think I can take you both on!'' he said. ''Bring it on, but don't cry when I beat you!'' Charlotte teased, impulsively standing up from her seat, her excitement bubbling over as she took a huge chunk out of her fluffy pink cotton candy. After a few minutes had passed, and a few more slices had been devoured, they cleaned up the remains of their not so less high mountain of food. Once they had everything cleaned, they began to make their way back to the arcade, however what met them at the entrance, had Mark's on the verse of puking.
Surrounding the entrance stood a large group of kids, their eyes wide with excitement. And the cause for their excitement was towering over all of them, a life sized-figure of not a golden Bonnie this time, but a golden Freddy. How the animatronic loomed in the doorway, its big body practically taking up the entire space, as its golden fur gleamed under the arcade's bright purple lights. Mark felt his heart sink, just as he felt a cold sweat forming on his brow. it had been so easy to forget those feelings of dread, and now standing before him was a similar animatronic, he was on the verge of gagging. ''Markie?'' Charlotte's voice managed to break through his haze of panic as she pushed herself in front of him, drawing his eyes onto her. ''You okay?''
"I—I why is there a golden Freddy? Where did it even come from?" he stammered, losing all ability to focus on his friend. His gaze was instantly drawn back to the golden Freddy, who, just like the golden Bonnie, seemed all too real, as if it were more than just a machine. Doubt crept over his mind like a thick winter blanket, muffling out the laughter and life around him. The cheers of the other kids faded into a dull roar, the excitement and joy in the air becoming suffocating, as he felt his pulse quickening, with each thud it felt like his pulse was responding, growing quicker and quicker the harder the other kids laughed. How could something so unsettling, take form in a place meant for fun and happiness? This wasn't fun or was making him happy. ''Markie, breath,'' Charlotte said, as she tried another attempt to come closer to her friend, try as she might to be an anchor amongst the chaos brewing in his mind. ''It's just an animatronic, remember, what I said, that we'd face it together? Well, we've handled Bonnie together, we can handle Freddy too!''
''But it feels different,'' he murmured, shaking his head slowly. The flickering lights bounced off of golden Freddy's face, and for a split second, Mark could almost image it smirking, its eyes alive with malice behind that stupid mask. ''It looks...more real...''
''Mark Donald King!'' shouted an angry female voice, booming from behind him, managing to cut through his spiraling thoughts, as he forced himself to blink a little, his eyes growing sore as he realized he'd been zoned out. His head instantly whipped around, startled as he tried to find the source of the voice. However in a split second, he suddenly regretted it, once his eyes met the disapproving gaze of his mother, arms crossed tightly against her chest. ''What the hell do you think you are doing?!''
''What do you mean?'' he started, his voice faltering as panic mingled with exasperation. He had no idea what his mother was going to say next, but judging by the tone in her voice, he knew it wasn't going to be good. "Your father and I are so upset with you right now! It's been brought to our attention by this lovely employee that you've been going around vandalizing the restaurant! Apparently, you even vandalized two of the animatronics! Because of you, the workers were forced to shut them down! Because of the damage you've caused, only one of the animatronics can be booked for the next birthday party!" At this, Mark felt his heart drop, he hadn't done anything to the animatronics or the restaurant, why would he do such a thing?! ''What?! No! I didn't vandalize anything!'' he protested, his voice rising in disbelief. '' I swear, I would never do something like that! Freddy and Chica weren't working when we were dancing with them, I didn't even have to touch them to notice that!''
''Then what do you have to say to this employee telling me they saw you?'' she pressed, green eyes narrowing as she stared her son down. "What—what employee?" he stammered, genuinely confused. Suddenly, Mark's gaze found dark purple eyes staring back at him. Belonging to a young teenage male, with bright dyed purple hair, wearing a bright colorful employee uniform that had him thinking of the circus. The uniform had a vibrant mix of reds, yellows, and blues, adorned with various patches-some depicting cheerful cartoon characters of the core four animatronics, however there did appear to be he didn't recognize. A small boy dressed like a clown...in both hands a blend of muti- colored balloons.