Fazbear Escape

by Comedy Monarchy

Escape...everyone wants to escape the past, for Freddy Fazbear and the others, it is no different. Even though you may not be interested in the past, however dark and chaotic it is, it is most certainly interested in you. After all, one's interpretation of events are not so clear cut when you look at them again... (New cover image is by maskedhatterdoodles on Tumblr).

59. The Restless Past

Hey all, it's been a while and wow, alot has happened his month regarding FNAF!

Scott is retiring and not under the best of circumstances sadly, even though eventually it was going to happen. Scott devolving the continuation of the FNAF franchise to Steel Wool and Lllumix was a sign of him passing on the torch to others and I hope that they uphold his legacy well and whoever else gets the rights to the franchise.

The whole donations issue spiralled into something else, Scott's questionable donations and people doxing him out of vengeance. In the end it doesn't solve anything and unfortunately the FNAF fanbase has suffered as a result, but hopefully it can recover in time.

However, Scott has created an amazing franchise, a well crafted, if not complicated story, intriguing mysteries and many beloved characters, he deserves full credit for it, we've all enjoyed his work.

Remember, we still have Security Breach to look forward to later this year and the conclusion to the Fazbear Fright books.

Speaking of Fazbear Frights, the latest books 'Gumdrop Angel', wow, that was a new direction, be it the first story was fairly predictable five pages, but it was a sad ending. 'Sergio's Lucky Day' was weird, funny and disturbing in how it reached its ending, but you can easily imagine what followed on afterwards, given the main character's final appearance, (if you've read it already then you know what I mean).

The last book, 'What We Found' was crushingly tragic, but God dammit FNAF knows no mercy. It does implies a connection between the main villain and the hallucinations in FNAF 3 - I won't spoil it anymore.

However, the epilogue with the Stitchwraith seems to be setting up the finale for the Fazbear Fright books with a connection to the time traveling ball pit from 'Into the Pit'. All I can say is that it is probably going to be epic! ;-)

Lastly, thank you very much to for 'Hopeholditch' for adding me to their favourite authors list, it's much appreciated. :-)

Also a huge thank you to AugustFrost for their review of the last chapter. I know I use cliff-hangers too often, but it does leave you wanting to know what happened next and the last chapter was the best place to use it. As for what happened to Vincent, Toy Bonnie and what Phone Guy's choice is, well the wait will be worth it. ;-)

It is fun to reach the action part of the story, honestly I do quite like writing those parts as you can get very creative with what goes on.

I am pleased that the notion of Lucid Dreaming is working well within the confines of FNAF. Although the franchise hold many strange rules on the capabilities of the mind, so I am probably not pushing the boundaries too far.

I know that originally I intended to release this chapter at the end of May, but due to having a writer's block it took extra time to complete fully and hence why it is a bit longer than normal.

As we have not had a song for a while, there is one in this chapter, it is quite an old one as well, 'No More' by Nateswantstobattle, way back when FNAF was just half an year old.

Once again, apologies for any grammar mistakes and do please enjoy.

---

Chapter 58

The Restless Past

"It's a strange thing, to want to do, to come here."

"I am curious what events would lead a person to want to spend their nights in a place like this, willing. . ."

"Maybe curious, maybe ignorance. . ."

Circus Baby from Sister Location, Night One.

Fate always had an ironic twist to it and Mike Schmidt could say that he knew that better than most, given his current occupation, having to act as a guard for the Fazbears, instead of having to guard himself against them.

As he gazed at the slumbering Fazbears who lay on the bedroom floor, he couldn't help be remembered of his earlier days, when he was fighting literally tooth and nail to stay alive in a death trap of a pizzeria.

Had the circumstances been different and he found them as they were now in that rotten pizzeria back in the 1990s, then he very well might have 'removed' them if it meant ending his torment and the stressful situation that the Fazbears had placed him in; once he started to fully uncover the truth behind all of those 'urban legends' surrounding Freddy's.

Yet, he had to keep the truth hidden and if he ever dared told anyone else, the Fazbears would end him. . .accidents always happen at Freddy's, it was an accepted norm for most people.

A faint chill travelled up Mike's spine as he leaned heavily against the bedroom wall. Remembering those past tense moments when things could have gone either way and at times, he wasn't entirely sure what saved him from the jaws of death in the end.

His own cunning and good sense of words?

The Fazbears; slowly remerging sense of trust and mercy?

Or was it just down to extremely good luck on his part?

However, Mike was forever grateful for not ending up like his night guard predecessors, given how his fate hung from a tightrope, prepared to fall at any moment.

And join his rotting co-workers down below. . .

---

June 1993 Greenfield Indiana

"Ok, mister Schmidt, everything seems to be in order paperwork wise," the middle aged man in a scruffy business attire said from across his desk, lining up the said papers neatly after a not so thorough inspection.

Mike Schmidt sitting at the opposite end of the office desk was somewhat aware that Fazbear Entertainment had a policy of 'not asking too many questions', but even now on the verge of getting the job, it felt bizarre.

This final interview wasn't much, only a few basic questions on his availability and any relevant past experience in the role of being a guard, day or night. This seem too easy, even though this was the infamous Fazbear Entertainment, surely, they would comply with national standards when it came to hiring someone, especially with regards to security-based roles.

Mike suddenly found himself feeling quite tense and the manager's satisfied smile contrasted sharply with the nervous look expressed by his eyes.

Something felt off. . .

The manager, a man called Edward Higgens, or 'Higs' as Mike had overheard some of the daytime staff referred to him as on his way to his office, clasped his firm hands together, adopting a more casual expression.

"If I may ask out of curiosity mister Schmidt, why did you leave the hospital job for a place like this?" he asked with genuine interest, but the nervous look in his eyes didn't diminish.

Mike answered back with a strong sense of conviction that he had made the right choice and recollected.

"Well, after holding the role for two years and constantly facing the same incidents of emotional fuelled disagreements and even fights between disgruntled visitors and staff, I needed to get away from the highly intense role and find one that is easier to manage and hopefully doesn't drive me into an early grave."

"Plus," he added with a smile, although he still felt tense, but he knew that he had to show his enthusiasm for the role that he was being granted.

"Who doesn't want to work at their old childhood sweet spot, I visited Freddy's back when it was in its prime."

Edward nodded, seemingly in approval, before stating in a joyous tone.

"Given your previous experience as a daytime guard at the local Hancock Regional Hospital, you are more than qualified to succeed to the post as our new nightguard."

He then reached forward with his hand and Mike obliged and returned the favour, with Edward speaking in a firm tone.

"Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Mike Schmidt, we hope that you enjoy your time with us."

They shook on it, Mike noticed how tense Edward's hands were, they didn't look it, but it did add to his growing sense of caution.

Plus, his words, 'time with us', didn't they expect him to stay on long?

Granted most people didn't intend to linger in such a minor role, but the wording and Edward's somewhat flat tone only strengthen his unease.

"Now," Edward began, bringing his hand back to the desk and resuming a managerial pose.

"I'm sure that you've heard about the 'rumours' surrounding Freddy's?"

Mike nodded slowly and he spoke in causal tone to try and offset his sense of uneasy.

"I have, although given the tragedy of those two missing children incidents, ghost stories are bound to arise about it, to the point where you can't separate fact from fiction."

"That much is true mister Schmidt and ghost stories it shall all remain, as heart breaking as it all was, it cannot distract us from the realities of work."

Regardless of how stoic Edward spoke his words, Mike couldn't help but presume that it represented the true mindset of Fazbear Entertainment. Brushing aside any present concern or previous mishap that was too difficult for them to deal with, less it infringe on what they truly valued, money and public image. Not that either aspect was salvageable by this point in time and the apparent easiness of applying for the job had suited Mike just well when he first signed up.

Now however, he was starting to question if that advantage was actually a sign of how terrible their overall conduct was.

Too late to back out now, ghost stories aside, this job should be a nice step down from his previous stressed filled occupation.

Besides, who would want to break into this place, there was little worth stealing?

However, the subject of ghost stories had propped Mike's mind towards another controversial topic.

The whereabouts of the previous nightguards. . .

No one knew to be sure, they had just up and vanished during their shift in the early morning hours.

The police had been unable to find any serious leads, despite some considerable efforts on their part. Yet, it was most likely that Fazbear Entertainment had either buried the evidence out of a need to protect itself, or what did happen had resulted in little to no trace being left behind.

Mike cleared his mind and focused, speaking in a plain, but curious tone.

"Minister Higgens, I must ask, what are your thoughts as to what happened to the previous holders of this job?"

Mike's question seemed to have thrown Higgens off balance, but he quickly recovered and replied back with.

"It's a shame to lose them," he began firmly, but there was a degree of empathy in his voice.

He then sighed, before clasping his hands.

"Particularly Stanley Wilson, he was one of our finest members of staff, a true inspiration for everyone who worked here at Freddy's."

Then his voice became firmer, as though he was stressing a point.

"However, we genuinely don't know what became of him, suicide, kidnap, murder, well there's nothing that points strongly in either direction."

Mike was about to speak, but Edward held up his hand to pre-empt him and continued talking.

"I'm sure that you are wondering what safeguards we have in place to ensure your safety; well, I can reassure you mister Schmidt, that the security measures we have in place already are enough to protect you, particularly the blast proof doors."

"Blast proof doors. . .in a pizzeria supposedly dedicated solely to the entertainment of children," Mike said slowly, literally digesting Edward's words.

Then he just registered the rest of what mister Higgins had just said.

"Wait, the security measures are already in place, if people have vanished from this place, then shouldn't there be upgrades to improve security.

"Technically speaking Mike, you are the security of the pizzeria and based on what we do know about those previous disappearances of our old night staff, there was no indication that any of our systems were at fault for whatever happen."

"Well of course you would say," Mike bitterly thought to himself.

"You don't want to be at fault, despite your poor reputation."

Although the sceptic within him asked the wise question of why the hell did he sign up for this job if he knew or suspected that shady business practice would be a major part of it. However, in truth he was desperate for work, he just left it out of the conversation and his application form.

Edward continued.

"Yet things still remain unexplained due to a lack of proper evidence on which to understand what happened to all of them."

Then like the currents in a tidal pool, his demeanour swiftly changed, going straight from serious and firm to casual and charismatic.

"Now, I'm sure that you've met some of the daytime staff, Samantha, Frank, Lucy and James?"

"I think I saw two of them on the way here," Mike replied curiously, trying to think back.

Edward nodded with approval, before rising from his chair.

"Well, all that is left besides from a quick tour of the pizzeria, is introducing you to the main stars themselves then, Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, oh and Goldie."

Edward rose from his chair, before gesturing towards the office door, obliging Mike to follow him and he simply complied. Although his mind was awash with a dreaded sense of curiosity.

"They're just around here, in fact you've arrived at a good time Mike, they should be finishing up on a show right now," Edward stated casually, as he led Mike out of the office and towards the backstage via the main dining room from which came the sounds of playful music.

The room was fairly packed with both adults and children, with the former mostly being seated at the tables; whilst the latter were jumping up enthusiastically and dancing along to the music that came from the Fazbears' instruments, that was aided by the colourful stage lights.

Looking at the Fazbears themselves Mike could see Freddy Fazbear himself, brown hair, brown bear ears; wearing a smart brown, and black suit with his iconic black top hat, whilst he danced on stage with his microphone, singing at the top of his lungs.

Then there was Bonnie, spinning round as she played her red gilded guitar, shaking her purple hair about in a mad fashion. Her smooth purple skirt dress danced around her feet like leaves blowing in the autumn wind as her fingers worked overtime to produce stunning music from her guitar strings.

Chica in her yellow skirt dress which flowed over her body like lapping waves sang beautifully as a backup singer for Freddy. She presented her cupcake companion on a plate that she held up with one hand and the apparent fragile nature of how she was holding it didn't seem to bother her in the slightest as she spun around multiple times.

Finally, there was Foxy the pirate fox himself on the drums towards the back of the group, dressed in his classic pirate costume. He was clearly enjoying bashing the drums with his hook hand, as he bobbed his head back and forth, shaking his red hair about. The clashing and smashing sounds of the drums were added to the mighty musical choreus that filled the main dining area.

As everyone was captivated by the Fazbears' stage performance, Edward led Mike round to a lone table that was being attended to by a single day staff member, although given the military manner in which they were posed, they seemed to be guarding it.

"They'll be done soon," Edward said hopefully, glancing back at Mike, who watched the Fazbears performance with subtle fascination.

"Good to see that they're still the heart of the pizzeria," Mike remarked warmly, burying his suspicions for now.

"Well, without them this place is very much finished," Edward replied factually, although there was a degree of worry in his voice.

"There can be no Fazbear's Pizzeria without the Fazbears, especially Freddy."

There was a big cheer as the Fazbears' finished up their performance, with Freddy singing out the last part solo to a large reception.

Then after a few waves and saying goodbye to the crowd the Fazbears stepped back, allowing the red show curtains to separate them from their ever-hungry audience.

From where he was standing Mike could see into the stage area itself, which looked relatively small once the show curtains have been drawn.

He could see Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy being heavily engaged in a group conversation of which he could only hear small segments of.

"That went well, all things considered."

"Thank God none of us had any 'moments', our luck held."

"Just remember that as long we remain focused, we'll be ok."

"And how much of that is based on wishful thinking I dare to ask?"

Mike raised in his eyebrows in confusion, puzzled by their odd choice of words.

Did they suffer from memory lapses at times, blackouts? Did they simply get too caught up in the moment and forget how the rest of the show was meant to proceed?

If so, then they weren't being very clear about it.

Bonnie, although she was only standing a fair distance away seemed to notice Mike out of the corner of her vision, before turning to glance in his direction.

When she realised that he was staring at her and the others, she quickly signalled to the others that they were being observed.

Their group conversation immediately stopped, as all four of them now turned in Mike's direction.

There was an infused silence as the two sides just stared back at each other for a moment, reading one another. Mike got the slight unsettling sensation that they were glaring at him for having interrupted their private conversation. It was as though there was something ravenous within their eyes that made him feel uncomfortable.

Something that border-lined. . .possessive.

"Ha ha, here is the captain's sized pizzeria supreme for our hungry band mates!" Edward exclaimed excitedly; his abrupt intervention caught Mike's attention as he saw another daytime staff member carrying over a very large pizza on a big plate from the direction of the pizzeria's kitchen.

There was a heavy cloud of steam rising from it, evidently it had just been taken out of the oven.

The Fazbears appeared to have been distracted by the pizza as well, knowing that it was intended for them.

Whatever tension had existed between them, and Mike seemed to have vanished.

"Come on, come on guys, it's your lunch break now!" Edward exclaimed joyfully as he beckoned the Fazbears to join him and Mike at the table.

When the daytime staff member who was named 'Josh' as shown by his name tag placed the giant sized pizzeria on the table Mike was stunned by its layout.

It had just about every single topping that you could reasonably put on a pizza.

Ham, chicken, beef, pork, mushrooms, onions, peppers, pineapple, prawns, even muscles and jalapeños, all of which was set on a mixed bed of four types of cheeses with a fine array of different herbs and spices, not to mention cheese stuffed crusts.

The smell was alluring, but Mike had already eaten before coming here so his stomach thankfully didn't growl. Soon all four Fazbears reached the table with Edward stepping back, gesturing towards the enormous pizza and saying.

"Bon appétit guys, for that stellar performance just now, you have more than earned it."

Mike mentally rolled his eyes at the overdone gesture, Edward had an apparent need to be a showman, it played well with his inbuilt charm.

"My my, that does look tasty!" Chica said excitedly, beaming with joy.

"We have 40 minutes to eat this right Edward?" Freddy asked, with a undertone of annoyance as he looked over at Edward.

"I'll give you 45 minutes, you can do a lot in five minutes," Edward replied causally, but his happy go lucky response earned him a disgruntled eye roll from both Freddy and Mike.

If Edward were in the same situation, he wouldn't view being given five more minutes as a generous offer.

Regardless both Bonnie and Foxy started to dig in, each taking a slice from what was in effect a pizza of sixteen slices, four each.

Chica just took two slices without thinking and started to gorge herself.

If her daily diet significantly consisted of pizza, then it was yet to have an effect on her otherwise slim figure.

"Mmm, captain, the cooks have really marked the spot with this delicious consumable treasure!" Foxy said humorously.

"I have to admit they have done a very good job with this one," Bonnie muttered, as she steadily devoured her slice.

It was then that Edward gestured over to Mike.

"Whilst you are all here, I might as well introduce you four to our new night time security guard Mike Schmidt," he exclaimed, resulting in all four pair of eyes looking over at Mike.

Their eyes, they seemed hungry and not just for the pizza.

Mike instinctively straightened himself, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stick up.

"And he is our. . .let me see I have now lost count, 29th, 30th night guard?" Freddy asked aloud, clearly engaged in mental calculations.

"Our 31st night guard," Bonnie corrected him, giving Mike a hard look.

"The only question worth asking is how aware were you of all of the mysteries and intrigue that surround this place when you signed up?" she asked curiously, but Mike thought that he detected a level of scorn in her tone, as though she thought that he was a fool for picking this particular job given the supposed dangers associated with it.

"I am fairly well aware of the mysteries, ghost stories and what not," Mike replied coolly, but he narrowed his eyes slightly at Bonnie.

"Don't try to mock me bunny girl," he mentally commented grimly.

"I am more self-aware than I might let on."

"Ah, he looks to be a strong one," Foxy commented humorously, eyeing Mike with a devious look.

A strange comment. . .

"But they always think that they can handle the job until the night comes."

"Funny way of phrasing it, Foxy," Mike replied cautiously, immediately turning to face the Fazbear in question.

"Given what has rumoured to happen with every previous nightguard, whether they were supposedly kidnapped, then why didn't the so-called kidnappers try to kidnap you lot as well?"

"You wake one of us, you'll just wake us all up and then you'll be in a lot of trouble," Chica replied nonchalantly, holding her hands up as though she was fending off some accusation coming from Mike.

Mike smiled, briefly looking off to one side and seeing the chaos that was engulfing the dinning area with all the noise that tired parents and energetic kids usually generated.

He then spoke in an observant tone.

"It is just strange how you guys never heard anything, whether the other night guards were really kidnapped, just left on their own accord."

He then turned back to look at the Fazbears.

"Or, according to the rumours, whether you believe them or not. . .murdered with their bodies being hidden away. . .on site."

A shadow passed over Freddy's eyes when he spoke those words, but Mike wasn't sure, given how quick it happened. . .if anything actually did happen.

He swore that he saw something in the faces of Chica, Foxy and Bonnie as well. It was brief, barely a twitch, a slight change in their expression, but whatever it was. . .it didn't seem inviting.

Mike suddenly felt goosebumps ripple across his skin,

Then Edward laughed, finding something to be humorous as he steadied himself via gripping the table.

His humoured reaction caught everyone's attention, with both Mike and all four Fazbears turning to face him, looking puzzled.

"I didn't realise that I had hired a secret detective, Mike do you think that you'll be able to solve all of our infamous mysterious on the side whilst you watch over this place at night?"

Mike looked thoughtfully for a moment, seriously considering the idea, regardless of whether Edward was merely joking.

"Can I have extra pay included?" he asked, facing Edward, but the man simply shook his head,

"No, sorry, not unless it's counted as a separate job."

"Well, there goes my incentive then."

"Still a sharp mind can be useful," Bonnie added.

"It just depends on how far you want to go down a rabbit hole, you might never get out of it."

Again, there was the vague implication of a threat in her words, which made Mike feel a slight chill race up his spine.

"Sometimes the thrill of the mystery is enough, a thorough look can sometime reveal a few things that went unnoticed before," Mike replied casually, hiding his discomfort.

"Well with those wits about you mister Schmdit, you probably stand a better chance of holding onto this job," Freddy remarked observantly, before grabbing a slice of pizza.

"Should any 'ghosts' or anything else turn up outside your doors, you'll deal with them."

"And how exactly do you four or five survive the night, strange how it is only the night guards who appear to be affected by this 'Five Nights at Freddy's' curse?" Mike asked curiously, he knew that he was going over old ground, but his interest had been peaked.

Something didn't feel right regarding the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of his predecessors.

"We just sleep inside our room laddie," Foxy replied plainly.

"We don't disturb anyone once the night comes, even though we supposedly sleepwalk during the night at times, if the rumours are true."

"They don't harm anyone Mike, they just wander around at bit at night, you can watch them through the security cameras during your shift in fact," Edward added, leaning against the wall, watching the two groups converse.

Mike didn't exactly feel reassured by those words, but as long as they didn't cause him any problems then he could put up with it.

"Would you like me to wake you guys and direct you back to bed?" Mike asked, looking from one Fazbear to the next.

In fact, they were now all staring at him like he had said a bad joke, their expressions were of an intense stare that almost seem ominous.

"It's probably for the best that you don't do that," Bonnie reported firmly, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Just leave us to go about our business and we won't disturb you, best you keep those doors closed, that way we don't distract you during your shift."

Despite sounding helpful, there was something in her eyes, those purple red eyes that gave Mike the sensation of foreboding. Like there was more to what she was actually telling her, but he didn't wish to rock the boat and just accepted her advice.

"Thank you Bonnie, I'll take that advice onboard, hopefully it'll allow me to outlast this Five Nights at Freddy's curse."

"Ah, yes the 'Five Nights at Freddy's' curse," Freddy remarked thoughtfully, although he didn't look happy with the idea.

"Everyone keeps treating it as a game, trying to beat the high score of staying on for more than five days in the job, it's like a bet; soon we'll have people just signing up for the position of night guard just on the basis of a dare."

"Well maybe I'll do a good enough job to hold it permanently," Mike remarked confidently.

"Famous last words," Bonnie muttered grimly, but she spoke loud enough to be heard.

Chica in response nearly choked on her pizza slice, being stunned by Bonnie's words, however she managed to swallow her food before speaking.

"You mean that he might get fired or just quit before he reaches night six, right Bonnie?"

There was spark in Bonnie's eyes, a realisation of something, and her manner suddenly seemed to shift, as she now smiled.

"Of course, that's what I actually meant to say, sorry I misspoke."

"Look guys, I don't annoy you and you don't annoy when we're doing each other's jobs, does that seem fair?" Mike asked, he was actually holding his hand out to Freddy.

He could sense that there was some considerable distance between him and Freddy and co and whilst he felt some tension, he didn't wish to give them a reason to dislike him. Freddy looked at Mike's hand, before looking at Mike himself, his face was unreadable, save for his eyes, there seem to be something akin to uncertainty, perhaps shame, why that would be the cause Mike had no idea, but he struck him as odd and a little bit unnerving.

Then like the tide rushing across a beach and smothering it, the strange look on Freddy's face vanished, replaced by an understanding smile.

He then grasped Mike's hand, shaking it.

"Fair enough Mike, you keep to your area, and we'll keep to ours, for now, everything is golden."

"Speaking of golden, who is it is," Edward remarked warmly, sounding rather pleased, resulting in everyone following his gaze to see Goldie approaching them through the crowd. He wore similar clothes to Freddy, save for his suit and trousers being golden not brown, as was his hair and his eyes were a dark red.

The elder Fazbear bypassed by chaotic scenes of rowdy families, energetic kids and worn-out parents whose patience with their 'little treasures' were wearing dangerously thin.

"Mister Schmidt meet Goldie Fazbear, our onsite trainer for the Fazbear band, he trained all of them from the ground up," Edward announced, as Goldie finally reached the group.

"Hello Goldie, it's nice to meet the 'grandfather' of the group," Mike remarked in a humorous tone, hoping to brush aside the tension that had existed earlier.

Goldie laughed at Mike's words, which pleased him, a good sign, the other Fazbears seemed to be more brittle.

"And you are our new night guard, make it beyond the five nights curse and you're in, I hear it gets easier as you'll settle into the job," Goldie said casually, his friendly demeanour was quite welcoming and refreshing compared to his younger counterparts.

Mike replied likewise, mirroring Goldie's cooperative manner.

"Well, once I get to grips with things here, perhaps I can indulge in those supernatural mysteries surrounding this place, it has already become an urban legend."

For the briefest of moments, a shadow passed over Goldie's face, but in the next instant it was gone, replaced by an interested expression and comforting smile.

Mike felt a familiar chill slowly crept up his spine.

"The most obivious question to ask first is what is truth and what is fiction," Goldie inquired, resulting in a groan from Foxy.

"Does it matter really, the fiction has already become the greater part of the story, compared to whatever truth there might have been," he argued, clearly not enjoying the subject, as he waved his hook about.

Chica laughed, but it sounded hollow, she wasn't laughing out of joy and there was something her eyes. . .was it concern or worry, Mike couldn't properly tell.

"In the end Mike, you'll just come to see the whole affair as a bunch of ghost stories and unsolved mysteries, as sad as it is to lose so many night guards and old acquaintances."

"Particularly Phone Guy," she now looked despondent, lowering her face with a sorrowful expression in her eyes, but there was something else there too, possibly shame, perhaps guilt, maybe regret?

Although Mike admittedly was touched by Chica's sad demeanour, there was something nagging him at the back of his mind.

"There is more going on here, something doesn't fit right, surely more questions would have been asked. . .right?" he mentally questioned.

His eyes quickly flickered from Freddy, to Bonnie, then Chica, followed by Foxy and finally Goldie, reading each one of their expressions, particularly their eyes.

Those shadows that had crossed their faces, the uneasy look in their eyes. . .they harboured something, some distressing news about what had happened with his predecessors perhaps?

They knew more than they were letting on, Mike was sure of that, but he withheld his curiosity.

---

Meanwhile, the various security cameras dotted around the pizzeria continued doing their routine sweep of all the various public areas, rotating back and forth on their rotors.

The daytime security guard didn't really pay much attention to the cameras; only rising to the occasion when the level of noise coming through the audio feed from one of the several areas under surveillance increased dramatically, thus warranting their attention.

Anything else was merely overlooked, as not much disturbance happened during the day at Freddy's.

It was the night-time routine that had everyone spooked.

Hence why it didn't catch the daytime guard's attention, when the security camera surveying the main dining area suddenly stopped doing its rotational sweep.

Instead, it remained fixed in the direction of the Mike Schimdt, Edward Higgens and the five Fazbears, with its inner lens narrowing as the stationary camera was ordered to zoom in for a closer look.

What it was currently doing was not part of its pre-set programming, as far as the day guard or any of the technicians knew.

But someone else did knew and they had ordered it. . .

As the pizzeria went about its daily business, the dining room camera steadily shifted back and forth between the Fazbears, watching, listening, before finally coming to rest on Mike and Goldie, keep the pair right in the centre of its vision.

The shadowy operator kept the camera focused on them, like a vulture watching a potential meal with great interest.

---

"Still, we cannot let the shadows of the past hang over us all," Edward announced optimistically, coming to stand in the centre of the small gathering.

"Remember our motto here at Freddy Fazbear's?"

His words resulted in everyone muttering with a tired tone and with rolled eyes.

"Where fun and fantasy come to life."

"Exactly," Edward replied, softly slapping Freddy on the shoulder.

"Now for the afternoon rush, let's all go out there and make every kid here smile like it's their birthday."

The constraint between Edward Higgins and the Fazbears was clear to Mike, in fact he could almost believe that Edward was simply naive or blind to the dark past of Freddy's.

Yet he couldn't, not after how Edward had spoken back in his office, the firm, but tense grip of his hand and the uneasy look that lurked in the back of his eyes.

He knew something. . .they all did, Mike was certain of it.

"So, guys, before I take Mike round on a quick tour of the pizzeria, do you have any helpful suggestions to help him settle into the job?" Edward asked, glancing around from one Fazbear to the next, with an eager expression.

"Well, when we are sleep walking, try not disturb us, it's better if you just let us be and focus on preventing anyone from breaking into the pizzeria," Freddy said plainly, but there lay something behind his eyes that Mike could not decipher.

"Plus, you have to worry about the power level, I wager that Edward here didn't tell you that you have a limited power supply when it comes to operating both the blast doors, security lights and the cameras via the mointor," Chica remarked firmly, casting a sarcastic look at Edward, who now looked somewhat embarrassed by that reveal.

"No, other than the blast doors, he made no mention of me having limited power," Mike replied with a thinly veiled displeased tone, as he now gave Edward an annoyed expression, particularly with his narrowed eyes.

"It's our form of resource management, we use most of our power during the day obviously and at night we have to husband what we have left," Edward muttered timidly, looking visibly uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"So, what happens if the power runs out, the whole pizzeria goes dead?" Mike asked curiously, he changed his gaze from Edward to that of the Fazbears.

"In effect yes, until the morning at least, but that unfortunately means you cannot really do your job properly. . ." Goldie said softly, but there was something in his voice that made Mike feel worried, was it concern or pity, shame even?

He wasn't entirely sure, but he felt that familiar chill creeping up the length of his spine and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"And if that happens, what do I do, patrol the pizzeria with a flashlight, whilst avoiding you lot as you wander about sleepwalking, or something else?"

"Hide," Foxy muttered in a low and restrained tone, but Mike didn't hear him.

"What, did you say something Foxy?"

"I said yes that it would be the only thing that you reasonably can do," Foxy retorted, speaking louder and now in an agreeable tone.

"Hopefully though you don't have to, just manage your power levels throughout the night and you'll be fine," Edward added, sounding optimistic, yet he carried something of a worried undertone in his voice.

It only increased Mike's sense of uneasy.

Chica cleared her throat, after having swiftly consuming both her third and fourth slices of pizza. . .in one go.

"Edward, won't you be giving him Phone Guy's old training tapes, that'll really help Mike settle into the job?" she asked, now sounding cheerful, but there was a degree of falseness in her manner that unnerved Mike even more, yet he did not show it.

None of this stuff had been mentioned in the help wanted ad, but it was too late to back out now.

"Indeed, you're quite right Chica, you'll get those set up for you Mike, consider it a fast-paced training session, not that there is much learn in the job of a security guard, so you should immense yourself in the role rather quickly," Edward remarked warmly with a beaming smile on his face.

"The guy may stumble with his words Mike, but I would seriously listen to him, the guy knows, or rather knew his craft," Bonnie said supportively, but the look in her eyes came across as. . .pleading and almost desperate, but why?

"Really do pay attention to him, it'll really help you."

Mike's eyes widen, he felt even more disturbed, the tone and expression in Bonnie's eyes really didn't go together.

Edward then chuckled, seeming to dismiss Bonnie's words.

"Don't worry Mike, Bonnie just wants you to get the best advice possible, to honour Phone Guy and the first few shifts are always the hardest in any job, but you'll get the hang of things and hopefully won't decide to bail on us before night five, let alone night seven."

He turned to face the Fazbears, particularly Freddy.

"Well, I'll leave you all to enjoy your hard-earned lunch, I'll take Mike on a quick tour of the pizzeria before letting him go, do you have your afternoon to evening schedule planned out?"

Freddy smiled, pulling out a slip of paper from his trouser pocket.

"Sure, do, everything is listed down here, we'll end of course with the Showtime song,"

"Ha, always a classic, best to go out on a high note," Edward replied, slapping Freddy attentively on the shoulder, openly displaying his agreement.

He then looked past Freddy and his eyes lit up.

"It seems that you have some fans waiting for you," he remarked warmly.

Everyone turned to see that was a small group of eager children of varying ages standing only a few meters away. Each one either carried a Fazbear club membership card or a plushie of one of the Fazbears.

They probably wanted the Fazbears to sign them all.

"Well, Mike and I will leave you five here, just make sure that you're back on stage by two pm," Edward ordered, beginning to walk away from the group.

Mike watched as both Bonnie and Chica bent down with their hands on their knees, beckoning the children to approach them. Foxy posed with his hook in a pirate like fashion, gesturing towards the children in a showman like manner, entertaining them. Freddy meanwhile pushed the slip of paper back into his trouser pocket and he turned to face Mike, earning the latter's attention.

"Best of luck with tonight's shift and for the other nights, just keep a sharp eye on both your power meter and the cameras, you should be fine."

"If in the end, you decide that this isn't the job for you, nobody would hold it against you if you quit."

What a truly odd thing to say, Mike felt confused and there was a look of what could only be described as veiled concern in Freddy's eyes.

Why would he be concerned for Mike's sake, they hardly knew eachother?

Then Goldie spoke, putting his hand on Mike's shoulder.

"Try it and see how you feel mister Schmidt for the first five nights, a bit of helpful advice is just stay inside your office and remember those two points that Freddy raised, it'll make things significantly easier for you," he said supportively.

There was an unreadable look in his eyes, Mike couldn't decipher it, but it appeared to reach deep into the elder Fazbear.

"Hey Mike, are you coming, you'll need to familiarise yourself with the security office if you're going to be working here long term," Edward called out, catching Mike's attention, signalling him towards the corridor that lead to the security office.

"Thanks for the advice guys," Mike said firmly, nodding as he spoke.

"Just try not to make things difficult for me for the first few nights ok?"

Freddy and Goldie nodded, but they looked restrained.

"Sure, we'll try," Freddy muttered softly.

"We can't promise anything though," Goldie remarked jokingly, but his tone felt hollow.

Mike's sense of unease strengthened as he momentarily gazed back at the two Fazbears and he now knew the word that best described their manner.

Haunted, there appeared to be an unseen weight hanging over them.

"Well, guess I'll see you all around midnight then," Mike said cautiously and with that he turned and left them to their waiting fans.

---

Mike didn't see the dining area camera slowly following him, turning on its base as it tracked his movements, following the commands of its shadowy operator.

Its inner lens narrowed as it zoomed up on Mike's face, reading his somewhat concerned expression. Then once he was out of sight the camera swiftly returned to its usual front facing position; starting at the Fazbears, watching as they interacted with their fans, signing their cards or plushies, even Goldie signed a few.

The shadowy operator kept the security camera fixed on the Fazbears. Seeing all and hearing all.

Recording all. . .

---

Upon joining Edward, Mike felt uncomfortable about his interactions with the Fazbears. Sure, they had been approachable and mostly nice, but there was something about their personal conduct that rubbed him the wrong way, it felt unsettling to be honest.

As he followed Edward down the corridor towards the security office, his mind drowned out both Edward's words as the latter talked about certain aspects of the job and the sounds of screaming kids and shouting adults.

The Fazbears' words about how to deal with his shift could easily be seen as more than simple advice.

They felt like warnings, but why?

There wasn't anything threatening about the Fazbears, was there?

It wasn't like they were directly involved in what happened to his security guards' predecessors and yet those last set of words from both Freddy and Goldie made him think that they were quietly urging him to quit this job.

Because that is exactly what they were trying to do, but he didn't realise it at the time.

The questionable looks in their eyes, the shadows that crossed their faces and the thinly veiled expressions of concern and shame were of their own guilt, knowing that he was the next potential victim of the murdered children's malice.

They wanted to push him towards escaping from the nightmare that he was unknowingly walking straight into.

They wanted to save him from the gruesome fate of those who had gone before him, but of course to say so directly would have exposed their involvement, their hands were tied.

Mike Schmidt, the 31st night guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria would just become its 31st victim.

Because no one survives beyond night five, not even Phone Guy, not at Freddy's.

The five nights curse would endure, Mike would become a part of the Fazbear family, a part of its history. . .it's dark and blood stained history.

Flashback ends.

---

"Boy back then, ignorance sure was bliss," Mike muttered wearily to himself, as he leaned heavily against the bedroom wall. He gazed over at the sleeping Fazbears who lay about either on the bed or on the floor.

"You were all trying to warn me, although I suspicious of you lot from the beginning, you have or rather had a natural skill in being intimating even when it wasn't actually intended."

"I just saw you all as ticking time bombs, when everything fell into piece."

"And even then, when we were trying to establish some form of trust, the tension was ever present."

Mike then sighed, feeling a wave of memories hit him, remembering those stressed fill nights; when he was suffering from low power levels, glitching camera feeds and an ever-increasing aggressive bunch of possessed Fazbears haunting the hallways; thirsty for his blood, their inability to catch him only further fuelled both their rage and bloodlust.

Every night just got worse and worse, and he was barely holding on by the skin of his teeth when he hit 6am on night five, after surviving several near-death experiences.

It was a literal life and death struggle with Mike going up against a relentless, seemingly remorseless enemy of unknown quantity.

One slip up at the wrong moment and he was finished, becoming a footnote in the list of disappeared victims at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria.

But he didn't back down, he couldn't, he had to win.

And he did, but at what cost and even then, was it even a real victory?

There was always more nights. . .

---

(Begin the song here if you wish).

We see an empty pizzeria at night, dark and almost unlit.

"You can break down my lights and my doors, but I won't let you back in no more, no more."

We see Mike's name on the night guard schedule for the entire week.

"I'm sick of getting stuck in the same routine, again!"

We see overhanging lights flickering, as the Originals rise up, possessed.

We see a fake wall sliding away, revealing the vengeful eyes of the possessed Toys, eager to come out and play.

We see the words 'It's Me' flickering across the camera screens.

We see shadows of the possessed Fazbears moving across the pizzeria's walls towards the security office.

We finally see Mike Schmidt in his security guard uniform, staring at the possessed Fazbears as they stare back menacingly at him through the cameras.

Mike tightens his fists in anticipation and his eyes narrow in sheer determination.

He is ready for another round of hell. . .

We see a mangled prop suit covered in blood and gore.

"Five nights it shouldn't seem so long."

A face plate creaks open, revealing its gruesome innards.

"But it takes forever when you go all about it wrong."

A dark history hangs in the air.

"These halls are lined with blood I can't have on my hands."

We see the shadow of Puppet glide across the walls.

"These walls they seem to call my name."

Another night guard, another victim.

"But I refuse to be another puppet in your game."

Puppet's eyes looked cold and vengeful.

"Your eyes are dead inside but tonight I leave alive."

We see possessed Chica viciously hammering on the right blast door.

"You can break down my lights and my doors."

With possessed Bonnie doing the same thing to the left blast door.

"But I won't let you back in no more, no more!"

We see the power meter getting lower and lower.

"I'm sick of getting stuck in the same routine, again."

We see a blood stained prop suit.

"Tie me up, put me into a suit, but I'll never ever be like you no."

The possessed Fazbears stare ominously through the fuzzy camera feeds.

"I know what happened here and you can't erase your past."

We see possessed Foxy charging down the hallway and possessed Mangle rapidly crawling across the ceiling.

Mike stressing out as possessed Toy Bonnie glares at him through the window, with possessed Toy Chica doing the same from the other side.

We see possessed Goldie appearing and reappearing on the various camera feeds, getting closer and closer to the office.

"Done what I can to try to hide."

The cold gaze of Mike's enemies is unrelenting.

"But even you can tell who I really am inside."

Mike stares at possessed Fazbears through the cameras.

"It's not my job to watch you, I'm leaving here tonight."

In particular he looks at the vengeful glare of Freddy.

"But maybe one day you will find humanity."

The divide between them is a chasm.

"Until then don't you dare say that we are the same."

We see Possessed Foxy thrashing against the left side door in a rage.

"You can break down my lights and my doors."

Possessed Balloon Boy glaring through the office windows.

"But I won't let you back in no more, no more."

Each night is always the same.

"I'm sick of getting stuck in the same routine, again."

We see blood dripping from a battered prop suit.

"Tie me up, put me into a suit, but I'll never ever be like you no."

A malicious darkness clings to the pizzeria.

"I know what happened here and you can't erase your past."

We see the glow of sunrise creeping through the pizzeria's windows.

"I, crave the light of day."

We see an utterly exhausted Mike at his desk.

"Cause I've been keeping you away."

The pressure is never-ending.

"It's driving me insane."

And all consuming.

"It's driving me insane. . ."

We see possessed Toy Freddy banging viciously against the right door.

"You can break down my lights and my doors."

Possessed Puppet staring angrily through the office windows at Mike.

"But I won't let you back in no more, no more."

This job will only end in death.

"I'm sick of getting stuck in the same routine, again."

We see mutilated human remains inside a prop suit.

"Tie me up, put me into a suit, but I'll never ever be like you no."

Mike stares at the vengeful Fazbears through the fuzzy camera screens.

"I know what happened here and you can't erase your past."

Where there was once joy, now only agony remains.

"Maybe one day, you'll find humanity!"

---

They did find humanity, or at least they rediscovered it, but the past otherwise remained, it clung to them like a parasite which refused to let go hung over everything like a thick dark cloud that refused to disperse.

That parasite was Vincent Afton, once he was dead, the majority of the past if not all of it would stop haunting everyone.

He was keeping it going, he had to die, otherwise everything would just keep repeating on an endless chaotic loop.

Mike sighed, feeling the weight of the past several decades, but he felt thankful that despite the absolute hell that the Fazbears had put him through he had not exposed them or worse. . .

He could have killed them under self defence, he had brought his gun with him, despite there being a rule against bringing such weapons into the pizzeria, but he didn't care, he was desperate and in grave danger.

He could have left, quit after the first night, but instead he kept on coming back to Freddy's.

Why?

He was curious, he believed that there was more to what was going on at the pizzeria, with the Fazbears at the night.

He wanted to know, regardless of the immense danger he kept placing himself in every time he stepped through its entrance. In fact, Puppet had raised how strange it was that he kept on coming back, despite being fully aware of the dangers.

Mike remembered seeing her staring intensely at him through the right window, with a cold questioning glare, before she uttered her question.

"It's a strange thing, to want to do, to come here."

"I am curious what events would lead a person to want to spend their nights in a place like this, willing. . ."

"Maybe curious, maybe ignorance. . ."

She was right though, Mike was lured back to the pizzeria by his curiosity in just what the hell was going on, the illogical elements of everything pulled at his mind as much as he was terrified by it. Despite the dangers he found himself diving in deep, into a world of the supernatural that made his own nightmares seem rather tame. He had to juggle between finding out the truth, whilst trying to get the Fazbears to trust him and not die at their hands.

After all, accidents have a habit of occasionally occurring at Freddy's.

There was one particular situation where they were going to kill him and had it not been for some ignorant outside intervention then Mike was beyond no doubt that he would have died, having been stuffed in a prop suit.

Since then, until relations were cordial, he would never be with them on his own. . .never.

Once Mike knew the truth, or at least a good portion of it, they wanted him 'out of the way' and in truth they were as terrified of him exposing them as Mike was of them murder him, some on that subject there was some level of understanding.

Mike sighed, the whole 1990s until the early 2000s was like a trying to walk on a tightrope over a minefield.

One misstep, one misunderstanding or 'abuse' of Fazbears' trust and the conquences would be felt very quickly. It a long time until Mike could feel secure when he was around them, he always felt vulnerable.

Leaning his back against the bedroom wall, Mike gazed over the sleeping Fazbears who lay about either on the bed or on the floor.

With all of them being in that dream like state it was they who were now vulnerable and like before Mike had the job of guarding them.

The shotgun which he cradled in his arms signified that.

Well, he was actually meant to guard the pizzeria and stop any would be opportunistic thieves from breaking in, but the premise was similar enough to be applied in this particular situation.

While the Fazbears carried out their part of the plan, he would do his bit, ready for anything.

If the Nightmares were in there with the Fazbears, then Vincent would be somewhere else, this style of attack was quickly becoming a theme. The Nightmares do one thing and Vincent outflanks them and does something else on the side, turning the tables.

However, if what Goldie had told him and the others before they went in was true, then they had one hell of an opportunity.

Vincent was there in the dream world with them, how…God alone knows.

Yet it was a major change in his approach and Vincent would never put himself so forward without a very good reason.

And yet Mike couldn't help but think that something else was afoot, Vincent's actions felt out of character.

The fact that no clear answer came to Mike's mind only made him worry even more. He gripped the shotgun tightly in his hands, feeling his discomfort grow, the hairs on the back of neck stood up.

In the end, he was pleased that he had been a security guard (despite the tortuous experience); it had heightened his senses and he felt ready for anything. Having your life literally on the line for several nights, weeks, months, let alone years can turn out to be quite beneficial when it came to be highly observant.

Yet he was sure that the explanation for Vincent's actions would come soon enough, after all the Fazbears would know because knowing Vincent, he would properly tell them anyway. He sure loved the sound of his own voice as well as being in command of the situation, like a showman beyond a captive audience. Mike's blue eyes narrowed as he glanced towards the window, seeing all the various vehicles that were parked along the street, the family sized houses that stretched from one end of the street to the next.

Everything looked so. . .unassuming, and yet it didn't ease Mike's concern, because Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria had the presented the same image.

Appearing to be friendly, warm, and inviting, whilst hiding a dark and malicious past.

After everything he had lived through Mike wasn't going to allow himself to be lured into a false sense of security. He pushed himself off the bedroom wall, before coming to stand in front of the bedroom window, scanning the street outside for anything suspicious. . .just in case.

The houses looked normal, as did the inhabitants within them, there was nothing odd about the cars, or even the van that was parked further up the street, although there appeared to be people inside it. Feeling somewhat satisfied that nothing appeared be amiss, Mike returned to his position on learning against the wall, his eyes now set on the slumbering Fazbears.

"You know back in 1993 I wouldn't have believed for a single second that we could have ever become friends; I would have shot myself without a second thought if someone had predicted it," he muttered casually, largely to himself, but speaking his thoughts aloud.

"Yet, as it turns out opposites do attract, but we all know that phrase alone would only be scratching the surface of our situation. . ."

---

Mangle enjoyed the warm rays of the sun against her skin as she sat out in Jeremy's back garden, she liked the quiet and she hoped that it would last.

Although she felt warm on the outside, internally she could only feel a coldness and a sense of failure.

She was her own worst enemy.

Right now, Toys Freddy, Bonnie and Chica were probably going up against the Nightmares and their tricks and animatronic puppets, not to mention the former nightguards. It seems that everyone was coming out of the woodwork, any face from their past was brought out and exposed for the Nightmares' own enjoyment, let alone that of Vincent Afton's.

Mangle remembered seeing the old camera footage that featured her possessed self brutally dragging a few of the unfortunate nightguards off to their doom.

How the tables had turned. . .

No doubt the night guards were thirsting for vengeance, even though in truth it was a misguided notion of vengeance that drove them on.

Well, it wasn't quite misguided where Mangle was concerned.

Helen. . .

"I'm sorry, but I know that'll never be enough to make up for what I did to you and put you through," Mangle sorrowfully whispered to herself, knowing the most likely outcome if she and Helen ever met again.

Somethings were just beyond forgiveness and Mangle had accepted that because she felt so guilty at being able to stop Helen's death and not doing so; despite hearing that little voice in the back of head which was screaming to her that was something was very wrong. She made her choice and Helen having been lost and trapped in Limbo for so long wouldn't want to see reason or accept that Mangle was just as innocent as she was. . .well that's what the others said, but at times Mangle did at times find it hard to believe.

Nightmare Freddy's words back at the abandon factory when he was holding her aloft reappear in her mind.

"What's the point of being so determined Mangle, why fight when the children you once entertained have now grown up, the Fazbear business has dried up and gone, so why continue?"

Only for her to reply firmly back with.

"You are such an idiot; you do know that."

"We fight to restore a serious injustice that was brought upon us by evil, our lives were wrecked, our reputations forever tainted, innocents murdered."

"Everyone blamed us for the murders, accusing us of failing to do our job properly, or even having committed the act ourselves."

"We got very little left to lose other than each other, yet we have a dream to restore ourselves and see justice done."

"And you can't take that away from me, even if you kill me."

"I have a dream and it is immortal."

How heroic did she sound back then, all brave and resolute, there wasn't a crack in her determination or in her perspective on who was truly the guilty party.

Now, her own guilt had come racing back to haunt her once more.

She was scared, afraid that if she confronted the real challenge, she would simply buckle as she had before her own self-doubt back in the dreamworld.

"How can I help everyone else, if I am unable to pull myself together, the Nightmares would just slaughter me," Mangle muttered to herself gloomy, but sounding quite bitter.

She looked up, staring at Springtrap's headstone, seeing his name craved into the hard stone face.

"How did you do it?" she asked firmly, demanding an answer.

"How did you reconcile yourself with how Goldie had treated you SpringBonnie?" she asked again.

"How did you and Goldie overcome your inner demons?"

"I could really do with some perspective on that, more than anything right now, given the stakes."

Yet all she got was a stony silence, she knew that she was talking to a dead man.

But dead men, don't always stay dead, if her life experience had taught her anything. . .

"Given our shared experiences at betrayal and trauma Spring, our lives didn't completely align, but I wish that I had taken more of the opportunity to actually talk to you about it; when I had the chance, even though back you didn't want to revisit it," Mangle said, feeling reflective, she remembered her conversations with Springtrap trying to get him to see the bigger picture.

It was ironic though in many ways that she was able to help him, but she couldn't help herself, like she didn't have the willpower to fix her own problems.

"If only I had been more open about my problems, we might have been to help me, but I allowed more pressing issues to take centre stage and we were cruelly taken from us."

She found herself feeling quite foolish for what she had said back at Jeremy's van to what was effectively Springtrap's corpse, about him being someone who was willing to find a romantic relationship with.

"I'm really not one for romance. . .I'm haven't given it any thought actually."

"However. . .if there was. . .someone. . .who I might be interested in. . .who I thought I could enjoy falling in love with."

"I would have chosen you. . .I felt. . .that we. . .have a similar backstory and that somewhere. . .depending on who made the first move that we could light a spark….and see where it goes from there."

She remembered planting a kiss against his still warm forehead.

"Thank you SpringBonnie."

The truth was she did genuinely feel that connection towards him, being lost souls with plenty of mental baggage between them.

She just felt greatly embarrassed by how she had said it and she remembered Nightmare Freddy's words from earlier back at the abandoned factory, when he had her on the ropes and was teasing Mangle about her feelings towards Springtrap.

"However, I think I'm right in my little theory and do you want to know why?"

"You didn't deny it. . .simple as that."

He was right, she didn't deny that she liked Springtrap, even though any affection that she had ever shown was fairly low key and that she mostly kept her thoughts to herself. Although right now, left alone with her uneasy conflicting thoughts she wished that he was here, to help her quell her inner demons and get out from underneath this dark cloud that had followed her ever since 1987.

She remembered that year well, everyone involved did, but she remembered it vividly, probably revealing Puppet's own recollection of events.

Everything played out in her mind with such attention to detail that it practically seemed to be happening around her as she sat on the cool grass of Jeremy's back garden.

The realism of her memory blended with reality and Mangle found herself revisiting another dark moment that she wished to be erased from her mind.

The moment when she found out the true cost of her ill-conceived actions. . .

---

Late November 1987 Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria.

"Ok, I see, well at least she didn't suffer in the end, thanks for telling us David, I understand that it would have been extremely hard for her family to hear as well," Goldie muttered, sounding very crestfallen.

"I assume that everyone else knows as well?"

"Yes Goldie," David answered, his voice held a great degree of sadness to it.

"Lauren informed me that everyone else has been made aware, it's a real shame that out of all people, it had to be her who suffered."

Mangle pressed herself against the door of the small room that she and the other Toys were forced to call home, trying to listen in on the ongoing conversation between the Originals and David, before the latter retired for the day, with it being late evening.

The other Toys were listening as well, hugging the door, being desperate like Mangle was to know what the others were talking about, but they all had a fairly good idea.

"Could it be about, you know Helen, or Jessica, or Henry?" Toy Bonnie asked, sounding worried, as she firmly pushed herself against the door, trying to listen in.

"I sincerely hope not," Toy Chica said in a concerned tone.

"But I fear that you're right Bonbon, it doesn't sound good at all."

"That is an understatement," Toy Freddy remarked solemnly, but he couldn't hide his inner worry.

"There was a lot of blood and chaos that day, I can only hope that it isn't what I think it is, but I am most likely to be wrong."

Their words only increased the tension that Mangle was feeling, making her fear that it was indeed about who she thought it was.

Only Helen had suffered grievous injuries that day, it had to be her. David had said 'she', so it had to be, as much as Mangle hoped against all probability that her worst fears had come true.

Then David spoke again, he sounded torn and dishearten.

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there was nothing that the doctors could do to save her, they tried everything within their power, yet her injuries were simply too severe."

"Ok, once more David thank you, you rest easy tonight," Goldie said, he sounded wearily, weighed down by the roller coaster nightmare that this year had been so far.

"I will Goldie, you guys have a nice night and try not to dwell on this news, it isn't your fault," David replied, now sounding supportive, but also weary.

Soon all the Toys could hear footsteps, David's undoubtedly, fading away as he departed the scene and the pizzeria for the day.

As usual the Originals would wait until everyone else had completely left the building before letting the Toys roam free. As close as the Originals were with the staff members, they would report the Toys if they ever saw them on site.

Currently everyone, apart the Fazbears themselves held the idea that the Toys were on the run somewhere, having legged it from their pizzeria in Hurricane Utah in the immediate aftermath of the events there. No one (thankfully) had considered the idea that they could be hiding in the Originals' pizzeria and hopefully, things would stay that way.

The sound of multiple footsteps quickly approaching caused the Toys to back away from the door. Within moments there was a clicking sound with the outside fake wall sliding away to one side, before the door itself opened, revealing the likes of Goldie and Freddy, as well as Foxy, Bonnie and Chica, but they were off to one side given the small size of the doorway.

"Hey guys, I assume that you were all listening in, but we have some terrible news," Freddy announced, he looked uneasy, obviously there was a heavy weight on his mind.

His next words alone made that every clear.

"Helen is dead, she died in hospital an hour ago."

There were several sorrowful gasps from the Toys, with Toy Bonnie being the loudest, having clasped her mouth with her hands in her shock.

"Did she suffer at all?" Toy Chica asked curiously, but equally dreading the answer.

Mangle said nothing, she only felt the need to be silent, allowing the devastating revelation to wash on over her and for the emotions to build.

Freddy continued, speaking stoically.

"According to Lauren, who has passed on the word to everyone else, Helen's wounds were simply too severe for the doctors to handle, her family gave consent for them to switch her life support off, after that she simply went peacefully."

"Given that she was inflicted with significant head trauma it is more than likely that she didn't suffer any pain from the moment she went unconscious, she was effectively brain dead."

Freddy sighed heavily, before continuing.

"At best, she would have been in a dreamless sleep, completely unaware of everything."

Goldie steadily placed a hand against the doorway frame, before muttered.

"Thank God for that as well, it would have been absolute hell if she had been suffering," sounded pained by the news.

"Well, at least she is at peace now," Balloon Boy added sorrowfully, looking away.

"Wouldn't you agree Puppet?"

Puppet had for the entire time been leaning against the far wall, her face held a blank expression, but in her eyes, you could see the sadness and something else, but Balloon Boy couldn't decipher it, despair, guilt, shame perhaps.

She eventually spoke, but her words were soft and her voice quiet.

"I can only hope that she is at peace and in a way, she is actually lucky, not feeling the agony and then drifting off in nothingness after a week or so."

"We however get the short end of the stick. . .always."

The sadness, the pity, the despair, and the potential guilt that Puppet held, for the first time paled in comparison to Mangle's.

This was her mistake, her fault, Helen was dead because she couldn't control herself and now a family was mourning the loss of their daughter, whilst Mangle herself still lived and breathed. The guilt, the self-loathing, and the sheer sadness at the innocent loss of life was eating away at her and she was struggling to contain it all.

"No," she muttered softly, her voice was low, but the despair in her voice was noticed by all those closest to her.

"She cannot be dead; she had the best medical crews with her."

"Mangle. . ." Toy Freddy began, but her swift response cut him right off, exploding into an outburst of emotion.

"NO!"

"I COULDN'T HAVE CAUSED THAT MUCH DAMAGE!"

"THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE HER!"

Her yellow eyes which were filled so much emotion was now brimming with tears.

Her heart tore itself open and emotions flooded out, sadness, regret, shame, guilt, it all came rushing forth.

"I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER, BUT IN THAT MOMENT, I WANTED TO HURT SOMEONE SO BADLY!"

"I JUST FELT SO ANGRY!"

"There was a fairly large presence of the chemical that the medical team called 'Epinephine' found in your blood stream that day Mangle," Toy Freddy said stoically, trying to cut through the torment of negativity that surrounded Mangle.

"It heightened your feelings of aggression to dangerous levels and thus caused you to lash out, we know that the Purple Man injected you with it."

At the mere mention of 'Purple Guy', Puppet looked away slightly. Yet in her eyes, one could perceive unease if you looked close enough.

"You didn't deliberately decide to go out and harm anyone Mangle," Toy Freddy continued, but it was beyond clear that his words were having no effect on the distraught Mangle.

"BUT I DID!" Mangle shouted, only further exposing her torment.

"I WANTED TO, EVEN A PART OF ME WAS TRYING TO ARGUE AGAINST IT, POINTING OUT HOW THIS WASN'T ME, BUT I DIDN'T CARE, I FELT THAT I DESERVED SOME PAYBACK AFTER MY POOR TREATMENT!"

She then gripped her head, breathing intensely with her yellow eyes going wide with an abundance of emotions, but fear was the most dominant.

"They will pin it all on me, Helen's family will no doubt want repercussions for what I did!"

"They'll come after me!"

"I could have stopped myself, but I didn't, I just dived right in without a care!"

"I am despicable, unforgiveable, I am undeserving of-"

Suddenly, Mangle found herself being tightly hugged by Toy Bonnie and then Toy Chica, their sudden actions completely cutting her off and derailing her thoughts.

For a moment there was a complete but tense silence.

Yet, like after the waters had receded, the tsunami of emotion came racing back for Mangle, as she began to cry, pouring out of all the emotions that burdened her ever since that fateful day.

Slowly, Mangle sank down to the floor, sobbing and crying into Toy Bonnie's shoulder, quickly becoming an emotional wreck as both Toy Bonnie and Toy Chica cradled her in their arms. Neither of them said anything, no one did in fact, they just allowed Mangle to vent, to find an outlet for her inner turmoil.

The Originals, Goldie, Toy Freddy, Balloon Boy, and Puppet just watched with pained expression, feeling Mangle's agony, sharing it even.

To all of them Mangle was innocent, clearly so when looking at the evidence, but they could only help to hold her up, their love and care could not heal all the wounds inflicted upon Mangle. To overcome such trauma would require immense inner strength from Mangle, this was her fight and the longer she remained in trapped in her cycle of mental torture, the harder it would be to decisively break free.

Therefore, perhaps the best remedy was to face the horror head on, face to face, no hiding or running and seek closure and ultimately forgiveness.

Stand face to face against the ghost of Helen. . .

Flashback ends.

---

Mangle felt a deep gaping wound in her heart, her guilt in causing Helen's death and shame at being alive, as well as the flicker of fear that there would be conquences for her actions.

In fact, there already were conquences, the night guards were back, and it wouldn't be too hard to imagine that so was Helen herself.

The sheer possibility of her continued existence beyond death only further strengthened Mangle's feelings of unease. She shivered, even though she didn't feel cold and wrapped her arms around herself, only feeling her discomfort grow.

"Do you really think, that facing me will simply result in me forgiving you, just like that?" a distorted and raspy female voice called out, it sounded malicious.

It was coming from behind Mangle, but she didn't need to turn to see who it was, she knew.

She didn't want to look at 'her'. . .

There were several thuds and Mangle could the sounds of the grass being clutched as 'something' crawled across it, dragging itself towards her.

"Your sincerity doesn't grant you the right to be forgiven, especially since you enjoyed committing the act, actions have consequences, and the damage has already been done!" they snarled, further pulling themselves closer to Mangle, only remained sitting, not wanting to turn around and confront the real horror.

"You always run Mangle, you never turn to look at the mess that you've made, you admit your responsibility, but you don't want to see the true extent of it."

"I don't run," Mangle replied softly.

"I have always maintained my role in what happened."

The voice hissed aggressively, almost in an animalistic tone. They rejected Mangle's words, or worse, were even disgusted by them.

"You're a coward, you couldn't even overcome me in your own mind, you buckled and accepted the truth, despite the heart felt opinions of your family."

Mangle said nothing, but internally she felt the small spark of defiance against what she now recognised to be her own self-doubt, as well as her own self-loathing. Yes, she had buckled, and she felt tremendously guilty over what had happened and there wasn't any way in which she could give Helen her life back.

Yet she might, just might be able to make Helen move on, if her hatred of Mangle was the only thing keeping her rooted in Limbo. . .if she was truly present that is.

"Yes, you might think that there is a chance for forgiveness, but there is a huge risk that I won't accept it and instead tear you apart limb from limb," the voice hissed venomously.

"Because between you and me, Mangle, it's personal. . .it always has been."

Suddenly, Mangle felt a vile presence behind her, and the instant physical sensation of a hand being placed on her shoulder, as well as the rasped breaths of someone against her neck as they loomed over her. Looking down, she thought that she could make out the vague shadow of something towering over her. Either that or her own shadow was bigger than she had initially noticed it to be, maybe it was just a trick of the sunlight.

Yet she deeply suspected otherwise. . .

This 'thing' was indeed Helen, whether she was real or not.

"I will single you out and hunt you down, no matter where you choose to hide," Helen growled venomously, her determination was undeniable.

The hand, if one could call it a hand tightened its grip on Mangle's shoulder.

The physical sensation felt so real that Mangle couldn't tell if this was all just a vivid fabrication of her guilt-ridden mind.

"It is not your flesh that sustains me Mangle, but your fear!" Helen hissed vehemently she seemed to tower over Mangle like a thundercloud that threatened to break.

"And you can't let it go, despite what you say," Helen remarked bitterly, but with an undertone of enjoyment.

Drip

Drip

Drip

Mangle couldn't be sure whether it was just a reinforced trick of her own mind, but she swore that she just felt several drops of 'something' hit her head. It might be the odd spot of rain. . .or it could be blood and she wasn't willing to reach her hand up and find out.

"I am not afraid of you, and I am not afraid of myself," Mangle retorted back ferociously, but Helen merely chuckled, humoured by her words. She could feel the hollowness in her Mangle's words.

"Then explain why you have always held off from truly confronting your past, why you failed to stand up against yourself?"

"If you want to overcome your past, then come and find me Mangle."

She leaned in close, so close that Mangle could sense her breath against the back of her neck.

It made the little hairs stand up straight and Mangle trembled uncomfortably.

"I am waiting for you, let's catch up on old times, we have much to discuss," Helen whispered, her voice was cold and cruel, thinly veiled by a lukewarm tone that displayed false friendship.

Whatever friendship they had, it had been buried long ago, but the ghost of Helen that had long since haunted her mind, had seemed to be closer than ever.

"I never left you Mangle," Helen muttered, as though she was literally expressing Mangle's thoughts.

Her grip on Mangle's shoulder tightened, further increasing the shivers.

Yet, Helen's hand didn't quite feel like a hand, it possessed a malformed grip, in fact it was more alike a claw, digging itself in her skin.

"I am just a lot closer now," Helen remarked softly, but the eagerness for blood was evident in her voice.

"I know, you never left Helen," Mangle replied strongly, feeling a spark of determination lit up inside her.

"However, I'll confront you, when I decide to do so."

"So never then," Helen laughed raspy.

"Such hollow words."

"I will, I broke once," Mangle remarked.

"But I will not break again, I can't keep running from you, from my shame."

"My, you are feeling confident all of a sudden." Helen replied dismissively, but she sounded humoured.

"You're right," Mangle replied, she was now staring hard at Springtrap's tombstone.

She remembered how he came back from hating Goldie for what he did, overcame his hatred of the man who had tossed him aside and left him rotting in the dark for years on end.

"This is all sudden, but I cannot keep on being miserable and despressed about what happened, it won't reverse what happened and it won't bring you back."

She suspected that she was just feeling a rush of inner strength, but she had Springtrap's example to follow. If he and Goldie had been able to close the divide, then she had a decent shot.

Helen emitted a soft growl, as according to her shadow, she appeared to lean furthermore over Mangle.

From the very top of her field of vison Mangle could just see the dangling strands of blond hair, which contained patterns of red. . .blood.

"Look at me Mangle, if you want to face and overcome your fear, then shouldn't you straight directly into its eyes?" Helen teased, dangling the prospect of lunging down and showing her true form before Mangle's eyes.

"Come on, just a peek, it'll be the first step, but then isn't the first step always the hardest?"

Her questions were empty, she actually didn't intend for Mangle to answer them, just more worded barbs that she could throw out at her.

"Did you did know that during our time at your Pizzeria, the kids who bullied you would sing a little song about you."

"Mangle the mangled, they called it, snickering and whispering amongst themselves, but I can remember it as clear as day."

She then began to sing in a mocking tone, akin to that of a child.

"Mangle the mangled, dangling as she does. . ."

"Broken, twisted and afraid of us."

The eerie song sent several chills racing up Mangle's spine, she remembered that taunting song.

"Quit it Helen," she whispered, feeling her anger steadily build.

How she hated it when the children mocked her for no reason other than their own amusement.

Children were demons as much as they were angels.

"She dangles, she dangles like a hangman's noose," Helen sang in thinly veiled enjoyment.

"Stop it," Mangle insisted, but that only made Helen continued, reliving in the discomfort that she was causing.

"Tore apart and put back together, but mangled she still is."

"Just stop it!" Mangle shouted, barely containing her unease and frustration, as Helen refused to cease singing.

"Forever Foxy's replacement, in his shadow she lingers."

"Toy Foxy she is no longer, just mangled now and forever she shall remain. . ."

"I SAID STOP IT!" Mangle yelled, in her blinding furry she turned round on the spot, now not caring what Helen looked like.

Yet, there was no one there, no sign that anyone ever had been sitting behind her.

"Wait, how?" Mangle asked to no one, she felt stunned.

Everything had felt so real not ten seconds ago.

Helen was here, she had been looming over her, she had seen her tangled blond hair, felt her mangled hand on her shoulder and heard her voice.

Had it all been a well crafted trick of her mind?

Feeling confused and disturbed by it all, Mangle turned back round.

She wasn't ready for what she saw.

A battered covered face that was twisted, broken, deformed and mangled staring right back at her, so close that their lips could touch. Blood was dripping down her face and it was intermeshed with her blonde hair, making it look sticky and knotted.

Her lips looked split with blood covering her teeth.

Yet it was her eyes that stood out the most.

Helen's eyes were two pale greyish whites, there was no pupils in them that indicated that she could actually see.

"Come and face me!" she screamed viciously with evident desire in her voice.

"Find me Mangle!"

Mangle instinctively jumped back, she screamed in open terror at the monstrous sight of Helen and briefly lost her focus, the scare completely derailed her thoughts.

She quickly regained her focus, but when she did, Helen had vanished once more.

Mangle did a double take to make sure that she wasn't misreading things, but Helen had indeed disappeared into thin air. Given how quickly that her brief encounter had transpired, Mangle wasn't too sure if that was what Helen really looked like, or if it was just a physical manifestation of her own imagination.

She had only seen her face; she hadn't registered what the rest of the undead woman looked like, and really she didn't want to know. Whatever Mangle saw of Helen, she appeared to be looming over Springtrap's gravestone, literally clinging to it as she stared back at Mangle with a mocking grin.

Now she was gone, disappeared into nothingness as though she never existed.

But she did exist, and Mangle knew that she couldn't avoid her any longer.

Her self-doubt was right, back when it was confronting Mangle during their earlier encounter.

"What's done cannot be undone Mangle, you of all people know that."

"This is your legacy. . ."

"Would you like to embrace it?"

She was also right on what Helen would mostly likely try to do and that deep down she was still afraid of confronting her past.

"You're scared of her, Helen, you fear her retribution should you face her."

"You know what will happen if she catches you and you know that she can come back, now that your other victims have returned."

Yet as she stared longingly at Springtrap's gravestone and she imagined that he was staring back at her, wondering how she was going to overcome her past.

Springtrap had, he had smashed it, he came through when Goldie really needed him, regardless of how he had treated him in the past. Because Springtrap saw beyond his hate of what Goldie had done and that tomorrow didn't have be a simple repeat of yesterday.

The past and the future are different things and through continually replaying the former Mangle was only hurting herself. That had to change, mistakes remedied, and wounds healed. If she could make Helen see who the true villain was in all of this mess, then there was a chance at fixing the past.

Mangle had to try, for her own sake and for Helen's to give her peace of mind.

She couldn't keep lingering in self-loathing forever. However, she was afraid, deeply so of what lay ahead of her, of how Helen would react if she encountered her again, Yet, if the others needed her, then she would answer the call and come to their defence.

She remembered Balloon Boy's words from decades earlier.

"Yeah, we're with you Mangle!"

"Collective defence!"

Mangle smiled at the memory, it was a small smile, but she felt hopeful, a sharp contrast to what she had been feeling only minutes ago.

As she started to steadily make her back to Jeremy's house, she was certain that Springtrap would be looking down at her with pride, pleased that she was finally seeing the light behind the gloom.

But to get to that light, she would have to go through her own hell first. . .

---

Meanwhile, on the other side of Jeremy's house, one of the few manholes covers that was situated along the road moved.

Several times it wiggled about in its holdings, before finally it popped out, being pushed upwards by an unseen force from below.

Slowly, the manhole cover was pushed aside, fully exposing the hole that led down into the sewer to bright sun light, but the light itself only penetrated so far down, leaving the rest in utter darkness.

A thin pair of metal skeletal hands reached out of the darkness, followed by the dim white glow of eyes. The metal hands tightly gripped the sides of the manhole as the owner pulled itself out, revealing itself to be an endoskeleton.

And it wasn't alone. . .

Behind it were many eyes of the same whitish colour, as the leading endoskeleton peeked its head out of the hole, scanning the surrounding area.

There was no sign to suggest that it had been spotted by anyone or anything. Overall, everything appeared to be perfectly normal.

Soon the endoskeleton's white greyish eyes found its intended target, the large sized house that lay directly to its left, facing the street. That was Jeremy's house, they had reached their objective, after covering several miles underground.

Then they received a message from another endoskeleton, but they recognised its unique signature, it was coming from the grey van that was parked further up the street.

"We can see you; you have reached the correct location."

"Confirmed, we are now here," the lead endoskeleton replied nonchalantly.

"Your orders are to remain stationary, do to not attack the house until Master Vincent gives the signal," the other endoskeleton issued plainly.

"Confirmed, complying with command orders," the endoskeleton remarked, narrowing its eyes. It constantly stared at the house as it slowly lowered itself back down into the darkness of the sewer, hiding its physical presence.

"We shall wait, until the order is given."

But they probably wouldn't have to wait too long for the fun to begin. . .

---

And the fun will begin soon, but how exactly, well we'll get to that point in the near future.

Mangle has been giving herself a really hard time, but that's self-loathing for you, eating away and preventing you from moving on. However she couldn't keep dwelling in her own misery forever and it is nice that she is starting to move forward.

It'll be one hell of a climb though.

As for whether 'Helen' was really there, well the mind can be quite deadly thing when being used against itself; and as to the identity of the shadowy camera operator. . .well their reach runs deep.

Compared to Jeremy Fitzgerald though, I always pictured Mike Schmidt having the harder time trying to win the Fazbears' trust due to the ongoing circumstances surrounding the Fazbears' themselves and Mike's own no nonsense type attitude towards problems, although clearly his own curiosity won him over and a good thing too.

Although I usually don't spoil things for future chapters, we should hopefully be returning to Springtrap, Tommy and the ghost children at some point shortly.

I am hoping to get Chapter 59 finished by the time of FNAF's 7th anniversary in August.

Seven years sure feels like a long time to be a FNAF fan.

Thanks for reading and please review, I appreciate your thoughts.