Chapter 20: It's gonna be a long one

As the police car cavalcade came rolling in, Monty put back on his sunglasses and yelled out, "You can hide! But you can't hide!"

Many yards away from the scene, Freddy and his friends ran like hell. "Aww, there goes my van!" Bonnie sighed, "Never spending as much as I did on a paint job ever again!" "Forget the van," said Freddy, "How do we get to Las Vegas now?" "We could hop on one of these trains and take our chances," suggested Chica. "But what if we go further away from where we supposed to be?" asked Foxy. Chica shrugged in response. "Then we do," replied Freddy, "It's better than waiting around to only get arrested."

After crossing several tracks and looking for any load that had a potential locomotive attached to it, they saw a line of box cars with two locomotives hooked up to the front of the load. "Yes!" Freddy said. However, neither he or his friends could open up the box cars they were able to get to. They didn't want to go closer to the front, to avoid potential risks of being spotted. For better or for worse though, the train had to wait on a red signal.

Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy had tried the doors on more than half the box cars. They knew they didn't have much time if they were looking to escape Monty, Sparky, and the police. They suddenly heard Monty in the distance saying, "You really think we won't find you?" "Holy Shite!" said Foxy quietly, "We best find a door that opens, and quickly!" Right as he said that, the signal went green.

The train suddenly began moving. At the same time, Freddy found a door he was able to open. "Come on guys in here!" he said. The speed of the train started off as speed walking, but it was only a matter of time until it would eventually turn into running speed. Before Freddy decided to go in it, he assisted Foxy in first, then Chica, and then Bonnie.

By now, the train gotten to the point of speed where running was required. It was getting to the point of where it'd require more than running. Because of this, when Freddy grabbed onto the handles on the box car to climb inside, he failed and almost fell out. His friends grabbed him by the arms. "Hang on captain!" said Foxy. "We're gonna get you in!" added Chica. "I should work out more after this!" also added Bonnie.

Finally, Freddy made it in. "Thank you guys," he said. Suddenly, they could see flashes of red and blue. Just by instinct, they knew the door had to be closed immediately. Chica ran to the door and closed it as fast as she possibly could. Good thing too, because many police cars were present in this position, as well as many officers.

The train officially set off to wherever it was going and was completely gone within minutes. Monty and Sparky both saw this, and had very strong suspensions that Freddy and the gang were riding the train to get away. "You have suspicions that they got on that train?" asked Sparky. "No, I got suspicions about our government," Monty replied sarcastically, "Of course it's that they got on that train! I'm gonna make a special request for that train to stop at the next nearest yard..."

On the train...

It was incredibly dark and barely anything could be seen. "Did they see us?" asked Freddy. "I doubt it captain," replied Foxy. "Where's the light when you need it?" asked Bonnie. "Gosh dang it!" said Chica, "My phone is out of battery, that means no light."

Just then, Freddy had phone out and turned on his flashlight setting. "There we go," he said. "Let there be light!" said Bonnie. Freddy used his to look around the box car. "Huh, this is one creepy looking interior," said Chica. "What's the smell?" asked Foxy, picking up something in the air. As Freddy aimed his light near one of the ends of the box car, he and his friends saw a face, before it immediately hid behind some boxes.

The four screamed and the phone got dropped, making it dark again. "Not again!" Bonnie said. "And we're back to where we started," sighed Chica. "I have my hand on something," said Freddy, "I think it's Foxy's ear." There was silence from Foxy for a few seconds until he said, "That's not me ear." Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica yelled in disgust.

Freddy found his phone, wiping his hand. "I can't believe I just did that," he quivered. "Ye didnae know captain," replied Foxy. "Don't take it too hard on yourself, it happens in the dark," said an unfamiliar voice. Freddy looked behind himself to see a very weary looking woman. This obviously scared him and his friends.

"Who are you?" asked Bonnie nervously. "Better question is who are YOU?" said the woman, as another came out of the darkness, this time being a weary looking man. "We are a band on the run from a couple of folks who want to ruin our lives," said Bonnie. "It's more sophisticated than that, but that's just the short version of it," added Freddy.

The two weary people looked at the 4, trying to get an understanding of what was said. "Ah, I see where you are coming from," said the man, "Me and my wife have been on the run for the last 7 years." "All it took was our neighbor finding us to have word spread," said the woman, "Since then we've been in hiding, while equally looking for food to eat." "Why are you on the run exactly?" asked Chica. "Just because we got a little hungry!" said the woman. "Folks don't realize how long this had been going in for!" added the man.

Freddy and his friends were starting to feel uncomfortable. "How long has what been going on for?" asked Foxy. Freddy then saw some skull heads just behind the boxes of where the man and woman previously hid. The man licked his lips and his wife said, "Jackpot..."

The gang immediately opened up the box car door and jumped out. They landed in a bush as they train continued on by, eventually leaving off into the distance after the last box car went by. "Well this sucks," said Freddy. "At least we landed in a bush," said Bonnie. "A very uncomfortable one," added Chica. "It be worse if it had them sharp thorns," also added Foxy.

The 4 made their way to a motel that wasn't too far from where they had landed. They weren't originally intending on staying the night somewhere, but they would have to, whether they liked it or not. The tiredness was present on everyone's faces. "Please don't tell me we have to stay here for the night," said Foxy. "Would you prefer that we sleep on the ground for the night?" asked Freddy. Foxy nodded in a way of saying no.

1 hour later...

As annoyed as the band may have been that they had to jump off the train, it may have been for the best. They had unintentionally dodged a massive bullet, because the train had stopped at the next nearest train yard. The police searched the box cars, while the train's crew watched what was going on in confusion. Meanwhile, Monty and Sparky sat back and waited for the police to make their findings.

A commotion was heard near the end of the train. Monty and Sparky were quick to arrive on the scene. The police had handcuffs on the man and woman that were riding the train earlier. "Who are these two?" asked Sparky, "They got connections with Fazbear Entertainment?" "And why do they smell like salt water and burned bacon?" asked Monty. "We caught animal eaters Carl and Julie!" said one of the officers, "They've been on the run since 2017." Carl and Julie didn't say a word, and that probably saved Freddy and his friends from having the police get closer to them.

"Wait till the chief hears this," said one officer. "I see this as an absolute win!" added another. "It may be a victory for you guys," said a more than annoyed Sparky, "But it certainly isn't one me or Monty!" Monty then out of pure anger punched the box car, immediately following was the sound of a crack. Sparky, Carl, Julie, and the police all cringed SO hard when they heard that crack, knowing exactly what it ment. Monty then screamed as he held his hand in what was possibly excruciating pain.

Back at the hotel

Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy were outside stargazing. All 4 of them were on the lying on the ground just beyond the parking lot as they just watched the stars. "Really beautiful out tonight," said Bonnie. "Your right on that one Bonnie," replied Chica. "It's wee moments like these that we must enjoy," said Foxy, "Something to make a little joy out of in trying times. It may not look like much, but one day, we as a crew will look back on wee moments like these and realize not everything went bad." "Hey! That's something Chica would say!" Bonnie said. Chica laughed, "He was bound to pick up something within the 10 years we've been together a band!"

While Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy were making the best out of the situation as they possibly could, Freddy was quiet. He looked understandably tired, worried, and maybe even a little sad. After Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy finished laughing together, they aimed their attention towards their best friend. "What do you say Freddy?" asked Bonnie. Freddy didn't answer. "Uhh, Freddy?" Chica asked. Freddy snapped out of it, "Huh?" "Oh, nothing," said Chica, "Just didn't know if you were listening to our conversation."

Everyone could tell Freddy was down. "I take it that you be down?" assumed Foxy. "I'm just gonna rip the bandaid off, I feel REALLY down," Freddy explained, "I feel doubtful that any good will come out of our situation. Maybe it's my tiredness talking, but I can't stop thinking about what happens if we fail. No pizzeria, no performances, no...dad." "Don't be doubtful Freddy," said Foxy, "I promise ye we will get everything back when we take care of unfinished business." "When we wake up tomorrow, just remember, friends are forever," added Chica. "I also came up with this saying," Bonnie said, "It's cheesy, I know, but hear me out. It's called FNAF. And FNAF stands for Friends Never Abandon Friends."

Bonnie's friends nodded in response. "Huh, I mean, that does make sense," said Freddy. "As cheesy as it may sound, it describes our friendship in a way," added Foxy. "It's got charm to it," said Chica, which wasn't what everyone expected to hear, "Does it sound cheesy? Maybe, but theres a meaning behind it. There's something about each and every one of us that keeps us together as friends. Freddy's leadership, Foxy's enthusiasm, and Bonnie's lovable personality." "Don't forget yourself," said Bonnie, "You're much more than pizza enthusiast. When we're down, you help get us back on our feet. Even the kids you do just the same for. So for you, I'd say your confidence."

This seemed like nothing, but it may have opened a new side of chica. "You know Bonnie, you're really special," she said, but then looked to realize what was said, "I mean, we're all special! Wasn't trying to not include you guys." "Don't worry about it lassie," said Foxy. "We know what you ment," added Freddy. Foxy then tried to read Chica's thoughts. He was successful, like he was with Freddy and Bonnie before. "Phew," Chica thought, "That was a close one. I don't know what I'd do if Freddy or Foxy caught on. Bonnie probably took it as a complement anyway, but still...I gotta tell him how I really feel...I just don't know if he sees me in the same way I see him."

Foxy couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No way!" he thought to himself, "This changes everything!" Perhaps Bonnie and Chica would be a good couple after all. And as excited as it made Foxy, especially knowing that the chances between his friends were greater, he knew that now wasn't the best time to tell Bonnie. Even if it was through thoughts, he didn't need to put Bonnie on edge or give him those thoughts when they needed to relax for the night. So for now, Foxy kept it to himself, as he and his friends watched the stars.

To be continued in the next chapter...

(Chapter 20 published 9/15/24)