Life had not been not always so unkind to Raphael Retter. A PhD in Biochemistry, a stable relationship with his then-coworker/girlfriend, and... a job at what was once the biggest toy companies in the world. He had to admit, that was kind of weird. But, hey! Money is money, he thought. What could they possibly want with people like him?
But then, one day...
It was all just a blur really. Everything happened too fast. Those were memories that he had banished to the deepest, darkest corners of his mind. But he does remember running. Running without ever looking back. Not even sparing a thought to the guests, his fellow employees... or even the children who were present there. He couldn't give a damn. He was trying to save his own hide. But as the years passed, the guilt ate away at him. The regret haunted his dreams. It was only until he had hit rock bottom that he realized what he really was:
A weak, cowardly sinner.
So it came as a surprise when, one day, something was delivered to his slovenly hovel of a bungalow. A old video tape and crude, crayon-written letter telling him that his coworkers were still alive and to "Find the flower". After dusting off his old VCR (which somehow worked after so long) and watching the tape, he saw that it was a tape for one of Playtime Co's most successful toys: Poppy Playtime.
By the time the commercial ended, Raph could only stare at the tape that had ejected and the letter he received. He was almost tempted to head back there and maybe, just maybe, atone for his crimes.
"Who am I kidding?" Raph chuckled to himself, grabbing a nearby beer bottle on his coffee table and chugging down the rest of the contents.
He was about to head to his fridge for more booze to drown himself and his sorrows in when he heard another knock at the door. Sighing deeply, he trudged over and cracked it open. There, he found a young woman standing on his porch. She wore a baggy hoodie and jeans and carried a backpack.
"What do you want?" He croaked.
"Are you... Raphael Retter?" She asked.
"Who's asking?" He asked back.
"Raph? Don't you remember me?" She asked hopefully. "Angelica Luna."
Now that was a name he hadn't heard in a long while. She was only nine when the incident happened. He remembered growing very fond of the little girl. So fond in fact, that he actually considered adopting her from the plant's on site daycare/orphanage. He didn't think she'd manage to escape.
"What are you even doing here?"
Without saying a word, Angie reached into her backpack and, after rummaging around in there for a bit, pulled out two things: a video tape, a letter similar to his own, with the only difference being that it told her that her friends were still alive but trapped.
"You're wasting your time Angie." Raph sighed. "I'm weak. I'm a coward. And you were just a little girl."
Just as he was about to close the door, an indignant Angelica forced herself inside with the clear intent of not taking no for an answer.
"Our friends could still be alive. And everyone thinks they've all disappeared, so who's going to believe us?" She explained assertively before her tone became more pleading. "Please, Raph. I'm not gonna be able to live with myself until I at least get some answers. And what about you? You're hurting; I know you are!"
Looking into those pleading eyes, Raph cursed himself. But she was right. Maybe this could finally be the chance he was looking for. A chance to finally do something right for once in years.
"Fine." He relented.
As the two exited Raph's car, they stared up at the sprawling factory. What was once so bustling and buzzing with activity was now decrepit and grungy. Several windows and doors had been boarded up.
"No turning back now." Angie gulped.
As they walked through the overgrown grass, saw that the board barring the front door was rotted away. Using brute force, Raph easily ripped the plank off, allowing his and Angie inside.
"Hey, guys. Check this out." Frida said.
The trio were among those to be picked for tonight's graveyard shift. The decided to take a little break at a cafe that catered to the supernatural.
"What is it?" Hilda asked after swallowing a mouthful of her roast beef and cucumber sandwich.
She then showed them what was on her phone.
"I've done some digging and found that everyone inside the factory inexplicably disappeared. No one quite knows why, but there are so many conspiracies it's possible to count." She explained
"I can't imagine why." David snarked, taking a sip of his blood bag.
Just then, their conversation was interrupted when their radios buzzed.
"There was been an alert at the Playtime Co. Factory in neighboring Davis County. Any and all nearby units please respond."
"Unit 10 of ISCPO Precinct 7 responding right now." Hilda's voice rang out.
"Unit 017 of ISCPO Precinct 7, here." Girl responded as well. "We're heading there right now as a matter of fact."
Hearing that made Mouse's blood run cold. As their red, blue and green lights lit up the night, they rushed down the road and towards the factory.
"D-do we have t-to go there?" He spluttered.
"Mouse, just what the heck is going on?" Girl asked, concerned for her step-brother and growing tired of his worrying.
Mouse didn't respond.
"Girl, maybe we shouldn't respond to this one." Boy said.
"Too late now." Girl replied. "I can see the factory straight ahead."
Just as they pulled up to the place they saw another ISCPO cruiser, and out stepped Hilda, David and Frida.
"You guys got the call too?" David asked.
"Yeah." Boy replied as he looked over to the red sedan parked nearby. "And by the looks of it, someone's already here."
"Alright, everyone." Hilda said. "Stick together and don't split up."
With a nod from everyone, except Mouse, the sextet cautiously made their way inside, flashlights, guns and tasers at the ready. The inside was covered in layers of dust and grime as they scanned the area. Mouse was trying his best not to tremble uncontrollably and to put on a brave face for the sake of his fellow officers. Soon, they made their way into the main lobby. The place was eerily quiet apart from the echoing sound of their footsteps. From what they observed, there seemed to be some sort of hand pads that accompanied the doors. What was all that about?
Everyone was startled when music suddenly began playing.
His name is Huggy!
Huggy Wuggy!
When he hugs you, he'll never stop.
Your friend Huggy!
Huggy Wuggy!
He'll squeeze you until you pop!
Everyone turned their attention to Boy, who had accidentally pressed a button on the plaque in front of him.
"Sorry!" He chuckled nervously under their collective glare. "I was just reading up on this."
Suddenly, Hilda's werewolf nose picked up something.
"What is it?" David asked.
"This way." She said, pointing to an entrance labeled "Make-a-Friend".
They followed her down the dark hallway until they reached a door with a depiction Huggy Wuggy wearing a hardhat and holding a hammer painted above it. They went through it and found themselves on a catwalk. After making their way down the nearby staircase, Hilda sniffed around again, trying to find something.
"Guys, I got something." Hilda said.
"Where?" Frida asked.
"Over there."
She directed to others to the conveyor belt. Or more specifically, the vent that had one blue and one red hand pad, a deviation from what they saw so far.
"Do we have to go in there?" Boy gulped.
"Well, we're not gonna catch any intruders just lying around." Girl replied. "Lead the way, Hilda."
Seeing as they had no other options, the group followed Hilda into the cramped tunnels. What they didn't expect was for Hilda to immediately slip down an incline due to the exposed conveyor rollers. Frida grabbed onto her to try and stop her, only to be dragged down herself. David tried the same, then Boy, then Girl. They all groaned when they hit the bottom.
"Is everyone ok?" Frida strained.
"I think." Boy answered as they pulled themselves up.
They looked around them and saw either dead ends or steep inclines with the same exposed rollers. Thankfully though, Hilda's nose guided them into a right vent. They were then led to a part where the conveyors moved on their own. Along the way, they were treated to the sight of blaring red lights, the shrill screech of a buzzer and getting showered with toy parts.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" David asked.
"I still got the scent!" Hilda replied before pointing left. "This way!"
With that, they slid into a different, more brightly lit room before landing in a heap.
"I hate this place already." Girl grumbled.
"You're gonna hate this a lot more if we don't-"
Mouse was cut off when they all noticed Raphael and Angie standing by one of the machines. The former of whom was wearing some sort backpack-like contraption with red and blue ands and spool of wire on the back.
"I knew this was a bad idea." Raphael sighed as they raised their hands and the cops straightened themselves out.
"ISCPO! Don't move an inch!" Girl ordered.
"State your names please." Boy requested.
"Uh, Raphael Retter."
"Angelica Luna. but you can just call me Angie."
"What are you two doing here?" Frida asked. "You're not supposed to be here."
"I knew that, but she begged me to come here." Raphael said.
"Please, Officers. Raph and I just came here because we just want some answers." Angie explained before pulling the letters they got in the mail. "It says right here that we can find out what happened to our friends."
As they looked over the letter, Angie noticed that the toy they had been waiting for, a Candy Cat, was done.
"So, how do we get out of here?" David asked.
"This is how." Angie said as she picked up the toy and brought it over to a scanner.
This caused the large metal shutter to open.
"Man, do we have some questions for you." Girl said.
"Well, follow us... I guess." Raph sighed.
Just as the group was about to make their to the dark hallway ahead of them, they were met with the sight of an 18-foot tall Huggy Wuggy lumbering towards them. However, he didn't look friendly if his large open smile showing rows of serrated spikes for teeth was any indication. The grouped backed away in terror. They couldn't even scream, they were so scared.
"Oh he-h-hey, Huggy!" Angie giggled anxiously. "R-remember me?"
Just then, Raphael noticed a vent door that had opened up. He quickly grabbed Angelica's hand and dashed towards it.
"RUN!" He screamed.
They didn't need to be told twice as they booked it, following closely behind the former scientist and the orphan.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?" David screamed.
"Doesn't he remember us?!" Angie cried.
"Oh think he remembers me crystal clear!" Raph panted as they ran.
"LESS TALKY! MORE RUNNY!" Girl barked just as Huggy broke through a the floor in front of them, forcing them to take another turn.
The group weaved as fast as they could through the dark labyrinthine passageways. Left, right, down, it didn't matter. They didn't know where the paths they were taking were gonna lead them, but anywhere is better than who was behind them. After all that running, their efforts seemed worthless when they ran into a dead end.
"WE'RE DEAD!" Mouse cried as he looked behind them and saw the blue beast making a beeline for them.
Suddenly, they heard the shutter open. They wasted no time in rushing through it and making it to another set of exposed rollers. Quickly bracing themselves, they screamed at they slid down in and landed in a pile and ending up on another cat walk just as the shutter slammed shut behind them.
"I hate doing that." Hilda scoffed.
"You and me both." Angie agreed.
Just then, she noticed a large crate above the doorway.
"Quick! Maybe you can use that to block his way!" Hilda urged.
"On it!" Raphael replied as he aimed the hands of his pack at the box.
He shot the hands and, once he got a grip, he pulled as hard as he could. The box finally tipped off the edge just as Huggy burst through the shutter. All the weight collapsed the catwalk and the one below it. David was able to grab on to the unbroken part only to end up with Hilda holding onto his hand, Frida holding onto her legs, then Boy hanging onto her legs, then Raph, Girl (with Mouse holding onto her hair), Angie, and finally Huggy himself. The chain dangled above the dark abyss below and no one wanted to find out just how far down the floor is.
"Cruddlesticks!" David cursed.
"Anyone got any ideas?" Raph strained.
"And make it quick!" Boy exclaimed.
Angie looked down at Huggy. Despite his permanent smile, the whimpering sounds that he was making indicated that he was just as scared as they were. The gash in his head after the box hit him didn't help matters.
"What are you doing?! That thing tried to kill us!" Frida pointed out.
"I know! But... we can't just leave him to die." Angie said meekly.
"Look, can we talk this later?" Raph said. "My hands are slipping."
Just then, Hilda had an idea.
"David, you think you could fly us up?" Hilda suggested.
David strained. As a relatively new vampire who recently learned to fly, flight took a lot of magical energy to pull off. If it was just him and one other person, no problem and Mouse's weight was negligible. But six plus an giant toy? That's a tall order to say the least. But what other option did he have here?
"Alright. Here goes nothing." He gulped.
Taking a deep breath, David strained as he pulled himself and everyone up. Slowly but surely, David was able to let go of the platform and grab Hilda's other hand. Tugging with all his might, he pulled everyone into the air. Once Huggy's feet cleared the edge, he slowly lowered everyone down. By the time his feet touched down, he was left feeling dizzy but accomplished.
"That was a close one." Boy panted.
"Thanks, David." Hilda said in relief as she wrapped her arms around his neck and gifted him a quick peck on the lips.
Everyone then turned their attention to the injured blue toy. Raph tried to step forwards in an attempt to offer him some help, only for him to hiss and his fur to stand on end, prompting the officers to reach for their weapons.
"Hey, bud." Angie gently said to him. "You remember me, right?"
Huggy tilted his head as the tan-skinned girl in a hoodie approached him.
"I used to play with you all the time. You were my favorite."
As soon as she touched his shoulder, she gently caressed his face and used her other hand to scratch his belly. This prompted his to nuzzle her and purr contently. Everyone else was dumbfounded. One minute he was hellbent on murdering them, now he was acting like and oversized cat.
"Anyone got any gauze or something?" Angie requested.
"I got it." Frida said as she pulled out a roll from her first-aid kit.
Angie accepted it and used it to wrap around this head and stop the bleeding.
"Okay, I can't believe I just realized that he was bleeding!" Girl pointed out. "I thought he was supposed to be a toy!"
"He is. It's just he's also part organic. Much like me." Mouse said before slapping his hands over his mouth.
"What do you mean just like you?" Boy asked.
Mouse sighed. He really didn't wanna have to do this, but one can only hide something for so long.
"Let's just say..." Mouse croaked. "...I have a history with this place."
He pulled on his tag and revealed at it read 'Playtime Co.' in the company's signature font. Everyone didn't know what to think. An eerie silence fell over them as they thought about on what to do next.
"Well... we're not gonna make any progress doing nothing, are we?" Raph said, trying to ease the tension.
"But what about Huggy?" Angie asked.
Huggy, curled up on the platform, gave a gentle but clear hand wave.
"A-are you sure?" Hilda asked.
Huggy nodded and shooed them away again, clearly wanting to be left alone for now. With that in mind, the group slowly made their way across the catwalks and awa from him. Along the way, Girl had picked up a video tape and spotted TV and VCR nearby.
"Put that in. We might get some info out of it." Raph told her.
Nodding, Girl put it in.
Final Log
In relation
Experiment #1006, The Prototype.
Coordination and cooperation is evidently within his skillset. As well as all the other skills of all other experiments of his type. Though still missing, today's events are in no doubt in relation to him. His absence was a flaw in the scientific process, which should have under no circumstances been left unaccounted for.
That's why I'm making this log: So that the same mistake won't be made twice.
Screams and pounding in background were heard by those listening, unnerving them.
Any future experiments will need to be contained and disposed of in a secure location.
I'm not worried about myself. One breakthrough and I'll be back. We must forge onwards in the name of science. Whether those who are beneath us understand it or not. End of-
When the tape cut off, the officers, the former scientist and the orphan were left speechless. Turning, Angie saw a large red poppy flower adoring a door with several suspended toys hanging around it.
"Guys, look." She told them.
They others took notice.
"That's what what we came for." Raph said.
Once they had reached and opened the door, they were treated to the sight of a long hallway. However, it was decorated to look more like an old house than anything, complete with yellow poppy-adorned wallpaper and wall lights.
"How big is this place?" Boy wondered out loud.
As they turned a corner, they saw the end of the of this hallway was illuminated an eerie crimson. Their steps became more hesitant as they walked further into it. Finally, they reached a pair of double doors. Hilda and Raph opened it, revealing a glass case. surrounded by cushions. But what was inside the case was what really had their attention. A porcelain doll with red frizzy pigtails, a blue puffy gown and appeared to be asleep, surrounded by what looked like some sort of red gas.
"Poppy Playtime herself." Raphael remarked in awe.
Just then, Angie went up to it and grabbed the case doorhandle.
"Angie, WAIT!" Mouse and Raphael warned.
Too late. She opened the case, filling the room with the red gas. The last thing everyone saw and heard before conking out was the doll's eye's opening and her saying:
"You opened my case..."
