I looked up in a panic. The police?! With a harsh shake of my head, I shot down my paranoia. No, they can't be here for me. I haven't done anything wrong here. They don't know anything. A faintness blanketed me regardless. I kept the tape sped up, watching every part of the screen for any change. My fingers tightly clutched the computer mouse. What was he running from? Father can't still be hiding in that room- what?! The frame of a man entered the black-and-white hallway. This person- brawny, hairy, and of average height- looked nothing like Father. My nose wrinkled. Who the hell is this? The stranger ducked into the arcade for just a moment. He began dragging the broken bodies of the animatronics down the hall. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. A different camera angle showed that he stowed them somewhere behind the main stage. Then he left the building, only to return with a handful of supplies and a stout woman trailing behind with more stuff.

Are they employees? That was a possibility, but they didn't wear any uniforms. The strange people began using tools and wood and things to cover the arcade room's curtained entrance. They worked hastily to create a brand-new wall. As the strangers flung paint around, my eyes widened. That's the wall- that weird new wall! They did that! My father is behind that wall! Why?!

The bellow of a police officer echoed down the hallways to reach me: "Mike Schmidt, come out slowly with your hands in the air. You are under arrest for the destruction of beloved property."

Shit, shit- no, focus!

I jammed a finger on the fast-forward button, knowing that it couldn't go any faster. Where is Father? Those weird people? The mystery robot? A cluster of footsteps clunked down the hallway. I shoved the keyboard across the desk, palmed my forehead, and frantically glanced around the office. I can't go to jail- I have to hide! The walls seemed to shrink as the seconds counted down. In a panic, I rushed to bring down the security doors. I took a breath. That'll give me a few minutes, but what now?

"Hey! Open this door!" a muffled voice ordered. I winced. As if! The papers sticking out of my bag brought up a new problem: Oh, if they find out what I'm planning, I'm never seeing the light of day again. I snatched it all up to thrust it into one of the file cabinets. Once I locked the bag away, I was left with the key. My brow furrowed. Wouldn't be the worst thing I've eaten.

"Open the door!" another cop yelled. I swallowed the key. Fists thrashed against thick metal while I paced the office with my hands across the back of my neck.

Think, think- if I go down the other hall, they're faster- they'll block me off. If I stay here, the power will run out. I can't hide. I can't run- I don't want to keep running away from this.

"Open up!"

My arms locked into defensive positions. I don't run away. I should fight back. I destroyed actual possessed robots. What's a few humans?

I swallowed all hesitation, for adrenaline swept over my limbs. And then I let up the door. There they were: four police officers ready to take me down.

"Put your hands in th-"

I struck with a hastily-closed fist and sent a cop stumbling into another. Pain shot up my veins. Dammit- form! I swung again, better. A thick forearm blocked my attempt.

"Stop!"

The word fueled me. I threw my fists into a flurry, aiming for the nose. BAM! BAM! Hands scrambled to halt the blows. Someone whipped out a metal stick and knocked it against my legs. How'd they know that was a weak spot? I ripped out of a cop's grasp, losing my balance but dropping back on purpose. My feet stumbled over the office chair. The floor hit me faster than I thought it would. Oof! I kicked the chair and sent it flying for some shins.

"AGH!"

"HEY!"

One of the officers radioed for backup while the others dropped to my level, scrambling to subdue me. Someone's palm held my head down.

"Stay down!" they ordered.

"Yeah, you have to stay down!"

Get off me! Thinking fast, I reached underneath my shirt and crunched the disc in the centre of my chest. It snapped into fourths under my grip. Instantly, everyone let go to either cover their ears or gagging maws. Just as expected.

"GAAAGHH!"

"What is this?!"

The sensation left them disoriented on the floor. I ran my fingers through my hair and unclenched my teeth. I just did that! Okay, now I have time. How much exactly I overestimated.

Now irrationally set on my goal, I found that fresh section of the wall and threw all my weight into my fists. Cracks emerged. Yes! He's just right here past this wall! I can do th- A cluster of voices echoed into my ears, "STOP, STOP! DON'T SET HIM FREE!" My head spun, and I paused. What? Why? Comprehension took a few seconds. I glimpsed over my shoulder. The police powered through the effects of that frequency-emitting disc, advancing on me. Gun barrels stared me down. I whirled back. The crackle pattern in the wall called to me, but so did the voices.

"STOP!"

"That is the LAST time you do that!" a policeman seethed.

I cannot deal with this right now! my frazzled brain decided. I threw back an elbow into a nose in proximity and turned on my heel. BAM! An unlucky cheekbone flushed red. Arms tugged at my own, quickly seizing them.

"Just l-let me do th-is!" I protested to both the cops and the ghosts. The cops shouted, "Stop fighting! We can talk about this!"

My left hand ripped a layer of the wall away. Slivers of paint lodged deep into my fingernails. I didn't care. The police hands worked together to shove me, smushing my cheek into the wall cracks.

"Put your hands up!"

Another baton struck my shoulder blade. The urge to give in choked the back of my brain. NO! I bit my cheek, yanked out of someone's clutches, and grabbed my taser. YES! Other fingers rushed to grab it. Right when I squeezed the trigger. NO! The prickling shock pulsed through my veins- a feeling grossly familiar. My skin threatened to burst under the pressure.

THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS!

With a frustrated cry, I forced all that stupid energy out. The smell of molten plastic burned my esophagus. Sudden spasms rippled across the cops' bodies. They dropped one by one, yelling in pain. Yet again, the cops were down.

"St-stay down," a cocky remark just couldn't stay in my head. I wiped a blob of spit off my cheek and took off for the main party room.

"STOP!" someone cried from behind. I did, albeit of my own volition. Oh, Father! But how could I get that wall down with my bare hands? Time was against me. I have to get out of here. But I can't leave Father! The sound of shuffling from the hallway clued that the police were no longer incapacitated.

"Oh, d-dammit," I whispered. The sunlight towered in through the windows. Biting my lip, I stumbled through the doors into the parking lot. The gravel pushed against my soles.

I can come back, I reassured myself. I will come back.

BANG! The first bullet whizzed by, shattering the glass beyond me. I instinctively froze, and the next shot tore through my calf. BANG! No! I leaned on my less awful leg. Just walk- BANG! My body lurched. I can't go down from this! I continued for the car, lobbing my weight forward with every step. The sun glared white into my eyes. I had to keep going. The sooner I get out of this, the sooner I can get him out of that wall!

"Stop where you are right now!" a cop yelled, fear wavering in his voice. BANG! BANG! Buildings multiplied around me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to pass out. No, not now- My knees buckled before collapsing inward like a lawn chair.

"Agh!" I can't move my legs- the tools are inside- they're coming for me-

I dragged myself forward with a series of pained grunts. The car. Its cool surface shocked my fingertips. I caught the thumping of approaching footsteps. Using the back bumper, I lobbed myself up. C'mon- The car's half-ajar trunk met my eyes. And a chill wormed into my skin, freezing me in place. The trunk was empty.

No.

The sight of her, dead or alive, would have brought closure.

She's really missing. Father… did something…

Seeing an empty grave forced back feelings of weighted guilt. My hands shook, but my body was spent.

"Gotcha!"

A knee jammed down into my spine. My body flopped into the ground, every joint dislocating with that sudden motion. Rocks jabbed through my clothes. The dark underbelly of the purple car hazed in my vision. I almost didn't notice the handcuffs clicking onto my wrists.

This isn't fair.

"Hey! Hello?! Answer the question!"

A hand waved in my face.

"Pl-please… I j-just want t… finish this…" I mumbled, knowing that pleading was a long shot but doing so anyway. My voice broke apart worse than usual.

"What? I can't hear you."

"F-finish the…"

"Finish what?"

"Them… they-they're in th-the wall…"

A pause ensued.

Why did I say that… I cringed. Why did I- they're gonna send me to the crazy house.

"Okay. There is someone in the wall. Is there something you'd like to say about who… that is?"

I said nothing, shrinking in embarrassment. The cops shook their heads and gave each other looks as if to telepathically communicate that hoo boy, this one is mad!

They ushered me into the back of their rusty police car. My limp legs twisted underneath the driver's seat. I lowered my head.

I have to get out of this.

The car rocked as its drivers plopped into the front, and it spluttered weakly before starting onto the road.

"Wait 'til Bern hears we got him," a chortle travelled my way. "We caught the Purple Guy!" I frowned at their fists flying up. Ugh.

"Sure did! Now, hey-" he tapped the glass that separated the front from the back- "-I'm supposed to tell you your rights and whatnot, buuuut I'm more interested in asking what's up with the, uh… purple skin and Ghost Rider eyes? Is it makeup or…" My sour expression did not budge.

"Okay… forgive me for trying to have a decent conversation."

I watched the purple car leave my view; it faded into the daylight as I was taken to my inevitable future: jail. Guess I should have known the blue boys would get me eventually.