Chapter 2: Elijah's POV
I was nervous that the Glamrocks and I were about to meet the Original animatronic gang, their night guard, and their new night technician. We were meeting them later tonight. I had heard wonderful things from Scott about how they were doing at the pizzeria. The nervousness comes from how the two humans would view me as a person, considering my past stardom. I was helping the Glamrocks, Scarlett, and the twins, Ryan and Reagan, decorate the Pizzaplex, including the grand tree in the Atrium while the Pizzaplex was closed for the holiday. We were glad that Scott still hasn't known what had happened with that very unexpected party mishap a couple of weeks ago. What frightened me the most though, was that nobody had seen Andrew or Damien since that party. I still have my guard up around everyone during the day.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, sugar?" Glamrock Bonnie's smooth voice cut through my thoughts. He stood on a ladder, helping Ryan place an ornament on a high branch. His expression was curious but warm, one brow raised.
"I… hope meeting them will be fun," I said, forcing a small smile as I adjusted a Glamrock Freddy ornament near the middle of the tree.
"Yeah, I totally understand," Glamrock Chica chimed in, her melodic voice as comforting as ever. She stepped closer and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Meeting new friends can sometimes be nerve-wracking."
"You're not wrong about that," I chuckled softly, reaching into the box of decorations to grab another ornament. This one was a miniature version of the Pizzaplex itself, complete with glowing windows. I placed it carefully on the tree.
Reagan dashed around the tree, a trail of garland flowing behind her like a festive cape. "Elijah, look! I'm decorating the bottom of the tree! It's super important, right?"
"Very important," I replied, smiling at her enthusiasm. Her energy was infectious, and for a moment, my nerves faded.
"Just be careful not to trip," Scarlett warned, balancing a star ornament in one hand as she supervised. "Reagan, you don't want to pull the whole tree down."
Ryan giggled from atop the ladder. "Ornaments everywhere!"
"Not funny," Scarlett said with a mock-stern look, but her lips twitched in a suppressed smile.
I turned back to the tree, running my fingers over a small ornament shaped like a microphone. It brought back memories of performances under the spotlight, when the whole world seemed to adore me. Now, I wondered how much of that admiration was genuine and how much was just the glitz and glamor. Would these new people—the night guard and the technician—see me as more than a relic of the past?
"You're doing great, Elijah," Glamrock Freddy's deep, reassuring voice rumbled from behind me. He was stringing lights around the base of the tree, his movements precise and methodical. "Don't let the idea of meeting them get in your head too much. They're just people, like Scarlett and the twins."
"Thanks, Freddy," I said.
Still, I couldn't help but glance toward the darkened entrance of the Atrium, as though Andrew or Damien might appear at any moment. For now, the decorations and the warmth of my friends offered a temporary reprieve, but the shadows of the past loomed ever closer, and I couldn't ignore them forever.
The sound of footsteps and cheerful chatter announced the return of Monty, Sun, Roxy, and DJ Music Man, who had been decorating other parts of the Pizzaplex. Monty's distinct stomps were accompanied by Sun's enthusiastic laughter.
"Well, we're back!" Sun practically sang as he skipped over, holding a box of tinsel.
"Good timing," Glamrock Chica said, turning toward them.
As the group joined in decorating the tree, Glamrock Chica's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. I should have known she was up to something by the way she grabbed a sprig of mistletoe from the decorations box. She moved quietly, positioning herself right behind Monty and me as we adjusted a string of lights.
"Hey, you two!" she called out, her tone far too playful. When we turned, she dangled the mistletoe above us with a grin. "Since you argue like an old married couple, might as well make it official, huh?"
My face immediately went red-hot, and I froze, stammering incoherently. Monty's jaw tightened as his tail flicked sharply.
"Chica, knock it off!" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. Without another word, he stormed off toward his green room, his heavy footsteps echoing as he disappeared down the hallway.
"Aw, come on, it was just a joke," Chica said, laughing nervously. She shrugged and put the mistletoe back in the box. "Tough crowd."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow but said nothing, returning her focus to the decorations. The rest of us shook off the awkwardness and shifted our attention to a new project—building a giant gingerbread house in the dining area.
Ryan and Reagan immediately became enamored with the candies, sneaking pieces into their mouths when they thought no one was looking.
"You two are going to run out of decorations," I teased, grabbing a small bowl of gumdrops before Ryan could swipe it.
"We're taste-testing!" Reagan protested with a cheeky grin, her hands full of chocolate squares.
"I'll go grab more from the kitchen," Chica offered, glancing at me. "Elijah, you coming? We'll need a lot more frosting, too."
I nodded, eager for a moment away from the chaos. As we walked down the quiet halls toward the kitchen, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"You okay?" Chica asked, her voice soft with concern.
"Yeah," I said quickly, though my cheeks still burned from the earlier joke. After a pause, I added, "It's just… the mistletoe thing. It felt like it was… too much."
Chica stopped walking and turned to face me, tilting her head curiously. "You mean, because of Monty?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "I mean, he's always kind of a… jerk to me. But still. I do like him. Not that he'd ever… you know, feel the same way." My words tumbled out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted saying so much.
Chica's expression softened. She placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, you never know. Monty's rough around the edges, but he's got a good heart. Just give it time."
I smiled faintly. "Thanks, Chica."
"Anytime, sugar," she said with a wink. Together, we grabbed the supplies and headed back to the others, my mind spinning with thoughts I wasn't sure how to handle.
Freddy, Roxy, Chica, Ryan, and Reagan quickly turned decorating into a competition. Each claimed a section of the gingerbread house, declaring they would make it the prettiest. Glittering candies and colorful frosting became their weapons of choice, and playful banter filled the room.
Despite the laughter, my thoughts kept drifting back to Monty. I couldn't let things end on such a sour note. With a sigh, I slipped away from the group and made my way toward Monty's green room.
When I arrived, I hesitated for a moment before knocking softly on the doorframe. "Monty?"
His voice came from inside, gruff and guarded. "What do you want?"
"I just… wanted to check on you," I said, stepping inside cautiously. Monty was sitting on his couch, arms crossed and tail flicking irritably. He didn't look at me.
"I'm fine. Don't need you fussing over me," he muttered.
I frowned, feeling a pang of guilt. "Look, I'm sorry about earlier. Chica shouldn't have—"
"It's not just that," Monty interrupted, his voice sharp. He finally looked at me, his yellow eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. Embarrassment? Frustration? "I… I don't know how to do this, Elijah."
"Do what?" I asked, confused.
Monty shifted uncomfortably, his tough exterior cracking ever so slightly. "I like you, alright? A lot. But I don't know how to… say it without sounding stupid."
The admission hit me like a freight train. For a moment, I couldn't speak, my heart racing. "Monty… I like you too," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looked at me, surprised. "You do?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah. Even when you're being a jerk."
Monty snorted, a hint of a grin breaking through his usual scowl. "Guess I need to work on that."
Before I could think, I stepped closer, and Monty stood. We hesitated, staring at each other before I wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back, his grip firm but surprisingly gentle. For a moment, it felt like the world had melted away.
We leaned in, the distance between us closing—
"Hey, Elijah! Monty!" Freddy's voice boomed from the doorway, making us spring apart like guilty teenagers. Glamrock Bonnie appeared behind him, smirking knowingly.
"What's going on in here?" Freddy asked, his tone innocent but curious.
"Nothing!" Monty and I said in unison, our voices a little too loud.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure."
"We were just… talking," I stammered, my face burning. Monty crossed his arms, looking everywhere but at Freddy or Bonnie.
"Well, hurry up," Freddy said cheerfully. "The twins are eating all the gumdrops again. We need backup!"
As Freddy and Bonnie walked off, Monty and I exchanged a glance. Despite the interruption, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe this holiday season wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Do you, uh, want to go back to the group?" I sheepishly smiled.
"Yes", Monty replied with a sigh, "But can I ask you for a favor?"
I was kind of taken aback that Monty wanted a favor from me. "Yeah, of course!"
"I want to navigate my feelings with you slowly", Monty looked down at the ground nervously.
I walked over to the gator animatronic and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder with a smile, "We can do that if you want."
"Thanks", Monty breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Come on let's go back to the others before they get suspicious", I teased him.
Monty rolled his eyes and then chuckled, "Okay princess."
"Don't keep me waiting", I winked at Monty and quickly kissed his cheek.
While walking out of the door to the green room, I chuckled to myself knowing that he was probably blushing at the fact I just did that. When I arrived back to the group in the Atrium, everyone was talking to each other.
"We finished the gingerbread house!" Reagan shouted with joy as soon as she saw me.
I looked over at the delectable house, and it looked so amazing!
"You guys did a wonderful job!" I ruffled the twins' hair. The both of them giggled at the praise.
"Even though we kept on having to take away the bowls of candies", Roxy teased with a deadpan.
Everyone laughed at that, even Monty who snuck over to the group. Then, I realized something.
"Oh shit! I still have to wrap the presents for you guys!" I covered my face with my hand.
"Then get to it, superstar!" Glamrock Freddy beamed with encouragement.
"We'll be fine finishing the tree, Elijah", Scarlett gave me a reassuring smile.
"Okay", I nodded.
I made a dash to the entrance and reopened the security panel, so I could go outside into the cold and grab everything. Once it was back up, I quickly opened my car and grabbed the huge bag of unwrapped presents and the supplies to wrap them. When I lugged everything inside, I closed the security panel once again.
I decided to use Freddy's green room to wrap everything when I returned to Rockstar Row. When I finished wrapping Roxy's present, I suddenly heard a noise coming from the vents! It sounded like someone was crawling through it! I quickly covered the rest of the unwrapped presents, just in case one of the others tried to snoop through the pile while I was investigating.
That's strange, everyone is all together in the Atrium. I thought to myself as I followed the sound.
It looked like whoever it might be was heading over to the vent opening by Chica's green room. I carefully snuck over to the vent cover and hid behind a box that was there. What surprised me the most, was that it wasn't an animatronic that opened the vent! It was a human child! The kid jumped down from the vent and started to nervously look around. The kid looked like the twins' age, which was twelve. He had fluffy brown hair on his head. The boy also wore a blue polo, a pair of khaki shorts, and a pair of colorful shoes. I noticed that he had a cut on his face, so I quickly stood up.
"Hey, kid!" I shouted, only loud enough so he could hear me.
The boy jumped and turned around. My heart sank a bit when he looked at me with a very frightened expression.
"I'm not here to hurt you, okay? You're not supposed to be here, the Pizzaplex is closed today", I smiled softly as I approached the boy.
The boy just stood there silently with that same expression.
I crouched down to his level, "What's your name, kid?"
"G-Gregory, sir", the boy stammered.
"It's nice to meet you Gregory, I'm Elijah", I continued to smile softly at Gregory, "Why are you here? Where are your parents?"
That question apparently was the wrong question to ask. Gregory started to tear up and start to break down.
"Hey, hey. It's okay, I'm right here", I reassured him with a gentle tone and a hug. My heart broke when I felt him return the embrace.
That's when I heard someone walking in the distance. I looked over Gregory's shoulder to see Scarlett. When she saw the scene before us, Scarlett quickly rushed over to us.
"Elijah, what's going on?" Scarlett asked, her voice filled with concern as she approached us. Her eyes darted from Gregory to the vent and back to me.
"I found him crawling through the vents," I explained softly, still holding Gregory. "He says his name is Gregory, but… I don't know why he's here yet. I think something happened to him."
Scarlett crouched down beside me, her expression shifting from confusion to maternal worry. "Gregory, sweetheart, are you hurt? What happened?"
Gregory wiped at his eyes, trying to speak but stumbling over his words. "I… I don't know where to go," he finally admitted, his voice trembling. "I… I'm hiding."
Scarlett and I exchanged a quick glance. There was more to this story, and whatever it was, it wasn't good.
"You're safe now," Scarlett assured him gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We're going to help you, okay?"
Scarlett and I decided to take Gregory back to Freddy's green room. It was close, private, and quieter than Scarlett's office. The walk was uneventful, but Gregory stayed close to me, clutching my hand tightly as if letting go would plunge him back into danger.
Once inside the room, Scarlett quickly rummaged through Freddy's vanity drawer and pulled out a small first aid kit. "Let's get that cut taken care of," she said, motioning for Gregory to sit on the plush chair near the vanity.
Gregory hesitated but eventually climbed up, his small frame trembling as he perched on the edge of the seat. I crouched down beside him, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, buddy. Scarlett's good at this. It'll just take a second."
Scarlett worked quietly but efficiently, cleaning the cut on his cheek with a damp cloth before applying some antiseptic. Gregory winced, but to his credit, he didn't complain. As she bandaged the wound, I noticed how pale he was and how his shoulders hunched, like he was trying to make himself invisible.
"You're freezing," Scarlett remarked, concern etched in her face. She stood up and glanced at me. "I'll grab some hot chocolate and blankets. He needs to warm up."
I nodded as she left, then turned back to Gregory. He was staring at the floor, his hands fidgeting nervously in his lap.
"Hey," I said gently, "do you want to tell me what's going on? Why you're here? Maybe I can help."
Gregory's lower lip quivered, and for a moment, I thought he might stay silent. Then, in a shaky voice, he said, "I don't… I don't know where else to go." He took a deep breath, his eyes welling up with tears. "That person… they killed my parents. It just happened… hours ago. I ran, and I ran, and I didn't know where to hide. So I came here."
My heart clenched as the words sunk in. "Gregory…" I started, but I didn't know what to say. How could you comfort a kid who'd just lost everything?
"I don't know who they are," he continued, his voice trembling. "But they've been chasing me for a while. They… they found us today." He paused, clutching the edges of the chair tightly. "I… I got away, but my parents didn't."
I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to ground him. "You're safe here now," I said firmly. "No one's going to hurt you. Scarlett and I will make sure of that."
Gregory didn't respond, but he nodded slightly as if trying to convince himself to believe me.
A few minutes later, Scarlett returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a thick, soft blanket draped over her arm. She handed one mug to Gregory and set the other down for me before wrapping the blanket snugly around him.
"Here you go," she said warmly. "This should help warm you up."
"Thank you," Gregory murmured, his small hands clutching the mug.
Scarlett sat down across from us, her worried eyes meeting mine. I could tell she wanted to say something, but she stayed quiet, letting Gregory take his time.
After a few sips, Gregory seemed a little calmer. I decided to try a different approach to help distract him. "Hey, Gregory," I said, motioning toward the small pile of half-wrapped presents on the table. "I was in the middle of wrapping gifts when I heard you in the vent. Want to help me finish? It might take your mind off everything for a little while."
Gregory looked at the presents, his expression shifting to one of faint curiosity. "What are they for?" he asked softly.
"They're for the animatronics here," I explained with a small smile. "I like to make sure they have something fun to open during the holidays. Freddy and the others get really excited about it."
Gregory hesitated, but then he nodded. "Okay… I guess I can help."
"Great," I said, grabbing a roll of wrapping paper and a pair of scissors. "I'll show you how to do it. It's easy."
As we started wrapping together, Gregory's focus shifted to the task at hand. His small hands carefully folded the edges of the paper while I held the tape. Scarlett stayed nearby, sipping her own hot chocolate and keeping a watchful eye on him.
For the first time since we found him, Gregory smiled faintly as he finished wrapping a box. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
After we finished wrapping the last of the presents, I looked at Scarlett and Gregory, an idea forming in my mind. "Alright," I said with a smile, "how about we carry these to the tree in the Atrium? It'll be a lot more festive with them underneath it."
Scarlett nodded, gathering a few of the neatly wrapped gifts in her arms. "That sounds like a great idea. What do you think, Gregory? Want to help?"
Gregory hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, picking up a smaller box. He still looked nervous, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.
We made our way to the Atrium together, the faint hum of holiday lights and soft music filling the air. The massive tree in the center sparkled with colorful lights and ornaments, the finishing touches added by the twins and the animatronics earlier.
As we set the gifts beneath the tree, I turned to the group, who had gathered around to watch. "Hey, everyone," I called out, smiling warmly. "We have a new friend with us tonight. This is Gregory."
Gregory froze for a moment, his shyness overtaking him as all eyes turned to him. Glamrock Freddy stepped forward first, his kind demeanor immediately putting Gregory at ease. "Welcome, superstar," Freddy said warmly, kneeling slightly to meet Gregory's gaze. "We're happy to have you here."
The others chimed in one by one. Chica gave Gregory an excited wave, Bonnie strummed a cheerful note on his guitar, and DJ Music Man gently waved one of his many arms. Even Monty offered a begrudging nod.
Ryan and Reagan, the twins, were the most enthusiastic of all. "A new friend?!" Ryan exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Finally, someone our age!" Reagan added, grinning ear to ear. "This is going to be awesome!"
Gregory gave a small, shy smile at their energy, but his expression soon darkened as he remembered why he was here. His hands tightened around the hem of his shirt, and his voice trembled as he began to speak.
"My… my parents…" he started, tears welling up in his eyes. "We were opening presents earlier today. Me, my mom, dad, and my brother Silas. Then… a guy… he came out of nowhere."
The room fell silent as everyone listened intently.
"He… he was wearing this big mask," Gregory continued, his voice cracking. "He… he killed them. All of them. My parents… my brother… I—I ran as fast as I could. He set the house on fire, and I just kept running."
Gregory broke down completely, tears streaming down his face as he covered his eyes. Scarlett was the first to move, wrapping her arms around him tightly. The twins followed, each taking one of his hands, murmuring gentle reassurances.
Freddy placed a comforting hand on Gregory's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Gregory," he said softly. "You're safe now. We're all here for you."
The rest of the animatronics stepped closer, their presence forming a protective circle around the boy. Even Monty softened, his usual gruffness replaced with quiet understanding.
I crouched down beside Gregory, waiting until his sobs began to subside. "Gregory," I said gently, "I can't imagine how much you've been through today, but I promise you this: we're going to give you the best Christmas ever. You're not alone anymore."
Gregory looked up at me, his tear-streaked face filled with a mix of pain and hope.
I smiled and continued, "More people and animatronics are coming later tonight. Some very special ones, too. And they're all going to love meeting you."
Gregory hesitated, then threw his arms around me in a tight embrace. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice muffled against my shoulder.
I hugged him back, glancing at Scarlett and the others, who all nodded in silent agreement. This Christmas would be different for Gregory—filled with love, warmth, and the family he thought he had completely lost.