Chapter 4: Elijah's POV
As the night went on, I felt better about having Benji and the others around. It felt so freeing to be at the holiday party and not have to worry about everything that had happened since I started at the Pizzaplex. Most of the food was eaten, and the hot chocolate bar had to be restocked twice. The culprits behind that had consumed much of it; Gregory and the twins. I was pulled out of my thoughts when everyone around me started to cheer. I looked up from my cup of spiked eggnog. Benji, Glamrock Freddy, and Scarlett were going to sing on the stage. I got excited when I heard the first notes of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey.
Scarlett led the song, her voice surprisingly strong and soulful, hitting the high notes with a confidence that caught everyone off guard. Freddy provided backup vocals, his animatronic voice blending surprisingly well with the melody, while Benji—well, Benji danced more than he sang, his enthusiasm contagious as he twirled an imaginary microphone stand and encouraged the audience to clap along. The crowd—employees, animatronics, and a few straggling guests—cheered louder with every beat.
The kids, especially Gregory and the twins were laughing and jumping around, their sugar highs evident in their boundless energy. I found myself smiling despite the slight buzz from the eggnog. It was moments like this that made everything worthwhile.
Halfway through the song, Chica joined in, her vibrant personality shining as she grabbed a tambourine from somewhere and shook it in perfect rhythm. Even Roxy, usually too cool for these kinds of events, wandered over and leaned against the stage with an amused smirk, tapping her claws to the beat. Monty, predictably, stayed in the corner, arms crossed, but I caught him mouthing the lyrics when he thought no one was watching.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. As the song wrapped up, I slipped away from the crowd and made my way over to Monty's table. He looked up at me with a raised brow, but there was a softness to his expression that wasn't usually there.
"Caught you singing," I teased, sliding into the chair next to him and setting my cup of spiked eggnog on the table.
Monty's eyes narrowed, but the faintest smile tugged at his lips. "I don't sing."
"Sure, sure. And I don't drink," I replied, raising my cup with a grin before nudging it toward him. "Here, try this." I knew from that other party that he couldn't get drunk, unlike me.
He hesitated for a moment before taking the cup and sniffing it. "What's in it?"
"Just enough to make the holidays tolerable," I said with a laugh.
Monty took a sip, his gaze never leaving mine. "Not bad," he admitted, setting the cup back down. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the others sing and dance. The warmth of the room, the laughter, the music—it all felt so far removed from the stress and danger that usually plagued us.
"Thanks for this," I said quietly, my hand brushing against his as I reached for the cup. "For being here."
Monty glanced at me, his usual guarded expression softening further. "Don't mention it," he muttered. Before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in and pressed a quick, tipsy kiss to his lips. It was fleeting, barely a whisper of contact, but it sent a thrill through me. When I pulled back, his eyes widened slightly, but he didn't pull away.
"You've definitely had too much eggnog," he said, but there was no bite in his tone. In fact, there was a faint blush on his cheeks that made me grin.
"Maybe," I replied, taking the cup back and finishing the rest of it in one go.
As "All I Want For Christmas Is You" came to an end, Benji's voice rang out over the speakers. "Alright, folks, who's ready for a duet? Elijah, get up here!"
The crowd cheered, and I groaned, feeling Monty's amused gaze on me as I stood. "You owe me for this," I said over my shoulder before making my way to the stage.
Benji was already waiting with a mic in hand. "We're doing 'Santa Tell Me,' and you better not mess it up," he teased.
"I'll try to keep up with your flawless vocals," I shot back, grabbing the second mic. The music started, and soon we were belting out the lyrics, laughing when we missed a beat or when Benji hammed it up with exaggerated gestures. I made subtle hints to Monty in the crowd that he better stick around by my side through next Christmas. To my surprise, Monty winked at me. I shook my head and smiled while I was singing. Looking to my right, I saw that Benji was also making the same subtle hints to Golden Freddy of all of the animatronics and people in the room! By the time we finished, the room was alive with applause and laughter.
For the rest of the night, everyone took turns singing. Even Roxy eventually got on stage for a sultry rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside," paired with Freddy's surprisingly smooth baritone. Chica brought the house down with a peppy "Jingle Bell Rock," complete with her signature tambourine. The twins and Gregory performed a chaotic but adorable "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun. The worries and fears that usually weighed me down felt distant, almost forgotten in the glow of holiday cheer.
Vixen's POV
Back at the pizzeria, the air was colder and the halls quieter than usual. I sat in the dimly lit new dining area, my mind racing with thoughts that I couldn't suppress. The others—the Puppet, Toy Bonnie, Toy Chica, and the rest of the Toys—were deep in discussion, plotting their next move against the Originals and Benji. But I wasn't listening to any of it.
I stared down at my hands, clutching the delicate necklace around my neck. A small silver star hung from the chain with a snowflake as well, catching the faint light and glinting softly. Benji had given it to me just yesterday, his bright smile and kind words still fresh in my mind.
"I thought it'd suit you," his words echoing in my head, he placed it gently in my hand. "Merry Christmas, Vix."
Tears pricked at my eyes as I replayed the memory. I couldn't shake the guilt that clawed at my chest. I didn't want to be part of this—this plan, this betrayal. But I didn't know how to break free from it either.
Slipping quietly out of the room, I made my way outside. The night air was sharp and biting, but it felt cleansing in a way. I hugged myself, the necklace cool against my skin as I looked up at the starless sky.
My voice trembled as I began to sing, barely above a whisper:
"This Christmas, I'm not feeling the magic..."
Then the lyrics to the chorus of "Christmas Without You" by Ava Max spilled from my lips, slow and mournful. I knew it from when I was helping the others decorate the pizzeria, behind the Puppet's back. It was playing as one of the songs off of Benji's Christmas playlist. The words carried the weight of my sorrow, each note a release of the emotions that I'd been bottling up for so long.
As I sang, I glanced down at the necklace again, my tears blurring the star's delicate outline. I wanted to be at the party, surrounded by laughter and warmth. I wanted to feel the joy that the others were undoubtedly experiencing. But most of all, I wanted to be free—free to make my own choices, free to be myself.
"But I'll try... oh, I'll try... to make it through..."
My voice broke on the last word, and I pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob. I imagined the sound of faint laughter and music carried on the wind from the direction of the party, a bittersweet reminder of what I was missing.
I wiped my eyes and took a shaky breath. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up. But for now, all I could do was hold on to the tiny glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could change.