Chapter 8: 1983
After the divorce, William threw himself completely into his work. He never talked about it to Michael or CC. In fact, Michael and CC hardly ever saw their father. For all they knew he spent all the time that he was not at Fredbear's in his bedroom. They did not know what he was doing in there.
One day William decided that the broken family would spend time together- to celebrate CC's birthday a little early. On this day William gave CC a present, a brand-new Fredbear plush toy. William told CC that the plush toy had to always be near him. Michael, after seeing the gift for CC, walked out of the living room and went to his own bedroom.
"Michael is always so angry," CC observed, and his father just shook his head.
2 days passed with more of the same- none of the Afton talked to one another. Then Michael heard a knock on his bedroom.
"Come in," Michael said reluctantly. His father opened the large door and walked inside the room.
"Michael, we need to talk. I have to get some work done," William began.
"Like always," Michael interrupted.
"My work is important. I am close to finding something that will change our lives. I just need time. So, I need you to step up and watch over CC. He needs someone to take care of him. I need your help," William said, ignoring Michael's tone of voice.
"And why do I have to do the one to help," Michael argued, "CC probably does not want me, anyways."
"He is just hurting, Michael," William raised his voice, "I think we all are, if we are honest." With that William began to walk out of the room.
"Take care of him, Michael," William huffed as he walked out of the bedroom.
With that, William disappeared into his own bedroom and Michael got up from his bed. Michael had got an idea. He had basically just been told that there would be no supervision, and he was given charge of CC. What was going to stop him from taking advantage of this situation? He walked out of his room and headed towards CC's room.
"Hey, CC. I need you to stay in here for a while. Do not bother me," Michael said.
"What? What do you mean?" CC perplexed. Without saying another word Michael slammed the door, which locked from the outside. The next thing that CC heard was Michael locking the door. Michael had trapped CC in the room! CC called out for his father.
"He can't hear you, baby. He is busy," Michael teased his little brother, "Keep yelling. Maybe you'll lose your voice so I don't have to hear you anymore."
CC ran over to the Fazbear Entertainment plush toy and begged them to help him. He could hear Michael walking away from the bedroom door and turn on the television. CC looked up from the pile of plush toys that were at the side of the room. He knew they were only toys but he needed help and they were the only things that were in the room that he could talk to. CC ran from the pile of toys to the door and began to beat on it as hard as he could. Maybe he could make enough noise for either his dad to hear or for Michael to get too annoyed and let him out. Nothing happened. CC walked over to his small dresser. Maybe he could find something in it that could offer some help. He didn't. He banged on the door once again but got the same results. He walked away from the door and then ran into it with all the power his little body could produce. Once again, the door did not budge.
CC curled into the fetal position and began to cry. He was not sure if he was crying from the pain of hitting the door as hard as he could or if it was for the emotional pain. Then something strange happened. From the Fredbear plush that his dad had given to him for a birthday gift, CC could hear a voice.
"What did he do this time? He locked you in your room! Don't be afraid. I am here with you," the plush said. Even with those words CC could not help but to continue to cry.
"Well, I guess that tomorrow is another day," the plush said.
When CC woke up the next morning, he found the door unlocked and open. Those words that the plush toy had told him kept repeating in his head: tomorrow is another day. It was true and CC was determined to make it a good one. After all, his birthday was coming close, and he was going to be a big boy. Yet, when he got out of the bed to eat some breakfast he discovered he was alone. No one else was in the house. The thought of being alone made CC start to cry again. It made him remember that his sister was dead and his mother was no one to be found.
Then, once again the Fredbear plush began to speak.
"He's hiding. He won't stop until you find him," the bear said.
That was what CC was afraid of. If the last night had been any indication, Michael's teasing was getting worse.
CC walked out of the door and turned to his left. He decided that if Michael was hiding, he was not about to play hide-and-seek. Instead, he would let Michael be bored all day while he entertained himself by watching something on TV. The show that Henry and his dad had commissioned was premiering that day and the Aftons were given a VHS of the first few episodes. CC figured he could watch that, like he had many times already. When CC got to the living room, Michael screamed and jumped out from behind the TV. CC tensed up, fell in fear, and began to cry.
"Uh, you are such a baby, CC," Michael said as he took off a Foxy the Pirate (a new member of the Fredbear gang) mask. Michael looked disappointed at his brother's tears. Maybe disappointed is not the right word. It was more of a mixture of annoyed and just plain mean.
"Come on, Michael. That's not okay," CC yelped while trying to catch his breath.
"It's just fun, CC. Lighten up," Michael disputed.
The next day Michael got an even better idea. He knew that CC was scared of the animatronic performers at Fredbear Family Diner. Then the next phase of the plan would be to leave CC. It would be great. CC would be alone, afraid, and start crying. Everyone would be able to see how much of an embarrassing baby CC was. The plan started working great until Michael tried to leave CC near the show stage.
"Where are you going, Michael," CC asked. Michael was not expecting that CC would notice that he was leaving him. He had to think fast, and he was slightly embarrassed by the only excuse to leave CC that he could think of.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Michael said in a near whisper.
"Oh, me too," CC said.
"You'll have to wait for me to be done," Michael argued. That did not make much sense. The diner had a fairly big bathroom and there were enough stalls for 5 or 6 people to use it at the same time. Still, it was all Michael could think as he was being forced to change the plan on the fly.
"Just wait here," Michael said.
"Okay," CC submitted without any questions. Before the conversation could continue, Michael quickly walked out of the front door of Fredbear's Family Diner. CC did not need much time to realize what was happening. His brother was being a bully once again- for the third day in a row. He walked over to one of the wooden tables with tears in his eyes. After a few minutes CC heard a familiar and friendly voice.
"CC, what's going on," the voice asked. CC cleared the tears out of his eyes and looked up to see the owner of the voice- Henry Emily.
"Michael left me here and I am afraid," CC said trying to not sound too afraid.
"You mean he just walked out? Just like that," Henry said as if he was talking to himself, "We need to do something to prevent that from happening. It's a liability." CC did not know what Henry was talking about or what a 'liability' was. He did not care, though.
"Come on, buddy. Let's get you home," Henry said. CC took his hand and they walked out of Fredbear's Family Diner together, got into Henry's car, and Henry drove CC to his house. When they arrived Henry knocked on the Afton's front door. Michael slowly answered the door.
"Michael, is your father here," Henry asked. He was trying to sound nice but he was not happy with Michael.
"No, I haven't seen him for a few days now," Michael responded.
"Just take care of your brother. Okay? He is all you have and you are all he has. Can you promise me that you will look after him," Henry asked.
"Sure," Michael agreed but Henry could tell that his heart was in the answer.
With that Henry let CC in the door and then walked back to the car, closing the Afton's house door before.
"You told Mr. Emily? Now you're going to get it," Michael said chasing CC around the house. He ended up catching up to his little brother, who had decided to hide in Elizabeth's old room. Michael picked CC up and carried him to CC's bedroom, where he slammed CC onto the mattress and then slammed the door shut after exiting.
CC had trouble sleeping that night. He couldn't figure out why Michael was being more mean than usual. One day CC had overheard his mom and dad talking about Michael. His mom had said that Michael was just 'rough around the edges' but that he would 'grow out of it eventually'. CC wanted to love his brother but the past few days of being bullied had made it difficult to do that. To make matters worse, their dad was nowhere to be found. He had abandoned the boys and left Michael in charge.
'If only dad were able to see this,' CC thought as he laid in his bed.
The next morning there was a knock on the front door. Michael was not up so CC opened the door and saw Henry Emily standing on the other side of it.
"Mr. Emily," CC asked.
"Hello, CC. Come on. We are going somewhere fun," Henry said. He realized that sounded a little threatening but that was not at all the way that he meant to come across. CC did not seem to question it.
Henry and CC walked to the diner and CC gripped Henry's hand a little tighter. In the other arm CC was carrying his plush gift.
When the two walked inside the diner, Henry gave CC 100 game tokens.
"You can use these play whatever you want. Charlotte is here, too, if you want to play the games with her," Henry told CC as he handed him the cup of tokens. CC liked Charlie. She was only a little younger than he was and the two become friends when they spent time together during their fathers' meetings.
"Hi, Charlie," CC said as he found his friend playing one on of the new Mrs. Pac-Man cabinets. The game was only a few years old and all the kids loved playing it. Charlie was not especially good at the game but she did enjoy all the colors.
"Hi, CC. How are you," Charlie Emily asked.
"I guess I am okay. My birthday is in a few days," CC informed Charlie.
"I know. I can't wait for the party! Did you hear? Your dad is having the party here," Charlie exclaimed. CC looked around. He had not heard and he was not able to share Charlie's excitement. He hated the idea of having his party at the diner, where the animatronics were.
After a few hours of playing, CC decided that he wanted to go home. He enjoyed the games but when the animatronics began their performance he wanted to leave. On the way to his house, CC saw someone who he did not want to see- Lisa, one of the girls from around the neighborhood. Lisa was always mean to CC. Yet, CC knew that in order to get to his house, he would have to cross Lisa's path.
"Hey, CC. You better watch out. I heard they came alive at night," Lisa teased. She knew that CC was afraid of the animatronics and constantly teased him for it.
"Why do you seem so worried? See you at the party," she called out without an ounce on genuine concern in her voice.
"Right, the party," CC said as he moved along.
A few minutes later CC came across someone else who he really did not want to see, one of his brother's friends- Mark. Mark was sitting on the ground and laughing when he saw CC.
"Hey, kid. Aren't you the kid who always hides under the tables and cries all the time? Stop being such a baby," Mark said as CC continued walking. CC did not stop to listen to what Mark had to say but he walked away feeling emotionally hurt and tears started to fall once again.
When CC eventually got to the house, the Fredbear plush was sitting near the TV.
"Be careful," the plush warned CC.
CC, feeling tired from a day of playing with Charlie, decided that he needed a nap. He walked in his room and then Michael jumped out from under the bed, scaring him.
"Got you again," Michael said.
"Yeah, whatever," CC said, trying his hardest to sound unaffected even though the tears swelling up in his eyes told a different story.
CC did take a nap- in fact, he slept for the rest of the day. When he woke up it was early in the morning. He realized something: the next day was his birthday.
CC heard knocking on his bedroom door.
"Come on, CC. Dad says we need to go to the diner to get things ready for tomorrow," Michael said. Now this was a lie. Michael had not talked to William since the conversation in his bedroom more than a few days earlier. However, Michael had come up with another plan and he was convinced that this one was the best one yet. Michael had found a key to the parts and service room in the diner. He knew that there would be something in there that CC was had to be afraid of.
"Why can't dad go with us," CC asked, "I want to talk with him. I miss him," CC whined.
"Just come on," was Michael's response as he opened the front door.
When the boys got to the diner, Michael shoved CC into the room. CC felt around the dark room for the light switch, which took a few seconds to find on the wall. Even after CC located it, he had to jump to turn on the lights. When CC looked around the room, he almost wished that he had not turned on the lights. There was an endoskeleton sitting on the table. This endoskeleton was not like others that CC had seen. It was even more scary. Little did CC know, that endoskeleton was one of Henry's springlock designs.
"Please let me out," CC said weakly. No one could have heard him through the thick door.
"Please," CC screamed. When no one seemed to have heard him he feel on the cold concrete floor and began to cry, "Please let me out. Please let me out of here."
About five minutes later, CC was saved when Henry opened the door. Henry was going to work on the springlock endoskeleton and just happened to find CC.
"CC, Michael again," Henry asked in a grave tone of voice. CC did not have the strength to answer but he did not need to. Henry had guessed correctly.
"Well, let's get you out of here. You have a birthday to celebrate tomorrow," Henry said as he extended his hand. CC quickly grasped it and they walked out the Parts and Service room together.
"Maybe one day Michael will stop this torture," Henry told CC.
"He hates me and I hate him," CC said.