Chapter 8:...Are You Ready For It?
DING!
My eyes shot open and I quickly looked over at my phone. It was a text from Scott, he was going out of town for a couple of days with Gavin. What surprised me was that once they left halfway through the day today, I was the one to watch over everyone at the Pizzaplex! I rubbed my eyes to double-check to see if I was still dreaming.
Nope. It's real. I groaned in my head.
That meant I had to get ready right now. After quickly showering, I grabbed a light gray sweater, a black polo, black jeans, my white shoes, and gray socks with a pattern on them. Also, I had put on a small pendant around my neck and my Fazwatch. After grabbing my bag and phone, I rushed downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw Scarlett and the twins eating breakfast.
"Good morning Elijah", Scarlett smiled and took a sip of her coffee.
"Good morning everyone!" I beamed and then ruffled the twins' hair. They both protested a bit before laughing.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Scarlett raised a curious eyebrow at me.
"Scott and Gavin are about to go out of town in a bit. They want me to watch over the Pizzaplex for a couple of days", I replied while snatching a piece of bacon from the greasy pan.
"That's awesome!" Ryan exclaimed.
"Do you think we could come with you?" Reagan pleaded while fixing her ruffled hair.
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the bacon pan. Bringing the twins to the Pizzaplex? That sounded like trouble waiting to happen. Still, the excitement in their eyes was hard to resist.
"I don't know, guys," I said slowly, popping the bacon into my mouth. "It's going to be a lot of responsibility already. You sure you wouldn't be bored?"
"Bored?!" Ryan exclaimed as if I'd just insulted his entire existence. "We'd get to see Chica, Freddy, and the others! It would be the best day ever!"
Reagan nodded eagerly, her hair bouncing. "We promise to behave. Please, Elijah?"
I sighed, glancing at Scarlett for backup. She was hiding a smirk behind her coffee mug, clearly enjoying my dilemma.
"Alright," I relented. "But only if you promise—no running off, no touching things you're not supposed to, and absolutely no sneaking into Monty's area. Got it?"
"Got it!" they chorused, already jumping out of their seats.
Scarlett gave me a knowing look as the twins bolted upstairs to grab their things. "You're too soft on them, you know."
I shrugged, finishing off the last of the bacon. "They're kids. If it keeps them out of trouble while I'm there, I can manage."
By the time we arrived at the Pizzaplex, Scott, and Gavin were already waiting near the entrance. Gavin was struggling to load a suitcase into Scott's car while Scott stood off to the side, typing furiously on his phone. He looked up as I approached, offering me a grin.
"Ah, there's the man of the hour!" Scott clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Thanks for covering for us, Elijah. We'll be back late Monday night. Everything's running smoothly, so it should be an easy weekend."
"Sure, no problem," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Any specific instructions?"
"Just keep an eye on the animatronics, make sure the arcade's running, and don't let Monty break anything expensive. You'll be being paid double this weekend," Scott said with a laugh.
"Noted," I replied dryly.
Gavin finally managed to wrestle the suitcase into the car and came over, panting. "Oh, and don't forget—the big maintenance tools are in the workshop if anything needs quick repairs. But let's hope nothing does. Also, the keys for everything are in the top drawer of my desk."
The twins, who had been standing quietly until now, couldn't contain their excitement any longer. "Hi, Mr. Scott! Can we see Freddy?" Ryan asked, practically bouncing on his heels.
Scott raised an amused eyebrow at me. "Tagalongs, huh?"
"Just for a little while," I said, ruffling Ryan's hair again. "I'll keep them out of your hair."
"Well, have fun, kids. Just don't let Monty scare you too much!" Scott said with a wink before heading toward the car.
As the sound of their car faded, I turned back to the towering Pizzaplex behind me. This place always had a strange energy when you were in charge of it alone—or almost alone. I glanced down at the twins, who were practically vibrating with excitement.
"Alright, you two," I said. "Let's go say hi to Freddy and the others. But remember—stick close to me."
As we walked through the entrance, I couldn't shake the feeling that this weekend might be more eventful than Scott and Gavin expected. I clocked in and headed through the turntable with the twins in tow. The animatronics had just finished their morning performance on the main stage. Freddy, Chica, Roxy, Bonnie, and Monty stood in their usual spots, waving to the cheering crowd of kids and parents. Lights danced across the walls, and the upbeat jingle of the Pizzaplex theme echoed through the air.
Ryan and Reagan practically dragged me toward the stage, their excitement contagious.
"Look, there's Freddy!" Reagan exclaimed, pointing at the towering bear animatronic as he gave his signature wave.
As the crowd started to disperse, I guided the twins toward the edge of the stage. Freddy's glowing blue eyes caught sight of us, and he stepped forward with a warm smile.
"Hello, Superstar!" he said, his deep voice somehow managing to be both commanding and friendly.
"Hey Freddy!" I smiled at the orange and blue animatronic bear.
"Freddy!" Ryan beamed.
"Hello, Ryan", Freddy stepped down from the stage and hugged Ryan.
"Is that the twins I hear?!" I heard Chica chirp excitedly.
Chica rushed down the steps of the stage, scooped the twins up, and hugged them. The twins returned the hug and giggled while they were in her arms.
"Did you guys hear the news?" I smiled with confidence as the rest of the animatronics were gathering by the stairs.
"What? That you're finally leaving this place for good?" Monty smirked.
Freddy shot Monty a disapproving glance, his polite smile never wavering. "Now, now, Monty. That's not a very welcoming attitude for our guest of honor."
"Guest of honor?" Reagan asked, her face lighting up.
I chuckled, stepping forward. "Not exactly. Scott and Gavin left me in charge for the next few days while they're out of town. So, that means I'm the boss for the weekend."
Roxy leaned against the stage railing, smirking. "The boss, huh? Does that mean we have to call you 'sir' now?"
"Yes," I said with mock seriousness, puffing out my chest. "And as your boss, I declare...no more jokes at my expense."
The animatronics chuckled, except Monty, who crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, looking unimpressed. "Big deal. Don't let it go to your head, Superstar."
"Ignore him," Chica said brightly, patting me on the shoulder. "You'll do great, Elijah!"
Ryan and Reagan, still wide-eyed with excitement, clung to Chica's sides. "So, what are we going to do first?" Ryan asked.
"Well," I said, pulling out my Fazwatch, "first, I need to check on the arcade and make sure all the machines are running smoothly. Then, maybe we can see if Freddy can give you a behind-the-scenes tour."
The twins practically squealed with excitement, but Freddy glanced at me, a subtle flicker of concern in his expression.
"Are you sure about that, Superstar?" Freddy asked quietly.
"Why not? They'll love it," I replied, brushing off his concern.
But as I said it, I couldn't shake a nagging feeling. The Pizzaplex had always been a mix of fun and unease—bright lights and cheerful music hiding its shadows. And with me in charge, I'd have to make sure nothing unusual happened.
"Alright, kids," I said, gesturing for them to follow me. "Let's head to the arcade."
The animatronics returned to their stations, except for Freddy, who stayed close. As we walked through the vibrant halls of the Pizzaplex, the twins darted ahead, their laughter echoing off the walls. Freddy stayed by my side, his steady presence oddly reassuring.
"You seem tense, Elijah," Freddy said quietly.
"Just a lot to handle," I admitted, glancing at him. "Being in charge of this place...it's a little overwhelming."
"You're not alone," Freddy said, his blue eyes glowing softly. "If you need help, we're all here for you."
I smiled, appreciating the sentiment. "Thanks, Freddy."
We reached the arcade, and the twins immediately ran to the neon-lit games, marveling at the flashing lights and electronic sound effects. I started checking the machines one by one, making sure they were operational.
Everything seemed fine—until I noticed a flicker on one of the monitors in the corner. The screen glitched, static crackling before the display stabilized. For a brief moment, I thought I saw a shadowy figure in the reflection of the glass.
"Freddy," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He turned toward me, his gaze sharpening. "What is it?"
I pointed to the monitor, but the screen was back to normal. "I thought I saw...something. Never mind. It's probably just my imagination."
Freddy didn't look convinced. "I'll stay close, just in case."
As I continued my inspection, the unease from earlier returned, stronger than before. I glanced over at Ryan and Reagan, who were happily playing a racing game.
The weekend was just starting, and something told me it was going to be far from "smooth."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Pizzaplex began to quiet down. Parents herded their sugar-hyped kids toward the exit, and the animatronics retreated backstage for their maintenance routines. I stood by the entrance, watching the last few customers file out, while Ryan and Reagan waved goodbye to Chica and Freddy.
Scarlett arrived shortly after, her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she approached. She offered a warm smile. "Alright, you two, time to head home and get some rest."
"Aww!" the twins groaned in unison.
"Thanks for letting them hang out," Scarlett said, ruffling Ryan's hair. "They won't stop talking about Freddy and Chica."
"It was fun," I replied, leaning against the counter. "They were pretty well-behaved. Mostly."
"Mostly?" Scarlett smirked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryan gave me a sheepish grin, while Reagan hid her face behind Scarlett. "We might've...pressed a couple of buttons we weren't supposed to."
Scarlett sighed but chuckled, clearly used to their antics. "Alright, let's go before you two give Elijah more gray hairs." She gave me a quick hug. "See you later, Elijah. Good luck holding down the fort."
"Thanks. Night, Scarlett," I said, waving as they disappeared into the parking lot.
The doors shut behind them, leaving the Pizzaplex eerily still. I turned to lock up, but my phone buzzed in my pocket. I frowned, fishing it out to see who was calling. The name flashing on the screen made my stomach sink.
Kyra.
I hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
"Elijah!" Kyra's voice boomed through the speaker, loud and full of energy. "Guess what?!"
"What?" I asked warily, already regretting picking up.
"We're coming to see you!" she declared, laughter and voices echoing in the background.
"Wait, what do you mean you're—"
Before I could finish, another voice cut in. "We know where you work now, dude!" Ross shouted, clearly already a few drinks in.
"Seriously, guys, it's not a good time," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Oh, come on," Diana chimed in. "We haven't seen you in ages. We're bringing the party to you!"
I opened my mouth to protest, but the line went dead.
"Great," I muttered, slipping my phone back into my pocket.
Not ten minutes later, I heard the unmistakable rumble of cars pulling into the parking lot. My heart sank as I peeked out the window. Sure enough, Kyra, Ross, Diana, and Aaron were stepping out of their vehicles, joined by a crowd of people carrying coolers, kegs, and bags.
Before I could stop them, they burst through the entrance, laughing and shouting.
"Elijah!" Kyra yelled, throwing her arms around me. She reeked of tequila. "This place is sick!"
"Guys, no!" I exclaimed, trying to push her off. "You can't just barge in like this!"
"Too late," Aaron grinned, hoisting a keg over his shoulder. "We're here now. Might as well make it worth it."
They fanned out, ignoring my protests. Kyra and Diana set up a table in the food court, unloading bottles of liquor and stacks of plastic cups. Ross and a few others carried in coolers, while Aaron made a beeline for the stage.
"Don't you dare touch that!" I shouted, but Aaron was already fiddling with the speaker system.
Seconds later, music blared through the Pizzaplex, the bass so loud it made the floor vibrate.
"This is a nightmare," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
Kyra sidled up to me, a red cup in hand. "Relax, Elijah. You used to love this stuff."
"Not here," I snapped. "This place isn't a nightclub. It's my job."
"And tonight, it's your old life," she replied, winking.
As the party kicked into full swing, I stood frozen, torn between shutting everything down and not knowing how to stop it without causing a scene. The animatronics were still backstage, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to spiral out of control fast.
The music reverberated through the Pizzaplex as I paced around the party, my anxiety climbing with every passing second. The unauthorized chaos had completely taken over—loud laughter, clinking cups, and the overwhelming scent of alcohol and pot brownies filled the air. I glanced toward the main stage, hoping the animatronics hadn't noticed the ruckus yet.
No such luck.
"Elijah!" Freddy's familiar voice cut through the noise, and I turned to see him approaching with Chica close behind. Both wore expressions of concern as they scanned the rowdy crowd.
"What is going on here, Superstar?" Freddy asked, his tone low but firm.
"An absolute disaster," I replied, rubbing my temples. "Some friends from my past decided to crash the Pizzaplex after hours, and now they've turned the place into a nightclub."
Chica crossed her arms, feathers ruffling. "This can't be allowed, Elijah. Scott's going to find out, and you'll be in so much trouble!"
"I know," I groaned. "I've been trying to stop it, but they're not listening."
Before Freddy or Chica could respond, the unmistakable sound of Monty's booming laugh reached us.
"Aw, hell yeah!" Monty bellowed, stepping into the middle of the party. He grabbed a plastic cup from one of the tables, chugged it in one gulp, and slammed it down. "Now this is what I call a party!"
Roxy wasn't far behind, her sharp smirk widening as she sized up the scene. "Finally, some real fun around here."
"Monty! Roxy!" I yelled, rushing toward them. "This isn't a party! You guys aren't supposed to be out here right now."
"Relax, Elijah," Roxy drawled, flipping her hair. "It's not every day we get to let loose. You should try it."
"I'd rather not lose my damn job," I snapped.
Glamrock Bonnie sauntered over, his smooth southern twang adding to the already chaotic mix. "Ain't no harm in a little fun, sugar," he said, grabbing a drink from one of the coolers. "You're wound tighter than a guitar string."
"Because this is a terrible idea!" I said, throwing up my hands.
Freddy stepped forward, his authoritative tone returning. "Montgomery, Roxanne, Bonnie—this is highly inappropriate. We need to shut this down immediately."
Aaron dragged Glamrock Freddy toward the center of the dance floor, a red solo cup still clutched awkwardly in the bear's large mechanical hand. Despite his protests, Freddy was soon surrounded by partygoers cheering him on.
"I don't believe this is appropriate," Freddy said, shifting nervously. "This—this is not in my programming!"
"Loosen up, big guy!" Aaron hollered. He downed his own drink, then threw his hands up. "Alright, everybody! Let's see Freddy bust a move!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, and Aaron began demonstrating over-the-top dance moves. Freddy tried to back away, but Aaron grabbed his hand and spun him around.
"Freddy! You've got this, Superstar!" someone shouted from the crowd, making Freddy's glowing eyes flicker in embarrassment.
"Just...one dance," Freddy muttered reluctantly. He awkwardly swayed side to side, the motion so stiff it looked like he was stuck in a glitch loop.
"Yeah, Freddy!" Aaron whooped, hyping him up. Before long, Freddy was being passed cups of what I hoped was soda but suspected wasn't.
Meanwhile, Kyra was gleefully corrupting Chica.
"Seriously, try it!" Kyra urged, holding up a square of the now-infamous pot brownies.
"I don't eat food from strangers," Chica said firmly, her eyes darting toward me for help.
"Relax, it's just chocolate. I made them myself!" Kyra lied smoothly.
"Kyra," I began to warn my former friend.
Chica hesitated, her love for food momentarily overriding her better judgment. With a nervous glance at me, she picked up a brownie and took a bite.
Her animatronic feathers fluffed slightly. "This...this tastes different."
"That's the special ingredient," Kyra said with a wink.
Moments later, Chica started to sway slightly. Her normally perky tone became a bit more relaxed.
"I feel...warm," she said dreamily, her beak slackening as Kyra laughed.
"Welcome to the good vibes, girl!" Kyra grinned, raising her cup to toast Chica, who giggled—a strange, robotic sound that sent my stress through the roof.
Across the room, Monty had found his element. He strutted onto the dance floor like he owned the place, his sharp-toothed grin lighting up as the music swelled. Two partygoers—a guy in a leather jacket and a girl in a sparkly dress—immediately gravitated toward him.
"You're, like, the coolest thing here," the girl gushed, twirling a strand of her hair.
"Damn, look at those moves," the guy added, slapping Monty's metal shoulder.
Monty laughed, spinning the girl in one clawed hand while pulling the guy into a dip with the other. The three of them began dancing in perfect synchronization, their energy magnetic.
My stomach twisted as I watched Monty laugh and enjoy himself, the guy clapping him on the back while the girl practically draped herself over him. A pang of jealousy flared up in my chest, surprising even me. I shook my head, muttering, Focus, Elijah. Now's not the time for this.
Near the food court, Roxy had commandeered a table for an impromptu game of beer pong. A group of guys surrounded her, all eager to take her on.
"You're going down," one of them said confidently, lining up his shot.
"Please," Roxy scoffed, leaning against the table with a cocky smirk. "I've got better aim in my fuckin' sleep."
The game started, and it wasn't even close. Roxy's precision was uncanny—her metallic hands flicked the ping pong ball with calculated ease, sinking shot after shot.
"You're cheating!" one of the guys accused after her third perfect shot in a row.
"Cry about it," Roxy shot back, draining another cup with theatrical flair.
By the end of the game, she stood victorious, arms raised. "Bow down to your champion!"
The guys groaned but clapped begrudgingly, impressed despite themselves.
Things took a sharp turn when I spotted Ross in a corner with Glamrock Bonnie. Ross, clearly tipsy, had his arms draped around the animatronic's shoulders. Bonnie, for his part, seemed amused, tilting his head slightly as Ross leaned in closer.
"Ross!" I called, storming over. "What are you doing?"
"Relax, Elijah," Ross slurred, laughing. "Bonnie's a great listener."
Bonnie chuckled softly, "Don't mind him, sugar. He's just bein' friendly."
"Friendly?" I repeated, incredulous, as Ross leaned in and kissed Bonnie full on the mouth.
My jaw dropped. "Okay, nope, this is not happening. Ross, back away right now."
Before I could physically separate them, a shadow shifted above. I froze as I caught sight of Damien perched in the rafters, his dark silhouette illuminated by the party lights.
"Damien," I whispered, dread washing over me.
Damien leaped down, his knife flashing in the dim light. He landed with predatory grace, his expression twisted with malice.
"Long time no see, Elijah," Damien sneered.
"Damien!" I shouted, stepping protectively in front of Ross.
"Oh, don't mind me," Damien said, circling us. "I'm just here to settle a score."
He lunged, and I shoved Ross out of the way, narrowly dodging the blade. Bonnie reacted immediately, grabbing Damien's wrist with surprising speed.
"Not today, partner," Bonnie growled, slamming Damien against the wall.
The knife clattered to the floor as Bonnie twisted Damien's arm behind his back. Partygoers screamed and scattered, the music cut off abruptly.
"Freddy! Chica!" I yelled. "Help!"
Freddy stumbled forward, still holding his cup but regaining his composure. Chica, dazed from the brownie, managed to hurry over to us.
With Damien subdued, Bonnie glanced back at me. "Y'all good, sugar?"
I exhaled shakily. "Yeah. Thanks, Bonnie."
The room fell silent as the realization of what had just happened sank in. This party was officially over.
The six of us started to clean up the mess of the party that just happened. I knew Monty and Roxy couldn't get drunk from a lot of alcohol, so I made them carry the kegs downstairs and empty them. Once they were done, they were to throw them into the dumpster out back. I had Bonnie hide the coolers in the staff kitchen. Watching over Freddy and Chica was a bit of a hassle. Chica kept wanting to eat from the munchies she was having, so I gave her a couple of pizzas. Freddy, on the other hand, kept almost falling over while trying to tidy up the tables in the atrium. I had to keep him steady while helping the bear animatronic cleanup.
Once everything was back in order, I made all of the animatronics go into their green rooms to recharge for tomorrow. I called Scarlett after I managed to get everyone in their rooms.
"What's up, Elijah?" Scarlett picked up the call with confusion.
"You'll never guess who the fuck just showed up not too long ago", I looked at my fingernails on the other end of the call.
"Who?" Scarlett was kind of confused still.
"My old fuckin' friends!" I exclaimed with a bit of irritation.
I heard Scarlett roll her eyes in disgust through the phone, "You mean, Kyra, Diana, Ross, Aaron, and Sabrina?"
"Yup!" I pronounced the P with more flair. "Wait! I didn't see Sabrina though."
"That's because that Sabrina Carpenter girl has been on tour since last month", Scarlett shook her head.
"Oh, good for her or whatever", I rolled my eyes, "The point is they fucking turned the Pizzaplex into a damn nightclub while I was closing!"
"What the hell?!" I heard Scarlett gasp in shock.
"Literally, I know right", I was very irritated over their decision tonight.
"I'm just glad nobody got hurt", Scarlett sighed.
"Well, someone almost got hurt", I reluctantly began to tell Scarlett.
"Wait, what do you mean, Elijah?" My stage manager began warily.
"While I was trying to end the party, we saw that stupid minion that Andrew has! Out of all of the times he could show up, it was during a rowdy party!" I stomped my foot in frustration.
Wait. My eyes widened in shock. Fuck! I forgot about Damien!
"Hold on Scarlett give me a sec!" I hurriedly exclaimed.
I muted my microphone on the call and then ran towards where we left him. Once I had reached the corner we had left Damien, I gasped in fright! Damien wasn't there anymore! It was just the rope that the animatronics and I had tied him up with! I unmuted the microphone.
"Scarlett", I was shaking a bit.
"What? What's going on?" Scarlett sounded really concerned.
"Damien is gone!" I exclaimed with fright.
"Oh no!" Scarlett was starting to get frightened as well.
"We must be careful now. I don't know when they're going to show up again", My voice became softer.
"I know", Scarlett replied.
"I have to finish my shift now, I'll be home shortly", I smiled softly through the phone.
"Okay, be safe now", Scarlett said in a motherly tone.
"Okay, Mom I will", I giggled and hung up the phone.
I stuffed my phone back into my pocket. Quickly, I started to finish my rounds throughout the Pizzaplex. I hoped that nothing will come of what happened earlier in the future.