Chapter 15: These Bright Lights
Benji looked at his phone which was blaring the alarm to get ready for work. Night two of The Puppet's game was approaching.
"Here we go again with this shit", Benji muttered as he was rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes.
The night guard got up out of his bed and walked into the bathroom to shower. He let the warm water from the shower cascade down him while he just stood there. How did I end up in this situation with this damn Puppet? Then, he remembered why. Oh yeah, my stupid curiosity.
Benji finished up his shower and got dressed. He had put on an oversized white and gray sweater with horizontal stripes and had a few buttons at the top, a black T-shirt underneath, a pair of faded light blue jeans, and a long, silver star pendant around his neck. Once he was ready, Benji left his house with his bag and got into his car as it turned from the afternoon to the evening.
"I'm definitely getting myself some more iced coffee", Benji grumbled tiredly while he pulled away from the driveway.
Benji arrived at the coffee shop, still tired and anxious. The comforting aroma of coffee greeted him, momentarily easing his nerves. As he walked through the door, the bells jingled, and he saw Aaliyah's head perk up from behind the counter. Her face lit up when she spotted him.
"Benji! You're early today," she said cheerfully, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Needed caffeine before facing another shift," Benji replied, attempting a smile but falling short. "What's your strongest brew?"
Aaliyah chuckled, "Rough day already, huh? I'll whip up something special."
As she worked on his order, Benji leaned on the counter, letting his mind wander. The memory of the Puppet's eerie smile and the games from the previous night replayed in his head. Aaliyah's voice snapped him back to the present.
"Here you go! One extra-strong iced coffee, plus a little cinnamon for flavor. My treat this time."
"Thanks, Aaliyah. I owe you one." Benji took a long sip, feeling the cold brew's jolt hit his system almost immediately.
"You look like you haven't been sleeping," she noted, concern flickering in her eyes. "Work giving you trouble?"
Benji hesitated, debating whether to share. "Something like that."
"Well, take care of yourself, okay? Don't let it run you into the ground," Aaliyah said softly.
He nodded, grateful for her kindness, and left the shop with his coffee in hand. The drive to the pizzeria felt shorter than usual, and before he knew it, he was pulling into the parking lot. The building loomed in front of him, its neon sign flickering ominously.
Benji took a deep breath, clutching the silver star pendant around his neck momentarily. You've got this. It's just another night.
Inside, the pizzeria felt colder than usual. As Benji entered the Toys' side of the pizzeria, he looked over to the show stage. The animatronics stood motionless on stage, their unblinking eyes reflecting the dim light. The quiet was unsettling, amplifying every creak and hum in the building. Benji made his way to the security office, setting down his bag and coffee. The monitors buzzed to life, displaying the familiar views of the pizzeria's corridors and rooms. For now, everything seemed normal—as normal as it could be in this place. Then, Benji felt a presence near him. He looked up, it was Golden Freddy.
"Hey, Goldie what's-" Benji was interrupted by Golden Freddy hugging him. "What's wrong, buddy?"
Golden Freddy didn't respond right away, its cold, metallic body trembling slightly. The animatronic finally let out a low, distorted hum that almost sounded like a sigh. Its grip on Benji tightened for a moment before it finally spoke, its voice soft and glitchy, barely above a whisper.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Golden Freddy said, the words hanging heavy in the air. He then said something else quietly, but Benji still heard it. "I want to be with you."
Benji blinked, his breath caught in his throat. He had never heard the animatronic sound so vulnerable. "Goldie... I—"
Before Benji could say anything more, the clock struck midnight. The sound of the clock's chime echoed ominously through the building, and Golden Freddy quickly released him, stepping back. The familiar mechanical whirring and distant creaks of movement began, signaling the animatronics had come to life.
Golden Freddy's glowing eyes met Benji's again, now filled with urgency. "Listen to me," it said. "Tonight is different. The Toys will come for you more often. The Mangle will crawl through the vents. And Withered Foxy... he's awake now."
Benji felt a chill run down his spine. "What do I do about Foxy? Does the Freddy head work?"
Golden Freddy shook its head slowly. "No. The mask won't fool him. When you see him down the hall, use your flashlight. Blind him. It's the only way to stop him."
Benji swallowed hard, the weight of Golden Freddy's words settling on him. "Got it. Flashlight for Foxy. Anything else?"
Golden Freddy hesitated for a moment, its gaze softening. "Stay alive, Benji. You're more important than you know."
Before Benji could respond, Golden Freddy turned and began to fade, his golden form shimmering like mist as it vanished. Benji stared at the empty spot for a moment, his heart pounding.
12 AM
The phone in the office started to ring, so Benji answered it.
Uh, hello? Hello! Uh, see, I told you your first night wouldn't be a problem, You're a natural!
Benji snorted at the guy on the phone, who was being naive. "Pssh, of course, I'm a natural! I did this before!"
Uh, by now I'm sure you've noticed the older models, sitting in the back room. Uh, those are from the previous location, we just use them for parts now.
Benji felt bad when he mentioned that they were used for parts like that.
The idea at first was to repair them. Uh, they even started retrofitting them with some of the newer technology. But they were just so ugly, you know? And the smell…ugh. Uh, so the company decided to go in a whole new direction, and make them super kid-friendly.
"Wow. No wonder why my friends hated the old management of Fazbear Entertainment! These people were straight-up greedy and dicks!" Benji threw his hands up in frustration.
Uh, those older ones shouldn't be able to walk around, but if they do, the whole Freddy head trick should work on them too, sooo, whatever.
I hope my friends will be more helpful than trying to hurt me. Benji thought to himself.
Uh, heh. I loved those old characters. Uh, did you ever see Foxy the Pirate? Oh wait, Foxy…oh yeah, Foxy! Uh…hey listen! Uh, that one was always a bit twitchy. Uh, I'm not sure the Freddy head trick will work on Foxy. Uh, if for some reason he activates during the night, and you see him standing at the far end of the hall, just flash your light at him from time to time. Those older models would always get disoriented with bright lights. It would cause a system restart, or something. Uh, come to think of it, you might want to try that on any room where something undesirable might be. It might hold them in place for a few seconds. Uh, that glitch might have carried over to the newer models too.
"Good thing I already knew about that", Benji muttered to himself.
One more thing, don't forget the music box! I'll be honest, I never liked that puppet thing. It's always…thinking, and it can go anywhere. I don't think the Freddy mask will fool it. So, just, don't forget the music box.
"Oh I definitely won't forget about the music box", Benji released a heavy sigh from his lips.
Um, anyway, I'm sure it won't be a problem. Uh, have a good night, and talk to you tomorrow.
"Thanks, I guess", the night guard rolled his eyes and grabbed the monitor's tablet. The phone clicked itself off.
Checking through each of the camera feeds, Benji saw that Mangle was already on the move. She was hanging from the ceiling to the Prize Corner.
I wish everything bad that had happened to her, didn't happen. The trauma Mangle, I mean Vixen, that amount she must have is probably massive. Benji's heart felt heavy for his new friend.
Continuing through the camera feeds, Benji saw that Toy Bonnie was in Party Room 3, while Toy Chica was in the main hall. Toy Freddy was still on the stage. Benji clicked back to the Prize Corner feed to see that Mangle was gone now. He quickly wound up the music box, as it was already halfway down.
2 AM
Shit! The music box! Benji panicked in his head while Toy Bonnie was standing in front of the desk.
The bright blue rabbit animatronic seemed like he was peeking through the spare Freddy head at the night guard. The caution symbol started flashing faster on the tablet as Toy Bonnie started to walk out of the office. Benji threw off the head and quickly wound up the music box just in time.
Phew, that was a close one! Benji breathed out a sigh of relief.
Then, he heard metallic footsteps coming from the other end of the hallway. Benji saw Foxy in his withered form when he shone his flashlight down the dark hallway!
"I'm sorry for what I have to do, my friend, I really mean it", Benji's voice was dripping with sorrow as he looked at his pirate friend.
Benji started flashing the bright light in his hand directly at Foxy. The night guard heard Foxy curse as he tried covering his face.
Benji kept the light trained on him, his hand trembling slightly. After a few tense moments, Foxy retreated, his hulking frame disappearing back into the shadows of the hallway. Benji let out a shaky breath, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Another close one," he whispered to himself, the weight of the night pressing heavily on his shoulders. But there was no time to dwell. The clock was still ticking, and the animatronics wouldn't stop until the sun rose.
Suddenly, the static-filled sound of garbled voices echoed from the tablet. Benji clicked back to the Prize Corner feed, his stomach twisting in knots. Mangle was back on the screen, but she wasn't alone. Toy Bonnie, Toy Chica, and Toy Freddy stood near her, their bright, polished exteriors almost mocking in contrast to her mangled form. They seemed to be whispering to one another, though their conversations were indecipherable through the grainy feed.
"What are they doing?" Benji muttered under his breath, leaning closer to the screen. The sight was unsettling. Mangle, who usually moved alone, seemed to be at the center of something—a plan, maybe? Toy Freddy gestured with one of his stubby hands toward the camera, as if he knew Benji was watching. The others turned their heads in unison, their glowing eyes locking onto the lens. Benji's blood ran cold. Mangle gave the camera glances of guilt when the others weren't paying attention to her.
The screen flickered, static cutting through the image before the feed went dark entirely. Panic seized him as he cycled through the cameras, trying to locate them again. He found Toy Bonnie in Party Room 1, his guitar discarded as he stood motionless, staring at the camera. Toy Chica had moved to the air vents, her cupcake perched ominously in her hand. Toy Freddy, meanwhile, was in the hallway leading to the office, his lumbering frame inching closer.
And Mangle? She was nowhere to be seen.
Benji's hands shook as he grabbed the flashlight, shining it toward the vent. He could hear the faint, telltale clatter of metal against metal—Mangle's movements. He snapped his attention to the hallway, where Toy Freddy's shadow grew larger. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in as the animatronics closed the distance.
"Alright, Benji," he whispered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. "You've got this. Just stick to the plan."
He reached for the spare Freddy head, knowing it would only buy him a few precious moments. The night wasn't over, and the animatronics weren't going to let him off easy.
5:50 AM
Benji was thankful that it was almost time for the second night to be over.
CLANK CLANK CLANK
Benji's eyes shot up towards the darkened hallway. He shone the flashlight in the direction from where the footsteps were coming from. It was Foxy, for the fifth time. Benji had to do what he needed to do. He flashed the light quickly. As Foxy walked from the office, Benji heard him mutter, "Argh, that stupid light".
"I'm sorry, Foxy", Benji quietly said as he was winding the music box, but the fox animatronic was already gone.
Benji looked at the time. It was 5:56 AM. As he was about to mutter something under his breath, the night guard heard something in the vents! Benji looked at each of the vent cameras, his heart almost stopped beating. Both Toy Bonnie and Toy Chica were in their respective vents!
CLANK CLANK CLANK
Again, Benji's eyes shot up towards the hallway of the office. He shone the light and he felt like throwing up. Toy Freddy was standing in the middle of the hallway with Mangle hanging from the ceiling directly behind him!
Shit, shit, shit! Benji was now panicking a lot.
The walls of the office felt like they were closing in on the night guard. It felt like he needed to keep gasping for air. He really wanted Golden Freddy to be there to protect him. Benji also wanted him there to calm him down because Golden Freddy was quite good at that.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
The banging noises from both vents kept growing louder and louder. Benji shut his eyes tightly like they would pop out of his head.
"Ha! What a shame you couldn't get past the second night!" Benji heard Toy Freddy laugh from the hallway.
Please be 6 AM already! I need to- Before he could finish his thought, he heard the chimes.
6 AM
Benji opened his eyes. The four Toy animatroics in the office looked at the night guard in disbelief! Mangle transformed back into Vixen.
"H-How?!" Toy Freddy was flabbergasted.
"He's just lucky I guess", Benji heard Bonnie from the hallway.
The night guard looked over Toy Bonnie's shoulder to see the Originals, back in their modern form, walking to the office. Benji was so glad to see Golden Freddy.
"Whatever, we'll get you next time!" Toy Chica rolled her eyes in annoyance.
Golden Freddy barely had time to address the situation when an eerie melody drifted through the room. The Puppet emerged from the shadows, her movements fluid and unsettling, like a marionette controlled by invisible strings. Her porcelain face tilted as if observing Benji, the faintest hint of a smile painted on her lips.
"Well done, night guard," she said, her voice an odd mixture of childlike playfulness and cold detachment. "You survived… again." Her glowing, hollow eyes flicked to the Toy animatronics. "And you. Out. Now."
Toy Freddy opened his mouth to argue but faltered under the Puppet's unblinking stare. "Fine," he grumbled, turning to leave. "But this isn't over, Benji."
Toy Bonnie and Toy Chica followed suit, muttering complaints as the Puppet herded them out of the office with almost motherly patience. She paused at the doorway, turning back to Benji one last time. "Good luck on your next night," she said softly, her tone carrying a strange weight before she disappeared into the dark.
Vixen, however, lingered, her once-distorted form now returned to her sleek, fox-like design. She crouched by Benji's side, her glowing eyes filled with concern. "You okay, kid?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
Benji managed a weak nod, though his hands trembled as he brushed his hair back. "I… I think so. Thanks for not ripping me apart."
Vixen grinned, her sharp teeth flashing in the dim light. "Hey, you're tougher than you look. Don't let them get in your head, alright? You've got this." She gave him a playful nudge with her snout before bounding toward the hallway. "See you tomorrow, buddy."
Benji watched her disappear, feeling a flicker of warmth amidst his fear. But as the Originals—Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica—stepped into the office, relief washed over him like a wave. They silently motioned for him to follow as they made their way back to their area, their presence offering a fragile sense of security.
Before they could reach the main stage, Golden Freddy materialized in front of Benji, stopping him in his tracks. His glowing eyes locked onto the night guard's, their usual calmness now shadowed with concern. "Benji," he said softly, gesturing for him to step aside.
Benji hesitated but allowed Golden Freddy to lead him into a quiet corner away from the others. The animatronic crouched slightly to meet Benji's eye level. "Are you okay? Really?"
That question broke something inside Benji. The tears he'd been holding back all night spilled over, his shoulders shaking as he clutched his arms. "No," he choked out. "I'm not okay. I'm terrified, Golden. Every time I close my eyes, I see them coming for me. I don't know if I can keep doing this."
Golden Freddy reached out, gently pulling Benji into a firm yet careful embrace. His golden arms wrapped around the trembling night guard, offering a warmth that defied logic. "It's alright, Benji. Let it all out," he whispered, his voice filled with a sorrow that matched Benji's fear. "You've been so brave. Braver than anyone else I've ever seen. And you're not alone. I'm here. We're all here."
Benji buried his face in Golden Freddy's chest, his sobs muffled against the soft fabric. "What if I mess up? What if I don't make it?" he murmured, his voice thick with doubt.
Golden Freddy's glowing gaze softened even further. "You will make it," he said with quiet conviction. "I believe in you, Benji. More than you know. You've made it this far because you're strong. Even when it's scary, even when it feels impossible—you keep going. That's what matters."
Benji clung to him for a moment longer, letting the words sink in. Slowly, his breathing steadied, and he pulled back slightly, wiping at his eyes with the sleeve of his uniform. "You really think I can do this?" he asked, his voice trembling but hopeful.
Golden Freddy placed a hand on Benji's shoulder. "I know you can."
A faint smile broke through Benji's tear-streaked face. "Thanks, Golden. Really."
As the morning sunlight seeped into the pizzeria, Benji finally made his way to the exit. Golden Freddy accompanied him to the door, his glowing figure fading slightly in the light. Benji paused before stepping outside, looking back at the golden animatronic.
Without thinking, he leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to Golden Freddy's cheek. "You're the best," he said softly, before adding with a small grin, "And… boop." He gently tapped Golden Freddy's nose with his finger.
Golden Freddy blinked in surprise, his expression unreadable for a moment before he let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Take care, Benji."
As Benji walked to his car, he felt a strange mix of exhaustion and hope. The fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of his mind, but Golden Freddy's reassurance echoed louder. For now, it was enough.
He drove away, the sun rising higher in the sky, knowing that tonight, he'd be back. But he wasn't alone—and that made all the difference.