Chapter 7: Maybe Four Is Better

After tossing and turning for so long, I just sat up in bed. For some reason, I couldn't sleep. Maybe it was because we were now hiding something important from our other two best friends, Raymond and Hannah. Maybe it was that eventually someone else was going to find out that the abandoned pizzeria was still operating by itself. Groggily getting out of my bed, I decided to get ready for the day. Taking off yesterday's outfit, I headed into my bathroom to get ready. I turned on the shower and turned the knobs so the water would come out slightly warm.

I really think we should tell them sooner rather than later. It would be for the best. I told myself in my head while I was washing myself.

When I was done showering, I dried myself off and then did my skincare routine like normal. I put my clothes on that I picked out for the day. Today's outfit consisted of a waffle henley shirt that was blue, a pair of cream shorts, a brown belt, my silver watch, and a silver chain necklace. Grabbing my phone, wallet, and shoes, I headed downstairs towards the kitchen. I was greeted by Hannah making breakfast. She was making sausage and vegetable omelets and hashbrowns. The smells running through the kitchen were very heavenly, I couldn't wait to eat the food.

"That smells very amazing!" I smiled while sitting down at the kitchen table.

"Why thank you, Carlos!" Hannah beamed and then turned her attention back to the omelet sizzling in the pan.

I started to scroll through my social media feeds while I waited for my food and to wait for the other two to wake up from their slumber. Something did catch my eye though. There were new exhibits at the local art museum, and while I was using the 3D viewing option, I saw something interesting. There was a full-on endoskeleton?!

Maybe we should go to the museum today. I'll have to ask them when everyone is eating. I pondered to myself as Hannah set down a plate of food in front of me. She also handed me a glass of orange juice.

"Geez, the damn princess is awake before me", I heard Tess tiredly snicker.

I lifted my head up toward the direction of her voice from the kitchen doorway. Both Tess and Raymond were awake now.

I smirked towards Tess, "Yeah because I heard you snore!" That made Raymond and Hannah laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say", Tess rolled her eyes and then had a smug smile on her face.

Tess and Raymond sat down on either side of me while I started digging into my food with my fork. Hannah handed each of them their plates of food and glasses of orange juice before getting herself some. When she had her food and drink in her hands, Hannah sat down in the empty chair at the table.

As we all dug into our breakfast, I couldn't shake the thought of the endoskeleton in the art museum. It was weird, right? Like, how did something like that end up in an exhibit? My mind raced with possibilities—was it just an art piece, or was it something more? After all, we knew that animatronics didn't always stay where they were supposed to.

I took a sip of my orange juice and cleared my throat. "Hey, so I was thinking… we should go to the art museum today. They have some new exhibits, and I saw something interesting when I was scrolling earlier."

Tess raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about art museums?"

Raymond chuckled, "Yeah, last time we went, you were complaining about how long we were standing around."

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I don't know. It just seems cool. There's this really detailed endoskeleton there, and I figured it'd be fun to check out."

Hannah glanced at me, setting her fork down. "An endoskeleton? Like, for an animatronic?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, "and it looks… kind of familiar."

A brief silence fell over the table as we all exchanged looks. They knew what I meant—after all, we had seen plenty of endoskeletons before, just not in a museum.

"That is kinda weird," Hannah admitted. "I mean, why would something like that be in an art exhibit?"

Raymond leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to check it out. Could be interesting."

"Or a total waste of time," Tess smirked. "But I'm down."

I nodded, satisfied that they agreed. "Alright, cool. Let's go after breakfast then."

The rest of breakfast passed in casual conversation, though my mind was still fixated on what we might find at the museum. If that endoskeleton really was what I thought it was, then things were about to get a lot more complicated.

A couple of hours later, we arrived at the art museum. It wasn't super crowded, which was nice, and the air inside was cool compared to the summer heat outside. The large glass windows let in beams of sunlight that made the polished floors shine.

We wandered through a few exhibits, trying to blend in with the other visitors. There were paintings, sculptures, and some abstract installations that I didn't really understand. But I wasn't here for those. I wanted to see the endoskeleton.

Eventually, we reached the exhibit where it was displayed. My stomach twisted the moment I laid eyes on it.

It wasn't just any endoskeleton—it was one of them.

The metal frame stood on a small platform, encased in glass. Its hollow eyes stared blankly ahead, and the servos in its arms and legs were eerily still. But there was no doubt in my mind.

This thing belonged to the abandoned pizzeria. So far, everyone else around us thought it was just a normal robot.

Thank God that's what they think. I tried to get myself not too worked up about this.

Hannah inhaled sharply. "That… that's not just some art piece, is it?"

Raymond frowned, stepping closer to the glass. "It looks real."

Tess crossed her arms. "No way this just randomly ended up here. Someone had to put it here on purpose."

I nodded, my throat dry. "Yeah. And that means someone knows about it."

My heart pounded. If someone had recovered this endoskeleton and put it in a public place like this, then the secret we'd been keeping wasn't going to stay a secret for much longer.

Tess and I needed to figure out who was behind this. And fast. Before Hannah and Raymond become suspicious.

When we were done looking over the weird and eerie endoskeleton exhibit, the four of us decided to just wander through the museum, taking in the other exhibits. The tension from earlier still lingered in my chest while looking at a very beautiful antique painting, but I tried to push it aside.

At one point, while Raymond and Hannah were distracted by a modern art installation, Tess grabbed my arm and pulled me aside into a quieter section of the museum. Her expression was serious, her voice low.

"Carlos, we need to tell them. The animatronics at the pizzeria. Tonight."

I swallowed hard but nodded. "Yeah, I know. This is getting too big to ignore. If someone found that endo and put it here, there's no telling what else they know."

Tess's brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms. "Exactly. And if we wait too long, we might not get a chance to warn them."

Before we could say anything else, Raymond's voice called out. "Hey, what are you two whispering about?"

We turned quickly to see him and Hannah approaching. I forced a grin, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Nothing. Just talking about how weird that exhibit was."

Hannah sighed. "Yeah, I still can't get over it. Anyway, I'm starving. Can we please go eat?"

Raymond grinned. "Ooh, how about that fancy steakhouse we passed earlier? I could go for a huge steak right now."

"That does sound good," Tess admitted. "What do you think, Carlos?"

I nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."

The steakhouse was upscale, with dim lighting and dark wooden interiors that made the whole place feel warm and expensive. A host led us to a booth near the back, and we all sank into the plush seats, glancing over the menu.

The air smelled amazing—grilled meat, buttery garlic, and a hint of red wine. Soft jazz music played in the background, adding to the elegant atmosphere. I flipped through the menu, my stomach rumbling as I debated between a ribeye and a filet mignon.

"This place is fancy as hell," Raymond muttered, running a hand over the crisp tablecloth. "Hope it's worth the price."

"It better be," Tess said, smirking as she scanned the steak selections.

A waiter came by, taking our drink orders—Hannah got a lemonade, Raymond and I went for sodas, and Tess opted for water. After some deliberation, we all settled on different cuts of steak, with sides ranging from mashed potatoes to asparagus and mac and cheese.

As we waited for our food, the conversation drifted to lighter topics— more summer plans, and upcoming movies. But in the back of my mind, I was still thinking about the pizzeria, the animatronics, and the exhibit we had just seen.

Tonight, we'd have to come clean. And I wasn't sure how they were going to take it.

When it was late at night, I looked at my phone's clock. It read 12:30 AM. I heard the door to Tess's bedroom quietly open. That was my cue. Grabbing my phone and bag, I did the same thing with my own bedroom door. Tess and I carefully crept toward the front door. The house was dark, and silent except for the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards beneath our feet. I held my breath as I turned the doorknob, hoping it wouldn't make a sound.

Just as we were about to step outside, the living room light flipped on.

"And just where do you two think you're going?" Hannah's voice cut through the silence, laced with suspicion.

Raymond stood beside her, arms crossed, looking equally unimpressed. "Yeah, sneaking out at this hour? Super suspicious."

Tess and I exchanged a glance, knowing we were caught. There was no way to get out of this one.

With a sigh, I turned to face them. "Fine. But if we tell you, you have to come with us."

Hannah and Raymond shared a look before nodding. "Alright. Lead the way."

The drive to the abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria was long and filled with an awkward silence. No one spoke as the empty roads stretched before us, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife.

Tonight, everything was about to change.

The pizzeria loomed ahead, its neon sign long dead, leaving only the faded letters above the entrance to hint at what this place once was. The building was a husk of its former self, standing against the night like a forgotten relic. Cracks splintered through the brickwork, ivy creeping up its sides like nature itself was trying to reclaim the place. The air smelled of mildew, rust, and something faintly metallic like the ghosts of old machinery still lingered here.

Tess parked the car just across the street, killing the engine with a soft click. For a moment, none of us moved. The only sounds were the distant hum of crickets and the occasional rustling of leaves in the warm night air.

Hannah finally broke the silence. "Alright. Someone wanna tell me why we're here?"

I hesitated, fingers tapping against my knee. "There's something in there," I said. "Something we need to see for ourselves."

Raymond scoffed, arms still crossed. "You dragged us all the way out here to chase some ghost story?"

Tess shot him a look. "You'll understand when we get inside."

The four of us climbed out of the car, and into the warm air. The asphalt was cracked beneath our feet, weeds poking through the fractures like skeletal fingers. A single streetlamp flickered weakly nearby, casting shadows that stretched unnaturally long across the pavement.

As we approached the entrance, my pulse quickened. Up close, the building felt even more oppressive. The windows were boarded up, but a few broken slats left enough room for a glimpse inside—dark shapes loomed in the dusty gloom.

The front doors, once painted a bright and welcoming red, were now faded and peeling. Tess reached out, testing the handle. It gave way with a reluctant groan. The sound echoed into the vast emptiness beyond, making the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Hannah took a step back. "Yeah, nope. I changed my mind. This is how horror movies start."

Raymond chuckled, though it was nervous. "Too late to back out now. We came all this way."

I swallowed hard and pushed forward, stepping into the darkness. I was hoping that Freddy and the others would act like how they acted with me and Tess. Tess and I stepped further inside, the heavy door groaning as it swung shut behind us. The scent of dust and aged wood filled the air, mingling with the ever-present metallic tang that clung to this place. The dim emergency lighting flickered weakly overhead, casting long, jagged shadows across the checkered floor. Somewhere deeper inside, something creaked—a slow, deliberate sound, like an exhale from the building itself.

"We should probably tell them first before we bring the others in," Tess murmured, voice hushed despite the silence surrounding us.

I nodded. "Yeah. They won't like being surprised."

Leaving Hannah and Raymond near the entrance, we made our way past the front counter and into the main dining area. The stage loomed ahead, barely visible through the dust-laden air. The animatronics sat in their usual spots—Freddy at the center, Bonnie to his right, Chica to his left, and Foxy just a few feet away in his own corner.

Freddy's head turned first, his glowing eyes flickering to life with a faint mechanical whirr. "C—C—Carlos. T—Tess." His voice box crackled, the distortion making his words sound fragmented, almost ghostly. "You b—b—brought more?"

I swallowed, already feeling the weight of his gaze. "Yeah, uh… kind of by accident."

Bonnie's ears twitched, the servos grinding as he tilted his head. "Mmm—more? Like, f—f—friends?"

Tess scratched the back of her neck. "They're cool. But we didn't exactly plan on bringing them along."

Chica let out a soft static-laced hum. "Th—th—they know?"

I shook my head. "Not everything. Just that something weird was going on. We figured it'd be better if we introduced them properly instead of them, you know… freaking out."

Foxy's eye glowed in the dim light, his jaw twitching slightly. "As long as th—th—they don't sss—scream."

Freddy regarded us for a long moment before speaking again. "This—this—is the last time."

Tess and I both nodded quickly. "Yeah. No more after this," Tess reassured him.

Freddy's head clicked slightly as he refocused his gaze. "Then bring them."

Tess turned on her heel and headed back for the entrance. I followed closely, heart hammering against my ribs. Hannah and Raymond stood exactly where we left them, Hannah gripping her arms tightly while Raymond inspected the peeling wallpaper with vague curiosity.

"Well?" Raymond asked, raising a brow.

"They're ready to meet you," I said.

Hannah hesitated, then sighed. "Alright, let's do this before I completely lose my nerve."

We led them back through the dining area, past the overturned chairs and faded posters that once promised fun and excitement. As soon as we reached the stage, the animatronics straightened, their glowing eyes fixating on the newcomers.

Raymond's breath hitched. "Holy—" He took a step forward, eyes wide with amazement. "These are incredible."

"Raymond—" Hannah started, but he was already studying Bonnie closely, eyes darting over the animatronic's worn frame. "The structural integrity, the mechanics—how the hell are you guys still operational?"

Bonnie blinked slowly. "Nnn—nnnew guy knows hhh—hhis stuff."

Raymond grinned. "I got a degree in engineering and applied sciences. This is beyond anything I've seen in old animatronic tech."

Freddy's jaw clicked. "Y—Y—you know how we w—w—work?"

Raymond shrugged. "More or less. I mean, I never studied anything quite like you guys, but the way your servos respond is ridiculously advanced for your age."

Hannah, meanwhile, stood half-hidden behind Tess, eyes darting from Chica to Foxy to Freddy. "They're… bigger than I thought," she muttered.

Chica's beak opened slightly. "D—D—don't be n—n—nervous."

Freddy's gaze lingered on Hannah for a moment before he gave a slight nod. "We—w—we won't bite."

Raymond chuckled. "Well, I should hope not."

Once the introductions settled, Tess nudged my arm. "Carlos. Now's a good time."

My stomach clenched. "Right." I turned back toward the animatronics, shifting uneasily. "There's, uh… something else we wanted to tell you."

The animatronics all watched me in eerie silence, waiting. I took a deep breath.

"Earlier today, we were at the local art museum, and—" I hesitated, then forced myself to continue. "There was an exhibit. A repaired endoskeleton. From here."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Freddy's eyes dimmed slightly. Bonnie's ears twitched. Chica's servos clicked faintly. Foxy's jaw tightened.

Finally, Freddy spoke. "It—It—It was stolen."

Tess blinked. "Stolen?"

Freddy's gaze lowered slightly. "M—M—Months ago. During the d—d—day. We c—c—couldn't move. Couldn't stop them."

A heavy weight settled in my chest. "Who took it?"

Freddy's head twitched slightly, the flickering light casting his shadow long across the stage. "D—D—Don't know. B—B—But they knew what they were d—d—doing."

Raymond's fascination shifted into something more serious. "Someone stole a piece of you guys and turned it into an exhibit?"

Foxy let out a low, static-laced growl. "B—B—Bastards."

Tess folded her arms. "We should find out who did it."

Freddy's eyes flickered, his voice lower now. "M—M—Maybe."

There was a slight, but heavy silence that filled the already dry and damp air of the pizzeria. That's when I decided to muster the courage to speak.

"W-What do you guys want to do in the meantime?" I smiled softly, trying to lessen the tension.

"To be honest, I'd love to learn more about you guys!" Raymond piped up excitedly, "To be honest, I think it would be a fun project to fix you guys up!"

Bonnie's ears twitched again, the servos clicking. "F—F—Fix?"

Raymond nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You guys are already impressive, but with some repairs, I bet we could get you running even better. Maybe even fix some of the voice box issues."

Chica hummed thoughtfully, her mechanical fingers flexing. "N—N—Never thought about b—b—being f—f—fixed."

Freddy regarded Raymond carefully, his eyes flickering. "W—W—What would it take?"

Raymond rubbed his chin, glancing over each of them. "Depends on what's broken. I'd need tools, parts, and some time. But if you guys are up for it, I'd love to help."

Foxy let out a low chuckle, the sound glitching slightly. "Hah. N—N—Never had a m—m—mechanic before."

I watched as the animatronics exchanged glances, the tension from earlier shifting into something lighter. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something good.