Chapter 8: Discussion
Benji's eyes fluttered open. He looked at the clock next to his bed, 4 PM. He felt something warm and fuzzy next to him, which he was apparently holding onto. The night guard looked up a bit and saw that the golden bear animatronic was still next to him!
"Ah! What the hell!" Benji yelped and then fell off of his bed.
"Oh, hey", Goldie sheepishly smiled.
"What are you still doing here?" The night guard was still a bit shaken from the surprise.
"I wanted to make sure you're alright", Golden Freddy rubbed the back of his head with his hand.
"That's fair, I was such a mess. I'm sorry you had to see that", Benji was trying to hide his embarrassment while he stood up from the ground.
"You don't have to be sorry. There's nothing wrong with needing to let go of the negative emotions and hurt when it gets too much", the golden bear softly smiled.
"Thanks", Benji returned the soft smile back.
"You're welcome, my new friend", Goldie shifted around to reposition himself.
"Say, how did we get into my bedroom again?" The night guard was kind of shocked, but also intrigued.
"I-", the golden bear didn't know how to word this properly without freaking Benji out, "I might've teleported you and with your stuff here as well. To make it quicker I guess". Golden Freddy relayed the last bit of information faster out of his mouth while sheepishly smiling at the night guard.
Benji froze for a second, to think about what the animatronic just said. "Y-You. You what?!"
"Yeah, I can do that apparently. I have been since I've been haunted", Goldie rubbed the back of his head.
Benji went silent again.
"Are you okay?" Goldie asked with concern.
"To be honest, you're so cool!" Benji exclaimed as if he received a piece of candy like he was a child.
"You could say that", Goldie smiled softly with approval.
There was a short stretch of silence between the two.
"So, uh, this rectangular thing shut off while I was reading, and now it won't turn back on", the golden bear animatronic held out Benji's phone to him with a confused look.
"You mean my phone?" Benji smirked when he saw the animatronic look even more confused.
"This thing is a phone?!" Goldie exclaimed in bewilderment.
"Yeah", Benji laughed a bit while plugging his phone back into the charger.
"It has been a long time since we've been back", Golden Freddy stated.
"Yeah? How long has it been?" Benji sat down next to him curiously.
"Well the last time the five of us were around with the old head of the corporation, it was 2007. He tried to burn everything down with his old business partner's influence that had become toxic. As for us being actual entertainers, it was 1993", Golden Freddy explained.
"I'm sorry it's been so long and that the history of Fazbear Entertainment was horrible", Benji looked at Goldie with so much sorrow in his face.
"Hey, it's okay", Goldie put a finger under the night guard's chin and lifted it a bit, "We're back, but-" The animatronic was interrupted.
"B-But, you guys wanted to kill me", the night guard whispered while there were tears starting to fall down his face.
"I was going to say that we're going to be better than before". The golden bear looked at him with guilt and a bit of sadness, "I'm not going to, I was- We were in the wrong of doing so. We shouldn't be playing The Game anymore".
"W-What's The Game?" Benji whispered with nervousness and curiosity.
"I don't want to put too much stress on you, my new friend", Goldie replied, "I will when I have the chance to explain to the others, okay?"
"Okay", Benji whispered and nodded.
"Come here", Golden Freddy motioned for the night guard to sit next to him on the bed.
Benji nodded and sat right next to the golden bear and leaned against him. Golden Freddy gently wrapped his right arm around the night guard's shoulders. The night guard and the golden bear animatronic cuddled for a bit in silence.
"Speaking of the others, we need to get you back to the pizzeria before anyone notices, big guy", Benji gently poked Golden Freddy's side with a smile.
"Yeah I know. I did like being here though", Goldie smiled softly.
"I did love having your company though. It's been hard, to be honest", Benji smiled and then looked down.
"I understand, my friend", Goldie squeezed the night guard's shoulder softly.
"Let me shower and change my clothes first, golden bear. Then we can I guess teleport back to the pizzeria", Benji got up from the bed.
"We can do that", Golden Freddy smiled.
Benji grabbed a brown, wool sweater, a pair of dark blue and black jeans, a pair of black underwear, and a black belt from his walk-in closet. Before heading into the bathroom with the clothes, he turned on the TV in the bedroom to Netflix.
"Here, you can pick out something to watch while I'm getting ready", Benji smiled at the animatronic and handed him the remote.
"Okay, I can do that", Goldie smiled and took the remote.
"I won't be gone for long", Benji shut the bathroom door behind him.
Benji set the clothes onto the counter of the sink, undressed himself from yesterday's outfit, and then turned on the shower. When the temperature of the water was just right, Benji stepped into the shower.
I just hope that the other four don't hurt me before Goldie can talk to them, Benji thought while showering.
When Benji was done rinsing off, he grabbed a towel from the linen closet, and dried himself off. He then dressed himself in the outfit that he had grabbed from his closet. Once he was dressed, and after doing his skincare routine, the night guard came out of the bathroom holding his dirty laundry. Benji noticed that the golden bear animatronic was actually watching something on Netflix.
"What are you watching, golden bear?" The night guard asked while placing yesterday's clothes into his hamper.
"I think it's called", Goldie briefly paused the movie to read the title, "It's called Girl Haunts Boy. It's about a girl from the 1920's who is haunting a guy from our modern era". Goldie resumed the movie.
"That sounds interesting, how are you liking it so far?" Benji sat down to put on a pair of white socks.
"I find it very moving and I like it", Golden Freddy smiled as the credits rolled. Benji turned the TV off for the animatronic.
"That's great! I think we should do more movie nights", Benji exclaimed with joy while putting on his brown and white sneakers.
"That's a great idea, my friend", Golden Freddy softly smiled at the night guard and stood up from his side of the bed, "I think the others would love that idea!"
Benji's heart sank a bit at being around the other animatronics. "I-If they don't hurt me anymore".
The night guard felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and he looked up. "Don't worry, I'll talk to them", the golden bear animatronic was trying to reassure him and put Benji at ease.
"Okay", Benji replied softly and stood up. He put on a diamond pendant to go with his outfit.
"Did you want to teleport now?" Goldie asked.
"Let me have something to eat first, and some coffee", Benji grabbed his bag and phone, and headed out of the bedroom.
Benji went effortlessly down the stairs. When turned around to see if his new animatronic friend was coming along, he saw that the golden bear was cautiously going down step by step. Benji was trying not to laugh at him.
"You need any help, big guy?" Benji was trying to hide his smile.
"No, No I got it, but thanks", Goldie waved him off politely.
Benji went into the kitchen to start making breakfast and started the coffee machine.
"Do you guys eat at all?" Benji asked the golden bear while he was making the scrambled eggs.
"Yeah, ever since Mr. Cawthorn upgraded us to have a working stomach system with taste receptors, we can eat and drink with the customers if they asked for it", Golden Freddy sat down at the kitchen table and smiled politely.
"That's so cool! Do you want some breakfast?" Benji was now starting on the bacon.
"It would be an honor", Goldie nodded his head, "I did technically bring you home last night". Benji snorted.
"Is your stomach capable of handling coffee?" Benji put his coffee cup underneath the nozzle of the machine.
"We haven't tried it, but we were fine with orange juice", Goldie pondered about it.
"Well, would you like to try some?" Benji smiled and raised his eyebrow slightly.
"Sure", Goldie hesitated at first, but then was curious about having coffee.
The night guard poured some of his coffee into another coffee mug and handed it to the golden bear. He went back to the stove to divide the scrambled eggs and bacon evenly. When the food was plated, Benji handed one to Golden Freddy.
"This is so good!" Goldie exclaimed after taking a sip from his coffee mug.
"Yeah, it can be really good, but really addicting as well. The aroma of fresh coffee is so enticing", Benji smiled at the thought of the smell of fresh coffee.
"So, you're saying that you're addicted to coffee?" Golden Freddy smirked while grabbing a forkful of scrambled eggs.
"Hey now, coffee is really good!" Benji pouted a bit and then smiled. Goldie smiled while finishing his bite of food.
"Yeah, I know", Goldie rolled his eyes playfully.
The night guard and animatronic finished their breakfast quite quickly, so they could go to the pizzeria faster. Benji washed the dishes in the sink, and put them into the dishwasher.
"I'm ready whenever you are", Benji smiled as he closed the dishwasher. He put his bag over his shoulder.
"I'm ready as well, my friend", Golden Freddy grinned.
Benji held onto Golden Freddy and closed his eyes to prepare himself for the teleportation. He was hoping Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy were going to be more friendly like Golden Freddy. Just like that, the two vanished quickly from the night guard's kitchen.
The night guard and golden bear animatronic quickly appeared in the backstage area in a flash.
"Woah!" Benji gasped for air from the teleportation.
"Sorry about that, my friend", Golden Freddy looked down with a bit of guilt.
"It's fine, big guy, it was my first conscious teleportation", Benji softly smiled at the golden bear.
Benji took a moment to steady himself, the familiar sights and sounds of the pizzeria enveloping him. He could hear the distant hum of the arcade machines and the faint chatter of early visitors, a stark contrast to the cozy atmosphere of his home.
Benji glanced around the backstage area, where props and costumes lay scattered, remnants of countless performances. "It feels... different being here with you," he admitted. There was a sense of safety in Goldie's presence, but the anxiety of facing the others loomed in his mind.
"Just remember, I'm here for you," Golden Freddy reassured him, placing a gentle hand on Benji's shoulder. "We'll find the others later tonight, during your shift."
With a nod, Benji took a deep breath and headed out from the backstage area into the main part of the pizzeria. The neon lights flickered overhead, casting playful shadows along the walls. As the night guard stepped into the open space, the atmosphere shifted; animatronics stood scattered around, but none had noticed his arrival yet.
The weight of the conversation Goldie had promised lingered in the back of Benji's mind. He needed to know more about "The Game" and what it meant for him and the animatronics moving forward.
Benji turned around to Goldie with curiosity, "Actually, can we talk now?" he whispered, his heart racing.
Goldie's expression shifted, the weight of unspoken words settling in. "Yes, let's find a different place to talk."
The duo moved toward the back of the pizzeria, where the sounds of laughter faded into a gentle hum. They found a small, dimly lit break room, adorned with faded posters from the early days of Fazbear Entertainment.
Benji took a deep breath, steeling himself. "What is 'The Game'? Why did you all want to hurt me? I know you were going to tell me after trying to convince the others, but curiosity has been building in me."
Golden Freddy looked at him, his golden eyes shimmering with sincerity. "The Game is something we fell into—a cycle of pain and revenge. It began when we were wronged, including the missing children, and we lost sight of who we really were. We wanted to feel powerful again, to make others feel what we felt. But it was wrong, Benji. So wrong."
Benji swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Goldie's confession. "But... you're not like that anymore? You've changed?"
"We want to change," Goldie affirmed, his voice steady. "With you, I feel it's possible. But the others might need time. They're still wrestling with their pasts."
Benji nodded slowly, understanding the depth of what Goldie was saying. "So it's going to take more than just talking to fix this?"
"Yes," Goldie replied, his gaze unwavering. "But I will be there to help you, and to help them. We can find a new path together, I promise."
"Together," Benji repeated, a sense of hope rising within him. "I can do that. I want to help."
Goldie smiled, the warmth of friendship radiating from him. "Then let's make this right, one step at a time."
As they were about to exit the break room, Benji felt a sense of purpose. With Goldie by his side, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. All of a sudden, the night guard animatronic duo heard voices and footsteps heading to the break room! Golden Freddy disappeared quickly, while Benji had to quickly think and act, since he wasn't on the clock yet. He had heard Scott and Hayden getting closer!
I'm just going to act like nothing happened in the past twenty-four hours. Benji started deep breathing in his mind.
Benji was going to turn the door handle to the break room when it suddenly was pulled in the opposite direction of him, making Benji almost lose his balance!
"Benji? What are you doing here?" Scott looked at the night guard, who was in the doorframe, with confusion.
"Uh, I was waiting for my shift to start today!" Benji responded quickly with a sheepish smile.
"That would be in like six hours?" Hayden, the head chef, also looked a bit confused.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait to be here at this awesome job, so I wanted to be early!" Benji was fidgeting with his hands nervously.
"That's great, but won't you get bored so easily?" The new CEO of Fazbear Entertainment frowned a bit.
"To be honest, I was already starting to get bored", Benji hung his head low in defeat, "I was going to go do something else when you guys were coming down here".
"Well, I'll see you back here in six hours!" Scott, the pizzeria owner, genuinely smiled.
He bought that?! Benji was surprised.
"Okay, I'll be right back", Benji responded softly.
The night guard turned left out of the doorway, and headed down the west hallway. Before Benji could leave the building, he felt that something wasn't right. He slowly turned around to face the dining area of the pizzeria. His gut told him to go to the arcade area immediately. When he arrived to the arcade, he faintly heard crying in the room! Benji instantly knew something was wrong.
All of the children are in the dining room watching the show though. Benji froze, or so he thought.
Benji started scanning the arcade from top to bottom to see where the crying was coming from. When he passed a group of machines in one of the corners, he saw a little boy curled up with his legs towards his chest! Benji's heart sank and broke a bit hearing the boy cry. The off-duty night guard quickly ran over to the kid and knelt down in front of him.
"Hey what's wrong, bud?" Benji cooed softly, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
The boy looked up and when he did, Benji was in shock. He wanted to help the kid out, not only with the tears flowing from the boy's eyes, but because the boy was bruised up on his face and arms. The kid also was bleeding a bit from his nose as well. When Benji held out his hand to show the kid that he was there to help, the boy became silent with more tears forming, shook his head, and backed up more into the corner.
"Hey", Benji smiled softly with reassurance, "I'm not here to hurt you, I promise". The night guard had his hand still out.
The boy flinched at Benji's words, pressing himself further against the arcade machine as if it might swallow him whole. Benji's heart ached at the sight. He knew this was a child in need, and that instinct kicked in, urging him to break through the boy's fear.
"Look, I'm just a friend," Benji said gently, lowering his voice to a soothing whisper. "I work here, and I just want to help. Can you tell me your name?"
The boy hesitated, his wide eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of danger. Finally, after a long moment, he whispered, "Danny."
"Danny," Benji repeated, nodding as if it were the most important name in the world. "That's a great name. Can you tell me what happened to you?"
The child looked down, his small frame trembling. "These other boys, they ruined the fun I was having while I was playing. They… they were mean to me," he stammered, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Benji felt a surge of protective anger at whoever had hurt this boy. "You didn't deserve that," he said firmly, reaching out again. "Can I help you stand up? We can get you cleaned up."
Danny's gaze flickered between Benji's hand and his face. After a moment that felt like eternity, he slowly nodded. Benji gently took the boy's hand, feeling how small and fragile it was in his own. With a soft tug, he helped Danny to his feet, watching as the child winced but didn't pull away.
"Let's get you out of here, okay?" Benji said, keeping his tone light. "I know someone who can help."
As they made their way out of the arcade, Benji noticed the tension in Danny's shoulders easing just a little. "Are you alone here, Danny?" he asked, hoping to draw the boy out further.
Danny nodded, his eyes downcast. "I came with my sister and my mom, but my sister didn't want to be around me."
"Is she nearby? We can find her together," Benji offered, glancing around to see if he could spot anyone who might be looking for Danny.
"No…" Danny's voice broke slightly. "She said she was going to go play games and to not follow her."
Benji felt his heart drop again. This wasn't just a lost child; it was a child who felt abandoned. "It's okay. We'll look for her together. But first, let's get you some help for those cuts, alright?"
Danny nodded, the tiniest bit of trust forming in his eyes. They headed toward the break room, where Benji hoped they could find a first-aid kit. As they walked, Benji's mind raced. He had to find a way to help this boy, and also to communicate with the animatronics about protecting the kids in their space.
Once inside the break room, Benji quickly located the first-aid kit hanging on the wall. "Stay right here for just a moment, Danny," he instructed gently, wanting to ensure the boy felt secure.
As Benji rummaged through the kit, he felt a pang of guilt for not being able to reach out to Goldie right now. He knew the golden bear would want to help, to protect the children, but this was his moment to take charge.
"Okay, Danny," Benji said, turning back to the boy with antiseptic and bandages in hand. "Let's take care of those cuts." He knelt down again, trying to meet Danny at eye level. "This might sting a little, but I promise it'll help."
Danny watched, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity as Benji gently cleaned the bruises. "You're really nice," he said softly, almost as if he couldn't believe it.
"Thanks, buddy. I just want to make sure you're okay," Benji replied, smiling warmly. He finished wrapping a bandage around Danny's arm and gave him a reassuring pat. "There! All better."
Danny's expression lightened, and for the first time, a hint of a smile crossed his face. "Can I… can I go back to playing games now?" he asked hesitantly.
"Of course!" Benji said, standing up. "But first, let's find your sister. I'm sure she's worried about you."
As they stepped back into the main area of the pizzeria, Benji felt a swell of determination. He wasn't just a night guard; he was a protector. He wanted to show the animatronics that they could change, that they could be something better.
"Danny, do you remember where your sister went?" Benji asked as they walked into the bustling dining area.
"Yeah, she likes the racing game!" Danny replied, pointing toward the far corner where the sound of electronic engines roared. "Over there!"
"Then let's go find her!" Benji smiled, feeling a sense of purpose as they moved through the crowd.
Just as they reached the racing game, Benji spotted a girl, maybe a year or two older than Danny, with her eyes glued to the screen, completely engrossed. "There she is!" Benji said, crouching down to Danny's level. "Do you want to call out to her?"
Danny took a deep breath, summoning his courage. "Jess! Jess!" he yelled, waving his arms. The girl turned, her expression shifting from concentration to shock.
"Danny!" she exclaimed, rushing over to him. "I thought I lost you!"
Benji stepped back, letting the siblings reunite. He watched as Jess knelt down, wrapping her arms around Danny protectively. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Danny assured her, a smile breaking through the worry. "This nice guy helped me!"
Jess turned to Benji, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you so much! I didn't mean to leave him alone."
"It's no problem at all," Benji said, feeling warmth spread through him. "Just make sure you keep an eye on him, okay?"
"Promise!" Jess replied, giving Danny a playful nudge. "Now, let's get back to gaming!"
As the two children rushed back to their game, Benji took a moment to breathe. He'd made a difference today, even in a small way. The night guard headed out of the building, hoping that a certain brown bear animatronic saw his good deed. Benji hopped into his car, turned the ignition, and the car sputtered to life.
"Shoot! I have to get gas", Benji muttered to himself while looking at the gauge.
The night guard quickly sped out of the lot.
It was around 11:45 PM when Benji came back to the pizzeria. While he waited for his shift to start, Benji went to get gas, then went shopping, went back to the library, and then visited Aaliyah at the coffee shop.
"Let's just get this over with", Benji groaned a bit while locking his car.
While walking into the pizzeria, with an iced coffee in his hand, Benji managed to get into the security office. Thankfully, he didn't run into Scott from what had happened earlier. He did want to run into Hayden, with his handsome face.
Stop it. Not now. Benji firmly told himself. I'll think about him later.
After setting his things down onto the desk, Golden Freddy suddenly appeared right next to him!
"What the fuck!" Benji gasped in shock, almost spilling his iced coffee.
"I'm so sorry for scaring you, my friend", Goldie looked down with guilt.
"It's okay, but please don't do that again, big guy", Benji shook his head and then smiled.
"Okay", Goldie sheepishly smiled.
"How are we going to do this?" Benji asked with curiosity.
"When it becomes midnight, I'll tell them that I need to talk to them. You'll come out to us when I give you the signal", Golden Freddy explained.
Benji nodded, feeling a mixture of nerves and anticipation. "Okay, that sounds like a plan. But… what if they don't listen? What if they still see me as a threat?"
Golden Freddy's golden eyes softened. "I believe they will listen. You've already shown kindness today, and I think they will recognize that. They just need time to understand that you're different."
"Different how?" Benji asked, leaning back in his chair. "I'm just a night guard who went from experiencing a very horrible situation, to stumbling into this whole other situation."
Goldie tilted his head thoughtfully. "You're not just a night guard anymore, Benji. You're someone who cares. That makes you special to us. We've spent too long being lost in our pain. You've shown us that there's a way out."
Benji felt a warmth spreading through him at Goldie's words. "I just want to help. I don't want to be a part of this 'Game' anymore."
Goldie nodded. "Exactly. And that's why it's important for us to talk tonight. We need to show the others that change is possible. You have a role in this."
"Okay," Benji said, swallowing hard. "I'll do my best. Just… give me a heads-up when it's time."
"Of course," Goldie replied, a reassuring smile crossing his face. "You'll know when the moment comes."
As the minutes ticked by, Benji's heart raced. The clock on the wall crept closer to midnight, and he found himself mentally preparing for what lay ahead. He replayed his earlier encounter with Danny in his mind, reminding himself of the difference one small act of kindness could make. He hoped that same kindness could extend to the animatronics.
When the clock struck midnight, Benji felt a surge of adrenaline. He saw Goldie tense, and he knew the time had come.
"Now," Goldie whispered, and Benji's heart pounded as he stood up, ready to step into the unknown.
As he walked out of the security office, he could see the faint glow of the animatronics' eyes illuminating the darkened pizzeria. Benji took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and resolve wash over him.
He stepped into the main area, and the animatronics turned to face him. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy all stood together, their expressions unreadable. Goldie stepped forward, his presence radiating warmth and reassurance.
"Everyone," Goldie began, his voice echoing softly, "I know we've all been through a lot. But we need to talk about the way things have been, and how we can change."
The other animatronics exchanged glances, uncertainty etched on their mechanical faces. Freddy stepped forward, his voice deep and commanding. "And what makes you think we want to listen to a human?"
Benji felt the weight of Freddy's gaze but stood his ground. "Because I'm not here to hurt you. I want to help. I've seen and experienced the pain and the fear, and I understand what you've gone through. But I believe we can find a way to break this cycle together."
Chica crossed her arms, tilting her head. "And why should we trust you?"
"Because I helped a kid today," Benji said, recalling Danny's frightened face and the relief that followed when he was reunited with his sister. "I don't want any child to feel scared or alone in this place. You can be protectors too, not just for yourselves, but for them."
Bonnie's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Benji continued, "You have the power to make this place a sanctuary instead of a nightmare. You can choose to be the guardians you were meant to be, instead of being trapped in a cycle of revenge."
There was a moment of silence, and Benji felt the tension in the air. Goldie glanced at him encouragingly, and Benji pressed on, determination hardening within him.
"I'm not asking you to forget your past. I'm asking you to use it to create a better future—for everyone. Just like I chose to help Danny, you can choose to help too."
Foxy's eyes flickered with interest, and he stepped forward, breaking the silence. "You really care about ta kids, don't you, mate?"
"More than anything," Benji said earnestly. "I want to change how we all see each other. I know it won't be easy, but we have to start somewhere."
Freddy looked at Benji, considering his words. "And what if we refuse?"
Benji took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their history. "Then I'll still be here, hoping for a chance to prove that we can be better. But I believe in you, just like Goldie does. I can't do this alone. We need each other."
After a tense pause, Chica broke the silence. "Maybe… we can give it a shot. But if you betray us—"
"I won't," Benji interrupted firmly. "I promise."
Goldie smiled, relief washing over him. "Thank you for listening. Together, we can start to heal."
Benji felt a glimmer of hope. This was just the beginning, but for the first time, he believed that change was possible. With Goldie and the other animatronics by his side, they could create a safe haven for the children who came to the pizzeria—one where laughter replaced fear, and friendship blossomed amid the shadows. The atmosphere in the room shifted, the tension slowly dissipating as the animatronics considered Benji's words. He could see, and literally hear, the gears turning in their mechanical minds, a flicker of something new beginning to spark within them.
Freddy spoke first, his voice steady but softening. "Alright, let's say we try this. What's the first step?"
Benji felt a rush of adrenaline, buoyed by their willingness to listen. "The first step is understanding each other. We need to talk about what each of you has been through and how we can work together moving forward."
Foxy leaned against the wall, crossing his arms with a thoughtful look. "Ye be askin' us to spill our guts, eh? That be a mighty tall order for a crew like ours!"
"I know it is," Benji replied. "But it's the only way we can break free from the past. You've all experienced pain, and you've all lost something. Sharing those stories can help us find common ground."
Chica nodded slowly, her eyes glimmering with a hint of vulnerability. "I've seen things I really wish I could forget. But… maybe sharing them could help."
Bonnie shifted, glancing at the others. "What if we just end up hurting each other again? What if it makes things worse?"
Benji felt a surge of empathy for them. "That's a risk, but it's also a chance for healing. The only way to truly move on is to face what happened. Together, we can build trust."
Goldie chimed in, his voice filled with encouragement. "And I'll be right here with you, every step of the way. You're not alone in this."
After a moment, Freddy took a deep breath. "Fine. We'll try this out."
As the meeting continued, Benji's phone buzzed, pulling him back to reality. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Aaliyah: Hey bestie, thinking about you while I was closing! Hope your night is going well!
He smiled, the warmth of her words washing over him. He wanted to share his experience with her, but for now, he was focused on the task at hand.
"Let's make a plan," he said, rejoining the group. "We'll start small and grow from there. Every great change begins with one step."
The animatronics nodded in agreement, their excitement palpable. Benji felt a surge of hope for the future, one where they could all thrive together. With the dawn of a new chapter on the horizon, Benji knew they were finally on the path to healing.