Alone With Them

Yeah so, it's been a while...again. Honestly, time has been so weird for me lately that I can barely tell when a week has passed (just a lot on my mind, mostly homework). There's been a couple of things happen in my life: some sad, some happy. So, I've been a bit distracted, sorry. But I'm sure you don't want to read about every detail of my life, so without further ado, Chapter 7!!!:

"You're hired." The unexpected words came from the assistant manager's mouth and danced through one of Cathryn's ears and out the other.

"I am?" she asked, trying not to stutter. "Really?"

In front of her stood Josh Whittle, a man in his mid-twenties with stringy blonde hair tied back in a bun and a thin mustache. His skin looked bleached and stretched tightly over his cheeks, but at least his eyes looked light and friendly.

Cathryn had walked in and asked to see an application, but apparently that's not how things worked at Fazbear's. Moments later she was whisked to a cramped office that reeked of feet and was barely large enough to fit a wooden desk and two stiff chairs. There had sat Mr. Whittle, who didn't seem to question Cathryn's position as a minor and, more than anything, rushed to give her the job.

"We've had a few people apply for the spot these last few weeks, but none of them have felt the job was right. Are...are you sure you're willing to work as a night guard?" The way his smiling eyes faltered when he stuttered over the question was concerning.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Cathryn asked slowly.

"No reason, not really anyway." Mr. Whittle messed with his button-down white shirt nervously before shoving a hand into his pocket. Moments later, he was offering Cathryn two crumpled papers. "We've never had a minor apply, but you should be fine as long as your parent or guardian signs somewhere on the application. That other paper is a waiver." Cathryn shot him a questioning look, but he only shrugged, "Legal stuff."

"Oh."

"You know...you don't have to work here if you don't want to." There he went again, stuttering and making goosebumps appear on her arms. The sound of robots singing in the background was already unsettling enough. Cathryn didn't need Mr. Whittle working her up, too.

"Are you not wanting me to apply?"

"No, of course not! Your help would be greatly appreciated, I just..." Mr. Whittle took a moment to stare into her eyes, but it was almost as if he was staring through her. "If you get that slip signed and feel like working, we can have you start today, if that works with you. If not, Sam could always manage it." They both glanced over her shoulder at a young boy, maybe 5 years older than Cathryn, with bouncy brown hair, a strong jaw, and forest green eyes. She found herself noticing his broad shoulders and glanced back at his face awkwardly.

Sam was close enough to hear their conversation and when he turned to face them, Cathryn could have sworn there was a pleading look in his eyes.

"Yeah, I could probably do that," she said, turning back to face Mr. Whittle. Why was everyone working at this restaurant so weird? Was it even safe to let them be around children?

"Great, your shift would usually start at 11:45 or 12 o'clock, but if you show up at closing today, Sam can give you the tour. He's usually the one who closes the place."

"Sounds good." None of this plan really sounded good to Cathryn, but that wasn't something she wanted to explain to Mr. Whittle. She had decided to apply, so she had to go through with getting the job as a night guard. Even if it sounded a little frightening.

But really, what was the worst that could happen?

"Since you're a minor, you'd only have to work Monday to Friday. Sam takes care of things at night on the weekends," Mr. Whittle explained as she made her way to the door. Cathryn kept her view on her pinching tennis shoes, away from that of the robots and Sam. She tried not to speed away from Mr. Whittle, but she wanted to get out of Freddy's as soon as possible.