The sounds of footsteps echoed throughout the Pizzeria.
It wasn't just the loud, thumping sounds of the animatronics moving either, but of lighter movement. Slow, observant steps that rotated the rooms, searching in the dark of the building to find his prey.
Each time the imposter would enter another room, he'd shut the door firmly behind him. Therefore, if his prize really was in the area, it couldn't sneak by without him possibly knowing. He would linger, tiny whites of his eyes darting in the dark, scanning every possibility and weighing the odds.
As small as the rooms were, there were plenty of places to hide. A factor Benjamin didn't mind, of course. It only made the game much more exciting.
His target must be moving, he figured, otherwise the game would have ended long before now. He's checked all the points the poor nightwatch could hope to fit into. Whether it was under the tables, behind the counter, backstage and even the vents, the pale of green and tuff of hair was no where to be seen.
Alot of time has passed, and for a while Benjamin feared the odds were against his favor. Then he'd feel Mike stir, and the sense of fear that lingered in the room and grin. He was getting closer.
For some reason, the animatronics disregarded his appearances, or even left the room when they saw him coming. It was unsure as to why they suddenly deemed him as not a threat or excused him of the rules, but it was clear that the man who wore the day shift's guard's face was someone the robots did not want to interact with that night.
Chirp was just crawling out of the vents as a red stained cap came into view. Though normally she would have been aggressive, following protocol and working to tear the guard from limb to limb, she only paused at the man, one foot easing back into the vent's entrance as if she was the one who needed escape.
Benjamin smiled, an uncharacteristic motion on Mike's face. "Eavesdropping, are we?"
The toy didn't response, holding her silence and gaze with the imposter. Benjamin tilted his head at the lack of answer, raising his hands. He was unarmed. "It's rude to spy on other, darling." He chuckled. "Mechanical or not, I expected better of you"
A gear whirred inside Chirp, a simulation running that she wasn't aware she even had installed. What would the humans call it? Fear?
"Not much of a talker anymore, are you?" Benjamin commented, straightening his tie. "Though, I suppose the entire population of the Pizzeria know about my little game now, hmm?"
Without her beak, it was near impossible to conduct facial expressions. But even so, the dim light hit her plastic in such a way it showed anxiety, just waiting for him to make the first move.
It was Mike's body, she remembers, and on any other occasion she wouldn't of hesitated to stuff him. The thought crossed her once, that she shouldn't be worried of The Purple Man. He had wronged the old animatronics, not her. Not the toys. It wouldn't matter to them if she had let him win, kill the host and release the bastard once more. She would have completed her purpose, after all.
But there's a loud ringing noise in her head. Memories that don't belong to her contain a phone and a message; a will to protect the two victims Benjamin seeks to claim. The other animatronics spoke of the same glitch, a golden tint flashing behind their eyes. So tonight, they're all going to make an exception.
Benjamin frowned as Chirp remained silent, turning away from the chicken. "If you happen to find him first, be sure to leave his last breath for me" A sinister grumble rose from his chest, amused. "Wouldn't want to forfeit, would we now?"
He gave a calm wave and left the room, the sound of his footsteps fading as he walked. Chirp glared holes into his retreating back before turning on her heel, giving a shallow glance towards the merry-go-round.
One of the best attribute of the criminal recognition software was the ability to detect someone's heartbeat. It was a underused feature, it's purpose meant to tell if someone was lying. Though, in the business of children, there was hardly any need.
The range was short and defective. During the nightshift, the toys would have to be within the same room as a human to find a beat. Even then it couldn't be trusted, it's readings erratic and unorderly. But every now and then, it gave a solid result.
Chirp sauntered over to the merry-go-round, giving the attraction a good look over. The power was turned off, of course, with the ride in the corner of the room away from the only light source, shrouding the inside in shadow.
A racing pulse echoed from within the darkness.
Mike was probably on the other side of the building by now.
Chirp gave the ride one last scan, blinking in uncharacteristic surprise as the readings displayed solid results. The program brightened the images, automatically seeking out a face in the dimness. Her endoskeleton tensed as hint of movement shifting in the small of her vision.
A small, huddled human backed up against the inner walls of the merry-go-round stared at her approaching figure with intensifying fear.
Chirp hesitated, a tick in her system. "I'm not going to hurt you" She spoke, keeping her voice box to a hushed level. "Not this time"
Jeremy didn't move, keeping his distance. "Why should I believe you?" He whispered. "...Any minute now you'll try to k-kill me..." His voiced cracked as he spoke, a little hitch that was left floating in the air.
The ringing became louder. "Not tonight" She replied, her once cheerful tone replaced by something much more serious. "We don't want this" Her unmoving mouth spoke. "We don't want him back"
He faultered, furrowing his brows. "...W-we?" He repeated, "Who is we...?"
The ringing cut off abruptly, replaced by a long lengthening dial-tone. Chirp inwardly cringed at the change, her head twitching to the side as a golden tint ran through her sensors. "The animatronics and I..." She trailed off, earning a baffled look from the nightwatch. "...and then there was another...."
Her vocals began to glitch and stutter. Jeremy blinked, edging away from the robot. "You're not making any sense..."
"It's not important" Chirp shook the sensations away, recollecting herself. "What matters is that we're willing to help you. We can give you a place to hide-"
"I-in a suit?" He interrupted, "I-I already have one maniac after me, c-couldn't you guys just cut me a break for once?" A shudder ran up his spine as he stared into her unblinking eyes. "Please?"
Tilting her head down, Chirp managed a warm demeanor. Jeremy paused at the action, uncharacteristic for an murderous animatronic. "You won't have to worry about us tonight, nerd. There are other responsibilities to take care of now. Things too important to waste time on you" She paused. "That came out more hateful than I meant."
The nightwatch hadn't payed any mind to the unintentional insult, really, just too focused on keeping the distance between the robot and him a safe measure. Ben could be anywhere by now, and he'd have to move to another location soon if he wanted to keep up the score.
"W-what responsibility could you possibility have?" He asked, clutching the flashlight closer to his chest. "I thought stuffing us was the only..."
"Not really something we toys would like to do, mind you" The chicken cut off, a little snark in her tone. "But the old models like to keep tradition, I guess. It's supposed to be against the rules anyway." A familiar sense of youth and warmth returned to her pitch, although hushed, she maintained her friendliness.
"Besides, you're the cutest little nightwatch we've had" She added. "I don't mind bending the rules, you know"
Jeremy simply stared, unsure of how to react. Common manners from his mother poked his mind to answer, but the fear in his chest kept his mouth shut. So, he took a shaky breath and prepared a reply. "T-thanks?"
The sound of something coiling and being dragged across the ground eased into the room. Jeremy tensed, making his body smaller to sink into the shadows once more. "If you're not going to kill me, leave me alone!" He gave an urgent whisper. "Y-your going to draw attention-"
"It's not Mike." Chirp stated nonchalantly, "Benjamin, I mean"
A panicked, baffled expression was her response. Jeremy watched as Chirp took a few steps back, endo eyes roaming the air around him. Her empty teethed smile seemed to morph into worry under the low light, white iris staring as something advanced on the nightwatch.
The teen was unaware. "...Do you know where he is?" He questioned, green eyes darting from the corners of the room.
The toy hesitated, a sense of unease edging into her motionless features. Sensors locked onto sound waves, analyzing the length and distance. She grimmed at the data results, pushing the worry into the back of her mind. "He's coming back." She answered. "You only have another minute or two until he's here again"
Taken aback, Jeremy stumbled out from the ride, swiveling around to find another hiding place. "Oh god...I-I still have time..." He pushed past the chicken, all sense of danger from her overcome from the fear of Ben's arrival. "I-I still have time to hide. I need to find somewhere new..."
Chirp stilled, watching as the teen fretted in place. "I wouldn't be worrying about Benjamin if I were you" She mused, watching as a shadow descended on the weary nightwatch. "You've got different company at the moment"
He was about to turn and ask what exactly her words meant, when a slender limb gently wrapped around his neck, curling around to cover his mouth. A second appendage coiled around his mid-section, grasping him tightly enough to let him breath, but to retrain anymore movement. Jeremy let out a muffled scream as his feet left the floor.
The puppet held the nightwatch in a hostile hug, careful not to cut off his circulation. He gave Chirp a common glance, whom stood staring at the scene with dull interest, a hand on her hip. "We were talking, you know. Kinda rude."
The puppet gave a tilt of his mask. "Apologies, toy. But we have matters we need to discuss." The voice was disoriented and eerie, quite hauntingly. "I'm afraid I'll have to steal him from you for the time being."
Chirp shrugged. "We'll keep other guard distracted. Just do what you have to do" She gave a wave of her hand, signifying the two off. Marionette nodded knowingly, hoisting the flailing nightwatch higher to drag him out of the room when they were halted. "One more thing..."
Patient, he held Jeremy in place as Chirp reached out, ruffling the teen's hair with a laugh. The brunette flinched as the plastic hand rested on his head, drowning in his silent fear.
Chirp giggled. "When all of this is over, give Mike a big kiss for me, alright?" And with that, her hand left his hair and the puppet carried on his way, dragging a utterly mortified nightwatch with him.
They had just left the room when Chirp heard a distinctive clank from behind. She turned just to see Benjamin waltz into the room, face and body slumped in utter disappointment and irritation. He was getting desperate, she realized. If she had the ability to grin, she would have been all smug and sass by now. Without another thought, she walked towards the guard with new-found purpose.
Somewhere else in the Pizzeria, Jeremy screamed against the puppets cloth.
"Let me go!" He shrieked, the plea muted by an arm. "P-Please...I just-"
His sentence was cut off with an oof, his back slamming into something hard and cold. Prying his eyes open, his heart lept up into his throat as the light above him vanished, the sound of a box closing amplified in his ears.
His hands shook uncontrollably as he fumbled with the flashlight, finding the flashlight switch and flicking it on. The sudden light provided a split second of relief to the guard, only to be replaced by a feeling of sheer horror as the illuminated mask of the puppet appeared before his eyes.
Lungs now deprived of air, a silent scream was made as he scooted to the back of the prize box, trembling in terror. But, much to his surprise, the Marionette only hovered, his once empty sockets now containing a white spec. Funny how Jeremy was seeing a lot of insanity like that tonight.
The puppet cupped his face, amused to see the teen so frozen. "My beautiful music as stopped" He spoke, his tone growing grim. "I wonder why..."
Jeremy's breath hitched, a sob threatening to break from his throat. "Y-you can t-talk...?"
A shake of the head. "No, for I have no mouth, no lips to move. No lungs to breath. How could I ever utter a single word?" The puppet chuckled, a disembodied voice circling Jeremy ears. The nightwatch cringed as the sound rotated around him, entrapping him with their echoes.
"But I do not need to talk for you to listen"
Jeremy swallowed, leaning away. "....I don't understand..."
The confinements of the box denied him any escape from the puppet, or at least any other option that didn't include him scrambling over the current resident. It was small and compact, even for the Marionette it seems, for the entity had to hover over the nightwatch quite closely, long limbs intertwined with Jeremy's own.
"Y-your going to kill me now...right?" He grit his teeth, his body shaking. "C-couldn't wait for M-Mike to do it for y-you...?" He inhaled as he spoke, a hitch in his breath as the name rolled off his tongue. He meant to say Benjamin, really, he did. But the thought of Mike's hands wrapping around his neck was an image that burned in his mind.
The Marionette hardly reacted. "To die from his hand would be a much more painful death than to die by ours." He watched the boy cringe at the statement. "Even though that is not my intention, I would still be doing you a favor"
The flashlight shook in Jeremy's grasp as the Marionette continued, casting wavering shadows against the mask. "Quite some trouble you've caused, little clover. Gambling with a man the likes of Benjamin is not a wise choice."
Jeremy eyed the figure, ignoring the nickname. "I-I have no other choice..." He stammered. "He had Mike...a-and if I didn't agree he would have-"
The Marionette leaned in closer, cutting off Jeremy sentence with a hitch. "You tell lies to justify your decision, but your reasons are admirable." A glimmer shined in the eye of his mask. "You knew you had another option, one that would free you from the binds of our hauntings, but would leave your friend to the hells."
Jeremy swallowed, his lack of argument suffocating. "I'm doing what I have to" He mustered
"You should of ran from the danger, little clover. At least then would one soul escape the tyranny" The voice continued. "But you've made the choice to stay, to play a game with fate." The words rolled off clearly, the puppet's voice left swirling discomfort in his chest.
"Why risk everything for a man who has already been condemned to misery?"
Jeremy bit his lip. "W-what are you getting at...?"
"A childhood stolen, a memory lost, a debt unpaid and a burden to bare...." A shiver shook the nightwatch's spine as the Marionette listed, the word 'burden' burning in his mind. The puppet chuckled at the reaction, a deep grumble laced with delight."You know as well as I, little clover, that Micheal Schmidt would be much happier dead-"
"Y-your wrong..." Jeremy's voice cracked, diminishing his what little confidence he had left. "M-Mike isn't like that. He's the most lively person I know..."
"Yes, that may be true." The puppet agreed, "But he was a different man before you knew him."
"...I've never heard of him being any different..."
"Then you are easy to deceive." The Marionette mused, watching as a light flared in clover colored eyes.
"Before you, that man was full of anger, not a kind word nor thought in his mind. I did not need to speak to him, you see, but I could hear him. The thoughts in his mind are as loud as a train, always pondering on the sorrows, the agony that others have bestowed to him." A shadow of a smile fell over his mask. "And how he could one day return the favor."
Listening intently, Jeremy felt his lip quiver. He stopped himself, shaping it into a frown. "Mike is not that kind of p-person..." He defended, gripping the flashlight tightly. "He would never hurt anyone..."
"Oh, but he has..." The puppet gave a low laugh. "It might not have been too vicious, however, he certainly would have advanced to achieve such a life, had you not of met him"
"...I still don't understand" Jeremy voiced, "I-I've never seen Mike hurt anyone!" The puppet gave him knowing glare, causing him to back peddle.
"Aside from...blanks, but that's different. The Mike I know cares about people, and s-sure he can bit a dick sometimes...but that's just him.." He trailed off. "W-why would he want to hurt anyone?"
The puppet beamed at the question, as if he was awaiting it. "There is a darkness in every being who breathes, I'm afraid. For some, it can be faint, hardly a spec on their canvas" He runs a soothing motion over the shivering nightwatch as he says this, a mock show of comfort.
"For others, it's a stain darkened by the colors of others, the cause of many woes. Anger and vulnerability being a few of them."
Inching away from the motherly touch, Jeremy stared into the mask's holes with bewilderment, more questionings racing through his mind instead of the answers he had hoped for. "Y-Your speaking in riddles...It doesn't make it any easier to understand you" He muttered, trying to gain what little space that was available.
Frustration rose in the teen, and he gave a little kick, trying to gain some air. "Please..." He mummered, his lungs constricting. "W-what does this have to do with the g-game?" He sputtered. "If you're going to kill me, just-"
"If you beat a dog and put it in a kennel, and you will surely find it aggressive..." The puppets smile seemed to widen. "But give it a love that will ease it's wounds, you will soon find it protective"
The hands that cupped Jeremy's cheeks softly jerked to the sides. The teen whimpered as the Marionette calmly observed the skin; pale and untouched, looked to be handled with care. "You are the key, little clover. One that Benjamin will use against dear Mike to pick him apart, piece by piece until there is nothing left but a hateful psyche full of hurt and trauma."
His eyes glowed brighter. "The perfect vessel"
"...I won't let that happen"
Jeremy swallowed as cloth fingers froze, the observation halted. "I'll die before I'll let Benjamin take him"
"You would be granting Mike his worst of fears, then" A low murmur sounded from the puppet. "What makes you think he would last any longer once you were gone?"
The nightwatch opened his mouth, then shut it again, falling into a silent lock with his captor.
"Ah, but that also brings us to main question..." The hands left Jeremy's neck, trailing down to settle at his wrist. White iris roamed the skin, pushing up the sleeve and glowing in curiosity. "I know what you mean to Mike...But what does he mean to you"
He picked mindlessly at the watch as Jeremy nervously shuddered, torn from ripping his wrist away from the doll, or holding still and letting him do as he pleased. The watch, old and worn as it was, intrigued the puppet greatly. Why, he could still sense the feeling of trust latched onto the object.
"He's my friend..." Jeremy spoke, "My best friend"
The puppet shook his head in knowing disagreement. "Cornered and vulnerable, and still you lie" He chuckled, tapping the watch gently. "Though I suppose time will soon bring the truth to light"
"...Does it even matter anymore?"
"You wish to save him? Don't you?"
Jeremy shifted uncomfortably. "Of course I do. I-I just don't see how your conclusions are helping any..."
Suddenly, the grasp around Jeremy's wrist lifted, swiping the flashlight from his hold. It clattered to the other end of the box, flickering light still, casting shadows at an odd angle as the Marionette returned his hands to hover so Jeremy's ears, Mask threatening close to the nightwatch's face. He soaked in the teen's heightened fear as he relaxed, giving the teen room to breath, hands cupping the cheeks softly.
"Love is a heavy weight to carry, an unfortunate burden on the soul." The Marionette's voice weaved like ribbons in the air. "But in our circumstance, it will act as the perfect anchor"
Jeremy hiccuped, his lungs threatening to form a sob. He was frozen, wishing he'd had the courage to push the Marionette away. "A-anchor?"
The air around them grew grim, more serious. The once playful stance the puppet gave had faded, a much more solemn demeanor taking it's place. "Benjamin was a earnest conman in his life, little clover. He is a cunning dealer, and while he may have given you your fair share of playing cards, remember that he once held the deck in his own hands..."
Jeremy shook his head, denying it. "No, your w-wrong. All I have to do is live t-till 6AM, then he'll let Mike go"
A shadow of a frown flashed across the puppets mask. "You are outmatched. Outsmarted. He may have promised to give your Micheal back, but that doesn't guarantee he'll give back the body as well."
For a moment, Jeremy could only raise a brow at the statement, confusion and denial his only response. Then, it hit him. The realization slamming into him like bricks. "Oh..god" He whispered. "He's already....M-Mike...is..."
"Not dead" The puppet interrupted. "Only dormant."
Choking back a sob, Jeremy pulled his knees as far up as the box would allow, bringing his hands to shield his face. "...S-so there's really nothing I can do?" He sputtered, his throat dry and his eyes getting wet. "It's all in vain...He's going to d-die...even if I win..."
"Not if you play the first move, little clover"
Jeremy felt a calming touch on his head, soothing stokes through his hair. "Find him before he finds you," The Marionette's voice had take a swift and pressing tone, urging the nightwatch to listen. "He cannot be allowed to continue this game"
A sniffle rose from the teen as he flinched away from the hand. "I can't..." He sobbed, "I can't...It's too late"
"Find him" The puppet continued, "Trigger him. Find a bond he's tightly attached to and pull. Break him from Benjamin's hold."
"B-but...I-I don't even k-know what t-to do-"
A hand shot out and wrapped around his limb once more, roughly pulling the nightwatch's wrist between the two of them. Blinking, Jeremy stared with tearful eyes at the watch ticked on, growing dangerously close to 6AM. That number wasn't a goal to reach anymore, no, but a countdown to something disastrous.
"You have the means to free him. A tether that could save him"
Jeremy gulped, forcing the panic back down to the swirling unease in his stomach. He stared at the watch, a simple object, one that Mike always took with him no matter where he went. It held sentimental value, not functional value, considering it was a decently old model. If it really meant something to him, it could very well be the key to his rescue.
But if it meant so much, why did he trust it to Jeremy?
Unsure, Jeremy pressed his lips together in a thin line, giving the puppet a wide eyed, but understanding stare. "Will it be enough?"
The puppet's grip around his wrist loosened, the air becoming lighter. "You are more than enough"
He slowly rose upwards, backing against the box's lid until it opened. Jeremy took a deep breath as fresh air invaded his senses, not even mindful of how long slender limbs picked him up and gently placed him outside of the box, much like how a child would set down their favorite doll.
"Why...?" Jeremy breathed, rubbing his wrist, the watch a burning reminder of the confrontation soon to come. "Why are you helping me...?"
The Marionette stilled, the light in his eyes dimming. "Benjamin was the end of me. The end of us. And though I can never get back what was stolen, I can still deny him the satisfaction of taking another life."
He faultered, one hand on the box's lid ready to close, to shut himself away again. "I will never get equal vengeance, but I'm not sure if I want it anymore..." The disoriented voice had reduced to a much more clear, solemn audibility. "Perhaps I don't want to become what the purple man once was."
Jeremy listened as the puppet wondered out loud, his fright morphing into thought. "You remind me of someone..."
The Marionette piped to attention, "...And who would that be?"
"My mother"
As the words left his mouth, Jeremy felt the air tense once more. The puppet gave a blank stare, his lights darkening until there was nothing for the eyes. A sorrowful haze washed over the mask. "How ironic..."
They shared a moment of silence before he began to ease back into the box, waving the nightwatch away. "Go now. There's nothing more I can do to help you"
His sudden change of tone earned a raised brow from the nightwatch. "...T-that's it then?" He asked. "Your just going to throw me out here?"
The puppet strung up to meet him with a urgent glare, hovering over the teen. "Might I remind you that you're playing a dangerous game with an ever ticking time limit..." The voice hissed, "The game is on. I suggest you play your cards carefully"
Biting his lip, Jeremy stepping away from the box, sparing a glance towards the exit. "Ok..." He started backing towards the doorway, a new concern burning in his head "Uh...S-say that 'triggering him' doesn't really work..." He called out, not taking mind to be hushed. "What then?"
The puppet gave a mournful shrug, "Run, I suppose. Though I'm sure you wouldn't get very far...."
Jeremy inwardly winced. "T-that's not very comforting..."
He was about to bravely step through the doorways final boundaries and make his way down the hall as the box shut behind him, stopping only when a disembodied voice flew from the container to his ears. It invaded his head and swiveled him back to the other direction, focusing Jeremy's eyes on a singular object.
"Be sure to wind the music box before you leave, little clover" It whispered. "I never liked the silence."
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