Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ready, Set, Go!”

Six small children took off running up a hill. Their goal was to run up, circle a large tree, then run back down. Most of the children were quite fast despite their small size. Michael Afton was not one of them. He was quite slow compared to the other kids. He watched as Fritz, a red-headed boy in a striped sweater and baggy shorts, zoom up the hill with ease. Mike never knew how the other kids could do it. He was never one for exercise, something that his older brother often bullied him about. Mike was a bit small and weak for his age. The boy just felt like he wasn’t on the same level as the other kids. Sometimes he pondered how he made such wonderful friends in the first place.

Mike was about halfway up the hill when his shoe caught on a stray rock. He instantly tumbled forward and landed face first into the grass. Ouch. His arms were scraped up, not enough to bleed but it left a nasty skin burn. Dirt got smudged all over his clothes and worst of all, on his Fredbear plush he insisted on bringing everywhere. Tears pricked his eyes, and he scolded himself for breaking down over something so miniscule.

Don’t cry, Mike. You’re almost nine.

This is why you get bullied.

Everyone hates it when you cry.

“Mikey! Are you okay? That was a pretty nasty fall, huh?”

A girl’s voice rang out, followed by footsteps clomping in his direction. He looked through watery eyes to see Cassidy kneeling down and extending a hand. His sister. She was his age, yet she didn’t cry when the slightest thing inconvenienced her. Why couldn’t he be like that? He sniffled and shook his head, holding out the stained plushie.

“I-It’s ruined,” Mike stammered. “I d-d-didn’t mean to…”

Cassidy took the plush from him, examining the damage. “C’mon, Mike. It’s just a little dirty. I’ll get Mother to wash it, okay? Don’t cry now. It’s all gonna be fine.”

Mike wiped his eyes, embarrassed. “Sorry…”, he whispered. Cassidy rolled her eyes and tossed Fredbear back to him.

“Listen Mikey, stop apologizing for things you didn’t do. It gets you nowhere. At least, that’s what Father says.”, Cassidy said, her voice lowering at the mention of their father. Mike said nothing, grabbing Cassidy’s arm to help himself up. She smiled slightly and walked with him to the other children, who were attempting to climb the big tree, racing attempts now forgotten.

“Susie, don’t be a scaredy cat! Climb up the tree!”, Jeremy called out, already a good ten feet above the ground. Susie simply stuck her tongue out and went to pick some dandelions at the tree’s base.

“I’m not stupid, Jeremy. Ya know kids break their necks climbing trees, right?”, Susie spat out. Jeremy was quick to scamper back down, causing the blonde girl to giggle.

“I was only joking. But now that you’re here, can you pleaseeee pick dandelions with me?”, she begged, blowing the fluff off of her flower. Mike sat down next to them and picked a flower of his own. Cassidy jumped up and grabbed a tree branch, her red boots nearly falling off in the process. The branch snapped under her weight, sending her flying.

“Ugh!”, the girl complained, “I wanted to do something cool!”

Mike laughed at her frustration. She glared back at him, but her face only made him laugh harder. Eventually, Cassidy grinned and tackled him, playfully punching him.

“You DARE laugh at me? I’ll steal your socks tonight!”, she threatened, giving him a shove. Jeremy let out a mock gasp of horror.

“Oh no, Cass is gonna take your socks, the horror!”, Jeremy exclaimed, tossing flowers in Cassidy’s direction. “Begone, sock snatcher!” he yelled triumphantly before collapsing in a fit of giggles. The black haired girl chuckled at the title. After a few more mock punches, Cassidy went to lie down next to Mike.

“Gosh, who knew being a sock snatcher was so tiring,” she sighed dramatically.

Fritz and Gabriel had heard the commotion and came bounding in, armed with sticks. “Arrest the sock snatcher!”, Gabriel declared, making a few swipes with his stick. All the children laughed, now exhausted after a whole afternoon of playing. They sat together to watch the sun set and turn the sky pretty colors. It was moments like these Mike really felt whole. He wasn’t at home, he wasn’t being ignored or teased. He had friends along with an awesome sister. Before long, his mom called them in for dinner. The boy wished every day could be like this. Endless playing and laughing. With his friends and Cassidy, he finally felt like himself. If only those days lasted forever.

…

Six days until the incident

Chapter Text

Cassidy waved goodbye as her friends left the house. It was near 7:00 and it was well past dark. She gave one last smile then closed the door, all her joy gone. Now it was just her and her family. Her stupid, dysfunctional family. With her friends gone, they had no people to put masks on for. They were always obnoxiously nice to her friends. Acting all “perfect”. It made her sick. Her family as a whole made her angry. Well, except for Mike, of course. He was what she considered to be real family. Not some sickos that happened to be related to her. Cassidy shot one last glare at her parents on the couch, then stomped to her room. She immediately grabbed her toy and tore it apart in anger. The Mangle, she named it. It was an old Foxy toy that she broke when she was little. Since it was made from plastic pieces, she could put it back together. But to this day she never knew how to, so it always ended as a weird looking fox-robot hybrid. And that’s how she dealt with her emotions. Tear apart and put back together.

As Cassidy put the toy back together, a soft knock came at the door. Before she could respond, a little girl with green eyes bounced in. Elizabeth, her little sister. She seemed to be upset.

“What do you want, Elizabeth?”, Cassidy blurted out, causing the smaller girl to flinch.

“Daddy’s fighting with Evan again… can I stay in here and play?” Elizabeth asked. Outside the door, the girls could hear their father and older brother quarreling. This happened often. When Elizabeth moved closer, Cassidy shot up and shoved her away.

“Get out of my room, Elizabeth! God, you’re such a bother! Go pester Father, he always seems to have time for you…”, she faltered slightly on the last sentence. She wasn’t mad at Liz, was she? Just the fact Father favorited her over all his other kids. He never yelled at Elizabeth. He always had time for Elizabeth. He never punished Elizabeth. Elizabeth was his little girl. The golden child. Sometimes it felt like she was the only child their parents really wanted. Cassidy was always tossed aside like an afterthought.

“Liz…”, the taller started, only for Elizabeth to bolt out the door in tears. Great. She really messed up now. The shouts and screams bore into her brain, seething under the surface like a festered wound. Cassidy turned her attention back to the toy, staring at her mockingly. A good kick broke it once again, parts flying against the wall with a satisfying thunk. She didn’t even know what she was mad at, it just felt like she was angry all the time for no reason at all. Cassidy slumped against her bed, defeated.

All the sudden, heavy footsteps tore through the room, followed by a harsh grip on her arm. Cassidy let out a yelp as sharp nails dug into her skin.

“What did you say to your sister, young lady? You had no problem telling her, so tell me. Now!”, Mrs. Afton screeched. Of course Elizabeth ran to their mother. Eurgh. Cassidy could smell the alcohol off her breath. If she could vomit then and there, she would have.

“N-nothing, Mom. I’m sorry… I’m sorry!”, the girl pleaded, crumbling under her mother’s angry glare.

“If it was nothing, Lizzie wouldn’t be crying! Tell me, Cassidy Afton.”, Mrs. Afton whispered, her voice low and dangerous. Her grip grew tighter and Cassidy felt tears begin to form.

“She was bothering me, so I told her to go away. Please mom, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”, Cassidy panicked, tears now spilling. Mrs. Afton looked down in disapproval, loosening her grip slightly.

“You’re lucky I’m feeling nice today. Don’t ever say that shit to your sister again, okay? You worthless brat, so ungrateful.”, her mother shoved Cassidy to the ground in a heap and stomped back out the door. Cassidy trembled like a leaf, curling in on herself. It was so unfair. She wiped her tears angrily. Stupid. She slowly moved to collect her toy pieces, putting them back together one by one.

Click a piece into place.

My name is Cassidy Afton.

She attached its hand to its neck with a satisfying twist.

I’m eight years old. I’ll turn nine in September.

The head connected to a coil spouting from the arm.

I have a brother. We’re going to celebrate our birthday together.

She tore the eye out and attached it near the leg.

We’re having a party with all of our friends. It will be the best birthday party ever.

With a final snap, the toy was “fixed”. Cassidy smiled at its absurdness and placed it back on her desk.

“Cass? Are you okay?”

Mike was at the door, plushies in his arms. Cassidy nodded and motioned for him to sit next to her. Mike trotted in and laid his toys by her own in a neat line. Chica, Foxy, Freddy, Bonnie, then her Mangle.

“Isn’t she pretty? I put it back together myself.”, Cassidy remarked, smiling at her brother.

“I like it,” Mike responded, “it’s very cool.”

Mike took his Fredbear plush and rearranged them, placing Fredbear and Mangle in the middle. “Now they’re together. Like you and me.”

Cassidy ruffled his hair. “And all our friends. They’re with us too.”

Her brother laughed softly and leaned against her with his head on her shoulder.

“You’re an awesome sister. Don’t let mom or dad say otherwise.”

Cassidy sighed and leaned back against him. Despite most making fun of Mike for being a crybaby, he was actually really strong. Stronger than her, even though she’d never admit it. He always knew what to say and when to say it. They sat like that for a while, chatting about silly things and laughing at stupid jokes. It was just them. Brother and sister both against the world. What was once a bad night turned into a rather peaceful one. She would give anything for it to last.

…

Nearly five days until the incident.

Chapter Text

A birthday party. The one day out of the whole year that was all about you. It was your special day. Your family went out of their way to get gifts. You could eat as much birthday cake as you wanted and no one cared, because it was your special day. Well, not for Mike. Being a twin, he shared his birthdays with Cassidy, not that he minded. After months of begging and pleading they were finally able to get a party at Fredbears. September 16th. Their birthday. Their first real birthday party. It was any kid's dream, really. The fact that their parents had agreed was a miracle in itself.

“Should I add more balloons? Or is five enough?” Mike asked, scribbling on a sheet of paper with a red crayon. He and Cassidy had spent all afternoon planning their party, even if it wasn’t for another three months. Between their neglectful father and borderline abusive mother, this was the best escape they had. Cassidy peered over his shoulder and examined his work.

“Add another balloon… there,” she pointed to an empty corner, “make it a yellow balloon. I like yellow balloons.”

Mike smiled and hastily scribbled another balloon. Now, he had six balloons and a big brown table surrounded by doodles of his friends. Susie, Jeremy, Fritz, and Gabriel. They would all be there.

“There. One big balloon for you, Cass. Now, what cake are we gonna have?”

Cassidy instantly grabbed a pink crayon and tossed it to him. “I want a big vanilla cake with lots of pink frosting! Maybe some sprinkles and candles too!” she gleefully giggled, inciting an annoyed scoff from her brother. He chucked the crayon at her face, hitting her square in the forehead.

“Draw it yourself then, princess.”

Cassidy groaned. “Okayyy, fine! It doesn’t have to be pink! Pleaseee, Mike, you draw so much better than I can!”

Mike giggled at her outburst then grabbed the crayon again. “I was only joking, Cass. But if I draw your cake, you have to let me invite Charlie.”

Charlotte “Charlie” Emily was a good friend of his. She was about his age and was what he considered too nice for her own good. For some reason, Cassidy didn’t like Charlie. At all.

“Ugh, are you serious? I thought the party was just us and our friends. I don’t want her there. She’ll ruin everything!” the girl pouted, crossing her arms disapprovingly.

Mike frowned. “But she’s my friend, Cass. I know you may not like her, but can she please be at our party? She has close to no friends. She just has me.”

Cassidy rolled her eyes and sighed, “I don’t care about that. It’s just that I don’t like her. She’s annoying and too nice.”

Mike looked at her, appalled. “Too nice? What’s wrong with being nice, Cass? Do you just expect everyone to be a bad person?”

“Of course not. She’s just annoying. Trying to please everyone all the time. It’s stupid. When will she realize that it’s not possible?” Cassidy explained. “She’s… the perfect daughter. Dad treats her better than me. He treats everyone better than me.”

“Oh Cass…”, Mike placed an arm around her, encouraging her to continue.

The black haired girl shut her eyes. “Sometimes, when I look at Liz and Charlie, I get mad at them. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s cause they’re better than me. They got Dad to love them, but I can’t. He ignores me all the time and the only way he does talk to me is yelling. How can he treat someone else’s kid better than his own daughter?”

Mike pulled her into an awkward side hug, since he didn’t really know how to respond. William did often favor Elizabeth over anyone else. If Elizabeth wanted something, she got it. In fact, William was working on a project that he described as being just for her. Mike felt like he got off easy. He was only neglected at worst. It seemed like only Cassidy and Evan got hit. Never him nor Liz.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. Cassidy simply shook her head as if telling him he shouldn’t be apologizing.

“Alright, I won’t invite Charlie, okay?” Mike felt a tiny pang of guilt, but he did truly care about Cassidy’s feelings. Even if it meant dropping everything else.

Cassidy snapped her head up and shook her head, “Mike. You can invite Charlie, okay? I didn’t mean to react like that. It’s your birthday too.”

The girl turned around and gave Mike a real hug, resting her head against his shoulder. She held up his drawing to the light.

“You’re a really good artist, Mikey.”

Chapter Text

June 22nd, 1983
…
Four more days

A cool breeze danced through the neighborhood. Along the sidewalk, Mike ran along, Fredbear in arms. He was heading to the nearby park, since Cassidy and their friends went to Freddy’s to hang out. In all honesty, he didn’t like Freddy’s. It was too loud and too crowded for his liking. While Cass was hesitant to leave without him, he assured her everything would be fine. Plus, Charlie often played at the park, so he wouldn’t be completely alone. The sun set, covering the playground in pretty oranges and pinks and blues.

“Hi, Mike!”

A girl sat perched on top of the slide, showing a toothy grin. She had long brown hair tied in low pigtails coupled with hazel eyes. She sported a bright blue sweater along with a blue skirt and pants. Charlie Emily. Charlie waved to him happily. He climbed up the stairs and sat next to her on the slide. The girl crushed him with a hug immediately. Always a burst of energy it seemed.

“Hey, Charlie. How’s it been?”

“Mike! I’ve been great! Guess what? For my birthday, Daddy made me a new doll! You wanna see?”, she fired. Her birthday was a month prior, Mike recalled. Charlie never had parties and instead celebrated with her dad at home. Charlie was on a rant about how her dad made new toys for her and how cool they were. Mike smiled fondly, remembering a playdate where she showed him Theodore, a bunny who would say things if you pressed a button.

He glanced down, just now noticing a large doll in Charlie’s arms. It had a smooth plastic face with brightly painted cheeks. Its eyes stared blankly, lifeless yet it still seemed alive. It had frizzy brown hair along with a fancy blue dress.

“I named her Ella,” Charlie said, “Daddy made her so she can roll around my room on a track to serve tea and snacks! Do ya like her?”

She held the doll up to his face eagerly. Ella was creepy. He didn’t like her. But for Charlie’s sake he gave her a thumbs up and pushed the doll back to her.

“She’s very… er… nice,” he said.

Charlie’s face lit up at that. “Maybe you should come over to play sometime! Ella and Mr. Fredbear seem like they’re gonna be good friends.” She pointed to his plush.

“Yep. Does Ella like your other toys?”, he asked, placing Fredbear next to Ella.

Charlie pondered for a second, then grinned. “Ella is best friends with Theodore, but that’s it. She’s very particular with her friends.”

Over the next half hour or so they played on the slides and monkey bars. Mike was too afraid to climb, so he watched Charlie swing upside down and make funny faces. Eventually they took turns on the swing, pushing each other higher and higher. But of course, fun never lasted.

A boy in a creepy fox mask sauntered towards the park. It was Mike’s older brother, who also happened to be a big jerk. The teen took pleasure in pulling pranks on Mike, such as grabbing his ankles from under the bed. Mike tensed as his brother drew closer, making a beeline right to him and Charlie. She wasn’t aware of the growing tension between the three, so she waved to the teen excitedly.

“Hiya, Evan!”

Evan took off his mask and smiled at her. Mike got off his swing and slowly backed away. It wasn’t like his brother was a monster or anything. Evan often took the brunt of the abuse back home and coped by taking it out on his siblings. Sometimes they had good days where the boys could tolerate each other, but most of the time it was plain, unfiltered bullying.

“Michael,” Evan called, “Mom wants you back home. You’re in big trouble…” he smirked. Mike gripped Fredbear to his chest tightly before heading towards Evan. He turned to Charlie and whispered a rushed goodbye. He trotted over, only to be shoved down. Evan stood above him and yanked Fredbear out of Mike’s arms.

“Ah-ah! No stupid stuffed animal for you!”, he shouted, holding the bear high above his head. Mike brushed the dirt off his arms in an attempt to hide the fact he was about to cry.

Charlie’s footsteps came over to them. “Hey, stop that! You’re being mean. He’s your brother, don’t hurt him!”

“Wow, Mike. Now you need a little girl to defend you?”, he laughed, grabbing Mike’s hair and pulling him up, forcing the smaller boy to scream in pain.

“Evan, stop! He didn’t do anything wrong! Please!” Charlie panicked, grabbing Mike’s hand.

“Awww, Mikey has a little girlfriend!”

“I don’t! You’re being a big jerk right now…” Mike said. “Just leave us alone.”

“Whatever little man. C’mon, we’re gonna be late.”, Evan grabbed his arm, squeezing it so that it hurt.

“Can you walk me home too?”, Charlie asked, locking eyes with Mike’s. He knew what she was really saying. I’m going to walk home so your brother won’t pull any funny business.

Evan stopped, scowling at her. “Fine, but only so you won’t get snatched up like that brother of your-”

Charlie’s eyes filled with tears. Her brother had vanished back in ‘79, and still was considered missing. That was a low blow, even for Evan. He had a look of regret on his face, but didn’t back down.

“Go cry, little bitch. You still miss Sammy? He’s probably dead somewhere. Dead. Awww, Charlie’s never gonna see her brother again!”

Smack.

Evan reeled back, cupping his face. Charlie had thrown Ella so that her plastic face hit Evan square in the nose. She scrambled to pick Ella up, along with Fredbear who had been dropped in the commotion.

“Mike, c’mon! I’ll take you home!” She grabbed his hand and ran up the sidewalk.

They eventually reached their houses, which were both on the same street. Mike panted slightly, winded. Charlie gently handed Fredbear back to him.

“I-I’m sorry…” he began. “Evan didn't mean it… he just gets angry and he’s scared of being wrong.”

“It’s okay, Mike. I know. What he said was wrong. But it’s okay. I’ve forgiven him.” she whispered. The last sentence struck Mike as a surprise, since Evan had insulted her and her late brother. Charlie was never one to hold grudges, though. She always said it felt better to forgive people than be mad at them. A little too forgiving. Charlie was the type of kid to let bullies walk all over her in favor of their enjoyment.

“Charlie…”

She looked over to him, her eyes shining with tears. “It’s okay. He’s just angry. It’s okay.” But it seemed more like she was talking to herself rather than Mike. He looked across the street to see Cass skipping along now that the pizzeria was closed.

“I’ll get going. Thank you.”

Mike sprinted across the street and tackled Cassidy in a hug. He gave one last smile to Charlie, recent events seemingly forgotten.

Everything’s okay.

Tomorrow is another day.

Right?

Chapter Text

“You stupid jerk! Can’t you go one day without being an asshole to Mike? You’re supposed to be our big brother, not a big bully!”

Mike covered his ears as Cassidy’s screams filled the house. He was starting to regret telling her why he came home all scratched up. She had practically exploded.

“Cass,” Evan laughed, “you look so stupid right now. You’re tryna scare me soooo bad but you can’t. You’re lame. Lame like our stupid brother!”

Mike’s lip trembled at the insult. “I’m not stupid…”

“Awww, the crybaby’s gonna cry again! Go on, baby. Go ahead and cry.” the teen sneered, eyes dark with what seemed like hate. Mike began to cry. Evan laughed. Cassidy was pissed off. She threw one of her shoes in Evan’s general direction, with the shoe bouncing off the wall, leaving a mark. Dad wouldn’t be happy about that. Evan stopped in his tracks, body shaking with… fear?

“Oh god… oh god… no… look what you did!”, he shouted.

Cassidy grinned. “Look who’s the baby now? Now Daddy’s gonna be superrr mad at you! Ha ha ha!”

Evan immediately grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. He pinned her against the wall with a heavy slam.

“Let go! Let go! Let me go!” Cassidy kicked at his chest but to no avail. “Get me down! I’m sorry! Get me down!”

Mike blinked through his tears in horror. Words seemed stuck in his throat, lodged somewhere where they got trapped and never came out.

“You’re hurting me! Stop it! Evan, I’m sorry! Stop hurting me! Please!”

“Hurt? This is nothing compared to how Dad hurts me! You know how much he fucking hates me! I’ll show you what really hurts, you-”

Heavy footsteps entered the room, bringing a blanket of silence so thick it could suffocate you. A tall man wearing a purple suit had just entered the room. William Afton. Their father. An intimidating man who couldn’t even spare his children from his wrath.

“What’s going on here?” William asked, but his words only had malice behind them. Cassidy fell to the ground and scrambled towards Mike, hiding her face in his shirt. Mike trembled but held her tightly.

“It’s gonna be ok, Cass. Stay with me, ok?” Tears were dripping down his face. Tonight will be a bad night.

“Daddy! You’re home!” A little ginger girl came out from behind a bookshelf. Oh no. She was gonna tell him everything. Cassidy let out a choked sound, struggling against Mike’s grasp. He held her back. If she touched Elizabeth, it would end badly.

William smiled and held out his arms as an invitation. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her.

“Hey there, sweetheart. Could you tell me what’s been happening?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Everyone came home and started yelling at each other.”

No.

Liz.

Stop talking.

LIZZIE!

She didn’t shut up. “Then Cassie threw something and it hit the wall. I was scared so I hid. Then-”

“Shut up, Elizabeth! You’re gonna make everything worse! You always do! Stupid brat!” It was Evan. He shrunk back against the corner, hands clamped over his mouth. William didn’t say anything, but the tension grew thicker.

“T-then they started fighting and Evan hurt Cassie!” Elizabeth wailed. William held her closer, a cold smile growing.

“Evan.”

That singular word reduced the older boy into a panic. Apologies and pleads rung through the air, tainting the room with cold, dripping, fear. Cassidy let out a strangled sob, poorly muffled by her sleeve. Mike closed his eyes and tried to tune out Evan’s scream as William hit him.

“Cassidy. Go to your room. I’ll talk to you later.” William said. Cassidy protested, but he shot a glare that made her tremble like a leaf. The noirette ran to her room and slammed the door. Mike stared at the floor, running his finger along the intricate patterns on the rug. William paid him no mind.

“It’s okay now, sweetie. Dad’s here,” he set Elizabeth down and wiped her tears. Why couldn’t he love everyone else the same way? It wasn’t fair. He went to grab Fredbear then head to his room, only stopped by a little girl’s cries. Elizabeth had run over and latched onto his arm. His father didn’t notice, seemingly focused on some paperwork. Elizabeth didn’t let go, so Mike had no choice but to bring her to his room.
Mike closed the door and turned to his sister, who was playing with his stuffed animals quietly.

“What are you doing here? Can’t you just go bother Dad?” Mike didn’t mean for the words to sound harsh. All the pent up emotion was just too much for him to handle.
Elizabeth shook her head. “He’s scary. I didn’t want you to get hurt. I was scared. I watched him… hit Evan. I don’t want… I don’t want him to scare you.”

Mike scoffed. “Scary? Why would his precious little princess find him scary? You’re his favorite, you know? He never yells or hits you. What makes you so special, huh?”

She curled into a ball as the words hit, hiding her face in her hands. Mike unclenched his fists and tried to calm down. Elizabeth sold them out. Cassidy was going to get hurt tonight. He was sure of it. It was Elizabeth’s fault.

“I don’t know, Mikey,” she whispered, “I want him to love me, but I also don’t want you to hate me.”

Elizabeth cradled a Chica plush carefully, as if she was holding glass. She was vulnerable. Cassidy often called Elizabeth a brat, but she was really another mistreated child.

Mike sighed. He had just berated his little sister for something that was out of her control. Be a good big brother, Michael. Go on, Michael.

“Lizzie… I… don’t know. I can’t hate you. You’re still my baby sister. You’re my baby sister.”

Elizabeth didn’t react. She continued fiddling with the doll. Mike scanned the room, his eyes landing on a brightly colored book with a drawing of a princess on the cover. It was one of Cassidy’s favorite books, so Lizzie would probably like it too. Princess Quest was scrawled onto the front in neat letters. The spine was worn from use and age. It was a book well loved by him and Cass.

Mike moved over to lay on the bed with the book sprawled out.

“Lizzie, do ya wanna read a story? It’s Cassidy’s favorite…”

The ginger quickly perked up when he mentioned Cassidy. The girl hopped onto the bed, craning her neck to see the story.

“Once upon a time,” Mike began, with his sister lying on top of him, “there was a beautiful princess with long blonde hair. This princess was not like others, no, she was tasked with protecting the palace from darkness.”

He poked Elizabeth’s cheek, causing her to squeal happily. Mike continued to describe the journey the Princess took, protecting the light in her lantern. She lit up her kingdom, going from house to house. Just as he finished the first chapter, Elizabeth was fast asleep, curled up in his lap. Her tears were gone and she wore a light smile.

“Goodnight, Lizzie.” Mike closed the book and turned off his lamp. He decided he would take her to Freddy’s to meet his friends. Cassidy would be… more than displeased, but it would be fine. He ran a hand through Elizabeth’s hair before pulling up the covers. He fell asleep shortly after, with his sister in his arms.

…

Cassidy crept down the hallway with the Mangle toy in her arms. While her father had not hit her, he tore up all of her drawings she had tacked around her room. She had cried for what felt like hours after that. She had taken apart her Mangle around ten times to calm herself. Even if it was a mess, Cassidy loved it. The girl tiptoed to Mike’s room, hoping to spend the night there. The two had a pact where they could have a sleepover if they were feeling upset, and Cassidy felt very upset.

She creaked open the door, only to find Mike and Elizabeth sleeping soundly. Cassidy did not feel anger or sadness. She felt at peace, seeing her siblings snuggled together.

“Cassie?” Elizabeth’s voice called, “Are you okay?”

Cassidy smiled at the girl, with her messy hair and puffy eyes. “I’m okay, Lizzie. I’m just comin in to have a sleepover! It’s gonna be like camping!”

“Campin?” Elizabeth whispered with a sleepy smile on her face. Cassidy nodded and flicked a switch, illuminating little stars on Mike’s walls.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Wow, it really is like campin. Also.. I’m sorry.”

“I…”, Cassidy stuttered, “it’s okay.”

The smaller girl held up her arms, head turned slightly. Cassidy sighed exasperatedly, but she did not complain as she went to hug Elizabeth. Cassidy took off her slippers and tucked them both under the blanket.

“You’re still an annoying little sister, you aren’t getting off easy,” Cassidy teased.

“And you’re a… big stupid head! Now we’re even.”

Cassidy rested her head on a pillow, and closed her eyes. The three of them. Her, Mikey, and Lizzie. While she still had some discontent towards the younger, she had to step out. She can’t be confined to one group of friends forever… right? Alright. She was still very adamant about keeping other kids away from her friends. She was just like that. But maybe one exception could be made.

They were sisters, after all.

Chapter Text

A loud snore rose Mike from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he slept well. Mike turned to the source of the noise to see Cassidy and Elizabeth nestled under the blankets. It was a rather refreshing sight. Both girls always seemed to be at odd’s ends with each other, and to see them together like that warmed his heart.

Then he remembered that today was the day he and his friends would meet up at Freddy’s. And he was going to bring Elizabeth with him. She was going to be so excited, he just knew it. He looked at the clock on his bedside. It read 8:11 AM while they were meant to meet their friends ‘round 9:30.

“Guys… wake up!” The boy whispered, tapping Cassidy’s shoulder lightly. The girl groaned in protest, waking Elizabeth up in the process.

“C’mon guys, we’re going to Freddy’s today! Elizabeth,” he turned his attention towards her, “do ya wanna come? You can meet our friends!”

Elizabeth’s eyes snapped open at that. “Yes, yes, yes! Pleaseeee Cassie, let me come with you!” she hopped into Mike’s arms, almost making him drop her.

“Fine, Liz. Just don’t embarrass yourself.” Cassidy rolled her eyes, yet they showed a spark of excitement. Today would be a good day. They were all sure of it.

…

Mike carefully brushed the last of Elizabeth’s hair, finishing it off with a red bow. She smiled and ran a hand through her hair to mess it up slightly. Mike looked at them both in the mirror. Elizabeth was short with ginger hair and dark green eyes that always sparkled with joy. She wore a pink shirt with puffy sleeves coupled with a long blue skirt that came to her knees. Freckles were scattered across her face and arms. Her brother, on the contrary, couldn’t look any more different.

So different in fact you could barely guess that they were siblings. Mike had pale skin and rosy cheeks, along with watery blue eyes that always seemed tired. His unruly brown hair deeply contrasted both Cass and Lizzie’s straight hair.

Cassidy suddenly burst into the room, donning her usual pigtails and overalls.

“It’s time to go,” she said, tossing Fredbear to Mike. They all rushed to put their shoes on before heading out the door. The sun was bright and the sky was clear. Even the grass seemed more alive. Elizabeth sprinted ahead of them giddily, her shoes clomping along the sidewalk.

She reached a crossing point, turned around then called out, “C’mon, slowpokes!”

“Are you sure bringing her along was a good idea?” Cassidy teased. Mike elbowed her playfully in response, causing her to laugh. The two of them ran to Elizabeth and crossed the road. They passed Fredbears, watching Evan and his friends hang out near the front doors.

“Mikeyyyy, I’m tiredddd,” Elizabeth whined, “can you carry me?”

Cassidy snorted. “Lizzie, we’ve only walked a few blocks, and you’re tired already?”

“To be fair,” Mike said, “she was running. C’mon Liz, I’ll give you a ride.”

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out and got on Mike’s back for a piggyback ride. Thankfully five year old kids weren’t too heavy, so he carried her with ease. They chattered eagerly during the rest of their walk.

Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria was considered to be advanced for its time, mostly for the state-of-the-art animatronics, which could walk around and interact with guests. They (thankfully) couldn’t talk, but they could sing and serve food. Everyone always told Mike how lucky he was that his father owned the place, as if he got to go there whenever he wanted. To tell the truth, the animatronics were pretty terrifying. They would just stare blankly, as if you were a book they couldn’t yet read.

He looked around for said animatronics, to find Chica, Freddy, and Bonnie singing on stage while Foxy was set on free roaming mode to play with the kids. Kids were everywhere. In the ballpit, on the arcade machines, eating pizza, and even on the stage with the animatronics. It was a popular place, all right.

“Cass! Mike! Over here!” A high pitched voice called out. It was coming from a young girl with blonde curls and a pink dress. It was Susie, the youngest of their friend group. She was standing at an arcade machine titled Fruity Maze. She had recently gotten a Game Over, but that had been forgotten once she saw the Aftons.

Cassidy skipped over to Susie, and the two exchanged a few words. Mike walked over with Elizabeth behind him. She became very shy as they approached Susie and hid her face in Mike’s shirt. It was quite adorable.

Mike waved to Susie and gently pushed Elizabeth in front of him. “Susie, this is our little sister, Elizabeth. She wanted to come as well.”

“Well hiya, Elizabeth! I love your skirt! Oh! Your bow is so cute! You’re so pretty!” Susie exclaimed, absolutely fawning over his sister. “Do you wanna get some ice cream with me? Freddy’s has the BEST ice cream.”

Elizabeth fiddled with her hands and looked down. “O-okay…”

Mike took her hand and led her to Susie. “It’s okay, Lizzie. Susie’s really nice. You two have a lot in common.”

Cassidy nodded in agreement. “Don’t be shy, go on. Anyway, Gabriel is in the ball pit and I wanna crash the party. See ya!”

The noirette bounded off and jumped into the ball pit across the pizzeria, causing some screams of confusion mixed with excitement. Meanwhile, Mike and Elizabeth went to get ice cream, which was served in a small parlor. It had opened recently, thanks to Mr. Henry Emily, who suggested the idea.

“Don’t worry guys! My momma gave me some money, so I can pay,” Susie reached into her pocket and pulled out a few dollars along with a coupon. She took Elizabeth’s hand and propped her up so she could see all the ice cream on display. Mike smiled at the scene. Bringing Liz was a good idea after all.

“I want…. that one!” The ginger tapped the glass near the birthday cake flavored ice cream. “Can I get sprinkles too?”

Susie ordered the ice cream, along with some chocolate ice cream for herself and vanilla for Mike. After they were served, Susie led them to some chairs and tables near the stage so the trio could watch the performance while eating.

“Sooo Betsy,” Susie inquired, “how’s the ice cream? Do you like it?”

Elizabeth giggled at the nickname and licked her ice cream again, accidentally getting some on her cheek. “It’s really good, Susie! Thank you!”

The blonde ruffled her hair affectionately. “I’m really really glad! When you’re done, can you play in the ball pit with me?”

Elizabeth nodded so hard that it seemed like her eyes were going to pop out. The girls kept talking and talking, from Susie’s new puppy to their favorite arcade games. While he was glad they were happy, Mike found himself getting bored of the conversation. He cautiously walked over to the ballpit, only for a hand to grab his ankle and pull him down.

“Ahhh! Hey!” he yelled, only to be met by childish laughter.

“Gotcha! Never gets old, does it?” Gabriel giggled. Mike rolled his eyes but could not stop the smile creeping up his face.

Cassidy maneuvered her way over to them, her hair somehow pulled out of its usual pigtails. “Hey, Mike! How’s Liz doin’?”

“She’s hanging out with Susie,” Mike pointed to the Fruity Maze arcade machine, where both girls were hunched over the controls. “they seem to like each other.”

Fritz popped up next to them, scattering the tiny plastic balls everywhere. “C’mon, let’s play pirate ship!”

…

As the children played, a man watched from the shadows. His eyes stuck to four of them specifically. The blonde girl, the red haired boy with a fake hook, a dark skinned boy with a blue sweater, and a taller boy with a striped shirt. The man glanced at the stage, where the animatronics sang their songs. Those children would be perfect to test out his… theory. They were the key to making his animatronics better.

He turned back to his calendar and circled a date in red marker.

Sunday, June 26th. His son and daughter would be the perfect bait. Have them bring their friends late, near closing hours.

Yes.

That would work just fine.

Chapter Text

Cassidy glanced at Mike, who gave her an encouraging wave as he left the pizzeria. Their father had mysteriously invited them and their friends to a party late into the night. Which, of course, was completely out of it for William to do. The only child he would do this for was Elizabeth, not Cassidy or Mike. However, they both gladly accepted the offer. Maybe their father had a good day and finally decided to treat his other kids right.

It was just her and the other kids at the pizzeria, since Mike had changed his mind and went to Charlie’s house for dinner. He said he would be back soon, though. It was nearing 6:30. Her father wore his Spring Bonnie costume and began his job of entertaining the children. Even though it was getting late, the place was still relatively busy.

“My puppy…” a voice broke through. It was Susie and Jeremy, who were both having a conversation. Cassidy heard some sort of sadness in Susie’s voice, which was concerning, since the girl was always a ball of energy.

Cassidy walked over and put a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. “Susie? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Then the dam broke. Susie collapsed into a sobbing mess, attracting some strange stares.

“M-my puppy…! Momma says he’s g-g-gone! I was walking him and I forgot to look both ways… then… th-then…?” Susie wailed. Cassidy rubbed her back soothingly in an attempt to calm her.

“Yeah,” Jeremy explained, “I saw her across the street walking the puppy. She crossed the street, then BAM! A car was going really really fast and the doggy moved Susie outta the way.”

Susie began to cry louder. “It was my fault! I got my puppy killed!” She tackled Jeremy into a desperate hug. He stiffened but eventually hugged her back. He eyed Cassidy, seemingly asking ‘What the hell do we do with her?’ and to that, Cassidy had no clue. This was no way to start a party, was it now?

“Susie,” Cassidy whispered, “your puppy was really brave for saving you. It’s not your fault. The car was prolly going above the speed limit anyway. It really hurts to see you sad, y’know. Maybe instead of being upset that your puppy’s gone, how about remembering how much of a good dog he was?”

The girl looked at Cassidy with those big blue eyes that made her look younger than she really was. “He was a good puppy, wasn’t he?”

Cassidy hummed in approval, glad to see Susie dry her tears. With that problem supposedly solved, the atmosphere seemed to become brighter. Cassidy took a deep breath in, inhaling the smell of freshly cooked pizza. Laughter danced around the room while songs bounced off the walls.

“Cass! C’mon, let’s go get some pizza!” Gabriel called out, waving frantically. He was seated at one of the long tables with four other seats presumably reserved for the kids. She shot him a grin and motioned for Jeremy to come along. Fritz came along and raced them to the table with Cassidy nearly crashing into it. In their excitement, the children did not notice that a certain curly haired girl had vanished.

…

Susie stood motionless in front of the Fruity Maze machine. In all honesty, Cassidy’s words didn’t make her feel better. Words couldn’t bring her dog back. Nothing would. She reached out for the joystick and started up the machine. She maneuvered the controls and tried to play the game.

20 Fruit Combo!

TIME EXTENDED.

The happy music, the bright colors, even the sound effects reminded Susie of her dog. Everything did. He wasn’t dead, right? Right?

She collected a magnet, instantly attracting the nearby fruit to her.

TIME EXTENDED.

Susie bit her lip in an attempt to stop more tears. Her dog didn’t have an extended time to be with her. It wasn’t fair. Not fair.

TIME EXTENDED!

“He’s not dead, you know.”

The girl sensed a presence behind her. It wasn’t threatening, but it also didn’t feel welcoming either. She didn’t look behind her. She stayed focused on her game.

TIME EXTENDED!

“I put him back together. He is in the back.” The voice had a strange accent. Susie wanted to speak to him, but words couldn’t find their way out.

“I can bring your dog back. Follow me.”

TIME’S UP!

The screen went black. Susie looked at her blurred reflection and saw a man in a funny bunny costume behind her. His yellow hand was extended out to her, almost inviting. She sniffled and turned around, large blue eyes meeting hard gray ones. Hesitantly, Susie took his hand. He put a finger up to his mouth.

“Do not tell anyone. This is a little secret, okay Susie?”

Susie nodded and let the bunny lead her to the back of the pizzeria, down a long hallway, and into a… storage room? Animatronic suits lay there broken and unused. Earlier that night, the animatronics were taken off stage for maintenance. Why did Mr. Rabbit take her to the back room? She looked back at him, but he was not there.

“Your dog is in the suit,” The voice called, “Why don’t you get him?”

Susie uneasily stepped towards a suit, a yellow chicken, to be exact. It looked eerie… and dirty too.

But before she could ask for help, she burst into a coughing fit. Her dress was now dotted with crimson red and her mouth had the metallic tase of blood. There was a sharp pain in her back, but she noticed too late.

“Goodnight, Susie.”

Susie couldn’t even scream before everything went black.

Chapter Text

I hear the secrets that you keep
When you’re talkin’ in your sleep

A song blasted through the overhead speakers while the children scarfed down their pizza. The time was now nearing 7:00. The pizzeria would close in an hour. Cassidy wiped the grease from her fingers and threw away her plate. Mike was taking an awful long time to get here. Maybe he was spending some time playing with Charlie? Maybe.

As she exchanged some coins to play another arcade machine, something caught the corner of her eye. Her father, dressed in the bunny suit of course, was leading Fritz to the back. There was something off. Whenever her father brought her to the pizzeria, he always said there was a rule that guests were NEVER allowed in the safe room. Why would her father bring Fritz to the safe room?

A voice soon broke her train of thought. “Cassidy! Cassidy! Have you seen Susie? I can’t find her!”

Gabriel ran up to her with a frantic look in his eyes. “I’ve asked everyone and they haven’t seen her! I can’t find Susie!”

Cassidy whipped her head around and Susie was indeed not anywhere to be seen. Not by the arcade, not by the pizzeria, not even by the ice cream parlor. This wasn’t right. Susie wouldn’t just disappear on them like that. It wasn’t in her nature.

“I’ll ask Dad. I’m sure he knows,” Cassidy’s voice wavered, “don’t worry about it. I’ll find her. Just try to have fun.”

The boy took in a few shaky breaths and wrapped his arms around himself. Gabriel was always the shy one in their group. Susie had gotten him to open up and the two formed a strong bond. Gabe often described her as the big sister he never had. Cassidy ruffled his hair and smiled, but deep down her panic sirens were going off. First Susie, then her father leading Fritz to the back? Something wasn’t right. She was sure of it.

…

“Mr. Rabbit, you said there’d be candy back here? Can I take some to my friends? Pleaseeee Mr. Rabbit!”

Fritz’s voice bounced off the hallways. Mr. Rabbit said he had candy and balloons in the back reserved for private parties. He gripped the rabbit’s arm and shot a toothy grin up at him, to which the rabbit did not react.

“Just follow me.”

The rabbit opened a metal door. Fritz craned his neck eagerly only to instantly gag at a strange smell. It was like…. metal? He held his breath and took a step forward. His foot squished against something and when he looked down, he found a large pool of… red paint? It didn’t smell like paint. A red bow lay under his shoe. Susie’s bow? Was she back here too?

The red trail led to a yellow chicken suit, which was also dripping with the stuff. Fritz looked closer and instantly screamed. Inside the bird’s mouth was a girl, her face beaten and covered with blood. Her hair was matted and her eyes had a vacant look. He had to get out.

“Mr. Rabbit!” he yelled, and started sprinting to the door. But it was locked shut. He banged on the metal and screeched his head off, begging for someone to let him out.

“LET ME OUT! I’M SCARED!”

Heavy footsteps thunked behind him. Now he was absolutely terrified. He turned his body around to meet a knife piercing into his chest, just barely missing his heart. Blood soaked his shirt. Fritz felt dizzy. This was a nightmare, right? He was dreaming. Wake up…! WAKE UP!

He opened his mouth to scream but a pale, clammy hand clamped over it. The ginger could only spit blood which ended up with him choking and hyperventilating.

A deep voice came from behind him. “Shhhh… my child. It will be over soon.”

Fritz did not shush. He tried kicking and screaming as the last of his energy left him. The man’s hand left his mouth and gripped his hair, forcing him down to the floor. More accurately, SLAMMING Fritz’s head into the floor. Over, and over and over. He couldn’t find any energy to yell anymore. Everything faded to a dull background noise as he let go of the weak grip life had on him.

…

Cassidy peered down the dark hallway. That was where she last saw Fritz and her father.

“Dad? Fritz? Hello?” Her voice echoed down the hallway, almost mocking her. The silence soon grew deafening, enclosing her into a small pocket of air. Her breaths grew shallow and it felt like she could FEEL a bad aura. A bad aura coming from that room.

Thunk.

Thunk.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows. Spring Bonnie loomed over her.

“Daddy?” Cassidy’s voice felt small. Her father could be scary at times, but she never expected to be this terrified when he was wearing a stupid bunny costume. William tilted his head down at her. Much to her surprise, her father bent down and picked her up like a small child.

His voice sounded out of the suit, “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Where’d you take Fritz? Susie also disappeared and we’re really worried.”

His voice faltered but he quickly covered it up. “Susie was very upset about her dog and she wanted her mother to pick her up. It can be very hard to lose something you love, sweetie.”

“And Fritz?” Cassidy inquired, “I saw you take him to the back room. Where is he?”

William ran a hand through her hair. “There’s a secret exit in the back room. He wasn’t feeling good, so I had his parents get him.”

Two kids who wanted their parents to get them within mere minutes of each other? Cassidy thought it was strange, but her father could be trusted. Right? Right.

“Go play with your friends, honey. The pizzeria will close soon.” Her father set her down and walked back into the party room. The suit seemed more dirty, with strange stains and marks. Cassidy put it to the back of her mind. She would worry about that later. For now, she would play with Gabriel and Jeremy.

The two boys were in pirate’s cove. Jeremy had gotten some candy and from the looks of it, was trying to get Gabriel to eat some. Gabriel was curled up and biting his nails.

“Gabriel? Are you okay?” Cassidy sat down next to the brunette and rubbed his back. Jeremy smiled weakly at her, his eyes tired. He tossed a candy bar to her, which she picked up.

“He’s been really worried about Susie and Fritz.” Jeremy said.

Cassidy frowned. “It’s okay, Gabe. They just went home cause they weren’t feeling well. I asked my Dad and he said they’re ok.”

Gabriel looked up at them with watery eyes. “B-but… I didn’t want them to leave.”

“They’re fine,” Jeremy interjected, “don’t let a tiny little thing ruin your whole night! That’s what my daddy tells me. C’mon, eat some candy and enjoy yourself!”

Gabriel cracked a half smile and shoved some chocolate in his mouth. Cassidy could tell he was still very worried about the other two. For now, they will have fun.

“Gabe! Cass! C’mon, everyone’s leaving and we can have the ball pit all to ourselves!”

Jeremy was pointing to the surprisingly vacant ball pit. Cassidy glanced at the time, which read 7:13. People would often leave around an hour before closing for whatever reason.

Gabriel perked up slightly. “Cannon ball!” The boy raced across the pizzeria and hopped into the ball pit. The other two grinned mischievously at each other and soon followed, worries seemingly gone.

Chapter Text

“Can’t catch me!”

“I’ll get you first!”

“Wait for me!”

Three joyful voices bounced around the pizzeria. The remaining children had been playing for what felt like hours and they still didn’t get bored. While it would’ve been nicer to have the animatronics on stage, that didn’t mean there weren’t other ways to keep themselves entertained. At one point, Spring Bonnie brought out a prototype robot he titled “Candy Cadet”.

The robot moved around on wheels and gave out candy. Sometimes it would tell a story. Cassidy spent a while trying to get the story she wanted, one about a princess. The boys quickly moved on to the arcade machines. She spent a while crouched in front of the bot waiting for it to tell another story.

*Once, there was a mother and a son who lived in a cabin in the forest.*

*There was a monster, which the mother locked in the basement.*

Bzzt. Bzzzzzzztttt. The robot sputtered then shut down. After a few seconds, it rebooted.

*Hello. I am Candy Cadet. Ca-*

Sighing, she turned the bot off. She had no more tokens. Candy wrappers littered the floor from all of her attempts. The girl popped a sweet into her mouth and nearly gagged. Ugh. That was definitely enough candy for one day. Too bad Susie wasn’t here; she would’ve loved the candy.

Right. Susie. Cassidy was still suspicious about Susie and Fritz’s disappearances. Her father was probably telling the truth but not the whole truth. She knew that for sure. She’d have to keep an eye on Jeremy and Gabriel. Something sinister was on its way.

“Gabe–?”

But her father was already there. He handed a balloon to the boy and led him to the back room.

“Mr. Rabbit?! Hey! Wait!” Cassidy flew down the hallway, panic slowly building up.

William turned around and tilted his head, making her stop in her tracks. The warm voice that came out starkly contrasted his physical presence. “It’s alright Cassidy. It’s almost time to close and I think it would be… nice if you and your friends helped me clean up. Little Gabriel will help me organize the suits.”

Her father gestured to the back room. Cassidy raised an eyebrow. Guests were NEVER allowed in the back room. Never. But as he did with Fritz and likely Susie, William guided Gabriel to the back room. Cassidy huffed in frustration. Couldn’t her father manage and clean his own darn pizzeria? Why did he need a bunch of little kids to do it?

Her panic soon turned to confused anger. Where were her friends? THEY HAD BEEN DISAPPEARING ALL NIGHT! Her father was acting strange. Hot tears built up and nearly spilled over. Her throat burned. This was too much. This was all too much. If only Mike was here…! Where the hell was Mike?! He was supposed to be here by now! Did he abandon her too? Cassidy turned and ran to the restroom, her boots squeaking down the halls.

…

Gabriel stared in awe at the suits. Was this how they worked? How lucky was he to see the magic behind Freddy’s? Wow! Everything was so… awesome! Well, except for the smell. It smelled plain awful there. He scrunched his nose and grabbed a box which Mr. Rabbit instructed him to put in the supply closet. Mr. Rabbit was working on the Foxy animatronic, which lay limply next to Chica in a ragdoll like fashion. Their mouths hung agape and their eyes were empty. It was a bit eerie.

“Mr. Rabbit, where’s the supply closet?” He chirped eagerly, holding the box up to Spring Bonnie.

To Gabriel’s surprise, the rabbit reached into the box and rummaged around. There was a lot of clanking but he eventually pulled out a… sharp object? It was hard to see in the dim light.

The rabbit brandished the object and held it up to the light, revealing it was a sharp knife with a serrated edge. Gabriel’s stomach dropped. He didn’t like sharp objects very much. He set down the box and backed away. The rabbit started walking towards him, the knife pointed at the boy.

“W-wh-what are you doing? P-please, d-don’t hurt me!” Gabriel sobbed, fear running cold in his veins. He held his arms up in front of his face, attempting to shield himself from the rabbit.

A cold hand clamped on his arm, inciting a scream from Gabriel. He weakly punched the mascot’s arm but it did not seem to affect him. The knife was in full view. Gabriel screamed once more, only for the rabbit’s hand to let go of his arm and crush his windpipe. A strangled, almost animalistic cry escaped his chest. Why was the rabbit doing this?

*Schlick*

Gabriel gasped and could only stare blankly at the knife in his stomach. The rabbit twisted it in deeper and deeper until finally yanking it out. Gabriel dropped to the ground and clutched his stomach. Throughout all of this, the man in the suit said nothing. Blood trickled out of the boy’s mouth as he sputtered and coughed. He took his hand away from his stomach, nearly vomiting when it came away shiny red. The rabbit stood over him and wiped the knife carelessly. Then slowly, he brought the knife down on the boy’s throat.

…

Cassidy punched the stall once again. Nothing made sense. Her friends were nowhere. Her brother hadn’t shown up. Her father was acting strange. Cassidy gripped her hair and pulled out the yellow beads that held her pigtails in place. Everything seemed to be going wrong too soon. This was supposed to be a fun party, and fun parties didn’t end in her crying in the bathroom and punching walls.

Breathe Cassidy, breathe. You can figure this out. She splashed some water on her face and took a deep breath. Look at the facts then come to a conclusion, like the detectives in those stupid shows her mom liked.

Susie disappeared before or while they were eating pizza. Cassidy had noticed that the Fruity Maze machine was left on a GAME OVER screen, indicating Susie was likely playing the game before heading off to who knows where. Then after finishing the pizza, her father took Fritz to the back room. Both Fritz and Susie were taken to the back room. Gabriel just went in. None of them came out. William said he had them picked up, but Cassidy never knew of a secret exit in the safe room. Her father had the blueprints scattered across his office.

At first, she thought it was simply a new addition. But maybe… there was no exit. Maybe her friends were still back there? But why? Why hide away from the party in a stinky back room? Her gut told her something was wrong. Her father had lied. Why did he lie? He wouldn’t lie, not about something like this…. unless. UNLESS? Unless he kidnapped them?! Alarms went off in Cassidy’s head. She busted the door open and sprinted to the back. Jeremy would be next. Oh god.

“JEREMY!” Cassidy cried out. In a panic, she tripped and collided with a shelf, leaving a bruise. SLAM. She grunted in pain but kept moving. Her friends were probably scared out of their minds. As she neared the safe room, she quieted her steps and slowed her breathing. She could save them. Save them.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Her heart pounded loud in her ears, seemingly filling the halls. Cassidy reached the door and twisted the knob, surprised to find it unlocked. Blue eyes peered into the room, widening upon noticing a large red pool on the ground. The pool had a trail… leading to… the suits? Freddy, Foxy, and Chica were all lined up, dripping the same red substance. Bloody handprints littered the walls and suits and there were skid marks on the floor, showing signs of struggle. A large noise sounded through the room, and Cassidy was not prepared for the sight she saw.

Her father was there, holding a knife over a battered Jeremy. The boy had several bruises on his face and his hair was matted with blood. A large cut ran from his stomach to his neck, practically gutting him. Cassidy choked back a scream as her father dragged the corpse to the Bonnie suit and haphazardly stuffed the remains of her friend inside. Her father was a fucking MURDERER! She had to get the police. She had to run.

Cassidy turned and quietly scurried to the front doors. Her father would take her home and from there, she could call the police.

All of a sudden, the power shut off. “Cassidy sweetheart, we’ll be going soon!”

The girl shivered as the darkness engulfed her. It would be ok. Her father emerged from the darkness dressed back into his usual suit and vest.

“Daddy? Where did all my friends go?” She asked, tears now spilling. He opened his arms, which she did not hesitate to jump into. He was a bad person but she really needed the comfort right now.

William ran a hand along her back. “You already know, dear. Next time, be more careful about the bloody footprints you leave,” Cassidy’s heart dropped. How could she be so stupid? She wrangled herself from that monster’s arms and let out a scream of terror. Run. Run. Hide. Run. Run.

She ran through the dark pizzeria, the slow footfalls of a beast behind her. Cassidy wove through the arcade machines, only to be cut off by the monster. A fist collided with her head and it all went blank.

“Huh…?” Cassidy groaned. She was still… alive? She looked around and could only see darkness. Two holes near her eyes allowed her enough light to see what was going on. She was in an old Fredbear suit. Springlocks lined the sides, poised and ready.

Cassidy held still. “Daddy! I won’t tell anyone! I’m sorry! Please Daddy!”

A voice sounded from behind her. “It’s alright, my girl,” William hummed, “I’ll make your gift special.” A crank turned at the back. Cranks would turn the animatronic to suit mode and vice versa. She was going to die a painful death.

The first springlock came down on her arm, digging into her skin and crushing her bones. Cassidy screeched in agony, only to get cut off by another set crushing her ribs and penetrating her lungs. They filled with blood, causing the girl to choke. Pain. She couldn’t even scream. Another set went off in her legs. Another went off near her ankles. Tears filled her eyes and blood seeped out of her mouth. She could only gasp as life slowly ebbed away from her needy grasp.

Then, the final lock went down, burying the metal eyes into her sockets. Her eyes popped out and her mind went red with pain. SHE NEEDS TO SCREAM.

IT HURT.

IT HURT SO FUCKING MUCH AND SHE COULDNT SCREAM.

THAT SON OF A —--- WILLIAM AFTON. THAT MONSTER!

She couldn’t see. She couldn’t think. She would die alone and forgotten. Blood oozed out of her, and she finally passed out, free from the pain.

Little did she know she would be found, but not by the person you’d expect.