Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A new week begins and a new start for Millie to finally ask for help. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it really needs to be addressed. She just wanted someone to talk to, someone to trust. Sitting at the bottom of the stairs, her grandfather makes breakfast in the kitchen.

The smell of something cooking really gave her confidence. Mostly because she was hungry. Food always makes her feel courageous, when she's hungry that is.

Taking in a deep breath, Millie gets up and walks into the kitchen. Annabelle Lee was chowing down her cat food in the corner. Spotting the girl walking towards the old man.

Clearing her throat, which catches the attention of Chuck. He turns to look at his granddaughter. "Oh hey sweetie. Slept well last night?" Seeing how Millie's face looks like she could use a few more hours of sleep.

"Kinda.. I just. I-" already struggling to speak out. If only he could read her mind and understand what she's going through, then that would save the anxiety and embarrassment. But then again.. Reading someone's mind isn't always such a good idea.

She took a deep breath and built the courage to finally talk.

"I want to talk to you about.. Umm. How well does therapy work?" She wanted to ask him one question but didn't feel comfortable. So instead she prefers to ask a different one.

Chuck was surprised by the question. He turns off the stove and places the food onto two plates. "Well that depends on the person. And if you find the right therapist. Why do you ask?" Placing the plates of food on the table. Then the two sit down.

"It's just that.. Well. Ever since the Christmas party, I had a.. Bad experience with.. Something." The more she kept talking the quieter her voice got. Almost murmuring. She took a bite of her food.

"Is there something you want to tell me? Or you don't want to tell me? I mean it's alright if you don't want to tell me. I just want to know if you're okay. Mentally wise." Chuck looks at Millie with a worried face. Didn't bother eating his breakfast.

Taking one more bite, she looks up at him. "I want to tell you.. But, I don't think you'll take me seriously." Still keeping that quiet voice.

"Well. If it's really bothering you, then it should be addressed. No matter how strange it may sound. People deserve a chance to get help." His tone was serious but also soft and positive.

Millie took a deep breath again. She thought to herself, 'Just tell him. Get it over with.' She turns to look at her grandfather.

"Grandpa.. That night. I went to the workshop because I wanted to get warm from the cold. Then.. I saw that.. Bear." Her voice became shaky, then she took a bite of her food. Trying to calm herself.

"I was nervous.. I thought I was seeing things because I swear I could have seen eyes looking at me. The more nervous I got, the more I panicked. I tried to leave the workshop but the door was stuck. Then I got scared. I could have sworn I heard him laughing… Finally I managed to get out. After that experience, I realized that I was wrong. I wanted to change.. Grandpa, I wanted my life to change.." Tears started pouring from her eyes and sliding down her cheeks. Her hands started to shake, her foot was rapidly tapping the floor.

"And.. I couldn't sleep because I kept having nightmares of that.. Bear. And I kept hearing laughter." Wiping the tears away, sniffling as she cries.

Chuck felt awful, he placed his hand on her back and started rubbing to comfort her. "Oh.. Millie. I am sorry that happened to you. But why did you ask me to help repair Freddy if you were afraid?" He felt very concerned for her. He then gets up from his chair to get a napkin. He sits back down and gives the napkin to her so she can blow her nose with.

Once she was done wiping her tears and blowing her nose. She took a deep breath once more. Then she sighs. This time she didn't look at her grandfather. Instead she stared down at her food.

"I just. Had a thought.. That maybe I should face my fears. I thought that maybe I COULD change… and I was getting tired of.. Being lonely." After saying those two words, she finally looked at him. Her eyes red from all the crying. Even if she avoided telling the truth about the fact that she was talking to Freddy, the last part was indeed the truth. She was getting tired of being lonely all the time, despite claiming that she prefers it that way. All she ever wanted was to have someone be there for her. But she was too afraid to admit it.

"Sweet pea.. I.. That was very brave of you. To face your fears, it isn't easy. I am real proud of you." He pats her on the back, showing how proud he is.

"And you're still having nightmares?" He asked. She nods her head. "Not as much as before, but it always ends the same way. I end up getting my head chopped off and I still hear that same laughter. I was too afraid to tell you all this time." Millie clutches her neck with her hand. Trying hard not to cry again.

Chuck winces at the thought of his granddaughter getting decapitated. An image that is forever planted in his mind. But he shakes it off. "Well, I may not be able to help with.. Your nightmares, but.. I can try to help you get into therapy. That is if you want to. I can't force you to go." He smiles, trying to show positivity and that everything will be alright.

There was a moment of silence. Millie had to think it through. If she went to therapy, she would have to say the exact same thing she said to her grandfather about Funtime Freddy. Perhaps she could even find a way to tell somewhat of the truth but twist the story a bit. Maybe then she would not sound insane, talking about being trapped inside an animatronic bear and talking to him does sound a little crazy. But if anyone was in her shoes, they would feel very threatened. Now that she came to a good conclusion, she finished her breakfast and placed her dish in the sink.

“Yeah.. I guess I could try it.” Millie smiles, relieved that she finally got that out of her chest. Then she gets herself ready for school. Another day of miserable old school, but this time she didn’t feel miserable. Instead she felt happy.

Chapter Text

After school, Millie and her two friends wait in their usual spot for their parents to arrive and pick them up. As they waited, Brooke and Dylan chatted about. Things about stuff they heard on social media. Nothing that Millie wasn’t all that interested in. Until she heard Brooke talk about an online post about a new bowling alley that opened two months ago. Seems like new stuff is opening up around town.

Although to be fair, this town is quite small and not a lot of stuff happens around here. There were a lot of old buildings from many years ago. Even the library is old. Possibly older than Millie’s grandfather.

However some of the old buildings were abandon, closed down. But eventually they were now renovated into different businesses.

“Hey Millie! Maybe we can go to the new Bowling alley this weekend! IT’S LOADS OF FUN! Dylan and I already went there before and I thought maybe all three of us could go together!” Brooke jumps and her hands shake in the air from excitement. "I've actually been bowling since I was little. I used to go bowling with my parents back in my old town that I used to live in. So I am quite the expert!" Something caught Millie off guard.

“Parents? Like your mom and dad?” Seconds later Brooke stopped and realized what she said. Her smile turned into a bit of a frown. “Oh.. right. I was umm.. Very little when I had my mom. She’s not here anymore.” Her voice sounded sad and quiet. This made Millie feel bad.

“Oh.. crap. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” She was interrupted by Brooke who waved it off. “Nah it’s alright. You didn’t know about it so don’t worry.” Reassuring that everything is alright since it was all in the past. Her smile comes back on her face.

The mood uplifted after that. A sudden car honk interrupted them, a voice calls out to Brooke, “Hey, Sweetie!” Brooke’s father waits in the car, waving his hand towards her. She was confused seeing her father come to school early to pick her up, which he never does. He was always late since they lived far away.

“Dad! You’re early!” Brooke rushes towards her father’s car. “I just thought that I can get here before school ends. I honestly don’t like having you wait for me all the time.” Brooke’s father looks up at the other two kids. “Say, it’s nice to see ya again, Dylan, Millie.” He smiles and waves at them. They both wave back.

“Hey Dylan, I got a call from your mother and she says she can’t make it to pick you up. Something happened at her workplace and had to fill in for another employee. So she wanted me to pick you up as well.” The information really bummed out Dylan. “Darn.. Well guess that means I got to go.” Dylan heads towards the car as well.

Leaving Millie behind, however this caught the attention of Brooke’s father and decided to invite Millie as well. “Millie. Would you also like to hop in? I could take you home.” Brooke excitedly jumped up and down, hoping her friend would accept.

“Umm.. sure. I was going to walk home but… I don’t mind.” Millie accepted and Brooke shouted with glee. All three kids got in, buckled up and the car drove off.

“So, you guys still want to go to Briggs Bowling Alley someday?” Brooke popped the question again since she never got an answer. “Yeah, I’m up for some bowling.” Dylan responded, nodding his head.

“Ah, that new place. It sure has been awhile since we've been there, isn’t that right sweetie?” Brooke’s father glanced at his daughter for a split second, trying to keep his eyes on the road. “SURE HAS!” Brooke jumped in her seat.

"I don't think I've ever been bowling before. I'll probably suck at it." Millie leaned against the car door, her hand pressed against her cheek. "Aww, it's okay Mill, I'll show you how! You'll be good at it in no time!" Brooke giggled. "Yeah, she taught me how to play and now I'm great at it." Dylan boasted with a smile.

"Hmm last time I remember you still had a lower score than me. I beat you a bunch of times." Brooke teased at the boy, poking him in the shoulder.

"Hey! At least I wasn't missing the pins." Dylan tried to defend himself, Brooke and her father just laughed it off.

Minutes later, they arrived at Dylan’s house, he hugged Brooke and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and hopped off the vehicle. He waved goodbye to the others and went home. Luckily his mother always insisted he keeps the keys to the house with him just in case something like this happens.

After Dylan was dropped off, it was Millie's turn to be taken home. It was a few minutes before they arrived at her grandfather’s house when Brooke whispered to Millie. “So.. have you-know who showed up yet? You said it’s been three days since.. Well..” Brooke didn’t want to mention the time they were at the junkyard, not because she didn’t want her father to overhear her, but mostly because she didn’t want to remember that moment.

“No.. he hasn’t. And I am worried… what if he..” Millie couldn’t bear to imagine what could happen to Freddy, if he was safe, lost, or… worse.

Millie shook her head, erasing any negativity from her mind. There was no need for worrying. She trusts him and believes he can be on his own. But, why hasn’t he told her where he was going before he left. If he didn’t want her to worry so much, he could have let her know beforehand. Perhaps, he was still angry at her. Their last interaction did end in him shouting at her, telling her to leave. But what did she do that made him angry? Was he angry at her.. Or was it something else?

“I just hope he’s okay.. Wherever he is.” Millie looked out the window, seeing her grandfather’s house at a short distance.

-

A mother cat and her four kittens cross an empty road, carefully making sure there were no vehicles coming. But even when they thought they were safe, a truck came too close to them.

Quickly the mother huddled closely to her young ones, trying to protect them. However, something big stepped in front of them and the truck came crashing to a halt. The man got out of the vehicle, confused about what just happened. He only saw the mother cat and her kittens cross the road. But what made the truck stop?

“What.. the he-” The man was interrupted by a large figure, a metal bear to be exact.

“Didn’t they teach ya to keep your eyes on the road while driving? Or you just didn’t care about who you hit with that big death truck of yours.” A white and pink metal bear approached the driver with a menacing stare which made his smile all more sinister.

The driver only stared back with fear, his heart pounding and his hands shaking. Barely able to speak a word out. “I- I- What are.. Y-you?”

“I could be anything you want me to be. A friend, someone to annoy ya, or… I could be a living nightmare. That is if you pay attention to the road that is. Hehe, you will do that will ya?” Funtime Freddy looks down at the man, patting his shoulder with his left hand. His voice became a bit scary to hear.

“Y-Y-YES! I-I gotta go now!” The man backed away from the metal bear and got into his truck.

Drove off into the distance, not to be seen again.

Funtime Freddy stared at the truck for a few minutes, then he walked into the direction of where the cats went. He was able to track them down but he made sure to keep his distance.

When he found them, he sat on the ground a few feet away and stared at them. The mother cat was cautious but slowly made her way to the large metal bear. Sniffing at his hand as he reached for the feline. Her kittens follow. They made such strange noises, yet it was peaceful. It reminded him of Annabelle Lee. Who was still at home.. Home.

He never had ever considered Millie’s place to be a home for him. Although it was the only place he has ever been in. Even if he was stuck in the cold dark workshop, it was way better being stuck in the junkyard.

The kittens surrounded the bear and started to play around like he was some sort of playground. Which he did not mind at all, he enjoyed the company of little critters. Whether it was squirrels, birds, or a little rabbit. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stand being around it any longer than five minutes because it reminded him of an old friend.

Yet, he enjoyed the company. But something inside him was missing. He felt upset and rather lonely. There was no one to talk to, and talking to animals was no use as they could not respond back. He needed someone to talk to, to annoy, to have a laugh with. Someone to be around with.

He hated being alone for this long. The last time he was alone was when he was at the junkyard and it drew him insane. He didn’t want to go back to that mindset ever again.

Freddy could come back to Millie, yet.. He was afraid. He did not want anything bad to happen to her. Back at the junkyard building, when he took down the endoskeleton, something inside him was about to snap. He needed to cool down, to be away from people for a while. Even if it meant being away from his only friend. He thought that Millie would be safer if he wasn’t around, well not when his mind kept telling him to do things that he does not want to do.

Yet he misses her a lot.

A sudden vibration caught him off guard, the mother cat was purring around him, and the little meowing from the kittens kept going and going. Freddy now realizes that he can’t stay away forever. He pets one of the kittens gently. It was soft, fragile and small. It was almost the size of his hand.

He remembers the times when was entertaining children, they would always ask for high-fives. Their hands were just as small as the kittens whenever they smack his hand. Now looking back at said hand, he felt.. Sad. a lot more sadder than before.

Suddenly drops of water dripped down his cheek. He looks up at the sky, droplets hitting his face. It was raining. When he looks down, he sees the mother cat walking away, calling to her kittens to follow. It was time to leave.

They didn’t want to get wet so they had to find shelter soon. He waved goodbye to the kittens as they followed their mother.

Now that he was all alone, he leaned against a tree. Something inside him felt like he was about to burst. But he couldn’t tell what he was feeling.

“Is.. this what it’s like to cry? To be sad and cry your heart out?” He reached his hand out, seeing the droplets of water becoming more and more. Soon the rain hit hard. Perhaps he too should look for shelter. It's best to not rust again and ruin his paint.

Funtime Freddy gets up and walks back to town. He had made up his mind.

Chapter Text

Millie was getting ready to go to visit the therapist that her grandfather signed up for. As she put on her new boots that were given to her as a Christmas gift from her grandfather that she rarely put on. It had a lot of spikes and a few buckles. It felt just right for her. Then she puts on her usual make-up. She was ready to go.

Heading downstairs, Millie got pounced on by Annabelle Lee, who wanted attention. “Oh Annabelle, you silly cat.” Giving the feline a few pats on the head.

“Are you ready, Sweetie?” Chuck walks towards the front door, checking if he had his keys in his pockets, finally feeling it and taking it out of his pocket.

“Uh huh. I’m ready.” Millie finished petting the cat and walked out the door. “Did you fill up Annabelle’s food bowl?” She asked before her grandfather closed the door.

“Of course, Little Belle will be fine. It’s only for an hour-long session. We won’t be long.” Chuck closed the door and the two headed towards the truck. Millie turns to look at the workshop. Hoping that her friend will return. Millie got in the truck and her grandfather turned on the engine, then he drove off to therapy.

On their way, Millie still felt nervous even if she thought she was confident enough to go. Her grandfather reassured her that everything is alright and that there is nothing to be nervous about. But he did understand what she was feeling, going to therapy for the first time can be scary. He remembered his son was nervous the first time he went to therapy. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. But at the end, he got the help that he needed. Even if it took several years.

“It’s alright Millie. Sometimes, it’s perfectly normal to feel nervous. You go in and not expect what is going to happen. But take my advice. Go slow, take your time on this kind of stuff. You can’t rush these things and expect to be cured right away, Ya know.” Millie turns to look at her grandfather, he turns to look at her and smiles. A warm smile.

“I’ll try to do that.” Millie said, still unsure about therapy. Yet, she still keeps her courage up, she needs to keep hold of it.

~

Mrs. Zimmer at her desk, pen at hand, well dressed and patiently waiting for her patient to arrive. She checks the time on her watch. It was almost 4:30, exactly the time they were supposed to arrive.

She takes a sip of water and checks up on her cell phone. No messages or missed calls. It was 4:28 and still no sign of them.

Just when she thought they wouldn't make it, there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Zimmer gets up and opens it. There was her patient, Millie Fitzsimmons.

"Oh! Hello dear. You made it just in time! Come, take a seat over there." She points at a chair that is against a wall facing towards Mrs. Zimmer's desk. Millie walks in the room and takes a seat.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting. Long trip here." Chuck joked a bit, trying to keep a positive mood. "Oh that is quite alright. You were actually a minute early." Mrs. Zimmer smiled and soon the session began.

After explaining everything that was bothering her, Millie kept quiet. Twiddling her thumbs. Having nightmares of a metal bear with a creepy smile, eyes that were cold as ice, and with the taste for blood. Obviously that was who Freddy was back when they first met. But not anymore. She knows he is different, or at least he is trying to change.

Millie also explained that something else showed up in her dreams. A metal skeleton with a terrifying dog at its side. Following her wherever she goes. "They wouldn't stop following me and so I ran and ran as fast as I could but.. The dog got me by the leg. Its sharp teeth chew through my skin. I couldn't move.. All I could do was scream and cry for help. Then that thing.. The skeleton came towards me and it spoke to me. "You have committed a crime, now it is time to pay the price." I never felt so horrified in my life… and it was just a dream! And in the blink of an eye, I was in a guillotine.. There were people cheering for my death. Soon the blade came down.. And I woke up. Covered in sweat and tears." Those dreams about Fetch and the endoskeleton was something she wished she never had, they came more often in her dreams than when she dreamt about Freddy.

Even when they are gone now, she still fears them in her nightmares. And she doesn't know why.

"You know I too had nightmares none stop. I was much younger than you, my dreams were so scary that I could not sleep. So I feel you, my dear." Millie looked at the woman, her face felt genuine and really seemed to be taken seriously. "I know a lot can happen to our childhoods, scary dreams, monsters under our beds or hiding in closets. It is all in our imaginations. But eventually we need to face them. Conquer our fears. That first step is to face them, head on." Mrs. Zimmer grabs a piece of paper and her pen and starts writing a list of ways that can help Millie.

"Show yourself that there is nothing to be afraid of. Secondly, tell someone what you are going through, it is always important to talk to someone rather than bottling it up. And lastly, try practicing a method of going to sleep. It could be anything like drinking a glass of warm milk, having some music to calm you down or count to a hundred." Once she was done writing she stood up and handed it to Millie. "Is that all? I mean I tried the whole, facing my fear part. It sort of works.. I think." Millie responds, unsure if that is going to work.

"Well that is what I recommended to my patients who have trouble sleeping. I know it is not easy to get rid of them but the more you try the more it will eventually go away as you get older." Zimmer smiles, a sign of hope for Millie. If this woman could get through it, then so can she. "Okay.. I'll try."

"Well, it looks like our time is almost up." The woman checks her watch. "Oh and before you leave, I want to recommend something else if the methods don't seem to work. I could prescribe you some medication to help you sleep better. Well I need to ask your grandfather first." Mrs. Zimmer walks to the door and opens it. Calling for Millie's grandfather.

The two began to talk about the optional medication for Millie. But Millie's attention drifted to somewhere else. The voices became distant and quiet, only her eyes looking out the window. She misses her friend. Still wondering where he could be.

~

The sun was close to setting and Funtime Freddy kept on going. He walked around the neighborhood, trying to remember where the house was. He used his sensors, there were so many people around but not any of them were Millie or her grandfather. He moved on to the next set of houses, all while still keeping himself hidden from the public eye. It was a slow process but he would do anything to keep himself from being discovered.

Eventually, he got to the last few houses. His sensors picked up something. Someone familiar. Small, furry, and… scratching the front door? Freddy got closer to the house from the back, seeing that all the windows were shut and locked, there wasn't any way for Annabelle Lee to get out.

Soon he reached the back door, tried opening it but of course the door was locked. What else did he expect? The sudden attempt of getting in the house alerted Annabelle and she immediately went to the back of the house. There, up at the window door, she saw the bear. Annabelle began meowing with glee, knowing that Freddy came back.

"Hey there Annie! Did ya miss me?" Freddy giggles seeing the cat jumping and scratching at the back door.

He looked around the house from the window, but all he could see was the living room and the corner of the kitchen. "Hmm seems like nobody's home.." a bit upset, he headed towards the workshop. Freddy stopped and noticed a piece of paper sticking out from the bottom of the door which appeared to be slightly opened. He leans down to pick it up, it was a letter from Millie.

“Freddy, if you’re reading this then I am glad you came back. But if I am not at home then I might be at school, at Dylan’s or Brooke’s house, or I might be at therapy. I will come back soon. Also I left the door open for you. See you soon.” At the end of the letter was signed with “You’re friend, Millie.” Which made him feel a little better, knowing she will come back. But what confused him was the one word in the letter. “Therapy” he didn’t know what that was. Perhaps he will tell her later.

Freddy walks inside the workshop, feeling right at home. Exactly where he wants to be. He sits back to his old corner and waits for his friend to return.

-

After a long drive back, Millie gets out of the vehicle, extremely tired. All she needed was a nice nap. Once she and her grandfather were inside, Chuck warmed up some leftover dinner from last night. Just as Millie was about to walk upstairs to her room so she could change into more comfortable clothes, Annabelle Lee kept bouncing and jumping at her, trying to get her attention. “Annabelle, not right now. I need to change. I’ll play with you later.” Yet the feline kept disturbing her. “Annabelle, please! Stop!” her voice raised a little higher, showing her frustration. The little cat was trying to show her something, leading her to the back door. Millie was confused about what was going on with the cat but she decided to follow.

Once she was outside from the backyard, she saw Annabelle walking towards the workshop. Scratching at the door, trying to get in. Millie took a second to realize, her eyes widened and her heart pounding from excitement. She ran towards the door and opened it. There he was. Funtime Freddy, waiting patiently for her.

“Freddy! You’re.. You’re here! You came back!” Millie ran towards the animatronic and gave him a hug. “I missed you so much! Where did you go! Why didn’t you come back! What happened?” There was a lot for Millie to say, showing how upset she was. However, she realizes that Freddy hasn’t spoken a word. Breaking the hug to look up at him, thinking that he was still mad at her, she became anxious.

“Are you mad at me?” Her voice was so quiet, she felt scared. Freddy notices and tries to brighten the mood. “Oh Silly Millie, I ain’t mad. Well.. I was mostly mad at myself. But never at you.” He waved it off. “But you yelled at me and my friends.” Millie recalled the time when they were in the building.

“Oh.. that. Okay, maybe I got a little frustrated but I was mostly worried for you. I wanted you to leave because.. I was scared of what you will see, of what I have become. Plus I left because I felt too violent to come back here. I didn't want to harm you or anyone else. And ya know. You ain’t the only one who misses their friend.” He smiles, Annabelle Lee getting gentle pats on the head. “I’m sorry. For yelling at you.”

Millie took a moment to think, finally understanding where he was coming from. It made a lot more sense, he went back to his violent urges and the last thing he wanted was his only friend to be caught in the middle of it. He really did care for her.

“Apology accepted. You know.. If you need time to cool off, then I won’t bother you. You can leave anytime you want, just know that… you’re my friend. Don’t go and make me worry, okay.” Her voice was serious but also genuine, wanting to make sure he understood clearly.

“Of course! Anything you say. Silly Millie!” Back to his old ways again, giggling as Millie sighs and face palms. She may have a giant metal bear as a friend, but gosh he can be annoying. However the two laughed it off. Annabelle Lee being cradled in Freddy’s arm, not a care in the world other than getting the ear scratches she deserves. "By the way, what is a therapy?" Freddy popped the question from out of the blue. To which Millie had to explain it in a way for an animatronic to understand.

Chapter Text

The nice weather of the afternoon was a perfect vibe for reading poems online.

Millie was sitting at her desk, laid back in her chair and reading away while listening to her favorite band. Everything was perfect.

Until a knock on the door caused her to come back from her fantasy. She turned down the volume of the song that was currently playing.

She opened the door to see her grandfather who had a phone with him. "It's your parents, Sweet Pea. They want to talk to you." Chuck hands the phone to Millie as she was surprised. Forgetting that she wanted to talk to them.

She immediately grabbed the phone and put it to her ear. "Hello?" Millie quietly spoke. A bit anxious to talk to her parents.

"Millicent? Sweetie is that you?" A female voice called to her. She recognized that voice because the only person who called her Millicent was her mother.

"Mom.. Hi.. How are… you?" Still anxious and quiet. It was a long time since she talked to her parents and it became really awkward for her.

"Oh sweetie, it's so nice to hear from you again. I am fine. I just missed you so much! Every night I always think of you, wondering if you're okay, if you're having fun, making new friends or if you are spending time with your grandpa." Her voice was so genuine and caring. Which made Millie sigh, almost embarrassed for how overbearing her mother can be.

"Yeah, everything is fine mom, I'm actually spending time with some friends. We're planning on going to a bowling place. Grandpa is gonna tag along as well." Millie smiled, looking up at her grandfather in front of her. He nods and smiles back.

"That sounds like a lot of fun! I hope you get a strike! Wishing the best for you sweetie!" Feeling very heartwarming and positive from her mother's cheer, Millie just can't help but smile a lot more.

"Well I am going to pass the phone to your dad, so I have to go. Mommy loves you!" Her mother kisses the air, pretending that she was giving her daughter a goodbye kiss. "I love you too mom.. Bye." Millie gave her goodbyes and waited for her father.

She hears the sound of someone passing the phone to another and then the sound of a man clearing his throat.

"Millie? Hello?" The voice was much deeper and calm. To Millie it was hard to tell if that was her father, she was so used to hearing his voice in person. But hearing him through a phone was a lot different.

"Dad?" Was all Millie said, completely unsure if it was really him.

"Oh! Hey there Sweetie! How are you? Doing well at my dad's place?" There it is. That concerning attitude that she knew so well.

Her father was always calm and quiet but happy and funny. Sometimes he can be overprotective and always making sure his daughter is safe. While Millie's mother was cheerful and full of life. Sometimes overbearing and always says "Yes" whenever Millie wants her to buy something for her.

However, at the end of the day. They still love her.

"I'm doing fine, I'm about to go bowling with my friends." Millie felt like a broken record as she had to repeat it. But of course her father was just curious.

"Ah that's good! Well I hope you have fun sweetheart. Your mother and I got to go. We have another month before we come back home. I'll see you soon Millie. I love you!" Her father chuckled, relieved that his daughter is alright.

"Love you too.. Dad." Soon after he hung up. Millie gave the phone to Chuck and felt happy. "Well that wasn't as awkward as I thought it was going to be." She laughed.

Chuck put his phone into his pocket. "Parents are just always awkward to talk to as a kid. Your dad was like that too. Heh.. almost took him ten minutes of trying to tell me that he liked a girl at the school he went to." He too began to laugh, walking downstairs to do some chores outside.

Millie never thought she would hear any stories about her parents as kids, it was interesting for once. Soon she decided to get ready to hang out with her friends.

~

Millie and her grandfather finally arrive at Brigg's Bowling alley, already seeing a lot of people hanging out inside having fun and enjoying their times.

Once inside, Millie saw Brooke and Dylan sitting down at a table. His mother was there as well. Brooke saw Millie and her grandfather, she waved her hands in the air to get their attention.

“Hey! Millie! Over here!” The hyperactive girl bounced on top of where she was sitting. Dylan’s mother had to calm her down and carefully nudge her to sit back down.

Dylan turned to look where Millie was and just gave a small wave. She waved back. Chuck shook hands with Dylan’s mother and both chatted for a while.

“Now that we are all here, how about we go bowling?” Dylan leaned back and rested his arm against the table. Brooke couldn’t agree more as she was already shaking in her seat.

“Yeah! Let’s do that!”

“Alright kids, before you do that you will need the proper shoes for it. Come on you three.” Dylan’s mother guided the kids to a counter where a man was assisting other customers.

“Well I am gonna order some pizza while you three have your fun.” Chuck heads over to do just that.

After a few minutes of waiting and finding the right shoe sizes, the three were ready to bowl. Brooke picked up a bowling ball, focusing on the angle before rolling it.

“Watch this you guys!” Brooke let go of the ball and it began rolling down fast. It was smooth sailing as the ball did not curve or fall out of the platform. Then the bowling ball crashed into the pins that resulted in a strike.

Millie was completely surprised, while Dylan just smiled. “Wow you one shot that! Proud of ya Brooke!” Dylan went up to hug his girlfriend, she responded with giggles.

“I told you I was an expert!” The two just laughed and hugged.

Then suddenly a kid called out on Brooke. “Yeah but no one here is greater than me. I can get two strikes with my eyes closed.” The three kids turned to see a girl, black hair that was tied to a ponytail, a mean look in her eye and chewed bubble gum.

She grabbed a bowling ball, focused on the angle and gave it a few swings. Then she covered her eyes with her hand before she spun around and finally let go of the ball.

It rolled fast like Brooke’s did and it quickly crashed into the pins. Not leaving one standing. A strike.

Then when the pins resets, she went for another. Repeating the same movements, this time she skipped towards the platform instead of spinning.

*CRASH*

Another strike.

Hand still covering her eyes. Then she took a peak at her score. They were all high numbers that added to a perfect eighty to a hundred and six.

The girl with her smug face only laughed. Which didn’t bother Brooke as much, but she was quite jealous about the girl’s techniques.

“Well, that’s nice. And your moves are cool! I got lots to learn then!” Brooke just smiled and picked up another bowling ball.

“By the way, what’s your name?” Before Brooke was about to let the bowling ball go, she turned to the girl.

“The name’s Sally, and you will never be as good as me.” Sally went back to her game, clearly not the reaction she wanted out of Brooke.

The three didn’t bother and went back to playing. Millie was struggling and Dylan was doing fine. After a while Millie got the hang of it. Until pizza was ready.

Dylan’s mother called out to them to eat. And at that they all sat down to chow down on some cheesy and greasy pizza. Thankfully, Millie’s grandpa had to order a cheese pizza for Millie while the other had pepperoni and olives.

“Ya know this reminds me of the time when I was at an old pizzeria joint. And the pizza here reminds me of what I would always eat back then. Good times.” Chuck took a bite of his pizza and smiled.

Millie smiled as she thought of Funtime Freddy. Wondering how he’s doing and if he’s alright. She made sure the window was open so Annabelle Lee could visit him anytime so that he wouldn’t feel lonely.“ You mean the one with those creepy robots?” She took another bite and a sip of lemonade.

“Ah yes, that place.” He laughed. “I remember when I was a young man I moved from my old home to this town. Well that is after I married your grandma. I remember they had another pizzeria joint right here, where this bowling alley is.” This actually caused a spark of interest for Millie as she looked at Chuck. “I even took your dad here when he was a boy. He loved going here every weekend. Until years later the place closed down. I remembered it was called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.” The word “Freddy” stuck with Millie as she now realized there were more of…him.

“So you mean this place used to be one of those mascot pizza joints?” Dylan questioned.

Chuck nodded as he took another bite of his pizza, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Yup. Although, I am not sure why it closed down. It was doing fine back in the day. I guess the fad for animatronic mascots isn’t as popular anymore as it used to be.”
This made Millie think about how Funtime Freddy would feel about all this. Being in the spotlight for a long time then the next being tossed into a junkyard. Which come to think of it.. How did Freddy end up at that junkyard? She’ll have to ask him when she gets home.

A sudden sound caught Millie’s attention, in the corner of her eye she saw Sally shouting at a woman who must be her mother. Then she stormed off into a double door, slamming it open and the doors slam shut.

‘What’s her problem?’ Millie thought about how this girl thinks she is so better than everyone and treats everyone with a horrible attitude really boils her blood. Millie was actually impressed on how well Brooke handled it, if she was in her shoes, she would have cursed up a storm.

After a while of eating, all five of them went bowling and having the time of their lives. Chuck of course wasn’t all that good but at least it was nice seeing his granddaughter smile and laugh. He really enjoyed the moment.

“Grandpa, I have to go use the restroom, I’ll be right back.” Millie made sure she told Chuck where she was heading before leaving the scene, he nodded and soon she headed towards the double doors.

As soon as she opened the door she was met with Sally who was in her way. Just seeing the girl made Millie frown. But what Sally was about to say made Millie confused.

“Oh Sorry. I didn’t see you coming, I’ll just use the other door. Sorry.” Sally’s tone shifted and wasn’t as rude as before. Something wasn’t right.

Millie finished up and headed back out to where everyone else was. And after two hours of bowling they decided to go home. But before they left, Millie, Brooke and Dylan saw Sally again.

“Hey Sally! I hope you had a lot of fun, maybe next time you can show me those moves.” Brooke giggled. To which Sally looked at her like she was speaking in a different language.

“Umm.. hi? What moves? Do I know you?”

This caught the three kids off guard. Sally left with her mother, while Dylan’s mother was calling out to him and Brooke. The three said their goodbyes and headed to their homes.

However, while Chuck was driving Millie home, something did not feel right with her. All three kids felt like something was wrong, especially with their second encounter with Sally.

As if she was a completely new girl.

Chapter Text

Something was definitely not right with Sally. The first time Millie and her friends met her, she was rude and mean.
Then she went to blow off some steam, she came back with no memory of what happened before and was very nice. It was the strangest thing for Millie and she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Laying on her bed, listening to some music with headphones on. Millie tries to relax and think of absolutely nothing. Yet, it still keeps itching at her.

And the only way to stop the itching is to scratch it off. Millie gets off her bed, changes to some warm clothes and sneaks out of her room and out of the house as her grandfather was snoozing on the couch.

Soon she was in front of the workshop door. It was a cold night and should be asleep by now but she needed someone to dump all this info. And she knows a certain robot bear who would gladly listen to her.

She unlocks the door and steps inside the workshop. There she saw, only to assume a sleeping Funtime Freddy. Or at least how animatronic robots sleep. His eyes were halfway open, they seemed dead.

Millie knocks on his stomach. No response.

She knocks again, even giving him a small nudge. Again with no response. Now curious on what is going on as Freddy would not usually fall into deep sleep, unless something is wrong with him. It became unsettling and it occurred to her that perhaps he could have batteries. It was something Millie had never thought of and immediately began to panic.

“Freddy? Freddy! Please respond!”

Millie looked all over for a battery source, to which she was unsuccessful. The only place she hasn’t searched was his stomach tank. It made her shiver in fear from the thought of going in there again.

She pry her hands into the stomach hatch and pull it with all her strength. Just when she was about to open the hatch she heard some chuckling. Millie looks up to see Freddy frozen like before. She became skeptical, then she tried again.

Again, another chuckle to which Millie quickly looked up again and saw the bear’s jaw close shut. She stood up and crossed her arms, staring at the animatronic bear and waiting for him to stop fooling around.

“Freddy, you can quit with the act. This is serious.”

Funtime Freddy only laughed it off. Millie never would have thought that Freddy would do something like that, then again he does like messing around.

Next time, she would be prepared for any pranks that he decides to throw at her. Millie sighed and tapped her foot against the floor.

The mischievous animatronic finally stops laughing and looks at Millie who is waiting with a serious stance.

“Alright, alright. I’m done. It was hilarious though! So what brings you here at this time of the night? Trouble sleeping?”

Freddy smiles and waits for Millie to speak.

“There is something I need to talk to you about. It’s something that happened earlier today. When I went bowling with my friends. There was a girl who was being mean to Brooke, then an hour later I met her again and she was completely different…” Millie explained, she felt tired from standing and so she sat on a table.

“Maybe she realized how rude she was and turned that attitude upside down.” Funtime Freddy humorously suggested.

Millie shut it down, shaking her head in disagreement.

“It wasn’t like that.. She didn’t even remember the interactions between her and Brooke. She was very nice. It was like she was a new person. It doesn’t make sense.” Millie still couldn’t wrap around the thought of it.

The two remained silent for a moment. Then he opened his mouth to speak.

“Well, there has to be a good reason. So why don’t you go talk to her next time?” Freddy suggested. Millie was impressed that he thought of a good idea. Maybe she can even get some clues on what happened to Sally.

Millie yawned and got off the table. She thanked Freddy and headed towards the door. But before she could say good night, another thought came to her head.

“Wait.. actually there is something else.” She turned back to the animatronic, who’s still sitting in the same old spot. He was filled with joy as he was glad to spend a bit more time with his friend.

“Oh boy! I like to hear it! What is it you want to say?” He was basically vibrating with glee that even Millie could feel it from her feet.

“What was it like? Being at the place you used to entertain at?”

Funtime Freddy went quiet for a moment. Millie thought she may have made him upset. “I’m sorry.. I shouldn’t have said that. I think I should-” Before she could leave she was interrupted.

“Don’t be sorry, Silly Millie! You asked and I’ll answer it. I’d say it was a great place! A lot of people came in to have fun which was always my favorite! Especially entertaining the children. The looks on their faces was always a great thing for me and Bon-” Freddy stopped himself from mentioning his old bunny friend. There was a split second pause then he continued. “Although, after the place closes for the night, it wasn’t as fun as it was when the place was open. Sure, I would have time to take a break and get checked out by the lousy mechanics. It’s that… someone I knew always kept… bothering me. She.. wasn’t always nice.”

The way Funtime Freddy spoke about this certain person made her curious. It seemed that whoever she was, somehow is the only person to make Freddy upset. Normally he doesn’t back down with anyone since he always seemed intimidating to anyone he meets.

“What happened? How did you end up in the junkyard? If.. you don’t mind me asking.” Millie nervously asked, it was a bold question to ask because he might not want to answer it.

Fortunately, he decided to give an honest answer anyway.

“Well, it’s a loooooooong story! But I will keep it short and less complicated. You see, I belong to a pizza joint called Circus Baby Pizza World! It was immensely popular back in the day. Although, It only lasted a week when something happened and it got shut down. Then the business turned into a rental party business, blah blah blaah boring stuff. But then one day we got tired and we found someone who could help us escape, more boring and grotesque stuff I don’t want to get into details. Trust me kid ya don’t want to know what happened. Lastly, it went well… until it didn’t. I got separated from the others and was found. Then I was thrown into a junkyard. End of story.”

Freddy talked so fast, Millie was tired and sleepy she could barely keep up with his story. But something tells her that he won’t repeat it again so she will have to take as much info that was given.

“Okay. Thank you for telling me. Good night, Freddy.” Millie heads out the workshop, waving at the animatronic before closing the door and locking it.

“See ya later, alligator!” Freddy waved at her as she finally left. Now he was alone again. He looks at his handless arm, where BonBon should be. He still misses him, a lot more than usual now.

~

After school, Millie and friends were hanging out at Casey’s Pizza. They were enjoying some pizza when Brooke spoke about Sally.

“So, about Sally. I actually saw her as I was on my way to Science class. She looked lost and confused, as if she had no idea what she was doing.” Brooke felt bad for the girl.

“I actually spoke to Freddy about her last night.” Millie spoke out, taking a bite of her cheese pizza.

“And.. what did he say?” Dylan had a skeptical face, he doesn’t fully trust the animatronic which was understandable. Dylan has been having trouble trusting people and trusting an animatronic who was bloodthirsty and vanishes without coming back, just didn't sit well with him.

“He says that I should talk to her. I am assuming he wants me to find more clues and figure out what is going on with her.” Millie answered back.

Dylan was surprised, just like Millie, he too never thought Funtime Freddy would have a good logical idea. Perhaps he underestimated him.

Before any of them could speak, they heard a familiar voice. Brooke and Millie leaned over to see Sally ordering something at the counter.

“There she is..” Millie quietly spoke. Dylan turns around, seeing the girl walk towards a table and take a seat. The three quickly turned back to stare at each other.

“Well, go talk to her then.” Dylan tilts his head at Sally’s direction.

“Wait.. me? Why me?” Millie didn’t feel ready to talk to the new girl, mostly because she didn’t have the right questions to ask. But this could be her chance, she had to take the opportunity.

"Alright. I'll go."

Millie got up and walked over towards Sally who was mindlessly staring at nothing. When Millie spoke to her, Sally snapped out of her trance and looked at her. Millie grew extremely nervous, she smiled, trying to hide how anxious she was.

“Hi. You remember me right? Millie..”

“Oh! Right! You are that girl from yesterday. Yeah I remember you. The girl from the.. Bowling place.” Sally sounded unsure of herself when she mentioned the bowling alley and was a bit nervous herself.

“I wanted to ask you about.. Bowling. Do you like bowling?” Millie had to be careful to not give away her intentions, only asking light hearted questions.

“I kind of do, but I am not really good at it.” Sally replied, even giggled from embarrassment.

It was strange, the Sally she first met claimed she was an expert. How can she be bad at something she was good at? It didn’t make all that sense.

“Do you like going to school? Maybe we can hang out with my other friends.” Millie looked over at Dylan and Brooke, they waved at Millie and Sally.

“School is.. Confusing. Don’t get me wrong, I kind of like it, but the teachers kept saying that I never get distracted or late for classes.. But uhh I think I’ll pick it up.”

Sally gave one detail that also seemed off. From what Millie could piece together and only assumed is that Sally used to be a Grade A student. But somehow she wasn’t doing so well now. Could this have something to do with her personality shifting? What really happened at the Bowling Alley yesterday?

There were so many questions filling in Millie's head that she couldn’t dare to ask Sally or it would make her not want to talk to her anymore.

A lady came over to place a plate of pizza slices onto the table. At that Millie decided to end the conversation there.

"Well, I got to go. I'll see you next time."

Millie left the table and went back to Dylan and Brooke.

"So how did it go?" Brooke asked.

"It.. Still doesn't make sense. Sally says she's not good at bowling and isn't doing well in her classes. I am guessing she used to be a well behaved student."

Millie and the two friends were really confused as to what Sally said. And so Millie decided to think of a plan.

A plan that involves going to the scene of the crime. The bowling alley.

Chapter Text

Millie came back from therapy once again, discussing stress and her anxiety. She explains how it gets worse every night but the methods she was suggested to practice sort of works. Although, she admits that she sometimes takes a bit of the medication to fall asleep better. Which was fine by Mrs. Zimmer and encourages her to keep using the methods but don’t rely on the medicine too much.

Chuck decides to get the food ready for the two of them to eat while Millie refills Annabelle's cat bowl. The little cat immediately devours the food.

"Seems like someone's hungry."

Chuck jokes, turning on the stove and placing a pot of chili stew on top to warm up. Millie smiles a bit and heads to her room.

She texts Dylan and Brooke in a group chat on her phone. The three were planning on how they were gonna find clues at the bowling alley.

"Okay, so how are we going to do this?"

Dylan texted first. Then Brooke starts texting.

"We could try going to Briggs during the week, not many people go there during the week since a lot of people are going to be busy."

"Why during the week?" Dylan asked.

"It's pretty packed during the weekends. It's going to be pretty difficult to find clues when there are a lot of people around."

Brooke explained, which seemed pretty reasonable. Millie was still thinking of a new plan. She wanted to get a good look of the place, especially behind the double doors.

"Brooke's right. We got to go tomorrow. We'll just hang out there for a bit and once we find something.. Or not. We leave."

Millie finally texted back, agreeing with Brooke. And so it was settled, Dylan and Brooke had to make up excuses for coming home a little late to their parents.

"Alright, after school we head straight towards Briggs Bowling Alley. Cool?" Dylan texted, making sure everyone was on the same boat.

Both Millie and Brooke agreed and so the three friends said their goodbyes and left the group chat.
However, Millie had a different idea if the first plan didn't go well.

She quietly got out of her room and walked slowly downstairs. Millie managed to sneak out of the house without her grandfather noticing.
Yet, a certain cat notices her and follows the girl outside.

Millie walks towards the workshop where Freddy resides. Going inside, only to see Funtime Freddy playing around with old antique porcelain dolls he found in some boxes.

"Well, well, well! Look who it is. My best buddy!"

Annabelle Lee walks towards the animatronic bear and hops onto his lap, curls into position and waits for all the pats in the world.
And so Freddy pets the furry feline with a big smile. Then he looks up and sees Millie.

"Oh! And Millie's here too!" Freddy laughed. To which the girl just facepalms from annoyance, but she chuckles a bit.

"Hey, Freddy.. How are you holding up?" Millie asked.

"Oh ya know, sitting in the same old spot sure doesn't feel boring. But hey! Look! I found these!"

Funtime Freddy picks up a porcelain doll with a pretty dress.

"That's.. Nice I guess. But be careful with it. It is really fragile and it could break."

Millie warns Freddy as she was concerned about the stuff around her grandfather's stuff in his workshop. But come to think of it, he hasn't entered the workshop ever since the junkyard event.

"Don't worry, I know to be gentle around this kind of stuff since I learned from experience."

Freddy looks down at the direction of a broken porcelain doll that was shattered to pieces. Millie sighs from frustration but forgets about it quickly.
She wanted Freddy to know about the plan.

"Look, I came here to tell you about a plan Dylan, Brooke and I came up with."

"A plan? Ooh! Sounds exciting! What is it? What is it?" Freddy was shaking from excitement.

"Okay okay. Calm down. We are gonna go to the bowling alley tomorrow to find some clues and figure out why Sally is acting differently."

Funtime Freddy hums as he scratches behind Annabelle's ears, which causes the cat to purr from satisfaction.

"But, I have a plan B. If the first plan does not go as we planned then we will have to go at night, when everything is closed."

Millie knew it was risky, but she needed to know what happened back there. Freddy however, was surprised.

"So you're breaking and entering the place? Can I come? It sounds like fun!"

The animatronic sounded concerned at first but then switches quickly to wanting to join in. Millie thought for a moment. It is illegal to break into buildings when it's not open. But it is a risk she is willing to take.

"Well yes but I am doing it for investigation. I'm not going to steal anything." Millie defends herself and gives a good reason. Funtime Freddy just laughs it off.

"And that is why I came to you. I actually want you to come."

Freddy paused for a moment, then he stood up, Annabelle quickly jumped off the animatronic and went to give Millie a big hug.

“Oh thank you Millie! It’s been awhile since I got to tag along with you guys!” He was so excited and filled with joy, being stuck in one place really does make one desperate to hang out with others.

The girl struggled to breath or move at all and begged Freddy to let her go. To which he did and she gasped for air. Sometimes she can’t stand being around him, but at the same time he is the only one she can talk to at home about stuff she can’t tell her grandfather.

“Well, I got to get going. I’ll come get you when we’re ready.”

Millie left the workshop, along with Annabelle and they headed home to find hot chili at the kitchen that Chuck warmed up for lunch.

-

Just as Millie and her two friends planned. After school was over, they all headed out to the bowling alley. When they got there, they saw that it was closed. Dylan looked at the business hours on the front door.

OPEN DURING WEEKENDS

SAT-SUN

OPEN ON THE WEEK

MON,TUE AND FRI

“Apparently, they close on Wednesdays and Thursdays.” Dylan explains, which completely bummed out Millie and Brooke.

Millie sighs from frustration. How could she have not checked the schedule on the website before going forward with the plan. She felt like an idiot.

Suddenly, something else came into mind. Plan B. Millie wasn’t sure if Dylan or Brooke would agree to this, but she had no choice.

“Which… is why I have a plan B. We are gonna go at night. Freddy is coming along as well.”

Both Brooke and Dylan looked confused and concerned when Millie suggested they should go at night. Which could only mean they would have to break in and if they aren’t careful, they could get in serious trouble. Again.

“Look, Millie. I am your friend and would be there for you always. But breaking into a building is a no go for me. I’m sorry but I am not gonna get grounded for this. Or worse… go to jail!” Dylan had every right to be upset at Millie with this idea.
Even Brooke had to agree. She's usually the one who is always on her side.

“Yeah, I have to go with Dylan as well. I like hanging out with you and will always support you. It’s just.. Too risky and could land us in a lot of trouble. I’m sorry Mill.”

Brooke sounded a little quiet, which gives Millie a hint that this isn’t a good idea. Thinking for a moment, she decided to forget about the plans.

“Okay, I won’t go at night. How about.. Saturday then?” Millie suggested.

The two agreed as that was a much safer option, even if they have to wait two days. And so the three left and decided to hang out at the library.

Yet, Dylan keeps a close eye on Millie. Noticing something off about her.
-

It was Eleven at night and everyone was asleep. All except Millie, who stayed up all night with a few cups of coffee to remain awake. She got ready for the night, grabbing a small bag and a flashlight. Wearing a big hoodie to protect her from the cold and protecting her face from the hood that nearly covered her entire head.

She left her room quietly, walking out of the house and headed towards the workshop. Just as she opened the door, Funtime Freddy was already waiting at the door and it almost made Millie yelp out loud. Luckily she stopped herself by covering her mouth.

“Freddy, you nearly scared me to death.” Millie whispered.

“Ooh! How about I do it again? Maybe that would kill ya!” Freddy jokes as he was keeping himself from laughing too loud. Millie shushes him to keep quiet and goes into the workshop to grab a few tools. Then the two head out.

Once they made it to the bowling alley, everything was dark inside, all except a few dim lights were still on. They walked around the back of the building.

“So when are your buddies coming?” Freddy asked.

“They are not..” Millie admitted, which she still felt bad for lying to them. Freddy was confused and a bit upset.

“I think they didn’t want to get into trouble, which I can understand.. But I’m not gonna give up so easily.”

Millie saw the back door to the building, figuring out how she’s going to get in. Freddy wandered around until he saw a small window on the other side of the building.

“Hey, how about the window? It looks big enough for you to fit.” He pointed at the closed window that looked like it could be opened outwards instead of upwards. Millie looked over and felt like it could be a good way in. One problem, it was too tall to reach.

“Well I can’t reach it. How am I supposed to get up-” Millie didn’t finish speaking when she was swooped up from the ground as Funtime Freddy picked her up and placed her near the window. Gathering her bearings together as she didn’t expect him to do that without warning.

“Thanks.. But next time give a little heads up before you go picking me up like this again?”

“Right. Got it. Just do your thing!” Freddy chuckled.

Millie dug into her bag and grabbed a screwdriver with a flat end and shoved it underneath the window frame. Using all her force to get the window to open. After a few more hard taps she managed to loosen it and got it to open.

“Okay, I will get inside and open the back door for you.” Millie carefully crawled inside and when she got in, she realized she was in the restrooms. But it looked different than the girls’ restroom. Then it hit her, she was in the boys’ room.

She immediately jogged out of the restroom and headed towards the back door, opening it from the inside and letting Freddy in.

Now that they were in, Millie had to check the same area where she saw Sally enter the double doors. Freddy just seemed to be lost as he was looking around, even wondering off.

“Ya know, the way this place is layered out kind of reminds me of the old pizza joint I used to be in. Perhaps a little different but it does give out the same vibe.”

Millie took a good look at the place. She doesn’t know what he meant by that.

“Well I have never been to one of those mascot places or whatever you call them. So I do not know what you mean. But this place does sell pizza, that’s one thing they have in common.”

“You need to get out more often.” Freddy laughed and Millie only sighs, being annoyed at the bear.

There was a small clicking sound coming from Freddy, his faceplates began to shift as there was something wrong.

Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the double doors. It sounded like someone was about to walk out of the doors. But before Millie and Freddy could react, the left door swung up and a young woman who looked like she worked here came out.

She saw a girl and a big metal animatronic bear with glowing blue eyes. Her eyes widened and slowly backed away from fear.

“Wha- another one? A bigger one? No… NO! YOU CAN’T TAKE ME!” The lady immediately ran back from where she came from and began screaming hysterically.

Freddy and Millie looked at each other and then at the double doors. Before any of them could speak, Millie ran for the woman to calm her down. Freddy followed.

The woman ran to the girls’ restroom to hide inside and Millie pursued after, but she saw Freddy and stopped halfway.

“Umm, could you wait out here. I’ll try to calm her down and I don’t want you to scare her even more.”

“You just don’t want me to go in because this is the girls’ room. But I get ya. I’ll make sure no one is around.” Freddy laughs it off and stands a couple feet away, keeping guard.

Millie heads inside and hears the lady mumbling to herself in one of the stalls. She walks towards the one at the very end and leans against it.

“Miss.. um we don’t mean to scare you. You are safe, no one is going to hurt you.”

“No! Go away! I don’t want to see that bear! He’ll take my soul, like the others! The little bears with their soul-stealing eyes!”

Confusion filled in Millie’s mind. “Little bears?” and “Soul-Stealing?” Something definitely is wrong.

“No, my.. Uhh friend isn’t like that. He doesn’t steal souls. He is a good friend. Friendly, like me. I promise.”

Millie tried her best to help the woman calm down by reassuring her that no one is going to hurt her. She could hear sobbing within the stall, feeling bad for the lady. Then the door slightly opened and Millie could see the woman a bit more.

“You promise?” The woman whispers.

“Of course. You are completely safe.” Millie once again reassured her with a warming tone in her voice. Then the door opens completely. Revealing the woman who was sitting in the corner of the stall between the toilet and the wall. Tears in her eyes that run down her face.

The woman stands up and leaves the restroom stall. Now that Millie has a closer look at her with the flashlight, she notices her uniform that reads “Security”. So that explains why she was in the building late at night, she was a security guard working the night shift.

The woman washes her face in the sink and the two exit the restroom. Funtime Freddy was still standing at the same spot, waiting for them. The woman became wary as she saw the big animatronic bear but Millie placed her hand behind her back.

“This is Funtime Freddy. He’s friendly even though he can be a little annoying with his jokes and puns.” Millie introduces the security guard to Freddy. Something about the look on his face seemed off. As if this was a little familiar to him.

“Oh yeah, sure. Why don't you introduce the security guard to me, maybe we will be great friends.” Freddy’s voice was sarcastic but with a tone of annoyance. Millie tilted her head with confusion as she stared at the animatronic.

“Look, it's a long story. I don’t want to get into details.” Freddy waves it off but is still annoyed.
“What is your name Miss?” Millie asks the woman. She didn’t respond by the way as she was staring into nothingness.

Then she began to walk out the double doors, Millie and Freddy followed.

“It’s.. Mary.” The woman’s voice was so quiet it was hard to hear the first time. However, Freddy caught on.

“Mary? But your name tag says Susan.” He pointed out at the tag on the right side of her chest. Millie looked at it as well and he was right. It said “Officer Susan” on it. Something didn’t seem right at all.

“Okay.. I’ll tell you what I know. You see…. This isn’t my body. I just switched bodies with the security guard because I was stuck inside a Lonely Freddy for- Wait, this isn’t the pizzeria?” The lady saw the bowling alley and realized she wasn’t where she was meant to be.

“The pizzeria?” Millie questions and Mary nods. “Yes, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. It was the last place I was at before… my soul and mind was taken from me and placed in a Lonely Freddy. Forever trapped..”

“What’s a Lonely Freddy?” Millie asks again.

“If I could remember, it was supposed to help lonely children have a friend while staying at the Pizzeria.” As Mary was explaining, Millie felt even more sad for the.. Woman? Little Girl? Honestly it was difficult to figure out who she was talking to. Clearly the soul was in the body of an adult but has the mind of a child.

Mary began walking around the place, detailing every little thing from the area. “This is where the main stage was. Where Freddy, Bonnie and Chica should be.” Millie stared at the woman, then where she was pointing at, it was changed to a karaoke stage.

“Wait? Bonnie and Chica?” Who were they?” Millie kept on asking questions the more the security guard kept talking.

“Bonnie the bunny and Chica the chicken. They were part of Freddy’s band.” The security guard answered. Millie turned to Funtime Freddy, who looked curious. Then he saw Millie staring at him.

“Hey, I don’t know those two. Although Bonnie does sound familiar to- Okay let's just stop talking this is getting waaaay too personal.” Freddy’s faceplates began to shift, a sigh of how uncomfortable he was.

“Well, Mary. Can you show us this.. Lonely Freddy?” Millie asks the security guard.

She agreed and showed them to the double doors, soon they made it a door that says “Supply Closet” and Mary opened it. She goes inside and then a second later she brings out a little bear that at first looked like a stuffed doll.

“Susan is here. But don’t let Gilles get you. He’s mean and scary.” Mary shows the Lonely Freddy to the two of them, Millie grabs it to get a closer look. “Wait! Don’t look it in the eyes!”

However, it was too late as Millie heard a voice calling to her.

“Stop! Girl! Get away! Someone else is here! He is going to get you!”

The voice sounded like an adult woman, which can only be Susan, warning her to look away.

A second later, she heard another voice. This time it sounded more like a man.

“Let. Me. OUT!”

Millie felt something dark within the little bear. Then a hand pulled her away from the Lonely Freddy. She was dazed and even scared for her life. The bear falls to the ground as Millie feels her body shake and almost faints.

Funtime Freddy was able to hold Millie in place so she wouldn’t fall and hurt herself. Lucky for Millie that he pulled her away from the trance or else she would have ended up switching places.

“Wha-What happened? I heard someone.. She told me to get away? What is going on?”

Millie couldn’t believe what just happened. Then everything connected perfectly. Sally stumbled across a Lonely Freddy and was unfortunate enough to be in trance and switch places with someone else.

Before Mary could speak, there was the sound of glass shattering and an alarm followed after. The three saw the double doors and went to investigate. There they saw two dark figures and assumed they were criminals.

Funtime Freddy ran towards them, but Millie shouted for him to come back. She quickly grabbed her flashlight and flashed it at the two figures.

Millie’s eyes widened as she saw them.

“Brooke! Dylan!” She yelled.

Dylan was being held up by his hoodie as Freddy grabbed him, thinking he was a bad guy. Brooke was just in shock.

“Sorry Millie! I know we should have told you but Dylan had a feeling you were here because you said “I won’t go” and it felt pretty suspicious, so we had to come and get you, but now we messed up and broke one of the windows to get in and I think we should have thought of a better way in.” Brooke explained as fast as she could but it didn’t matter to Millie as they heard police sirens approaching. The lights of blue and red flash, getting closer to the bowling alley.

“Well it’s really nice to see ya guys again, even if you're late to the party. But we gotta scatter!” Funtime Freddy puts down Dylan and suggests for all of them to leave the area. Which they all agreed and they headed towards the back door.

However, Millie stopped halfway through the door when she realized there were cameras inside the building and could get in deep trouble if the police were to take a look at the footage.

“Wait! There is something I got to do. Freddy, you’re coming with me! The rest of you guys just go!” Millie ran back inside along with the animatronic. Dylan yelled for her to come back but it was too late.

Once inside Millie ran into the security office and saw the camera footage. The one camera near the entrance showed police officers already outside the area and were getting ready to enter the building. She quickly searched for a way to delete the footage from the computer.

“How do you do this? How do you delete it?” Millie panicked.

“I see, leaving no trail behind. Well I don’t know much on how this stuff works, but uhh…”

Freddy forcibly slammed his hand against the computer which instantly damaged the entire thing. Millie scolded him for destroying the computer.

“Oh please, Dylan and Brooke broke a window. It’s not the worst thing in the world.”

Millie heard voices in the building and began to immediately panic. She looked out the office and saw flashlights in all directions. She even saw some of the police holding handguns.

“This is it! I will either get caught and go to prison or they are going to gun me down!” Millie was in tears and scared for her life, whether she was going to get in trouble or die.

Then Freddy quickly thought of something. Anything to protect his best friend, if she trusts him. He kneels to her level and puts his hand on her shoulder.

“I have a better idea. But you need to trust me. Do you trust me?” Freddy spoke, staring her in the eyes.

“Anything to get out of here! Okay!” Millie desperately pleaded.

Then she saw Freddy’s stomach hatch popped open. Her eyes widened with terror as she realized what he was suggesting. She shook her head in disagreement and her body shook in fear. She refused to go back there. It was so claustrophobic and dark, it was like being trapped in a small cage.

“Trust me, Millie. I’ll get us out of here. I trust you with anything. So you have to do the same.” Funtime Freddy was calm in his voice, trying to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.

Footsteps got closer, then she heard a police officer call out to the others. He was just inches away from entering the office. Millie made up her mind and shoved herself inside the stomach tank and Freddy instantly closed the hatch shut.

When the police officer got in the office, he was met with a large metal bear. Staring right at him, which made him jump. Two more officers came in and saw Freddy as well.

“What is this?”

“It’s like one of those old animatronic things back in the old days.”

How do you know?”

“I saw one of those as a kid.”

“Say, didn’t this place used to be one of those mascot pizza joints?”

“Well, I guess that explains this guy over here. Maybe they just left it here.”

“Okay but how did the computer break? Looks badly damaged too. Probably won’t be able to get the footage from it.”

“Let’s keep searching and find something else.”

The police officers left the room and continued on their search.

Then another walked in. But it wasn’t a police officer. The man stared at the robot bear, he removed his shades from his face and was in full disbelief.

His lips were quivering from fear.

Funtime Freddy glared at the familiar figure before him and quietly whispered.

“Hello again. Detective nosey.”

Chapter Text

Suspense filled the office as Funtime Freddy stares down Detective Larson. The man was shaking in fear from the sight of the large animatronic.

“What a coincidence. Didn’t think I would see you again Mr. Detective.” Funtime Freddy whispered, giggling with mischief which made Larson step back. Struggling to speak a word, Larson quickly takes out his taser and aims it directly at the animatronic’s shoulder where his wires are most exposed.

“Take one step closer and I’ll zap ya.” The detective warned him. Just when Freddy was about to make a move, he thought about Millie’s safety and if he did get tased, not only would he have to experience getting shocked again but also his friend would get hurt as well.
However, he does not want to tell Larson that he has Millie inside and so he thought of a way to get out with both of them unharmed.

“Aw come on, there is no need for violence. Just let me pass and I’ll be out of your hair. Besides, I got places to be.” The bear negotiated, a joyous smile formed.
Something that made Larson unsure. He had several questions for Freddy to answer, closing the door behind, the detective asked away.

“Right. I’ll let you leave, but… I have questions for you. And you better answer honestly. So don’t go thinking you can lie to me. Or else.” Pointing the taser gun at the bear. “Got it?” The man was still shivering in fear, but managed to gain some courage to stand up against Funtime Freddy. Which made the animatronic skeptical.

“Freddy, what is going on?” Millie panics and wonders what is the hold up. “I can’t stand being here any longer..” A small cry escapes her lips, feeling the anxiety spreading around her and her body begins to shake.

Funtime Freddy does not respond, which makes her extremely scared. Freddy was glad that his stomach tank was sound-proof and that Larson couldn’t hear her. If he did, not only would Freddy be forced to let her go, he would also be taken to the junkyard.. Possibly scrapped for good.

“Alright, ask away.”

“What are you doing here?” Larson asks, keeping the taser ready for any sudden movements or if the bear's words were false.

“Can’t an animatronic like me be curious? I like to explore the town, besides… I was looking for-” Freddy paused for a moment, he began to sound more calmer and his voice went soft. “My old place.. I am lost and I can’t find the Pizzeria where I belong to. Just a bit homesick.”

This place used to be a pizzeria..

The detective thought to himself, for a moment he felt.. Remorse? He swept that thought aside and began to ask another question.

“What about the girl? Does she know you’re here?”

Freddy thought for a good answer, until..

“Well, I never returned to her place. So I can say she has absolutely no idea.” The bear chuckled, thinking he got away with it. Until Larson placed his finger on the trigger and was ready to fire.

“You can call her if you like! She will probably want to know where her Ol’ pal went huh?” Freddy spouted out. Trying to save himself, mostly Millie from being terribly electrocuted. Larson scoffs. “You think you can lie to me? I’ve interrogated liars before, heck even very good liars.”

As the two stared at each other down, Freddy still kept hearing Millie’s voice. She was panicking and scared. The animatronic was about to lose his patience. However, the man lowered his taser for a moment.

“You sure? That Millie doesn’t know you’re here? Answer me, Honestly.” Larson gave Freddy a second chance to come clean. The detective’s brows furrowed with a serious look on his face.

Funtime Freddy couldn’t speak, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t move. His energy was low and felt like shutting down… and shut down he did. His body slumped down with a thud. Larson only stood there quietly until a police officer came in to check on the noise.

“Detective Larson? Is everything alright?”

Larson places his taser back in his belt. Still staring at the animatronic. Then he turns around and nods. “Nothing here, just got spooked from this old thing.” The detective gestured towards Freddy. Before he left the office, he quickly turned to look back at the slumped over animatronic. His brows furrowed once again. Then he made his way out.

However, he could have sworn he heard a voice coming from Funtime Freddy.

-

Millie heard nothing but dead silence. She felt like she was dead. Hiding away in the metal bear that felt like hours. Her breathing was difficult to calm down. She began to kick at the stomach hatch. Yelling and begging to be let out. Tears fell from her eyes, her sight was blurry and felt like they were burning. When nothing happened, she stopped.

Her body froze with a cold chill tingling up her spine. Her breath became visible and she began to shiver. Her tears froze against her cheeks and her nose was all stuffy which made it hard to breathe properly.

“Where are we?”

The voice came out of nowhere. Millie’s eyes widened with shock. Who was speaking? It couldn’t be Funtime Freddy. She had never heard this voice before.

“WHERE. ARE. WE?”

The voice was much louder now and clearer. She had heard this voice before, it was “Him”. The voice from the Lonely Freddy toy. When everything finally connected, she felt like her breathing stopped. Panic rose up again.

“I- I don’t…” Millie tried to reply back but her voice was stuttering from her freezing body. She curled up to try to get warm.

“Where are we? You foolish girl.” The voice was impatient and cruel. “Who are you?” The voice questions. Millie felt like she couldn’t speak a word, her throat hurt from yelling so much. Yet, she managed to answer as much as she could.

“Millie.. It’s Millie.”

The voice remained quiet. She remained quiet, waiting for him to speak again. But he didn’t. So Millie decided to ask the same question back to him. “Who.. are-” Those are the only words she could say, but the voice understood her.

“I am a curse. An empty void that consumes souls of the unfortunate, to trap them in a prison where they cannot escape. Unless another soul is involved.”

“I am Gillus. Someone who you should fear.” The voice laughed and sneered. Millie finally had enough, anger built up and had the determination to finally move around. Sitting back up and leaning against the walls of the metal bear.

“I do not care who you are! I just want to go home!” Millie shouted back and out of frustration she kicked the hatch again. What she didn’t expect to happen next is Funtime Freddy began to move again.

Freddy finally woke up after two hours of being shut down.

“Oh boy, that sure was a long nap!” The bear laughed. However, his jolly demeanor quickly faded as he remembered his best friend still stuck inside. The hatched popped open and cold air blew in, sending a shiver all over Millie’s body. “Sorry for the long wait.. I uhh. I may have shut down due to low energy.” Freddy explained.

As soon as she crawled out of the stomach tank, Millie’s legs were wobbly and she immediately fell to the ground. She felt sick all over. She couldn’t move anymore.

Tears flowing down and creating a small puddle on the cold tile floor. Funtime Freddy felt awful for putting her in a situation that was traumatizing to her. What else could he have done, let her get caught? Besides, the plan didn’t go as well as he planned. He was supposed to sneak her out of the building and finally make it back home.

Instead they were stuck here. A sudden light caught Freddy’s attention, it laid next to Millie as if it fell out of her pocket when she collapsed. He took a closer look, it was her phone.

It kept lighting up and turning off a few times. He squinted closer until he saw Brooke’s name. She was sending messages to Millie.

“Mill? Are you and Freddy okay?”

“Millie?”

“Did you get caught?”

“Where are you, Mill?”

“Please tell me and guys made it out?”

“Sorry, we got to go home now..”

“I hope you’re alright..”

Before the phone turned off, he saw that it was three in the morning. He had to get Millie back home. He picked up her phone and stored it in his stomach tank, closing the hatch. Then he turned to his weeping friend and gently picked her up. Carrying her out of the bowling alley and walks her home before daybreak.

-

“Millie? Sweet Pea? I made breakfast.”

There was no response at the door. Chuck scratched at the back of his head, wondering what was going on with his granddaughter. Yet, he shook it off and went back down stairs for a few minutes.

Millie’s room was dark and quiet. Except the voice she kept hearing all night. Laughing and causing her to get angry.

“Did you have a nice nap?” Gillus cackled. His voice was scratchy and creepy, Millie couldn’t handle it any longer.

“Shut up!”

Covering her ears and trying to sing her favorite song. Unfortunately, it doesn’t shut out the mysterious voice.

“You can not shut me up! I am in control and you are nothing! Just a puppet under my strings.” His voice threatened, A quick sting flashed towards her face. Then a faded red hand print appeared on the side of her cheek. Millie’s eyes widened with shock, then confusion. She stared down at her two hands, one was more red than the other.

“What- How did you?” She asked quietly. The only response she got was laughter. Laughter that made her even more scared.

Suddenly, her two arms began to move on their own and her legs followed. She panicked and fought back. Sadly the force was too strong, as if she was being dragged by someone very tough and powerful. This had to be Gillus.. And she feared that this was just the beginning.

Making it out of her room, she struggled to fight back, even holding onto the door frame to pull herself back inside.

It helped for a moment, even thinking she might have gotten the upper hand in the situation. Until her other hand unlatched her arm, causing her to fall down. It made a loud thud to the floor that alerted Chuck.

“Sweet Pea? Are you Alright up there?”

Catching her breath, she took a moment to respond back. “Uhh.. Yeah.” She didn’t sound enthusiastic, especially in this situation. “Quit fighting and let me gain control! Or else that old man will suspect something is wrong. Do you want your grandfather to worry?” The voice spoke. Millie thought about it and the fact he was right. She had made Chuck worry a lot and she was just starting to recover. She didn’t need to cause any more pain to him.

Finally, she sighs. “Fine.. we go down stairs, eat breakfast and get ready for school without you acting out. Understood?”

“You do not get to order Gillus around! I control this puppet! I say what we should do!”

Suddenly, her arms pushed her off the ground and planted her feet onto the floor. Walking on their own and making it downstairs. Millie makes it to the kitchen and takes a seat at the table. A plate of waffles stood before her.

“This is it? You call this breakfast? This is merely food! Where is the meat? I need some real food!” Gillus yelled. Fortunately, Millie managed to grab the fork and butter knife and took a bite of it. It was delicious. “DISGUSTING!” The voice shouted. Millie only laughed.

A little noise caught Millie’s attention as she looked down and saw her furry friend. Annabelle Lee purring around her leg.

Then a sudden force in her leg made her almost kick the creature. “Get this disgusting creature away from me!” Gillus recoiled, despising the feeling of the cat’s fur around him.

“Hey! Don’t you dare hurt her!” Millie quietly yelled, keeping her voice low so her grandfather wouldn’t hear but loud enough for the voice in her head to listen. “I’m so sorry Annabelle.. I didn’t mean to do that.”

“As if it has feelings.” Gillus scoffed. Now Millie was starting to get annoyed. Taking another bite of her waffles. “Would you stop eating that! I feel like I’m going to be sick!” He continued only for her to shrug him off. It wasn’t until she took another bite, a big bite out of her waffle that she started to feel queasy. Her stomach turned and twisted and she felt terrible.

Spitting the waffle out and onto the plate, she saw her cup of almond milk in front of her and grabbed it, taking a swig of it. Which was a bad move.

“WHAT DID YOU DRANK? It’s…IT’S HORRENDOUS!”

The awful pit in her stomach grew worse and she immediately ran to the bathroom. Chuck noticed the commotion going on in the bathroom, hearing the sounds of his granddaughter feeling sick. “Millie..? Are you alright in there?” Sadly, she couldn’t respond back and so he left her alone until she felt better.

After a while, Millie came out from the bathroom feeling a bit better. Still she felt very ill. In fact she looked very ill. When Chuck approached her, he was concerned.

“Hey, Sweet Pea? I called the school and told ‘em you were sick. So you’re staying home today.” Chuck explained with a worried look on his face. Millie sighs, figures that she would have to stay home. There was no way she would go to school with “Him” trying to control her and make her look crazy in front of everyone.

“Thanks.. Grandpa.” Millie quietly went to her room and Annabelle Lee followed. Once inside she felt as if she was going to collapse. Luckily, she collapsed on her bed with Annabelle Lee jumping on beside her. Looking up at the ceiling of her room, Millie was lost in thought. Wondering how this happened? How did Gillus get in her head? Then it finally hit her.

The Lonely Freddy.

Immediately she sat up and picked up her phone. Seeing several messages and missed calls from Brooke, she messaged back.

“Meet me at my place after school. I need to tell you something.”

After that she put on her earbuds and played some music. However, Gillus did not enjoy the disturbance. “What is this wretched sound? Loud and repulsive. It’s Insulting to my ears!” The voice complained.

“It’s metal. Let me guess it's too hardcore for you?” Millie laughed as she taunted the voice. Finally closing her eyes, lost in the void of the music until she slipped into slumber.

“You are lucky that your body is weak. Or else I would have taken over.”

Gillus decided to rest as well, he needed his strength to pull the strings once more. Until then, he had to remain in her head suffering from the metal madness.

-

A knock on the front door caught the attention of Chuck. He paused from repainting an old antique birdhouse. He answers the door only to see Brooke and Dylan.

“Hi Mr. Fitzsimmons. Is Millie alright?”

“We didn’t see her at school today.”

Both kids showed concern for their friend. Which was understandable and so he invited them inside. “Millie is feeling really sick today. She’s in her room upstairs. Although, she hasn’t been feeling really talkative.” Chuck sounded very apologetic but the two kids didn’t mind at all.

They went upstairs and Chuck knocked on the door. “Millie, your friends are here to see you.” At that the door opens slowly. A very ill looking Millie pokes her out, her eyes are drowsy and her nose is runny. “Hey guys. Glad… to see you.” Millie opens the door a bit wider and turns the light on which makes her eyes burn.

“Well, I am gonna make some supper. I’ll call you guys later.” Chuck smiles and heads downstairs towards the kitchen.
Once the two went inside her room she closed the door. With a sigh she turns to her friends. “Guys.. you would not believe what happened to me.” She walks to her bed to take a seat and so did Brooke and Dylan. Annabelle Lee jumps onto Dylan’s lap and relaxes.

“You mean despite being sick?” Brooke said with a curious look on her face. Millie gave a small laugh. “No. Not just that. But.. Let’s go to my grandpa’s workshop. I want Freddy to know about this too.” Brooke and Dylan nodded and the three headed downstairs. They snuck past the kitchen without Chuck noticing since he was too occupied in making supper.

Once outside, they headed towards the back and entered the workshop where Funtime Freddy sat in his usual corner. And Mary, who surprisingly stayed in the workshop all night. However, Millie noticed there was a big cloth covering him. Mary was relieved it was the three and so she pulled the cloth off of Freddy. “Bear. It’s them.”

Funtime Freddy looks down at the three kids and smiles. “Oh good! I was worried about what was going on with you Silly Millie.” He chuckled. Which confused Millie for a moment, until she realized he was talking about her being controlled by Gillus earlier in the morning. He must have sensed her erratic movements.

“Right. About that. That is why I wanted you guys here.” Millie sighs and leans against a table. “You see. There is a voice in my head and he-” She was interrupted when a hand went and slapped her face again. Everyone stopped and stared at Millie with shock. Looking down at her hand, she realized it was “Him” again.

“DON’T! You are a foolish child that will put us in danger!”

Millie scowls and grabs her arm and restrains it. Mary caught on and realized the problem. “It’s Gillus, isn’t it?” She went over to look Millie in the eyes. Millie lost control of her arm and was about to hit Mary. Luckily, she managed to stop it.

“Sorry!” She apologizes. Worried for the safety of her friends and this random person, she wanted to run out the workshop. But, Mary stopped her. Taking out the Lonely Freddy toy. And just the sight of it made Millie lose control of her entire body.

“YOU! Get that THING away from ME!” Millie shouted. Her face didn’t look like her own. Her facial expressions looked cruel and evil. Slapping the Lonely Freddy from Mary’s grasp. She turns to Brooke and Dylan, who are now frightened of their friend. “I have plans for you two, and you!” Millie looked at her two friends with an awful smile. Then she turned to Mary.

“You will all be prisoners!” Gillus threatens.

Suddenly, a big metal hand grabbed Millie’s arm. Gillus did not expect Funtime Freddy until he looked him in the eyes. It felt like there was a silent communication between the two. Then Funtime Freddy broke the silence.
“Whoever you are. I am going to get you away from my friends. And end you for good.” His voice dropped with a sinister undertone. Freddy was serious.

“Who are you.. Bear?” Gillus questions, not even phased at all from the threatening tone of the animatronic.

“Someone you shouldn’t mess with.”

Chapter Text

Susan was stuck in one place. Unable to move her body, legs and arms were unresponsive. The only thing she could do was see and hear. She was alone.

Until she heard a voice.

“You are not Mary.”

Susan could not turn her head to see where the voice was. Everything was a dark void. Then a moment later she heard it again.

“Who are you? What is your name?”

The young woman couldn’t understand what was happening. One minute she was doing her night shift as a night guard for the bowling alley. Then she came across a strange looking old toy in a hidden compartment of a closet. Its eyes glowed into hers. Soon, she realizes her body went stiff and couldn’t move. All she could see was herself, like looking into a mirror.

It was strange to Susan as she couldn’t figure out why she was looking at herself. But she felt like she was trapped. Something was not right.

However, one thing for sure. She could not answer the voice as it continued to question her. Susan remained silent for the rest of the time, which annoyed the sinister voice.

After a while she saw a young girl. Dark hair, dark clothing, and dark makeup. She could feel her eyes staring right at her. In a state of panic, Susan finally spoke out.

“Stop! Girl! Get away! Someone else is here! He is going to get you!”

They locked eyes for several seconds, Susan begged for the girl to look away. Then suddenly she felt a force push past her. When she became conscious again, she realized someone was missing.

The voice was gone and she was all alone. Feeling empty and cold, Susan began to cry. Crying for anyone to hear her. But no one responded. She continued to cry until she couldn’t no more.

-

Gillus was trying to break free from Funtime Freddy’s grip, however the more he struggled, the more it hurt. Which Freddy tried avoiding since Millie was still there and did not want to hurt her. It was getting difficult to resolve.

Luckily, Mary was able to grab a hold of the possessed girl. The animatronic slowly lets go and as soon as the grip is released, Gillus tries to fight back. But failed to slip from the young woman’s hold.

Dylan picks up the Lonely Freddy that fell nearby. Unsure what to do, he approaches his friend who was frantically trying to escape. He held up the toy bear up to her face, meeting eye to eye. Gillus' eyes widened, in a state of panic he finally spoke up.

“Get it away from me! I demand you to remove that cursed thing away from me!”

Dylan only ignored and shoved the toy closer. Gillus struggles harder to escape, pushing back against a wall with Mary taking the hit. “Not until you get out of my friend!” Dylan raised his voice. “Now! Or you are going back inside the bear!” For a moment, Gillus stopped fighting and had an idea.

He looked up at Funtime Freddy. It was silent for a second but it felt like several minutes. Something glowed in Freddy’s eyes and Millie went limp.

Mary settled the girl down against a wall, both Dylan and Brooke came to her side. “Did it work? Is she okay?” Brooke questions out of concern for her friend. Before anyone could speak, Millie groaned in pain. Slowly waking up and seeing her two friends and the young woman before her.

“Thank goodness it worked!” Mary exclaimed.

Funtime Freddy went over to see Millie slowly getting up and went to hug her.

“I am just glad you’re alright, Silly Milly!” The bear cheered. Millie didn’t care for the nickname anymore as she was tired, ill, but glad she was able to take control of herself again. No signs of the sinister voice at all, which was relieving.

“Yeah.. just glad to be back.” Millie sighs feeling really tired.

-

After supper, Millie, Brooke, and Dylan were able to do their homework and after that they had to go home. The young couple were picked up by Brooke’s father and waved goodbye to Millie. She waves back at the car which soon drives off.

“You seem to be in a good mood there. Feelin’ any better Sweet Pea?” Chuck turns to his granddaughter. Millie smiles as she looks up to her grandfather. “Yeah, a little tired but nothing like a good night's sleep wouldn’t fix. Goodnight grandpa.” Millie went and hugged the old man tightly. He smiled back and returned the warm gesture.

“Alright then, I need to remind you that you have a therapy session tomorrow after school, so as soon as you get out, I’m taking ya straight to Mrs. Zimmer. Besides, she wants to check up on you.”

Millie nods and departs from her grandfather as she heads upstairs to her room. Once closing the door, she collapses onto her bed and is too tired to change into her Pajamas. Finally, able to get a peaceful sleep without a cruel voice interrupting her.

However, she could have sworn she heard something coming from the workshop. But it was very faint. So it didn’t matter. And soon she fell asleep.

-

Mary was cleaning up the workshop after the whole fiasco with Gillus. Also making sure Millie’s grandpa didn’t come in, hoping he wouldn’t see her and Funtime Freddy inside. Speaking of the animatronic, Funtime Freddy was acting strange. It wasn’t entirely noticeable, but there was a strange look in his eyes. She wasn’t quite sure what to think of it.

“Are you okay, Mr. Freddy?” Mary approaches the animatronic. The bear didn’t respond right away as he had a sudden twitch in his right eye. Then his faceplates shifted.

“Eh, there must be a small malfunction. I usually get those when I’m not checked properly.”

He shook his head and gave himself a few knocks to the head. The sounds of metal against metal filled the air. After a few knocks, he was back to normal. “There we go!” He smiled. “Sometimes I underestimate not having the technicians check me up. There was one thing I hated about them, they were always prodding around. But then again, they made sure I never malfunction.” Freddy sighs. Clearly still missing his old place in the pizzeria.

Completely distracted, Funtime Freddy did not notice a white sheet covering him. He didn’t complain and decided to deactivate for the night. Mary had a strange feeling with the animatronic, something she couldn’t describe or put a finger on.

The young woman shrugged it off and sat in a corner, holding on to the Lonely Freddy closely, as if someone would snatch it from her grasp.

Soon, she fell asleep and hoped the feeling would go away by morning.

-

A voice that sounded so cruel and sinister, even with a hint of calmness. A voice that felt so similar. It sounded gravely and scratchy but once it lowered it became smooth. However, that doesn’t make one feel safe or calm. Funtime Freddy could hear it, he tried to ignore it.

Yet, the voice laughs at his attempts to drown it out. “This was your choice, you invited me in your mind. So don’t bother complaining.” Gillus scoffs. “I only let you in my head so you could leave Millie alone. That was the deal.” Freddy argues, the animatronic grew annoyed, but the voice was indeed correct. He did let Gillus enter his mind if it meant his best friend would be safe. Unfortunately, now he has to deal with this mysterious voice.

“You may think you have the upper hand here. You may be in control of your body. Soon, you will lose everything.. Puppet.” Gillus cackles.

“Not on my watch, buddy. So keep your mouth shut, I’m tired of hearing your voice.” Funtime Freddy left it at that. Thinking that he finally made Gillus quiet, moments later he laughed again.

“Oh, but I know what you were like.. A creation that was made for murder, a killing machine who is deceptive and cold.” Freddy had enough of the voice. “You don’t know what you are talking-” interrupted when the voice grew louder.

“I know exactly who YOU are. You are not innocent. You lure children away and take their lives. And yet, here you are.. Rusting away in a small shack of garbage, with a girl who thinks she is your friend.”

Funtime Freddy was about to yell at him but again, the voice was louder than him.

“What has stopped you from going back to your old ways? Have you gotten soft? This is not the real you…You are a killer! Why are you holding back?”

“That’s ENOUGH!” Freddy shouted. Realizing he woke up and accidentally fell over and caused a loud thud. Not only that but caused Mary to wake up, her body shot up with a yelp.

“Oops..”

Freddy managed to get up, especially with help from Mary. “Mr. Freddy, are you alright? What happened?” The young woman became concerned as she managed to get the animatronic onto his feet. Once he was perfectly balanced, his face plates shifted. His sensors picked up movement in the house, probably the loud thud from his fall must have caused Chuck to wake up.

However, Millie was still sound asleep, on the floor? She must have been extremely tired and in a deep slumber. Panic rose within the animatronic as Chuck was starting to head near the backdoor. Then suddenly, he moved his way out of the workshop, ignoring Mary’s calls. So she followed him as well. Just when they almost left the yard, Chuck looked over and saw a large figure in the night. Blue eyes glowed from the darkness, then seconds later… gone. The old man rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. Again, nothing was there.

“What in the…”

-

Next morning, Millie was at school, eating lunch with her two friends. Things had seemed to be normal, but they couldn’t forget what happened yesterday. As Millie mindlessly chewed on her sandwich, she didn’t even notice Brooke calling her name. Dylan waved his hand in front of Millie to get her attention. She blinked and looked at Dylan with a confused face.

“Sorry, I was still thinking about Gillus. When he left my mind, I felt free but also exhausted. But what I do remember is that.. He said something to me. Saying something about, “I’ll be back, don’t think you’re safe” some crap like that.” Her face shifted from confusion to frustration.

“That is strange. Do you think he could be back?” Dylan responded, still feeling a bit concerned. After what happened, both Dylan and Brooke couldn’t help but worry for Millie. Heck, they were scared of what became of Millie when Gillus took over. “Oh, I hope not. If he does, then there will be pain upon him!” Brooke shouted, causing nearby students to look over at the trio. Dylan gently patted her shoulder and awkwardly smiled at the onlookers. “Oh Brooke, still not over that game session from last night, huh?” The boy chuckles.

Thankfully, the other students went back to their business. Once the coast was clear, Dylan turned back to his girlfriend. “Brooke, maybe.. Keep it a tiny bit quiet. Especially when we are talking about stuff that shouldn’t be mentioned out loud.” The boy hushed his voice. Brooke giggled a little as she felt a bit embarrassed from the outburst. “Sorry. Hehe.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be a problem. Gillus was sent back to the Lonely Freddy toy. Right?” Millie looked at her two friends, they both shrugged as they weren’t a hundred percent sure. “Right..?” Although this time it didn’t sound like a question to them and more like she was asking herself.

A very bad feeling hit Millie in the gut and her mind started thinking of many possibilities that were anything but impossible. He is gone, he’s trapped in the toy. There is no way he couldn’t get out. No way to get her anymore. But… she still wonders that there was a small chance.

-

Mrs. Zimmer sat patiently at her desk as Millie talked about how her old nightmares are slowly fading, but something else came up as of late. Gillus.. But she wouldn’t dare mention him to the woman. “This one dream I had, it was like I was not in control of my body. I was so terrified I must have fallen off the bed when I woke up on the floor.” It was only half of the truth. She did fall off the bed, yet she still could not mention HIM.

“Well, was there something that may be connected to the dream? Like perhaps something you saw or heard. I once had a similar experience before. My grandfather used to tell stories of scary coyotes that would stalk around the fields of farms. Then one time I went to visit relatives, who would you know.. Lived in a farm. And well, I had trouble sleeping and dreamt about the same animals coming after me. I ended up falling onto the floor. Maybe, you can describe it? Hopefully, we can find what might be the problem.”

Millie didn’t want to bring Gillus up. The woman would think she’s insane. She managed to get this far into therapy and she was barely healing. Millie couldn’t screw this up. She mustn't. And if she did.. How is she going to tell Mrs. Zimmer about Gillus? That there was a voice in her head messing with her? Heck no… wait. A voice in her head..

Where did she see that before? Millie could have sworn she read about it somewhere.

Then it finally clicked.

The poem.

“I uhh- read this poem about this woman who fell… in love with this voice in her head. She went insane and couldn’t control herself and ended up dying in the end because of it.” As Millie described it, she had a bad taste in her voice when mentioning “Falling in love with a voice” How can anyone fall in love with Gillus? He’s cruel and evil. She shook those thoughts away and continued. “I didn’t think much of it at first but, that is when I had the dream last night.”

Mrs. Zimmer hummed for a moment, slightly nodding. Millie noticed how the woman was writing something down on something, possibly notes. “Well, that could be a possible reason. There are times where we watch, listen, or even read things that can shock us to the point of being uncomfortable. Sometimes it can come back to us in dreams when we didn’t expect it.” Again writing something down again as her pen clicked and the sounds scribbling can be heard. The woman looked up at her clock and back at the desk.

“I guess that is all we have time for today. However, I have one question for you.” Millie nods as the woman waits for approval. “Have you been taking your medication lately?”

Come to think of it, there were moments that she almost forgot about her meds. Millie’s silence seems to confirm that she hasn’t been taking her medication. “Uhh.. I was thinking of not relying too much on it… so I tried using the treatments.” Trying not to sound as if she was lying and sounding more casual. Mrs. Zimmer looked like she was suspicious but then her expression changed and looked like she bought it.

“Very well. But remember, if the treatments don’t work, don’t be afraid to take your medication. Alright?” Millie nods and gets up from her seat. “Oh and by the way.” The woman stands up and walks over to Millie. “I recommend staying away from anything that could potentially cause you to have another bad dream. Maybe, for a week and see how it works.” Mrs. Zimmer leads Millie out the door.

-

As Millie got back home, she snuck out and headed towards the workshop. But when she reached for the door she noticed that it was slightly open. Something wasn’t right. So she headed inside and saw that no one was there. No Funtime Freddy and no Mary. They were gone. She tried not to panic and thought that maybe they went somewhere and would probably be back. Remembering how Freddy needed a moment to himself if he ever got too aggressive or was in an unstable mood to be around anyone, fear of hurting anyone. Then again.. Mary was also gone. Did she go with him or did she just decide to walk away and move on with her new life in a new body? No, that didn’t sound right. There had to be a reason.

It wasn’t until she felt her phone rang, taking it out of her pocket and noticed the phone number she did not recognize. Even if she was told to never answer a phone number she did not know, something about this number felt like it had something to do with the disappearance of Freddy and Mary. One way to find out. Tapping the call button and placing the phone near her ear.

“Hello?”

“Millie? Is that you?”

It was Mary. Which was a relief.. But also how did she manage to get her number? “Yeah.. how did you-” Interrupted when she heard a loud noise. It sounded like metal scream, a very familiar metal scream. “Yeah… uhh about that. One of your friends got me in contact with you. But, I only called you because Mr. Freddy isn’t acting like himself. I fear that Gillus did not transfer into the Lonely Freddy, but instead…” Mary paused as if she was waiting for Millie to put the pieces together. Her eyes were wide and felt her stomach flip.

“No… you don’t think?”

There was a pause as there was a sound of a loud thud. “Do you know where the junkyard is?” Mary asks, Millie groaned as she figured he was there. “Yup. I’ll be right there.” She hung up and headed back inside the house to make an excuse to her grandfather. Luckily, he allowed her but told her to come back within two hours. Usually he’s fine with her staying a bit longer but ever since the incident at the junkyard, he grew worried the longer she was outside.

Millie made her way towards the junkyard on her bike. Paddling as fast as she could, while also being careful not to trip onto a bump on the road or get run over. However, she failed to notice a certain vehicle following her from a distance.

Soon she got to the entrance of the junkyard, noticing the police tape on the floor as if someone tore it down. Not even a few steps in and she heard another loud thud. Then a scream. Immediately Millie ran towards the sounds. There she saw the two yelling and screaming at one another.

“Gillus, you need to stop this! Put the man down!” Mary yelled. Trying to get the poor stranger out of Freddy’s grasp.

“You can’t tell me what to do you stupid child!”

“You have to stop or else you will get us in trouble! Mostly yourself!”

“Nonsense! No one can stop me! Now that I am in this metal body, I can’t be defeated so easily!”

Mary rolled her eyes from this nonsense. Millie came closer and tried to stop the situation. “She’s right! Gillus you need to stop this! What will you do if you get caught and they scrap you?” She wasn’t worried for Gillus at all, but extremely worried for Funtime Freddy as he is being controlled to do this.

“What is going on here?”

Another voice chimes in as the group turns to look at Detective Larson. He sees a man in Freddy’s hold, clearly in distress. Larson quickly pulls out his taser. “DROP THE MAN RIGHT NOW!”

Gillus ignores him and glares at the detective. “You have no authority over me, foolish man.” Then he takes a step toward Larson. “STOP RIGHT THERE! I AM NOT HESITANT TO USE THIS!” Another warning. Yet, Gillus continues to ignore it as if he isn’t afraid. Another step. “NOT ANOTHER STEP! YOU HEAR ME!” A final warning already having his finger on the trigger.

“Gillus! Freddy! Please! If you can hear me! You have to stop!” Millie shouted, trying her best to get Freddy to listen. If he can even hear her with Gillus in control.
Unfortunately, the final warning goes unheard as Gillus takes another step, then suddenly clicking can be heard. A metal shriek was let out that ringed in Millie’s ears.

Chapter Text

Heavy metal fell to the ground as the rapid clicking sounds stopped. Everyone went quiet for a second. No one moved for a moment, until the cries of a girl could be heard as she ran towards the animatronic bear.

“Freddy!”

Millie kneeled beside Funtime Freddy, who laid on the ground on his back. He, however, did not respond. She panicked, trying to get him to wake up. The man who was now free from the animatronic’s grasp ran towards Larson. The detective picks up his walkie-talkie, and the man explains what happened. “I was just dumping some old junk here. And all of a sudden I heard loud footsteps and I turned to see this giant metal monster coming towards me! I tried to run but it got a hold of me!” Larson only nods in response, keeping his eye on Millie and the animatronic.

Mary walks towards Millie, kneeling next to her and putting her hand on her shoulder. The girl turns to the young woman with tears in her eyes. “Mary! Please, you have to do something. We have to help him!” Desperately wanting to bring Freddy back. Mary looked at the animatronic, his eyes were closed, his left bottom and top right faceplate were swung open, revealing parts of his wired endoskeleton. Then she turns her attention to the Lonely Freddy doll. Lost in her thoughts.

“This is Detective Larson, I require back up at the junkyard.” The detective spoke in his walkie-talkie. Millie turns to the man and anger rises within her. “No! You can’t! I won’t let you take him away!” The girl stood up and furiously walked towards him.

“Kid, you gotta understand. This thing is dangerous.” Larson tries to reason with her, but those words only made her fume even more. “HE’S NOT A THING! He’s my friend!” Already out of breath but regaining her energy to yell again. “And he didn’t mean to hurt anyone! He was being-”

Before she could finish that sentence, she was interrupted by the sound of metal creaking. Millie turns around to see Funtime Freddy trying to get up. All the anger that boiled in her body finally cooled down and faded away. She went to run towards him but was stopped by a hand grabbing onto her arm.

Her head twists and looks up at the man. “Let me go!” She demanded. But it was ignored. “Listen to me kid! It’s not safe here!” Larson drags the girl away from the animatronic bear. “NO!” She yells, the distressing sound may have caught the attention of Funtime Freddy, who was somewhat coming back to consciousness.

“Mill- illie?” His voice became static and his vision was glitchy as everything looked distorted. He knew this feeling all so well, something from years ago. He was malfunctioning.
His movements were erratic and twitchy. The one thing he hated about malfunctioning is that he couldn’t focus on one thing, he could barely see and move without falling over or shutting back down and sometimes got lost in his mind. Trying to process what is going on, all he can hear is the sound of a familiar voice yelling.

Mary tries to keep him still and sitting up. But that didn’t work as Funtime Freddy lunged himself up and began to walk. Unfortunately, he doesn’t go very far as he trips on some trash pile and falls over again.

“Useless! Useless!”

Freddy hears that annoying voice again. He felt like rolling his eyes, but since he’s malfunctioning, every part of his wired body twitches and glitches. It almost hurts. Just when he was about to say something, Gillus interrupts him and begins to take over his body again. This time his malfunctions decrease.

“No more distractions! We must retreat and recover properly.” Gillus spoke up and tried to move again. This time he was a bit successful and managed to stand up and take a few steps.

“Oh no you don’t!” Larson shouts as he pulls his taser again. Making sure it was reloaded again and shot at the animatronic. Only this time he missed the exposed endoskeleton. Funtime Freddy kept moving and ignored the calls from Millie as Mary ran towards the animatronic. “Please stop! Gillus, leave Mr. Freddy alone!” She demanded as she got in front of him.

As expected, Gillus ignores her and pushes her away. “Get in my way and I’ll kill you.” The voice threatens and continues his way out of the junkyard to recover from the malfunction. Millie ran over to Mary to make sure she’s alright, once she got the young lady on her feet, she was about to run towards Freddy when Mary stopped her. Turning to look at her in the eyes, confused. As she opened her mouth, Mary spoke. “Don’t. We will find him later. Right now we need to get back to your home.” Millie closed her mouth. Then she continued, “We will find a way to help your friend. Right now, we need to go.” The two are already hearing the police sirens nearby. The two sprinted out of the junkyard with Larson calling after them.

-

Once the police arrived, the man who was attacked had to explain everything, despite Larson claiming that the police will think he’s crazy. Yet, he talked anyway. After an hour of searching the area, all they could find was footprints and a pile of trash that appeared to have been crushed under something heavy. Other than that, the police had nothing to go by and left the junkyard.

“Your luck is slipping away, bear.”

Detective Larson got in his car and drove off after the last police car left. There was only a matter of time before the animatronic would get discovered by everyone and would be deemed as dangerous to be kept alive.

As he drove, the sun was starting to set and soon came the evening. Larson kept thinking about what he did to the rogue animatronic. It appeared to him that shocking the machine may have caused a breakdown of sorts. But that wouldn’t last long as the thing got up and clearly malfunctioned. He thought about going to someone who may know about electronics or animatronics. But who? No one in this small town were experts in such advanced technology and that doesn’t include the car technicians. Or do they?

His mind wanders to how it got into town in the first place. Suddenly, he remembers seeing the thing for the first time at the old man’s place. Chuck Fitzsimmons. Perhaps he will have to pay Chuck a visit. Maybe as a few questions.

-

Millie rushed over to her house along with Mary, who decided to hide in the workshop. Once she got inside, up the stairs she went and headed to her room. Finally being in a place where no one can bother her, she flung herself onto her bed and relaxed. The tension around her body eased and the pain in her legs subsided. And even better, a furry feline curled up next to her, she subconsciously patted the little cat. The soft fur calmed her down and finally drifted into a small nap.

Until a knock on the door pulled her back from slumber. Millie groans and slowly gets up. Another knock on the door gets her motivated to slip away from the bed, then followed by the sound of her grandfather calling. “Sweet Pea, I made ya some noodle soup. Better come eat before it gets cold.” Millie wasn’t in the mood to talk, wiping her face and realized that her face was a mess from all the crying from before. Quickly cleaning her face with a tissue and opening the door.

Not wanting her grandfather to get concerned, Millie immediately headed down stairs. “Thanks grandpa..” was all she muttered, despite not being in the best mood, she tried to sound a bit positive. Heading towards the bathroom to properly clean her face and giving her hands a nice wash, she heads to the dining table to eat.

“So, Millie. I know it’s been kinda rough for you these past few days. And I was thinking of doing something together. What do you think?” Chuck takes a few sips of this soup and looks at his granddaughter, waiting for a response.

Before she could speak, a knock on the front door caught them both by surprise. Chuck gets up from his seat and walks over. Wondering who it could be, he opens the door to see Detective Larson. “Mr. Fitzsimmons, good evening.” The detective awkwardly smiles. “Oh! Detective, I wasn’t expecting you here? Come in, come in!” The old man invites the other inside. “I was just having dinner with my granddaughter here. Care for some noodle soup?” Chuck offers dinner with a smile. Behind him, Millie scowls at the other man. Larson flinched a bit, he figured she would be here. However, her reaction to him was something he sort of expected. Her face went back to normal when Chuck sat back down as he offered a seat for Larson.

“Thank you, Mr. Fitzsimmons.”

“Please, call me Chuck.” The old man smiles. Larson nods and is handed a bowl of soup. He didn’t think he would spend his time here for this long. Sure he wanted to come and visit for a few minutes to ask the old man several questions and leave, but having dinner with not only him but also his granddaughter who is clearly not happy to see him. Not sure why and he hopes not to find out.

“So what brings you here? Surely, you didn’t come to visit because of the soup.” Chuck laughs and slaps the table, a knee-jerk reaction he always does whenever he tells humorous jokes. Larson let out a small awkward laugh, unsure how to respond as it caught him off guard. Millie only groaned out loud from the embarrassing joke. “N-no.. I only came to speak with you. Something… uhh came up.”

It was only a few minutes of eating when the talking began. “You see, one of our men came across something. It had something to do with… a- robots or mechanical machines.” Larson had to be careful of his choice of words. He already could feel the burns on the side of his head of Millie’s glaring eyes. Too afraid to shift his eyes anywhere, so he kept them locked on Chuck and his soup.

“The problem is trying to shut it off so we can investigate it further. However, it is quite advanced and none of us are good with that kind of technical stuff.” The fake story may work on the old man but not for Millie. Her glares still remained on her face, which made him even more nervous.

Chuck seemed to catch on what Larson was talking about. He was good at mechanics and technical stuff. Especially when he and his granddaughter spent some time repairing the Funtime Freddy animatronic. Even if it’s long gone now. He was so busy with his little collections of doo-dads and knick-knacks that he thought someone must have stolen the animatronic. His old age always made him forget certain things, like the time he forgot where he placed his keys to his truck or where he left his reading glasses.

“I see, you want my help. Well I can lend a hand. If I can get a look at it.” Chuck replies, finishing his soup and gets up from his seat to go for seconds. Now, Larson started to panic as he just made up the story and would have to confess the truth. He had to come up with another lie.

“Well… it might be awhile for you to take a look. I have to ask my boss if it is alright, which again it will take awhile. He’s a busy man." Feeling like he already messed up, he bit his tongue, hoping Chuck could understand.

'This is not going as well as I planned. What was I thinking?' Larson's thoughts were all over and didn't notice Chuck speaking.

It wasn't until the old man cleared his throat, the detective finally snapped out of his thoughts. "That’s perfectly fine. I can wait as long as it takes." Chuck continued to take a sip of his soup.

Larson thought about it. He knew that in the end, Chuck wouldn’t be seeing this “machine”. This was going to be difficult.

-

After dinner, Chuck took a moment to use the restroom, leaving Larson and Millie at the dining table. Larson felt a terrible pit in his stomach as he saw Millie’s glare in the corner of his eye.

“So… you came here to find out how to shut down my friend, huh.” The girl crosses her arms, frustrated at the detective. He sighs, “Look, kid. You know very well how dangerous your “friend” is. You saw what happened back at the junkyard.” Larson leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as well while giving a stern look at the girl, which she narrows her eyes at him back.

"He's not dangerous. I mean he saved me and my friends from a robot dog. But right now he's not himself." She takes a drink of her juice. "I know this may sound crazy, but he's under control by a voice in his head."

The moment she blurted that out, the man looked at her with concern. "Kid… I think this is getting all in your head. I recommend getting help."

Which only made Millie even more upset. "Of course I'm getting help! I have been going to therapy lately because of this!" Millie tried to keep her voice down but it was quite difficult since she was frustrated with the detective.

Larson lifts his hands defensively. Trying to ease the girl's anger. "Alright, alright. No need to get work up." Fidgeting his fingers nervously as he heard the sound of a toilet flushing and water running. "Look. Kid, I can help you. I know you don't trust me but, what other choice do you have?"

Millie thought about it for a moment. She knew that she needed help, but she couldn't trust the detective. Yet, with a split-second decision and quietly whispers, “Fine! Just promise me that you won’t do anything to Freddy.” Millie glared at Larson, her stern eyes meant business.

Just seconds before Chuck walks in the room, Larson nods in agreement and the two switch back to a good mood as if they weren’t arguing just moments ago.

“Well, thanks for the soup, Mr. Fitzsimmons and for the company.” He nods at Millie, which she nods back but less enthusiastically. “I apologize for the inconvenience. I am glad for your cooperation. I’ll talk to you next time when you can take a look of if we got it under control.” Hopefully it’s the second option and that it does get taken care of. After heading out the door, he waves at the old man and heads into his vehicle. Millie stops halfway up the stairs and sees the vehicle drive off and away from her view. ‘You better keep your word.’

-

A girl walked towards her neighborhood, it was getting late and she should have been home hours ago, but something was strange about her. Spending those hours exploring the small town of her new surroundings.

Before she got to her front door of her house. She heard bushes rustling nearby. Then she heard the sound of metal. Next thing, the sound of a girl calling to her. It sounded familiar to her. It sounded like the girl from the bowling alley.

“Hello?” The nervous girl called back.

“Hey! I need help!” Millie’s voice responded.

The girl was unsure, but she carefully made her way towards the voice. Millie called back again, “Please! I need your help!” This time, sounding a little desperate.

As the girl walked closer, she called back. “A-are you okay?” However, she did not get a response and everything went quiet. Then all of sudden..

“There you are.. Carly.”

The girl jumped back with a yelp when she saw a metal animatronic bear rising from his hiding spot. That voice… It couldn’t be. Her eyes widened when she stared at the bear’s cold soulless eyes.

“Gillus..” Carly backed away with each step as Gillus approached. “Wh-what are you- How is this possible?” The frightened girl questions. The animatronic laughed, “You thought you could get away from me? No. There is no escape from GILLUS!” The voice shouted that brought fear into the girl.

Without another word, Carly turned and ran towards her house. However, the animatronic was quick enough to catch up to her. A metal hand grasped her arm and yanked her back. Before she could scream, she was shoved into a dark, cold and cramped void. The light of her front porch disappeared from her sight as the hatch closed her in.

Kicking her way out and begging to be let out Carly tried. But the cruel voice only laughed at her attempts of escape. “Now, now. Carly. I am here to collect what was once missing.” Turning back into the woods, he continued, “There is someone else we need to collect. The final piece. Then I shall destroy that brat who dared mess with me.”

Carly didn’t even need to ask who he meant. She knew exactly who it was and worried for her.

“Y-you better n-not hu-hurt Millie!” A third voice appeared, one that she did not recognize. “Oh quiet you!” Gillus shouted. “Once I get rid of the girl, no one will be in my way! I will become too strong for anyone to stop me! Even you.” The cruel voice spoke directly at Funtime Freddy. Which made the animatronic even more angry.

Unfortunately, he was losing control of his own body and the only thing he could control was his voice box. As they made their way through the woods, they stopped at a small abandoned building. There, they stayed hidden until the time was right.

“Now that I know where Mary is, I will have time to prepare. And you will help me, bear.” The sinister voice threatened, but Freddy denied. “What makes you think I’ll help you?” He scoffs, already peeved off with Gillus’ voice.

The voice responds with a creepy laugh, “Oh please. You won’t be able to make a choice.. A will that is out of your control. Because I know you.. Killer machine. I know you very well.” Gillus’ laughter calmed down but he continued to chuckle.

“Trust me. You've been holding back.”