Purple Eyes

Chapter 9

'Flagged search result?' I muttered, clicking on the small box. My eyes scanned the email before heading to get lunch.

'Oh yeah, and he gets them.' Jessica said, attacking a chicken salad. 'I mean, Vanessa was sorta right. That's an actual career?' Jessica nodded, lettuce sticking out of her mouth. My eyes wandered upwards. 'Somehow.' She managed to mumble, before swallowing. 'Can you imagine staring at people search results all day?' After a while I tore my eyes from the flickering light on the ceiling to Jessica, who was bobbing up and down to get my attention. 'I heard a rumour Luis is asking Vanessa out for coffee or dinner.' She said. 'I don't like to gossip.' I mumbled. Jessica pulled a face. 'Oh c'mon you must have some enjoyment in it. Y'know peering into other people's lives and stuff.'

'You make it sound evil.'

'Oh, really?'

'Yeah...'

'Ok, what's up. There's something bothering you isn't there?' Jessica said, peering into my eyes. I nodded. 'This is gonna sound super weird, but I kinda miss Jeremy, y'know?' Jessica put down her fork. 'Yeah...me too - but there's no point contemplating about it, we can talk to him tonight.' My phone let out a small ping. It was Samantha. Ignoring the cynical text that came with it, I clicked on a link to a website. 'Hey...Jessie?' I asked. 'No ones called me Jessie in a while, what's up?' She asked, walking around the table to have a look at my phone. 'William Afton? Who's that?' She inquired. 'No idea.' I said. Jessica thought for a moment. 'Afton...Afton...that's Swedish for "afternoon" isn't it? Is he Swedish?' I shook my head. 'No, he's British. Made a robotics company and everything...was taken to court for murder but nothing was proven...went missing...' Jessica was peering over my shoulder. 'Dang, feel bad for his kids. 1 missing, another died in hospital, another died in a fire...strange family, huh?' I nodded and went back onto the message Samantha had sent with it. "Look at the bit about the robots he designed, maybe you'll be more interested in that that actually talking to me." 'Wow...' Jessica said sarcastically. 'Rude.' I nodded slowly, and click the link again. After a few seconds of scrolling I found it. 'Oh...okay...that's not good.' Jessica said slowly. 'She's sent me this image before. The one with the outlined kid inside it. See?' I pointed to an image of a bear with the outline of a child in heavy pencil. Jessica let out a low whistle. 'He seems quite the shifty guy.' She said. I went back onto my messages and started to type. "Sam, why did you send me this?" I wrote. After a few moments she wrote back: "He went missing at one of the Pizzerias."

"And?"

"They were made by Fazbear Entertainment. Y'know, Freddy Fazbears Pizzeria. Fazbear Entertainment."

"Oh I get it. And you're suggesting?"

"Well, I've heard the Fazbear Entertainment are going to ship out robots, as a Delivery Service."

"And?"

"Take a look at those robots. To make the VR game they used original stuff. Like CPU chips and circuit boards. Think they'll do the same here? I mean, child-kidnapping robots running haywire? That's bad."

"Yeah, well they won't do the same thing."

"How can you be sure?"

I paused. We couldn't be sure. I turned to Jessica, who didn't say anything - she already knew what I was going to ask. 'I-I don't know if that's true or not. I'm getting assigned to something else anyway.' I stared at the phone for a few seconds, and then clicked it off. 'Hold up...' I began. 'You said Luis is wanting to ask Vanessa out, right?' Jessica nodded. 'Yeah...apparently he's just been ignored. I'd do the same to be honest. I mean-'

'So if we get in this guys good books, he could...I dunno...do some snooping?'

'Snooping?'

'Yeah, like see what Vanessa's up to.' I said. Jessica shrugged. 'Aw c'mon Jessie, please?' I pleaded. She sighed. 'Fine. But don't expect me to go all mushy.'

'I'm not.'

'Good.' She said, walking around the other side of the table, and picking up her plate. 'Wonder how Jeremy will react.' She muttered.

'No.' Jeremy said. 'Absolutely not.'

'Aw please?' Jessica said, shivering slightly. 'No.' Jeremy said firmly, his voice turning cold, like the air around us. 'Why not?' I asked. Jeremy pulled a face. 'Because it's completely immoral, and ridiculous.' Jessica's eyes hardened. Jeremy noticed it too, and took a small step backwards. Before Jessica started breathing fire, I interrupted her. 'Well, we'll just do it without you then.' Jessica paused then nodded. Jeremy didn't say anything, just stayed still. 'Look, if you don't want to talk, you don't have to-' Jessica started, and stopped suddenly as Jeremys eyes widened. Jessica and I turned around. Vanessa was standing there, hands behind her back, purple eyes pulsating. She was shaking slightly. Her head was slightly lowered, as Jeremys had been, and she was smiling. Not baring her teeth like he had, but a small, soft smile. 'How long have you been standing there?' Jessica demanded. Vanessa twitched. 'Long enough. I know what you're doing. Pretty cute.' She stepped closer. 'I'm not supposed to attract attention...but...if you aren't careful, you'll wake up with a knife in your chest. Maybe I could even take some inspiration? Do some research?' Jessica's fists clenched, while Jeremys were limp and shaking. I leaned over to Jeremy to whisper in his ear. 'How long did it take for you to get...aggressive?' Jeremy's eyes flickered from me to Vanessa. 'A few days? Maybe a week?' I gulped. Vanessa turned and walked off.