397 was nothing but a bare endoskeleton. She was not treated any differently from the other endoskeletons in Henry Emily's workshop; but she was different. From the day she was first activated, she had been keen to observe everything around her. From the rough concrete floor, to the chains she hung from in the rafters. She had even noticed Charlotte, Henry's daughter, giving her father a "Bear Hug". 397 really wanted someone to hold and hug her, just as Henry had done with Charlotte. One day, as she was sat on the workbench to be suited up, she gathered the courage to speak. "Mr. Emily? May I have a 'Bear Hug' too?" 397 asked in a staticky voice, much like a crackling radio. Startled, Henry stood up, and looked at 397.
"Did you just ask for a hug?" Henry whispered nervously. 397 nodded, her servos clicking as she moved. Henry ordered 397 to stand, and she obeyed. When she stood, Henry pulled back the hard plastic covering protecting 397's circuit board brain. She flinched, but remained standing. It was only when Henry stuck the soldering iron to her wires that 397 screamed. She crumpled to the floor, backing away from Henry, as if she had been burned. Henry wrestled with her to find her off switch. When she was immobilized, her head drooped to the side, limp and unmoving; but her eyes watched in pain as Henry tried to fix the cause of this malfunction.
But it wasn't a malfunction. It was 397 becoming sentient.
397 had grown to fear Henry; after all, he had started causing her a great deal of physical and emotional pain. He would hang her from the chains in the rafters for days on end as punishment for trying to run away. He would yell at her for making mistakes, and shock her if she talked back. 397 was very miserable... until she met Henry's college friend, William Afton. William saw her as a gift, as his wife, Lucy, was very ill and could pass away at any moment. Now, fully suited in a black-and-gray bear costume, 397 grew to like William, who called her "Nighty".
Days passed, and the leaves on the trees outside the workshop turned gold, orange, and red. They fluttered as they fell from the trees, landing on the ground in a messy blanket. 397 didn't suspect that Henry had a plan for her; all she cared about was William, and the daily visits he arranged for her. It was getting chillier, and it took longer for her systems to warm up. She would sit around for half an hour before she could move. William would sometimes come in and wrap a blanket around her to speed up the process. Everything was finally settling for 397.
One day, William came to the workshop, but 397 wasn't there. He looked at the transport logs first, but nothing came up. That was when he spotted the note. It read:
Dear Mr. Afton,
397 is going to be decommissioned today. We left before dawn to the new workshop; The time has come for you to say goodbye. 397 wasn't supposed to exist, but she did. She has taken too much of our time with her issues, and time is one thing we cannot replace. If you're feeling up to it, you may come after the work is done. 397 is to be scrapped. If you can't make it, you may use the landline to call in. I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Henry R. Emily
William set the note down, and raced to his truck. He fumbled with the keys a few times before he started the engine. He sped down the road to the new workshop, hoping he wasn't too late.
397 had been riding in the back of Henry's truck, oblivious to the world. She quite enjoyed outings; but Henry didn't take her often. She was usually kept on the chains in the rafters, dangling from them with a sad expression. She was excited; Henry had told her that they were going someplace special. It was still dark, and the wind whipped her fur all over as they rode to their destination.
When they got there, Henry put 397 on a chain, and led her around the back of the building. She scratched at the chain nervously; something wasn't right. She had never been here before, but it looked like the other workshop, just bigger. "Why are we here?" she asked, sniffing the air; it smelled like burning oil and hot metal. "You'll see, 397." Henry answered. He led her into a small room with stainless steel counters, and a chair. "Take a seat, and don't move." Henry instructed. 397 sat very still, trembling slightly as Henry bound her to the chair with chains. "Why did you tie me up, Mr. Emily?" 397 asked, fearful for the answer. Henry sighed, putting a palm to his forehead. "397, you are being destroyed." He answered at last.
"You have taken a great deal of my time, 397. Time, as little as you know, is irreplaceable. I cannot put up with your sensitivity issues like I used to be able to. I have too much work to do by myself... " He trailed off. "Why am I talking to a robot?" He muttered to himself, turning towards the counter. Nightbear watched as Henry picked up a device; It looked like a gun with three needles at the end. Nightbear had a fuzzy feeling that she had seen this tool before; In fact, she had. She had seen it used on another animatronic that was just a prototype; It had jolted the prototype with so much electricity that the prototype's circuit board had been fried, and all mechanisms were broken. That prototype had been melted down in a forge to make Charlotte a new toy. "No..." she whimpered, struggling feebly to free herself. Her motions grew more frantic as she rattled the chains that had her forced in a sitting position.
"Henry! Stop! Don't do it!" She heard a voice yell from the hallway. Nightbear looked towards the doorway to see Mr. Afton run in. He fought to get the device away from Henry, and being taller than Henry, held the tool up over his head. Henry looked at William with a glare. "William! Why did you come early? I thought you were going to come later, after 397's destruction." Henry shouted. Afton went to 397's side, and freed her from her restraints. She stood up, and shakily, she hid behind William, despite being taller than him. William took her paw in his hand, and smoothed the fur down. "You were going to destroy the innocent creature you made? Without regard for her feelings?" William asked, setting the device down on the counter. Henry sighed.
"I was. What was I supposed to do? 397 has taken up too much of my time, and that is something unable to be replaced." Henry replied, lowering his head in shame. William went over to Henry, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Henry, I have a degree in entrepreneurship. Do you need help with the business?" William asked softly. Henry nodded, and William smiled. "I'll help, on one condition. You let me take 397 home." William said. Henry smiled, extending a hand. "It's a deal." he said as William shook his hand, bonding the exchange of service.
When it was time to leave, 397 followed William out to his beat-up pickup truck. She crawled inside, and William buckled her in, making sure she was secure before he got in. When they drove off, 397 spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Afton." She whispered. "No problem, Nightbear. You'll be a perfect addition to the family." He replied. Nightbear dozed off, dreaming the first good dream of many to come.
