The Smell of Strawberries: A Five Nights at Freddy's Short Story

The Smell of Strawberries

"Daddy, why won't you let me play with her?" A red-haired girl tugged on a purple sleeve. With a jolt, William Afton let go of his ballpoint pen. It fell with a barely-heard thud. Looking away from his maintenance checklist, William Afton looked down at his small, doe-eyed daughter and slightly tugged his arm away from her grasp. A pale hand picked up the pen on the floor and resumed writing on his clipboard a bit faster than last time. It made ink stains on his palm. Silently cursing, he shuffled to his left and wrote again, making sure to write a bit faster this time.

Looks like Daddy is in one of his moods again, Elizabeth thought somberly. Maybe I'll ask later. She looked at the stage. A clown animatronic was "performing", with its blue eyes roaming from left to right every once in a while in the confetti-showered room. Its lips didn't quite sync with the song it is playing, but it looked happy.

Elizabeth doesn't look very happy. The room smelled of vanilla. She hates vanilla. Strawberries have a better flavor.

She sees a blur of black, then a curly haired boy runs towards Circus Baby and calls out, "Look, Charlie! Baby is here! Let's go see her!"

"Wait, Sammy! I have to ask dad first!", a black-haired girl shouts back. She turned to the man beside her and said, "Dad, can I go with Sammy?".

Their dad thought for a bit, his eyes twinkling, and said with a booming voice, "Well, of course Charlie! Just be careful, okay? Dad will be in the room straight in the hall. Is your bracelet on?" The girl, Charlie, proudly flashes her green bracelet. "Yes, dad! Sammy has his own as well."

The dad hugged his daughter and watched her go to her brother. He then left the room shortly.

She felt an icky feeling.

Elizabeth pulled her dad's sleeve again. Maybe this time? She wondered. "But daddy, I didn't mean that I want to watch her, I want to play with her! I want to see her up close!"

"No, Elizabeth. It's not safe." Her dad replied coldly, then turned back on his clipboard. Kids, he thought bitterly. I spilled ink on my palms again.

"But daddy, just this once! Let me go play with her. Look!" she pointed a finger at Baby, "She's so pretty and shiny! Didn't you make her just for me?"

The scribbling stopped. He faced the red-haired girl again. "I said no, Elizabeth. Go play with your brother." William then left, probably annoyed by Elizabeth. Someone's gonna be dismantled tonight, William thought as he hurriedly walked towards the hallway. Which one, though?

"William!" A familiar voice called. He turned around, quickly composing himself.

"Henry! I didn't see you around for a while." He said with a smile that is more of a grimace.

"We were in the same room together." Henry said, confused. We were? William panicked.

Henry then laughed, then placed a callous hand on William's lanky shoulder. "Maybe you're concentrating too much on the opening! Relax! It was just like old times."

William forced a laugh, but he relaxed. Just like old times.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth huffed and sat on the floor, defeated. Why can't she go? Is there something else he's keeping from her? He always keeps things from me. She thought. Maybe it's a surprise for her!

She heard the sound of balloons whooshing and looked. A kid was trying to inflate a red balloon with his mouth. She remembered her brother. He was at home with Evan, while Mom was still away. Mike will always try, but Mom stopped him and scolded him to not do it. Mike being Mike, he did it anyway and ended up with sore cheeks and a ban to the next birthday party.