The Life Behind an Animatronic IV- Solace

Chapter 19 - Gloom

It was the first time he had ever acknowledged my presence. I slowly found a chair near a table and began to sit down. Spring Bonnie made his way toward the line, standing next to Fredbear, both of whom were visibly afraid. Shadow Freddy then slowly approached me, his arms behind his back and his gaze unmoving from my face.

"I know of your conversation, Ennard. The Nightmarionne tells me everything. He gifts me everything I could desire and more- why do you resist him?" He asked. I was silent, afraid that any answer I'd give would only enrage him. 

"I did it because I was brave enough, for once in my life, to resist." I replied, shocked that I had even opened my mouth to speak. It was like my brain was intoxicated on courage to the point it felt like it had nothing to fear, but my core felt like it would stop functioning from the dread. My mind was at war with itself as I spoke. 

"Brave? No...more like misplaced faith. You believe so hard in your friends, these ghosts, these sentient machines, that you have lost all sense of logic and sense. You all struggle to fight in a battle you've already lost." He replied in a sickeningly evil tone. He approached me and gave me a horrifying grin that stretched far across his face, his teeth wickedly peering from between his dark lips. He placed his hands on the sides of my head, which caused my core to quicken.

"You've already tasted blood, both human and animatronic's, so why not try the next delicacy? The very souls they harbor, Ennard...it's so delectable. You feel so energized, so unafraid..." He murmured. I tried to pull my head back, but his grip held on tightly. No matter how much I tried to push his hands away or fight back, he remained as still as a statue, only his jaws moving as he talked.

"The Nightmarionne...has my answer. And if he wants to talk to me, he should do so himself." I stated. "He shouldn't send his dog out to fight his battles."

Shadow Freddy glowered at me with complete contempt. He flexed his fingers and was silent for a moment. His gaze went distant as well, as if he were contemplating something, but soon focused on me again.

"I'll do you a favor by pretending I didn't hear that. But my patience is nill tonight. If there is any more resistance, the atrocities I'll commit will be burned into your mind forever. And forever is an awfully long time, Ennard." He hissed. I rose my brow at him, but warily so.

"What atrocities...? The Nightmarionne wouldn't want you to...kill me." I retorted. Shadow Freddy scoffed with annoyance.

"Did you not listen to me? I said you'd remember them forever. That entails your life would not be forfeit, but something else...something else can be done to make you wish it was." He replied sharply. I had a feeling he meant his words and that they weren't just empty threats. But I didn't want to give in. I had resisted this far. What could he do that could be worse than what the Nightmarionne already does?

"No. My answer is final. I won't commit anything to him or you." I said firmly. The monster in front of me tilted his head slightly to the side, like a curious dog.

"Your answer...is final? I hope you'll consider taking it back...nothing is set in stone, and even then, stone can break." He growled. His voice had taken on a more monstrous tone, with a slight echo to it as well as a terrifying pitch accompanying it, one that was deep and pierced my soul.

I watched with silent horror as he began to approach the line of animatronics. However, in his motions, I saw his body change and shift. His arms and legs grew longer and thinner, cracking and creaking as they did so. His legs became bent at the knee like a wild animal's, and horrific claws tore through his toetips. His torso narrowed as well, not as much as his extremities, but enough to make his height increase. His head also shifted to accommodate a massive maw of jagged, sharp, black teeth. But his hands went through the most dramatic change.