A Night At The Pizzaplex

Chapter 7

She went to replenish her flashlight's battery by the mini recharge station beside the file cabinets. With a quick glance at the cameras, she crouched beside the doors, opening them when the area was clear of animatronics. Her heart was beating so anxiously, the thought of being harmed - or worse killed - by those robots was suffocating her mind. She didn't dare peek out from the door frames, afraid that if she does, her head will be decapitated in an instant.

' Breathe! '

She coughed violently, just noticing that she was holding her breath the whole time.

" Are you hungry? "

Sys crawled towards the other open door, almost losing balance as the floor shook. The aggressive banging reminded her of a certain animatronic, although Monty was definitely more violent. She wasn't going to lie, Monty scared the absolute souls out of her. His sharp teeth and claws could break through anything in an instant, who thought it was a good idea to give the gator such scary features in the first place?

It wasn't her first time seeing Monty like this though, or rather, seeing another animatronic be so aggressive. Just like her sister says, " There has to be a reason why they act like this. " Sys was determined to find out what that was, she groaned once she became self-aware that she was thinking of her older sister. ' This is all her fault... ' She was snapped back to reality when she heard Monty from the window above her, crouching to stay hidden from his sight.

" I know you're here. "

She gulped nervously, waiting for the rattling to subside as she pressed the button again to preserve power. Almost tripping over the scattered trash, Sys sneaked to the other door, the robots were quick but she had great hearing and the cameras to help her see them.

This went on for a while, pacing back and forth, watching the battery get consumed as she tried her best to distract herself from crying. There was only a bar left before the doors open fully, the sound of the battery having low power as it rang through her ears. She stifled a cry when she saw the green bar disappear. Was this the end?

" All done! See? That was not so bad. If the path looks clear, head to the Prize Counter. "

She stayed still for a moment, hugging herself as she watched Roxy pass by the open doors. Thankfully, they didn't catch her but that possibility is temporary since she still had to go back to the Prize Counter. She lifted her watch, pressing on the screen and looking through the camera angles, waiting as she quietly runs out of the security office.

" I will find you. "

Sys covered her mouth before she could let out a shriek. Monty was in front of her, the shelves were the only thing that divided them. She turned off the flashlight, crawling behind the boxes as she struggled to keep still with the floor shaking because of the gator.

" Go to the back of the Prize Counter. The Fire Escape is in the VIP room. "

The little girl held her breath, tense as she hid behind the shelves. ' Bad timing, Freddy! ' Even if the watch was on low speaker, it wasn't quiet enough. The animatronic was only a few meters away and it was coming towards her.

*Crash!*

She shut her eyes closed when she saw Monty's shadow on the floor, he was looming directly over her. He was too close. She could hear him growling, the faint sound of metal clanking as he looked around. She couldn't breathe, the dreading feeling had her throat strangled.

" Breathe, Sys! You are okay now, Monty's gone. "

' Monty is gone..? '

Sys held her throat, coughing and shaking violently as she whimpered in fear. She choked out a cry, " Freddy, I want to go home... " Her eyes were blurry from the tears and her body jerked uncontrollably. " I am truly sorry, Sys. I wish I can comfort you, but you must keep going. I cannot protect you if we are separated. I believe in you, superstar. You can do this. " Freddy seemed genuinely concerned, she could almost believe that this robot actually cared about her.

She wiped her tears away, feeling repulsed as she got salty tears on her Chica shirt. ' It's okay. I'm okay. Still have working parts. ' She nodded to herself, breathing in and out a few times as she picked herself up. She shook her head vigorously as a distraction, making herself a bit dizzy as she walks out and to the front counters.

" I bet I'm your favorite? "

Staying crouched down, she listened as the wolf's deafening steps grow silent. She noticed that she had to jump over the counter to leave. Sighing, she peeked with her eyes following Roxy who creepily twitched and stomped around. ' And...now! ' She held her breath and made a run for it, jumping off the counter as Roxy growled loudly.

" You can't outrun me! "

She yelped when the wolf chased after her, huffing as she turned towards a room where a dome was at its center. She lunged around it, crouching and covering her mouth when she hears Roxy enter the room. The mechanical whirs of her gears echoed in the darkroom. The little girl stayed still, waiting for the right time to go as she turns on her flashlight. After the footsteps subsided, Sys continued towards another entrance, running until she find the doors with an exit sign.

" You found the Fire Escape. Unfortunately, I do not think there is a way to reach it without becoming a VIP. It is not a very good emergency system. You are lucky there is not a fire. I have lodged a formal complaint. "

Sys sat down beside the caution bot, leaning onto it as she listened to Freddy's words, realizing she's trapped herself in a corner. " Wait, the doors are all locked. Freddy, how do I get out of here? " She quickly stood up, brushing the dirt off her dress as she felt the pit in her stomach grow with anxiousness.

" Get to the elevator. Find a safe path on your Fazwatch. "

" Don't be scared. "

' Oh no, Roxy! ' She jumped into the nearby grey cart, curling into a ball as she used the watch's camera system, switching between the cameras in a quick pace. Once she found the camera where the animatronic was visible, her heart dropped. ' No, no, go the other way! ' She watched as Roxy walked slowly towards where she was hiding. Her claws were clattering while she slid them across the walls as if trying to lure a scream or a peep from Sys. The animatronic stood there menacingly, eyes squinting as she looked around.

After she walked far enough, Sys jumped out from the cart and ran the other way, going back to the dome area. She headed to the Prize Counter, letting out a shriek when she runs into Roxy.

" I'm the best! "

With a swift turn, Sys dashed back inside the darkroom, turning off her flashlight and mimicking Roxy's steps. If she turned left, turn right. If she goes right, go left. ' She'll get confused sooner or later, this trick always works as long as you're fast enough. ' She nodded to herself, sighing as she remembers those words were from her sister. This was the first time they've fought about something, she felt guilty and missed her a lot. Unfortunately, there was no time to think about those things as hears Roxy...sniffing? Can the robot actually smell? She shook her head, it was unnecessary for animatronics to have a sense of smell.

A click of the tongue was heard, followed by a string of low growls and self-speech, Sys patiently waited until Roxy left her alone, the dome glass was thick and fogged up from the cold, there was no way Roxy would be able to see through them. She sneaked back inside the Prize Counter, if quick and swift wasn't the way then slow and steady it is. She stayed near the exterior of the elevator, waiting for the right moment as she quietly slipped inside the elevator.

Another Map Bot appeared and stopped her only way back to Freddy, she was about to push Map Bot out of the elevator but it just gradually came closer to her, almost shoving the piece of paper in her face. Sys grew frustrated, she was about to take the map before the poor bot was shoved out of the way.

" Move! "

' No! Run! ' She gasped, ducking down when the taller lady tried to grab her. She tried to run away but Vanessa already got a hold of her shoulder and she was not giving the little human any chance to stray from her grasp. It stung, Vanessa was grasping onto her arm too harshly, Sys weakly tries to pry away from her, wincing at the growing pain.

" Gotcha! "

Sys squirmed and yelled, struggling as the night guard shone the flashlight right in her face.

" Leave me alone! Don't touch me! "